Our Story

The City of Lake Butler is named after Robert Butler, who was an American military officer and acting governor of East Florida between July 10, 1821 and July 11, 1821, after Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain. 

Robert Butler was born in 1786. In his youth, he joined the U.S. Army, attaining the ranks of colonel and commander. Shortly after the death of his father, Thomas Butler, Robert Butler and his siblings became wards of future president Andrew Jackson. He was graduate of West Point and later served with distinction in the War of 1812. He served in the Battle of New Orleans as Jackson's adjutant. 

Later, as the representative of Jackson, he received the surrender of East Florida at St. Augustine from the Spanish governor, José Maria Coppinger. Mr. Butler was named Acting Governor of East Florida on July 10, 1821, but he was in charge for only two days, until the arrival of John R. Bell.

He was later appointed as the first Surveyor General of the territory of Florida and settled on a plantation near Lake Jackson located to the north of Tallahassee. Robert Butler died in 1860. He is the namesake of the city of Lake Butler, Florida. 

The City of Lake Butler was incorporated 126 years ago in 1893. Lake Butler is in the triangle of the major cities of Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Lake City. As a small, rural, agricultural community, it is the county seat for Union County. The current population of 1,800 has been declining since 2000 when the peak was 2,300 residents in the City. All public safety for the City - police, fire, and emergency management - is being handled by Union County. The major business are timber, agriculture, and trucking. Education is outstanding in Lake Butler. With the proximity to the University of Florida and several other colleges and universities, the graduates of Union County High School have many options to continue their education.