Mount Dora, Florida
| Mount Dora, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City | |
City hall
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 Location in Lake County and the state of Florida |
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| Coordinates: 28°48′23″N 81°38′35″W / 28.80639°N 81.64306°WCoordinates: 28°48′23″N 81°38′35″W / 28.80639°N 81.64306°W | |
| Country | United States of America |
| State |
 Florida
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| County |
 Lake
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| Area | |
| • Total | 5.7 sq mi (14.9 km2) |
| • Land | 4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 12,534 |
| • Density | 1,542.0/sq mi (632.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 32756-32757 |
| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-47050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0287215 |
| Website | www.ci.mount-dora.fl.us |
Mount Dora is a U.S. city in Lake County, Florida. As of 2011, the United States Census Bureau estimates the Mount Dora population at 12,534. It is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee, FL, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Founded in 1880, Mount Dora is known for its small town charm. It has many antique shops in the downtown area. The downtown area overlooks Lake Dora. Mount Dora is home to one of three freshwater lighthouses in Florida. It hosts many monthly festivals and is known as the "Festival City."
The town of Mount Dora began in 1874 when the area was settled by David Simpson, his wife, and two children. In 1880, Ross C. Tremain became the town's first postmaster. A post office called Mount Dora has been in operation since 1883. At the time, the town was called Royellou, named for Tremain's three children.
The community was later named for Dora Ann Drawdy, who was an early settler of the town in the mid-1880s. In 1846, the surveyors named Lake Dora after her, and in 1883 the town was renamed after the lake. The Mount in Mount Dora reflects the fact that the town is on a plateau 184 feet above sea level. In addition to this, Dora is memorialized through Dora Drawdy Way, an alleyway located in the downtown area.
The town became a popular winter retreat for hunters, fishermen, and boaters, and in 1883 the Alexander House, a two-story hotel, was opened. The Alexander House has been renamed several times and was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. A railroad came to town in 1887, followed by an orange packing house, fertilizer factories factories, and a cannery were established as well. The town was granted a charter in 1910 with John Philip Donnelly as its first mayor; the town had 371 residents at the time.
In the 1920s, Mount Dora began to grow significantly, both in residential development and business development. Mount Dora began investing in public infrastructure, including streetlights, a water system, curbs, and paved roads. The first two public parks were created and the Mount Dora Community Building was built largely from funds raised by Mount Dora residents. The building has since served as the city's performance and meeting venue.
With the fear of the Cold War on the mind's of some of Mount Dora's residents, they decided to construct a fallout shelter. With contributions from twenty-five families, the underground shelter known as "The Catacombs" was built. It could support 100 people for six months and contained a conditioner and dehumidifier, as well as food and supplies. The catacombs remain today, but the location is a secret.
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