Early settlement and founding (1825–1870s)

The U.S. government opened the region for homesteading in the 1850s, though settlement was delayed by the Civil War.^{[citation needed]} Surveying was completed in 1875, and by 1876, A. S. Pendry had homesteaded on the eastern shore of Lake Eustis and planted a citrus grove. In 1877, he opened the Ocklawaha Hotel and operated a post office from its lobby under the name "Pendryville." By 1879, the settlement's name had changed to Lake Eustis, and then simply "Eustis."^{[citation needed]}

Railroad and incorporation (1880s)

In 1880, the St. Johns and Lake Eustis Railway reached Fort Mason, north of Eustis. The first train coming from Astor to Fort Mason, where passengers and freight made lake steamer connections to Leesburg, Helena, Yalaha, Bloomfield, Lane Park, and Tavares. The town grew rapidly with new stores, schools, a bank, and churches.^{[citation needed]}

In 1881, Clifford and Smith built the town's first general store building. By 1883, residents voted to drop “Lake” from the name and incorporated the City of Eustis. D.W. Herrick was elected the first mayor.^{[citation needed]}

In 1886, Dr. J. H. Potter and Professor Byron F. Marsh established the Eustis Seminary, a school serving grades 1–12 near today's Eustis High School. The school closed in 1895 due to financial constraints.^{[citation needed]}

Citrus boom and the Great Freeze (1890s)

Citrus farming became a cornerstone of the Eustis economy in the late 19th century. The area was surrounded by orange groves, and packing houses shipped produce to northern markets. However, the Great Freeze of 1894–1895, followed by another in 1898–1899, devastated crops and crippled the local economy.^{[citation needed]} Despite this, Eustis rebounded and became known as the “Orange Capital of the World.”^{[citation needed]} The United States Department of Agriculture established a research station and lab in Eustis, pioneering the study of citrus plant diseases and hybridization.^[7]

Early 1900s–Great Depression (1900–1930s)

By the early 1900s, Eustis had become a popular winter resort, with the Ocklawaha Hotel catering to wealthy visitors.^{[citation needed]} In 1902, the city began an annual George Washington's Birthday celebration, now called GeorgeFest—the longest consecutively running annual festival in the United States honoring Washington.

The Dixie Highway and growing use of automobiles brought increased tourism. In the 1910s, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot on Magnolia Avenue served train travelers.^{[citation needed]} Between 1923 and 1927, Eustis City Hall was constructed in Neoclassical style during the Florida land boom. It now houses municipal offices and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[8]

21st century

In 2003, Florida Hospital Waterman, now AdventHealth Waterman Hospital, relocated from its original site in downtown Eustis to its current site in Tavares, Florida.^[9]

On the National Register of Historic Places

• Clifford House (1910)^[10]
• Eustis City Hall (1927)^[8]
• Eustis Commercial Historic District^{[citation needed]}
• Ferran Park and the Alice McClelland Memorial Bandshell (1926 and 1936)^[11]
• Gethsemane Baptist Church (1914)^[12]
• Grand Magnolia Inn (1912)^[13]
• The Ferran House (1908)^[14]
• Woman's Club of Eustis (1930)^{[citation needed]}

Plant hardiness (Agricultural climate)

Eustis, Florida, falls within USDA Hardiness Zone 9b.^[17] This zone offers a long growing season and is conducive to a diverse range of plants.^[18]

Racial and ethnic composition

Population

The 2023 U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year^[21] estimates ZIP Code 32726 and 32736, which cover Eustis and surrounding communities in Lake County, Florida, have a combined population of approximately 35,467 residents. There was no data for zip code 32727. 32726 accounts for 23,885 people, while 32736 includes 11,582. The population is relatively evenly distributed by gender, with 32726 slightly skewed toward females (52.4%) and 32736 exhibiting near parity.^[22]

The 2025 population estimate is 25,300 people residing in the city of Eustis. These population numbers do not account for people living in the county area of Eustis (zip code 32736), which is estimated to include an additional 12,000 people.^[23]

Eustis also serves as the center for many small communities of rural East Lake County, including Cassia and Pine Lakes. These communities are not reflected in the Census Bureau's city statistics, but make up for the vast discrepancy in county-to-city statistics. When the rural statistics are compiled into the city stats, the total population of Eustis topped 50,000 in 2000 according the US Census. ^{[citation needed]}

Population by decade

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Eustis had a population of 23,189. The median age was 43.1 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.5 males age 18 and over.^[6][26] 99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.^[27]

In 2020, there were 9,405 households in Eustis, including 5,485 family households; 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.9% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[6]

In 2020, there were 10,382 housing units, of which 9.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.^[6]

Other census data

In 2020, there were 1,762 veterans living in the city and 12.2% were foreign born persons. There were 2.55 persons per household. 92.8% of the households had a computer and 87.1% of households had a broadband internet subscription.^[28]

Of the population older than 25 years in 2020, 86.9% had a high school degree or higher and 19.0% of that same population had a bachelor's degree or higher. 11.7% of the population 65 years and older lived with a disability and 19.1% of that same population did not have health insurance. 6.0% were under 5 years old, 20.7% were under 18 years old, 21.0% were 65 years and older, and 51.9% of the population were female.^[28]

In 2020, the median household income was $52,074 and the per capita income was $26,974. 16.0% of the population lived below the poverty threshold. The population per square mile was 2,123.7.^[28]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 18,558 people, 7,491 households, and 4,695 families residing in the city.^[29]

Primary and secondary education

Public education in Eustis is overseen by Lake County Schools, the county-wide public school district.^[30] Eustis has two elementary schools: Eustis Elementary School (established in 1925) and Eustis Heights Elementary. The city also has one middle school, Eustis Middle School, serving grades 6–8. Eustis High School Curtright Campus, established in 1925, is dedicated solely to 9th-grade students. Eustis High School (established in 1886) serves the city's high school 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students.^[31]

Eustis is also home to a public charter school, Alee Academy, which provides alternative and vocational-focused high school education.^[32]

Post-secondary education

Eustis hosts the main campus of Lake Technical College, a public vocational and technical school offering programs in healthcare, automotive technology, welding, culinary arts, and emergency services.^[33]

Nearby Lake-Sumter State College offers two-year degrees and transfer programs.^[34] The University of Central Florida (UCF) is located approximately 43 miles from Eustis, and the University of Florida is about 80 miles away.^{[citation needed]}

Public library and lifelong learning

Eustis is served by the Eustis Memorial Library,^[35] which is part of the Lake County Library System. The library offers books, digital resources, educational programs, and community meeting spaces.^[36]

Educational exhibits, workshops, and cultural programs are also provided by local organizations such as the Clifford House Museum^[37] and Arching Oaks Art and Culture Center (a traditional Japanese cultural center).^[38]