Inglis is located along the Withlacoochee River, approximately 5 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico, and is characterized by its commitment to ecological preservation and its "Old Florida" charm.

The town's history is deeply tied to its namesake, Captain John L. Inglis, a Scottish-American businessman and Confederate veteran who moved to the area in the late 19th century. Captain Inglis was a major figure in the Florida phosphate industry. He developed Port Inglis at the mouth of the river, which became the largest phosphate shipping port in the United States during its peak.

While the community grew around industrial and trading interests, the Town of Inglis was officially incorporated in 1955. It gained a unique claim to fame in 1961 when Elvis Presley filmed the movie "Follow That Dream" in the area, particularly along the nearby coast and in the neighboring town of Yankeetown. The main east-west road through the town is Highway 40, which is popularly referred to as the "Follow That Dream Parkway".