New Book Chronicles the History and Transformation of Florida’s Schroeder-Manatee Ranch into the Thriving Community of Lakewood Ranch

Arts & Culture

Long before it became home to one of the nation’s most admired master-planned communities, the place known today as Lakewood Ranch supported a tapestry of Florida enterprise—from timber and cattle, agriculture, shell mining, and water management to recreation. This new book, Lakewood Ranch: A Legacy of Living with the Land, is a nod to Florida’s pioneering history, uncovering how American innovation and perseverance fostered intentional and careful growth, honoring what came before while building for the future.  Lakewood Ranch: A Legacy of Living with the Land, written in partnership with Advantage Books, is a limited-edition coffee table book that will appeal to anyone interested in Florida’s history, community building, and the enduring relationship between people and place. To learn more or to purchase a copy, visit the Lakewood Ranch Information Center on Main Street. The book can also be preordered on Amazon. 

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