The Town of Windermere, located in southwestern Orange County, is surrounded by nine sandy bottom lakes that are connected by a system of narrow waterways to form what is known as the Butler Chain of Lakes. Lake Butler being the largest.

Prior to the 1500s, the area was inhabited by the Timucuan Indians, and by 1564 the Spanish. The United States purchased the eastern half of the state from Spain in 1821 and Florida became a state in 1845. Around 1885, Englishman Joseph Hill Scott bought about 150 acres on the west shore of Lake Butler for his sons, Stanley and Douglas. Dr. Stanley Scott homesteaded the property and named the area Windermere, many believe, after Lake Windermere in England. Additional settlers, many from England, came. Citrus groves were planted and the Florida Midland Railway was constructed through the area.

A period of modern development began in 1910 when Dr. J.H. Johnson and J.C. Palmer, from Wauseon, Ohio, rediscovered the area, conducted surveys, searched titles and purchased all the land in the old town and some surrounding acreage. They also started the Windermere Improvement Company. The vision and leadership of Palmer and Johnson was a major force in the growth of the town and soon new people settled in here, bought homesites and acreage for citrus groves.

In 1920, the population was 320. In 1925, Windermere was incorporated as a town. The Women's Club was formed and a clubhouse was built from 1922 to 1924. In 1927, the clubhouse was moved to the center of town...where it became, and still is, the Town Hall.

Today, with a population of more than 2,300, Windermere is a quaint mixture of old and new homes with many of the original sand roads left unpaved to retain its character and rich heritage. But, this town with all its charm and heritage is only fourteen miles from metropolitan Orlando, six miles from the Florida Turnpike, seven miles from a major shopping mall, and ten miles from Disney World...the outside world...close to the upscale dining, entertainment and recreation that your lifestyle deserves.