Clewiston, Florida: How a Sugar-Fueled Boomtown Redefined the Edge of the Everglades

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as America's Sweetest Town, Clewiston sits on the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee. Founded in 1920 to anchor a massive agricultural expansion, this Florida city evolved from a remote fishing camp into a central hub for the sugar industry, eventually becoming a key player in regional environmental restoration efforts.

The origins of Clewiston trace back to 1920, when John O'Brien and Alonzo Clewis purchased a vast tract of land beside Lake Okeechobee. Before this permanent settlement, the area served as a fishing camp for the Seminole tribe. The founders quickly developed the town, commissioning a formal plan and constructing the Moore Haven & Clewiston Railway to link their new community to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. By 1925, the settlement was officially incorporated as a city.

The local economy became synonymous with the US Sugar Corporation, which dominated the region's landscape and earned Clewiston its sweet moniker. By the mid-20th century, the area had diversified into cattle, citrus, and vegetable farming. However, the scale of industrial agriculture eventually prompted a massive shift in land use. In 2008, the state of Florida initiated a landmark deal to purchase 187,000 acres of farmland from US Sugar for $1.75 billion, a plan later scaled back to 181,000 acres for $1.34 billion to preserve local jobs and infrastructure.

This transition is part of a broader effort to restore the Everglades ecosystem. The acquired land is slated to be converted into reservoirs and water-filtering zones, repurposing acreage that once defined the town's industrial identity. Today, Clewiston remains a focal point for both its historical ties to the sugar industry and its evolving role in Florida's environmental future. The city, which had a population of 7,327 at the 2020 census, continues to balance its heritage as a sport fishing destination with its position on the front lines of regional ecological management.

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