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 City
 Sugar
Cane
Business
Health
Care
Education
Recreation
Seminole
Indians
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Clewiston, Florida
Early Florida history indicates that the Clewiston area was first
used as a campsite by the Indians as they fished the bass-laden waters
of Lake Okeechobee. Centuries later, fishing was to become the first recorded
enterprise in the area; the sandy beach and natural inlet of Sand Point,
now the site of the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers regional office, served
as base of operations for scores of professional fishermen as late as
the 1920's.
The Clewiston area also attracted its share of early adventurers
and pioneer farmers, most notable a temporary settlement of Japanese farmers
who began to grow beautiful vegetables in the fertile lakeside soil about
1915.
The first permanent development was undertaken in 1920 by Philadelphia
investors John and Marion O'Brien and Tampa banker Alonzo Clewis, who
purchased a substantial tract of land surrounding the picturesque lake
shore and set about to establish a town. The O'Briens and Clewis soon
had a railroad line, the "M. H. and C.", built to connect Clewiston
with the Atlantic Coast Line terminus at Moore Haven.
They then commissioned the well-known town planner, John Nolen
of Boston, to create a plan for the city, and hired the firm of Elliott
and Harmon of Peoria and Memphis to survey, map out and direct construction
of the streets and canals.
Many of the early group remained to become permanent residents,
founding schools and churches, opening stores, and establishing other
needed business and professional services.
Within a few years, the rich muck lands around Clewiston attracted
a group of Midwesterners interested in emulating the successful cultivation
of sugar cane already undertaken on the lake's eastern shore by F. Edward
Bryant.
Extensive sugar cane plantations were laid out and the first crops
were so rich and abundant it was easy even then to envision Clewiston's
future as a sugar center.
Following two disastrous storms in 1926 and 1928, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers carried out a federal project to help control the waters
of Lake Okeechobee, thereby creating even more land suitable for cultivation
and putting Clewiston well on the road to achieving its status as the
heart of the United States sugar bowl.
During the 1930's, Clewiston's population continued to grow and
the town's commercial and social activities gradually became more diversified.
During the 1940's, at the onset of World War II, British Flying Training
School Number Five was established at nearby Riddle Field. Here
young pilots trained for the Royal Air Force. Many of these cadets formed
lasting friendships with the people of Clewiston and they and their families
return to their Southern "Yank" friends.
By the 1950's and 1960's, citrus, winter vegetables, and cattle
had become important to the economic growth of the area.
In recent years, due to freezes in north Florida, more acreage
is being planted in citrus. Hendry County has more citrus trees than any
county in Florida.
Clewiston's largest industry, however, was, and is, sugar, and
the town has become known as "America's Sweetest Town," thanks
to the activities of the United States Sugar Corporation.
Clewiston's location on U.S. 27 places it at an important crossroads
of both local and south Florida traffic and the seasonal influx of tourists
from colder climates--many of whom have chosen to make this pleasant little
town their year-round home. The city population is about 6,500
with a zip code population of 19,000.
Lake Okeechobee still abounds in huge bass and vast numbers of
other fish. And, in continuing it's Indian heritage, Clewiston has
become a nationally renowned sport fishing center with tourist accommodations
available all year.
Clewiston's temperate climate and tranquil palm-filled vistas make
it a town for all seasons.
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