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Lake County, Florida (Part 2) - The City of Altoona

By Jason Price

Mortgage and Lending with Mortgage Financial Group, Inc (NMLS 219650) NMLS #359029

November 05, 2006 10:47 AM

Okay, so it may not be a city, a town, it may be a village, but who really knows.

I was going to post Clermont as the first city that I featured in my Lake County posts, but I just had to start with where I live. (Plus it is late Sunday night, and I did not really want to have to research and write a lot).

So where do we get started... Ummmm. Well, according to the 2000 Census, Altoona, Florida boasted a whopping population of 88. Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. Current estimates are placing it closer to 100-150. (It is kind of family when you think about it that my family makes up 3% of the population.) And, yes, it is kind of like "Cheers" - Everybody knows your name!

Since you guessed it, there is not much I can talk about for my "Green Acres" style of living. The average lot size is 5+ acres. Almost everyone owns a horse. Why? Our backyards is the Ocala National Forest. In fact, Altoona is popular in the horse trail riding circuit.

Fiddler's Green Ranch is pretty much the local attraction for our area. Fiddler's Green welcomes people from across the world to stay in their ranch villas and take tours of the forest on horse back. Check out their site for more information if you are looking for that Dude Ranch style of living without the "City Slickers" extreme rush. (Must more serene and peaceful).

For those of you who like to visit small town cemeteries, we have one. (Not sure why people do this, but I have learned there is a following for it.) Anyway, here is a little history on our cemetery. If you want to reside permanetly in Altoona, you better make sure you live on Demko Road. Only those who lived on this road have the exclusive right to purchase a plot for $25. Now before you move hear, you men may want to read the following. Currently, Demko Road boasts the highest widowers for the town. Yep, the hubby is living at the end of the street. Makes me wonder why my wife really wanted to move here. She claimed it was for the riding in the forest.

Well, that is about it for Altoona, Florida.

Look for my next posting which will be Clermont... I Promise.

Comments(12)

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Marc Blasi

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Yeah - why DID you move up there?!?

Nov 05, 2006 08:11 PM

Jason Price

Mortgage Financial Group, Inc (NMLS 219650) - Tavares, FL

The Mortgage Rider

I moved up here because the company that I was working for asked me to take over the Orlando office. 3 months later, they said we like what you are doing. Go ahead and by that house you are looking at. 30 days later, we are closing your office.

Also, I needed a place where I could hit a golf ball and not worry about hitting a house. :)

Nov 06, 2006 12:24 AM

Disgusting!!

Nov 06, 2006 12:27 AM

Tell me about it...

Nov 06, 2006 12:32 AM

Eli Magen

New World Mortgages,(Mortgage Company) - Orlando, FL

Jason, I almost reconsidered your offer, and thought...man, a permanent residency for just $25.- this is a great underground investment...but you know what, reading the rest of it, I'll pass...LOL, not this way.

Eli

Nov 06, 2006 01:20 AM

We did not know the history of the cemetery till we moved here... If I knew before we bought, I would be in a different area. It is jst a little creepy when you think about it.

Nov 06, 2006 01:29 AM

Michael Roberts

Real Estate Professionals of Glynn - Saint Simons Island, GA

Altoona is what it is. A small town with beautiful surrounds that hasn't changed to any significant degree ( they do have electricity... ha ha) in the past 100 years. Good place to raise a family if you like the rural life.

Nov 08, 2006 01:44 AM

I still don't have cable or highspeed internet. I had to get satellite to provide these services. I am beginning to look like a military base with all the satellite dishes to get what most people consider basic services. That is when you know you really live in the sticks. But it is a nice way to get away from the city.

Nov 08, 2006 04:41 AM

Anonymous

Mustang

I like this little commentary.

I was looking for some information on Altoona, Lake County, etc. and the folks at City-Data are so negative a lot of the time. i wondered if there were any other views - from someone who liked where they lived. I really like the comment "Altoona is what it is" and I learned that they do not have Cable or high speed internet.

With all that being said.

My husband and I are planning on moving to Florida in about 9 months. We are not old even though I am retiring. I would love to continue working at 'something' and teaching Water Aerobics and he has a thriving online business. So, I am looking for a pool (preferable indoors) and wonder which of the areas in Lake County has one. Clermont? Is Tavares big enough for highspeed internet or a community/hospital pool?

Feel free to email me if you have information.

thanks

Norma

Mar 29, 2007 06:48 AM

#10

Norma,

I would be more than happy to email you more info on the areas of Lake County for you.

Mar 29, 2007 07:57 AM

JoAnn

Hi Jason,

First I would like to invite you to stop by Fiddlersgreen Ranch. To everyone else we are not as remote as you think. We do have cable here. We are with a 40 minute drive to Orlando, 40 minutes to Daytona, 40 minutes to the villages and Ocala. We are near the springs and have the whole forest to play in. We have no traffic and for the most part no crime. Altoona children go to school in Umatilla and they are all A rated schools. Yes many of have horses. Those of who dont have them have lots of piece and quiet. No Altoona has not changed much over the years but why would we want it to. We here at Altoona have the best of both worlds. We live in the country side and can commute to any where. I do not believe that Demko Rd has the largest widowers count in fcat there are more and mre young couple moving into Altoona because it is such a great place to raise children.

Here at Fiddlers Green Ranch we do welcome people from all over. We have childrens camp in the summer and do many trail rides for those of you who dont have a horse and would like to ride. We lso board horses, do lessons, and have many events going on.

For those of you close by we have done so many wedding here in this beautiful facility. I invite all who read this to come by, have some sweet tea, take in all the beauty surrounding us..

Thank You

Fiddlers Geen Ranch

201-697-4785

Sep 12, 2010 03:42 AM

#12

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Jason Price

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