A Brief History of Belle Isle

Long before there was a town called "Belle Isle" there was a beautiful chain of lakes in the southern portion of what is now known as Orange County. Known to us as Lake Conway, this pristine chain of lakes provided habitat to many species of flora and fauna. Native people lived along the shores of Lake Conway around 800 A.D. These native people were probably ancestors of the Timucuan. Their life along the lakeshore is evidenced by the spear points and pottery shards that were often found just beneath the sandy soil by Belle Isle children each year after the groves were tilled.

William Wallace Harney was among the early residents and his homestead, located on what is now known as Matchett Road and constructed of native pine, with turrets, came to be known as the "Pine Castle" which is how the area of Pine Castle came to be known.

In 1924 a small group of area residents met on Pleasure Island and decided to form their own community. "Belle Isle", which means beautiful island, was chosen as the name of the newly formed community and Mr. C. H. Hoffner was elected as the first Mayor.

The City of Belle Isle had active city government from 1924 until about 1938. In 1954 a group of residents concerned about an Orange County plan to drain storm water runoff from outside the immediate area into the lakes discovered that there had been a city and took the necessary steps to reactivate the City of Belle Isle. The city has maintained active municipal government without interruption since.

The City operated under a Mayor-Council form of government until November 4, 2003. On that date the electorate approved a charter amendment which placed the city under a Council-City Manager form of government. The City Manager is now responsible for the daily operations of the city. The Mayor is elected for a three year term and is the head of city for all ceremonial purposes. He conducts the Council meetings, sets the order of business on the meeting agenda and represents the city in intergovernmental relationships. There are seven (7) district City Commissioners, elected at-large. The Council has the full legislative responsibility of the City. They also serve three year terms. All elected officials of the city, including the Mayor, serve without compensation.

The City has only ten paid employees, five maintenance and five administrative, and provides city services to our residents with one of the lowest tax rates in Central Florida.