Leesburg, FL was founded in 1857. It's the oldest and second-largest city by population in Central Florida's Lake County, after only Clermont. Its convenient location in the middle of the state means everything Florida has to offer is easily accessible. That includes numerous big and small cities, state parks, huge lakes, campgrounds, springs, beautiful beaches, and more.

If you're an active adult looking for a new or second home in a Central Florida 55+ community, Leesburg has a number of popular, well-appointed options offering affordable homes, amazing amenities, thriving social programs, and more. This location is a particularly good choice if you're looking for a quiet retreat surrounded by nature, removed yet not too far from the hustle and bustle of more urban areas.

Here's a quick profile of the city of Leesburg to help you get better acquainted and decide whether it warrants closer examination during your house hunt:

  • Leesburg is 24.5 square miles
  • The city has about 21,000 residents
  • Just under half the population is age 45 and older
  • The median home value in the city as of early 2016 is $138,100, a 3.5% rise over the past year
  • It's a predominantly residential area with a small commercial downtown
  • A number of major Florida highways pass through Leesburg, making road travel convenient
  • It's less than half an hour's drive to The Villages from downtown Leesburg, less than an hour to downtown Orlando, and less than 1.5 hours to downtown Tampa
  • Some of the small nearby cities that make for great day or weekend trips include Tavares, Mount Dora, Winter Garden, Sanford, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Winter Park, Clearwater, Winter Haven, and Lakeland
  • The city sits between Lake Griffin to its north and Lake Harris to its south; Lakes Dora, Eustis, and Yale are also nearby, so lake-based recreation is a big part of life in Leesburg
  • Venetian Gardens Park is a beautiful draw in the city
  • Golf lovers feel right at home at Arlington Ridge Golf Club
  • Learn to dive with Underwater Adventures, a local institution in business for more than 40 years
  • Paquette's Historical Farmall Tractor Museum is a unique local attraction for agricultural and heavy machinery enthusiasts
  • Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe in downtown is a great place to gather with friends and pick up some bottles for home
  • Leesburg is home to Lake-Sumter State College and Beacon College
Article photo credits go to the Orlando Sentinel.