Bushnell was first founded with the establishment of the Post Office on October 28, 1885 and incorporated 26 years later in 1911. The City of Bushnell was named after John W. Bushnell, who was responsible for bringing the railroad to the community. Bushnell is the County Seat of rural Sumter County and is conveniently located approximately 50 miles North of Tampa and 50 miles West of Orlando, in sunny Central Florida. Just off of Interstate 75, with HWY 301 winding through the edge and on the outskirts, Bushnell’s rural atmosphere is inviting to those who like to enjoy a more relaxed life style than that which is found in our neighboring metropolitan areas. The City of Bushnell exhibits a steady growth in both its commercial and its residential sectors with an estimated population of 2,328 reported in the 2010 census.

Bushnell is a full service City, providing Electric, Water, Wastewater, and Sanitation to our customers. Currently, Water is supplied to over 1,200 customers, Electricity is distributed to over 1,150 customers, and Sanitation services are provided to over 1,100 customers.

Bushnell’s motto is “Committed to the Quality of Life” and it is the guiding principal by which all municipal decisions are made. Our Mayor, Bil Spaude was elected in December 2010 and began serving his 4 year term on January 1, 2011, along with his four Council Members. Mayor Spaude will be watching over the City with a kind and concerned eye. Capturing Bushnell’s historical flavor and hometown atmosphere is important to our city officials who are busy balancing Bushnell’s past with their future.