City of Clermont History - Clermont was founded in 1884 and incorporated in 1916. The city is located in south Lake County in suburban south central Florida, about 22 miles (35 km) west of the city of Orlando and 22 miles (35 km) southeast of the city of Leesburg.

Clermont's population has soared recently as orange groves are converted into subdivisions. Clermont has also experienced economic growth, attracting retail stores like Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart and Kohl's as well as many smaller establishments. However, growth has become so rapid that most of the schools in Clermont are overcrowded. Growth, in the form of increased pollution, is also affecting Clermont's natural resources, including its lakes. In 2006 the city of Clermont approved a 1,200,000-square-foot (111,000 m²) mall Plaza Collina to be built on State Road 50. The Shopping Center would be the largest in Lake County. As of January, 2008 construction had not begun and doubts are being expressed as to whether the entire project was viable. Clermont is noted for its natural hills. According to census data 21.5% of residents were born in the Northeast while 18.8% were born in the Midwest. Southerners make up 17.1% of residents. Just 6.5 % of residents were foreign born.