Clermont is the largest city in Lake County, Florida, located about 22 miles west of Orlando in the central portion of the state. It is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metropolitan area, but its physical setting sets it apart from much of the region: Clermont sits on the rolling hills of Florida's ridge section, which includes some of the highest elevations in peninsular Florida. Those hills, combined with the city's chain of lakes, give Clermont a landscape of long views and waterfront that is unusual for Central Florida. The city's heritage is rooted in citrus. For much of the 20th century, Clermont was surrounded by citrus groves and served as a center of the region's packing and shipping industry. That legacy is commemorated by the Florida Citrus Tower, a 226-foot observation tower completed in 1956 on one of the city's highest hills. As one of Florida's earliest tourist attractions, the tower predates the theme-park era and remains a symbol of Clermont's identity. In recent decades, Clermont has transitioned from a citrus and small-town community into a major residential suburb of Orlando, driven by its location west of the city along State Road 50 and the Florida Turnpike. The population has grown rapidly, and the city now combines substantial retail and commercial development with its established lakefront and hill-country character. The Clermont Chain of Lakes — more than 10,000 acres of connected waterways — remains central to recreation and to the city's appeal. For residents, Clermont offers new-construction housing, strong schools, and an outdoor-oriented lifestyle within commuting distance of Orlando's employment centers. It attracts families, professionals, and active adults drawn to the combination of lakes, hills, and suburban convenience that few other Central Florida communities can match.