# Clewiston

Clewiston is a city in the Florida Heartland.

## Understand

The town had a population of roughly 8,000 in 2019, having increased by over 1,500 in the past twenty years. Permanent settlement did not take place until 1920 and the town was incorporated in 1925. John O'Brien and Alonzo Clewis founded the city. The newly incorporated town maintained the local Native American tradition in the area, fishing, due to the largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee. Agriculture was important during the mid-20th century, and crops included sugar, citrus, and vegetables. The US Sugar Corporation's location in Clewiston has made it important for manufacturing.
Clewiston is an ethnically diverse minority-majority community, with 49% of its residents being of Hispanic or Latino origin and 13% identifying as Black or African American.

## Get in
### By car

US-27 is the main local route, as it is across much of the Florida Heartland which goes through town as Sugarland Hwy (as the 'main street'). In Clewiston it is merged with FL-80. FL-80 comes from Belle Glade in the east and from Fort Myers to the west. West of town Fl-80 and US-27 splits where US-27 goes up north towards Lake Placid.

### By bus

* 26.7557-80.94891 Greyhound Lines, (bus stop) Walmart Parking Lot @ 1005 W Sugarland Hwy, toll-free: +1 800 231-2222. SR-80/US98/I-95 (Ft Myers, Clewiston, Belle Glade, W Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, Miami). They also have another route going towards Tampa through Lake Placid, Sebering, Avon Park, Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland and Plant City along US Hwy 27/98 from Clewiston. Passengers transfer in Ft Myers, Tampa or Miami to reach additional destinations. (updated May 2021)

## See

* 26.753474-80.9337151 Clewiston Museum, 109 Central Ave (off US 27 within a block of the Clewiston Inn), ☏ +1 863 983-2870. M-F 9AM-4PM. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students.
* 26.7556-80.93192 St. Margaret Parish Church, 318 E Osceola Ave, ☏ +1 863 983-8585, saintmargaretoffice@stmargaretcc.org. M–Tu Th 8AM–5PM, W F 9AM–2PM. (updated Aug 2021)

## Do

* 26.7539-80.93441 Dixie Crystal Theatre (Clewiston Theater), 100 E Sugarland Hwy. It was built in 1941 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. (updated Aug 2021)

## Buy

* 26.7564-80.9491 Walmart Supercenter, 1005 W Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-4844. Daily 6AM-11PM.
* 26.7554-80.94612 Clewiston Plaza, 905-975 W Sugarland Hwy. Advanced Auto Parts, Bealls Outlet, Dollar General, Goodwill, McDonalds, Tractor Supply Co, etc. (updated Mar 2022)
   * 26.7558-80.94623 Goodwill, 957 W Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-8059. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Goodwill is one of the largest second-hand store chains in the nation. (updated Mar 2022)

## Eat

* 26.7541-80.92831 Jalapeños, 444 E Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-4444. (updated Aug 2021)
* 26.754-80.93052 Main St Subs, 344 E Sugarland Hwy, ☏ +1 863 983-0277. M–F 10AM–6PM, Sa 10AM–2PM, closed Su. (updated Aug 2021)

## Sleep

* 26.754683-80.932841 Americas Best Value Inn Historic Clewiston Inn, 108 Royal Palm Ave, ☏ +1 863 983-8151. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Has restaurant as part of the inn. Historic nature mural in the bar. $86 (Mar 2022).
* 26.75366-80.949542 Best Western, 1020 W Sugarland Hwy (Across the street from Walmart), ☏ +1 863 983-3400. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2022)
* 26.75374-80.950233 Holiday Express (An IHG Hotel), 1024 W Sugarland Hwy (Across the street from Walmart.), ☏ +1 863 983-5100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2022)
* 26.75401-80.938674 Motor Inn Clewiston, 412 W Sugarland Hwy (W Sugarland & Coruna/Arcade), ☏ +1 863 983-4115. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2022)
* 26.7592-80.91975 Roland & Mary Ann Martins Marina & Resort, 920 E Del Monte Ave, ☏ +1 863 983-3151, toll-free: +1 800 473-6766, oson@rolandmartinmarina.com. (updated Aug 2021)
* 26.753764-80.9407086 West Express Inn, 433 W Sugarland Hwy (Along Sugarland Hwy between W Circle & Arcade, next to KFC), ☏ +1 863 983-9161. (updated Mar 2022)

## Go next

* Okeechobee is at the other end of the lake.