Things to Know Before Visiting Clermont, Florida

The Hills Are Real, and So Is the History

Clermont was established in 1884 and incorporated as a town on 9 June 1891, though that first incorporation only lasted until 25 May 1895. The city reincorporated on 28 December 1916. The name comes from the French hometown of A.F. Wrotnowski, who managed the Clermont Improvement Company. That lineage matters because the town's identity has always been tied to what the land could grow and who could be persuaded to come look at it.

The Citrus Tower Outlived the Citrus

The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands over a landscape whose groves have largely gone. It was one of Florida's earliest roadside landmarks, built to celebrate an industry that dominated the county's economy into the mid-twentieth century. Repeated freezes and suburban development finished what the cold started. The tower remains, but the groves it was built to showcase are mostly a memory. You can see the contradiction from the top.

The "Choice of Champions" Slogan Is Recent

Clermont adopted the slogan Choice of Champions in 2014, on the strength of the National Training Center established there in 2001. That is a 13-year gap between the facility and the branding. The hills that made citrus farming difficult make for excellent endurance training, and the town leaned into it.

Where to Eat Without Guessing

You have options, and they cluster along the highways. IHOP sits at 2589 S Hwy 27 with a 4.7 rating from 7616 reviews. Outback Steakhouse is at 1625 E Hwy 50, rated 4.6 from 5048 reviews. Pepe's Cantina Clermont at 794 W Minneola Ave holds a 4.7 from 4978 reviews. Texas Roadhouse at 2457 S Hwy 27 rates 4.5 from 4417 reviews. Keke's Breakfast Cafe at 2435 S Hwy 27 is a 4.7 from 3848 reviews. Miller's Ale House at 1555 S Grand Hwy rates 4.6 from 3640 reviews. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store at 1520 E Hwy 50 is a 4.2 from 3584 reviews. Olive Garden Italian Restaurant at 2495 S Hwy 27 rates 4.4 from 3291 reviews. Culver’s at 1431 Johns Lake Rd is a 4.4 from 3290 reviews. Steak 'n Shake at 2545 FL-50 rates 3.8 from 3103 reviews. Ruby Tuesday at 2650 FL-50 is a 4.2 from 3070 reviews. Carrabba's Italian Grill at 2240 FL-50 rates 4.5 from 3025 reviews. Sr. Tequila Mexican Grill at 16745 Cagan Crossings Blvd is a 4.1 from 2870 reviews. Denny's Restaurant at 25 Town Center Blvd rates 4.0 from 3990 reviews.

That is a lot of chains, and that is fine. The ratings are what they are, and they are consistently high for the breakfast and steak places.

The Numbers Behind the Town

Clermont's population is 44,984 people, with a median age of 42.4 years. The median household income is $79,789, and the median home value is $368,600. Median gross rent runs $1,774. The unemployment rate sits at 5.9 percent. Of the 18,718 total housing units, 1,800 are vacant, and 558 are held for seasonal or recreational use. That last number tells you something about how many people come here on purpose.

Education Levels Are Above the Regional Norm

35.7 percent of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. That is not a college town number, but it is a professional-class number, and it shows up in the mix of restaurants and the general upkeep of the place.

The Big Annual Event: Pig on the Pond

Pig on the Pond runs three days at Waterfront Park and is the biggest event in south Lake County, drawing more than 20,000 people. It is run by Project Scholars, a non-profit, and the 2026 edition was the 27th. That means the event started around the turn of the millennium, roughly when the National Training Center arrived. The two are not officially connected, but they both point to Clermont deciding it wanted to be a destination.

Waterfront Park Is the Civic Center

Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola has swimming, fishing piers and a playground. It is also where Pig on the Pond happens, which means the park does double duty as both everyday recreation and event venue. If you are visiting, this is the place to orient yourself.

The Citrus Tower Is Not a Brand

The Florida Citrus Tower is a landmark, not a brand. It is a 1956 structure that has outlived the industry it was built to celebrate. Do not treat it as a mascot. Treat it as what it is: a monument to an economy that collapsed, still standing because it is too tall and too stubborn to remove.

The Freezes Changed Everything

Orange and citrus groves dominated the county's economy into the mid-twentieth century, then dwindled fast under repeated freezes and suburban development. That is the whole story in one sentence. The freezes were the shock, and the development was the follow-through. Clermont's hills made the citrus harder to protect from cold air drainage, and once the groves died, the land was worth more as housing than as agriculture.

The Hills Are the Attraction

The steepest ground in peninsular Florida is here, and it is why the National Training Center exists. Cyclists and triathletes come for the climbs. If you are not an athlete, the hills still give you the best views in the region. The trade-off is that walking or biking anywhere requires effort. Plan accordingly.

Day Trips Are Easy

Clermont is 21 miles from Mount Dora, which hosts the Mount Dora Arts Festival and the Mount Dora Craft Fair. Altamonte Springs is 25 miles away with Red Hot & Boom. Dade City is 35 miles out with the Kumquat Festival. Sanford is 36 miles with Sanford Porchfest. Oviedo is 38 miles with Great Day in the Country. That is a solid radius of events within an hour's drive.

The Housing Market Is Tight

With a median home value of $368,600 and median gross rent of $1,774, Clermont is not cheap. The 1,800 vacant units suggest some slack, but the 558 seasonal units indicate demand from outside. If you are moving here, expect to compete with people who want the hills and the lakes.

The Economy Is Service-Heavy

The restaurant list dominates this article because restaurants dominate the employment base. The unemployment rate of 5.9 percent is slightly above the national average, and the median income of $79,789 is respectable but not wealthy. This is a town that works in services, retail and hospitality, with a professional class layered on top.

The Name Is French, the Attitude Is Florida

A.F. Wrotnowski named the town after his hometown in France, but Clermont is pure Florida in its relationship to the land: plant something, promote it, and when it fails, find the next thing. The citrus died. The hills remained. The champions came. The slogan followed. That is the pattern.

Visit for the View, Stay for the Climb

Clermont rewards people who like exertion and history in equal measure. The Citrus Tower gives you the past. The hills give you the present. The lakes give you the recovery. Bring a bike, or bring a pair of good shoes, and plan to earn your dinner.