It has been around for nearly 150 years, but there is no time like the present for the burgeoning town of Lake Butler. Serving as the county seat of Union County in North Central Florida, this quiet hideaway has found its way onto the regional radar screen. In recent years, new residential development is beginning to pop up, allowing more inhabitants to take advantage of the area’s beautiful, serene surroundings and its strategic location.

This laid-back community on the shores of the spring-fed, sparkling Lake Butler has a population of 2,000 and climbing. Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida, lies 60 miles to the northeast, and Gainesville, Lake City and Starke are also short distances away. The proximity to these larger population centers has made Lake butler the ideal commuter town for those hoping to avoid the perils of urban living.

Urban life is the farthest thing from one’s mind when strolling down the streets of this relaxed Southern town. Residents enjoy the feel of old Florida, with all its nostalgic charm. And the natural surroundings, with shimmering lakes, rolling hills and towering oaks, all add to the flavor of the region. But let’s not forget the weather. Here, residents enjoy a short winter with an average annual low temperature of 42 degrees, and long summers replete with sunny days and life-affirming warmth. Other advantages of Union County life include:

• A plethora of recreational opportunities, including six county facilities, the gorgeous, historic O’Leno State Park and several shining Florida lakes that attract boaters and anglers from around the Southeast and beyond
• Excellent health-care facilities down the road in Gainesville – for hospitals and the University of Florida’s cutting-edge health and science complex
• Sports, entertainment, museums and all there sis to offer at the University of Florida, the nation’s third larges university, only a 20-minute drive to the southwest
• Florida’s famous white sand beaches, only an hour a way in each direction, and Walt Disney World and the state’s tourism capital, Orland, two hours to the south

The list could go on and on. For those looking for a home base that offers small-town living with all the trappings of 21st century Florida only a hop and a skip away, Lake Butler may just be the perfect choice.