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Bartow, Florida

Bartow is a city and the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow, the first brigade commander of the Confederate Army to die in combat during the American Civil War. It is part of the Lakeland−Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 787,404, as of July 1, 2022. According to the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 19,309.

Located near the source of the Peace River, Bartow is approximately 39 miles east of Tampa, Florida and 50 miles southwest of the Greater Orlando area. The city is near the center of "Lightning Alley" and has frequent afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, but typically has sunny and mild winters. Government, mining, and agriculture are the major sectors of the area's economy. The primary roads in the Bartow area are U.S. Route 17, U.S. Route 98 and State Road 60, which provide access to locations throughout Central Florida.

The official city nickname is the "City of Oaks and Azaleas". Three districts within the city are on the National Register of Historic Places. Other historic landmarks include the Old Polk County Courthouse built in 1909 and Bartow High School, formerly Summerlin Institute, the oldest high school in the county. Summerlin Academy now uses the space and was named for the historic school. Although Bartow has been eclipsed in population, importance and name recognition by other cities in the county, particularly Lakeland and Winter Haven, the city has retained its small city heritage and its distinctive Southern culture. With the annexation of 18000 acre of former phosphate mining land owned by the Clear Springs Land Company, Bartow's population is projected to increase to over 25,000 by 2025 and over 45,000 by 2030.

History
A Spanish map of the Florida peninsula drawn in 1527 shows a native settlement called Rio de la Paz near present-day Bartow. Little is known about these Native Americans who made their home near present-day Bartow. It is likely that their population suffered high mortality from European diseases, such as smallpox and measles. The remnants of these pre-Columbian peoples probably joined the Creek Indians who migrated from the north to become the Seminole Indian tribe.

The first non-Indian settlement in the area was a colony of Black Seminole, free blacks and escaped slaves who established Minatti south of Lake Hancock in the late 1810s. These "maroons", as they were commonly called, were slaves who escaped from Georgia and the Carolinas. The Black Seminole of Minatti were allies of the Red Stick Creek in Talakchopko, a village that preceded present-day Fort Meade. The Seminole leader Osceola had strong ties to Talakchopko. Many of the events leading up to the Second Seminole War were associated with Osceola and the Minatti war chief Harry. By the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842, both Minatti and Talakchopko had been destroyed by US forces.

The Armed Occupation Act of 1842 facilitated European-American settlement of the Florida peninsula in the 1840s, although the act prohibited settlement near the Peace River, as this was considered Seminole land. Enforcement of that part of the act was not strictly enforced; however, and settlers eventually moved into the area. As the settlement grew, the residents began to plant citrus trees and build one-room school houses and churches. In 1851, Fort Blount was established by Redding Blount. Bartow developed east of this site. At some point in the 1850s, Fort Blount was renamed as Peace Creek or Peas Creek, which was a translation of the Spanish Rio de la Paz of early maps.

About a month after the secession of Florida in 1861, the state established Polk County from the eastern portion of Hillsborough County. A few months later, the American Civil War began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. Because of the turmoil of secession and the war, the county had no official county seat for its first six years. The state legislature had directed the voters of Polk County to choose a site for the county seat and mandated that the site be named "Reidsville". During the war, the area's major contribution to the Confederacy was supplying food, particularly cattle and beef. The Union army and navy had effective control of the west coast of Florida, and many cattlemen retreated inland and formed the "Cow Cavalry" as a defense against Union troops. One of the wealthiest members of the Cow Cavalry was Jacob Summerlin. After Summerlin purchased the Blount property in 1862, he donated a large parcel of land to build a county courthouse, two churches and a school. Later that year, the town which had been known as Fort Blount, Peace Creek, Peas Creek, and briefly Reidsville, was permanently renamed Bartow in honor of Francis S. Bartow, the first Confederate brigade commander to die during the war.

Bartow recovered slowly from the war. The first Polk County Courthouse was built in 1867, which firmly established the city as county seat. Although Florida formally rejoined the union in 1868, the Reconstruction era did not end in Florida until 1877.

The 1880s and 1890s were a period of growth for the city of Bartow; from 1880 to 1900, the city would grow from 386 residents to 1,983. On July 1, 1882, the town was incorporated as a city. In 1885, the Florida Southern Railroad, a north–south route from North Florida to Southwest Florida opened in Bartow. A year later, the Bartow Branch of the South Florida Railroad, connecting Tampa and Orlando, was completed. The railroads were catalysts for growth of the area; during the Spanish–American War, the Bartow rail yards became a crucial part of the supply line directed at US troops in Cuba. In 1887, Summerlin Institute, the first brick schoolhouse south of Jacksonville, was built.

By the turn of the century, Bartow had become the most populous city south of Tampa on the Florida peninsula – larger than Miami or West Palm Beach.

As the city grew, a number of industries moved into the Bartow area. In the first few decades of the 1900s, thousands of acres of land around the city were purchased by the phosphate industry. Bartow would become the hub of the largest phosphate industry in the United States.

Polk County was the leading citrus county in the United States for much of the 20th century and the city has several large groves. In 1941, the city built an airport northeast of town. The airport was taken over by the federal government during World War II and was the training location for many Army Air Corps pilots during the war. The airport was returned to the city in 1967 and renamed as Bartow Municipal Airport.

For most of the 20th century, Bartow's growth was modest, especially in comparison to the rest of the county and state. While other cities in Polk County aggressively annexed adjacent land and allowed rapid growth, the government of Bartow generally took a more cautious approach. Bartow's growth was also limited because most of the land surrounding the city was owned by phosphate mining companies, making residential growth impractical. Although Bartow had been the largest city in Polk county in 1900, by the 1910 U.S. Census, Lakeland had surpassed it in population. Bartow remained the second largest city in the county until sometime in the 1950s, when Winter Haven superseded it.

In the late 1990s phosphate operations in the area moved southward, and much of the former phosphate land became available for sale. In 1999, Connecticut financier Stanford Phelps purchased the former Clear Springs phosphate lands east and south of city limits; he announced plans for an 18,000-acre development, the largest project in Polk County history. After nearly a decade of delays, the plan received final approval in 2009. The Clear Springs Development includes plans for more than 11,000 new homes, 1,000,000 ft2 of commercial space, three schools, and a golf course. According to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Bartow's population is projected to grow to over 25,000 people by 2015. When buildout of the Clear Springs Development is completed by 2030, the population of the city is projected to be over 45,000 residents.

Geography
Bartow is located slightly southwest of the geographical centers of both Polk County and peninsular Florida. The city is approximately 39 mi east of Tampa and 51 mi southwest of Orlando. The cities of Bartow, Lakeland, and Winter Haven form a roughly equilateral triangle pointed southward, with Bartow being the south point, Lakeland the west point, and Winter Haven the east point. The city is located near the headwaters of the Peace River at Lake Hancock. Bartow is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000 the city had a total area of 11.4 sqmi, of which 11.2 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.23%) is water. As a result of the annexation of over 26000 acre of undeveloped land, primarily the Clear Springs land, the area of the city has quadrupled to over 52 sqmi with more annexation still pending.

Physiography and soils
Bartow is located on the South Central Florida Ridge, as classified by the USDA. Most soils in the Bartow area are sandy; other soils have sandy surface layers and clay subsoils, and the eastern outskirts of town have a clay-rich floodplain through which the Peace River flows. Drainage outside of the floodplain ranges from good to excessive for the most part except for a poorly drained band which cuts across the northern part of town. Much of Bartow is built on the Fort Meade soil series, which is well drained, high in organic matter, and rich in phosphorus, an uncommon combination in Florida, much appreciated by area gardeners.

Climate
Bartow, like most of Florida, is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). The climate of Bartow and other inland cities is slightly different than those cities on the coasts of Florida. Typically, the ocean or gulf tends to moderate the climate of cities on the coast. As Bartow is further from the coast than almost any other city in Florida, it tends to have higher daytime temperatures cooler temperatures at night. Regardless, the climate pattern prevalent throughout central Florida is evident in Bartow: hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and relatively drier and milder winters.

On average, a tropical system brings hurricane-force winds to the Polk County area less than once every ten years, although the 2004 hurricane season in which three hurricanes hit within 44 days was a case study in the law of averages. Until 2004, the most recent storm to bring hurricane-force winds to the Bartow area had been Hurricane Donna in 1960. While Florida's vulnerability to hurricanes is well known, hurricanes are not the most common severe weather threat seen in the Polk County area. The area is in the center of "lightning alley", the most concentrated lightning strike area in the United States. Lightning is not the only threat from central Florida thunderstorms. The more severe storms bring the threat of tornadoes, although Florida tornadoes very rarely reach the size of those elsewhere in the United States. Even hail is not out of the question; one storm in March 1996 caused a one-foot accumulation of hail in areas of Bartow.

Freezes are an occasional occurrence in the Bartow area and can be a problem if temperatures remain below freezing for a sustained period of time. On average, the area can expect an annual minimum temperature of 32 F, putting it in plant hardiness zone 10a. Snow is a rare phenomenon in the area, perhaps a few times every century.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,309 people, 6,546 households, and 4,378 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 17,298 people, 5,909 households, and 4,097 families residing in the city.

In 2010, the population density was 377.1 inhabitants per square mile of land (976.7/km2). There were 7,130 housing units at an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km2).

In 2010, there were 5,909 households, of which 67.4% were families (one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption), 27.4% consisted of individuals, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were heterosexual married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12. Among housing units, 87.7% were occupied and 1.4% were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use; 63.5% of occupied housing units were owner-occupied and 36.5% were occupied by renters. an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km2).

In 2010, the median age was 36.2 years; 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 males there were 112.6 females. For every 100 males age 18 and over, there were 120.1 females. an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km2).

According to the American Community Survey between 2009 and 2013, the median income for a household in the city was 44,297, and the median income for a family was 56,009. Among full-time, year-round workers, males had a median income of $39,540 versus $32,076 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,994. About 17.2% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over. an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km2).

Religion

The first two churches built in town, the First Baptist and the First Methodist churches, were constructed on land given by the city founder Jacob Summerlin in 1867. Jacob Summerlin was known as the "King of the Crackers" and owned much of the land located around Bartow. These churches, although not housed in the original buildings, are still extant today. In 1919, more than 8,000 people came to Bartow to hear former baseball star and traveling evangelist Billy Sunday preach, which was twice as much as the population of Bartow and more than the population of the county's largest city Lakeland at the time. As of 2010, there are more than 70 churches within the Bartow area.

Like most of the Bible Belt, Bartow has a high number of people affiliated with evangelical Protestant denominations with over 62% of churchgoers belonging to evangelical denominations. According to data published by the Glenmary Research Center in 2000, the denomination which has the largest number of adherents in Bartow is the Southern Baptist Convention with 27%, followed by the Roman Catholic church with 19%. Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are also prominent making up 17% of Bartow's church attendance. The Pentecostal experience known as the Lakeland revival, which attracted controversy for its claims of supernatural healing, was started up the road at the Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland. Other churches which have a presence in Bartow include the United Methodist Church at 9%, and the Episcopal and Lutheran churches with 2% apiece. While there are no synagogues in town for Jewish Bartownians, Temple Emanuel is a conservative synagogue only 12 mi away in Lakeland. There are two Muslim mosques and a Hindu temple in the county.

Economy

The economy of Bartow is driven by four sectors: government, mining, agriculture, and tourism. While Bartow's population is less than 20,000, it is shaped by its proximity to several large centers of population. Within a 100 mi radius of the center of town, there are close to 8 million people.

The dominant force in the economy of Bartow is city, county and state government. As a small city which is the seat of a county with over half a million people. In addition to city and county offices, there are also a number of regional, state, and federal offices located within Bartow city limits. Nine of the seventeen largest employers in Bartow are government entities. The largest by far is the Polk County School Board with over 12,000 employees. Other county entities which employ many people in the Bartow area include the county commission, the sheriff's department, the clerk of court, the tax collector, and the property appraiser. The Florida Department of Transportation District One office is located in Bartow and is responsible for southwest Florida's transportation needs.

There are several large businesses with headquarters elsewhere which were founded in Bartow. The large international law firm of Holland & Knight was founded in Bartow in 1929. What eventually become the large Burdines and Sons department store chain was founded in Bartow in 1896 as Payne and Burdines. A couple years after opening his store, William M. Burdines opened a store in Miami and relocated his operations there.

Phosphate mining has been a major player in Bartow's economy since the discovery of phosphate rock in 1881. Polk County is part of the Bone Valley which is the richest source of phosphate rock in the world; 75% of the United States's supply and 25% of the world's supply come from the Bone Valley. The largest employer in the phosphate industry is Mosaic which employs over 3,000 people in the area.

In terms of area, Polk County has 600000 acre dedicated to agriculture. According to the US Census of Agriculture, Polk County is the top citrus production county in Florida. Polk County is also ranked second in the state in production of honey and fourth in number of heads of cattle. Since 1997 the new bumper crop in the area is blueberry. From 2000 to 2007 the area has more than doubled its production of blueberries and accounts for more than 35% of the state's production of the fruit. While spring is usually a "dead" time for every other blueberry growing area in North and South America, Polk County blueberries peak from March to May.

Although there are no major tourist attractions in the immediate Bartow area, the city is located less than 50 mi from both the Walt Disney World Resort and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The city is also less than 20 mi from Legoland Florida in Winter Haven and Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales. As a city with many historical sites dating back over 100 years, Bartow is also a point of interest for those interested in historical sites and monuments.

Annual festivals and other events
There are several annual events in the Bartow area which have a long tradition. Many of these are large events which draw people from other communities to the city such as the Cricket Club Halloween Parade and Carnival held each year since 1942 or the annual Fourth of July Celebration held at Mosaic Park. The Bloomin' Arts Festival is an art show held in early March by the Bartow Art Guild. Every February brings the Annual L.B. Brown Festival at the L.B. Brown House on L.B. Brown Avenue (formally Second Avenue). Bartow's discarded natural Christmas trees are piled around a telephone pole for the annual New Year's Eve bonfire, a unique tradition spanning more than seven decades which has sometimes been covered by national media.

The Polk County Arts Alliance based in Bartow is designated the official Art Agency by the county commission and is in charge of furthering the performing arts in the county. The Bartow Performing Arts Series sponsors five performances every year. The Imperial Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble of ninety volunteer musicians throughout the county who perform a dozen or so events every year including a concert "under the stars". The city also has a volunteer band, the Bartow Adult Concert Band, which performs several shows a year. On the third Friday of every month, Main Street is blocked off for Friday Fest at 6 p.m. for a night of live music and entertainment, informally known as "Tow Jam" by natives.

Historic buildings and landmarks
The city's Historic Architecture Review Board is responsible for the preservation, enhancement and promotion of historic buildings, landmarks and districts within the city. Three districts in the city, the Bartow Downtown Commercial District, the Northeast Bartow Residential District, and the South Bartow Residential District have been designated as historic districts. New construction within these districts is regulated by the board and they have the power to veto construction which might alter the character of the neighborhood.

While the towering oaks and ever-present azalea bushes which spawned the city's nickname give many of the historic landmarks of the city a distinctive Southern "look and feel", many styles of architecture are represented in Bartow's historic buildings. The South Bartow and Northeast Bartow historic districts are characterized by masonry vernacular and various revival styles, while downtown is dominated by frame vernacular and classical revival styles. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places with distinctive architectural styles include the Thompson and Company Cigar Factory built in a Mission Revival Style and the L.B. Brown House built with distinctive Victorian ornamentation. The L.B. Brown House is notable as perhaps the only house still standing in Florida built by a freedman. The Old Polk County Courthouse, Bartow's most recognizable symbol seen on its city seal, was built in 1909 in a neoclassical style. The Polk County Historical Museum is located in the Old Polk County Courthouse and consists of exhibits presenting local and regional history from pre-Columbian to present eras, along with a history and genealogical library.

Florida Senator Spessard L. Holland was born in Bartow. His home is located on South Broadway 2 blocks north of Bartow High School. Senator Holland was a founding member of the Holland and Knight Law Firm. The firm's original office was located on South Central Avenue across the street from the Bartow Post Office.

There are several other notable buildings in Bartow which are not on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wonder House at 1075 Mann Road features natural air-conditioning (using rainwater), secluded outdoor bathtubs, and numerous mirrors that let occupants see who is at the door from other parts of the home. The current owners of the Wonder House are restoring it and plan to open a museum. The Thomas Lee Wilson House, also known as the Stanford Inn, at 555 East Stanford Street was the "Sultenfuss Funeral Parlor" in the movie My Girl. The house at 935 South Oak Avenue known as "Windsweep" was the residence used in the movie China Moon.

Sports and recreation
Many of the recreational opportunities in the area are outdoor activities designed to take advantage of the warm subtropical climate. There are eighteen parks in the City of Bartow Department of Parks and Recreation. Mary Holland Park, named after the wife of former Florida governor Spessard Holland, is a 119 acre park with three lakes, a playground, an overnight camping area, and a skateboard park. The Bartow Civic Center is a 31 acre complex with meeting rooms, concert facilities and a public pool. Bartow Park is a 95 acre complex with softball, baseball and soccer fields and a track for remote control cars. The Bartow Golf Course is a par 72, 6,300 yard course designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross, with a restaurant and an area for barbecuing.

The Tour de Tow is an annual cycling tour held in September. The Fort Fraser Trail is a 7.7 mi path leading from Bartow to South Lakeland. The path follows a converted CSX railroad line and is popular with area cyclists, joggers, and in-line skaters. Plans have been made to build a replica of the historic Fort Fraser along the path, as well as adding historical markers. Five picnic areas and six rest shelters are available along the path.

Polk County has over 550 lakes. Most of these lakes were formerly strip mines; they are closed to the public, only 88 of the lakes are open to the public via boat ramp access. The area has a national reputation for largemouth bass fishing and there are tournaments held weekly almost year-round. Some of the lakes on the east side of Bartow offer anglers the opportunity to catch 50 largemouth bass a day.

Municipal government
The City of Bartow has a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of five commissioners, each elected for a three-year term. The mayor is a member of the city commission elected annually by the commissioners, although traditionally the position is rotated. As of 2022, the mayor of Bartow is Steve Githens Other commissioners are Nick Adams, Leo Longworth, Tanya Tucker and Trish Pfeiffer". The city executive powers rest with the city manager, as contracted by the city commission. In 2010, the city's budget was $74.2 million.

Electricity, waste disposal and water are municipal services provided by the city of Bartow to residents in city limits and nearby areas. Bartow is part of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and in times of drought, the city strictly enforces the restrictions set forth by the district. Although it is a private entity outside of the city limits of Bartow, the Bartow Executive Airport is governed and administrated by the city commission which convenes as the Bartow Airport Authority. As of 2016, the Bartow Police Department has five sergeants, twenty officers, three K-9 officers, two school resource officers, two public safety aides, and one parking enforcement specialist, while the Bartow Fire Department has 18 full-time firemen. The city of Bartow also operates the Bartow Public library, which was founded in 1897 and has reciprocal borrowing agreements with other public libraries in Polk County.

Federal and state representation
Bartow, as well as the rest of Polk County, is part of the so-called I-4 corridor. The I-4 corridor is seen by political analysts as the most politically competitive part of the state. Polk is considered the most conservative county in the corridor. Even though the majority of the residents of Bartow are members of the Democratic Party, outnumbering the Republican Party in party affiliation (53.3% to 31.7%), voters tend to support Republicans in most state and federal elections. In 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain's lead over Democrat Barack Obama (53.6% to 46.5) in the city was larger than that of both the county and state.

All of Bartow's local representation in the state and federal legislatures are members of the Republican Party. Bartow is represented in the state Florida House of Representatives by Ben Albritton. In the Florida Senate, Bartow is represented by Denise Grimsley. In the United States House of Representatives, Bartow is located in Florida's 15th congressional district, and represented by Congressman Scott Franklin.

The Florida Department of Citrus has its headquarters in the Bob Crawford Agricultural Center in Bartow.

Education

The schools in Bartow are operated by the Polk County School Board, although several of them predate the establishment of the school board, and were autonomous at one time. Bartow High School, formerly Summerlin Institute, is the oldest high school in the county and one of the oldest high schools in the state of Florida. In 1923 Union Academy, became the first African-American high school in Polk County. Court-ordered integration began in Bartow during the fall of 1969, and the former black high school Union Academy became a middle school. In 1971, Summerlin Institute officially became Bartow High School, a name it had been known as informally at least since the early 1900s. There are currently seven elementary schools and two middle schools which are feeder schools of Bartow High School. Located at the campus of Bartow High School is the International Baccalaureate School of Polk County which offers an academically challenging environment and the Summerlin Academy which offers a military-oriented education.

It is expected that the rapid growth of the Clear Springs development will necessitate the building of at least two elementary schools and a middle school within the next twenty years. As part of this development, a new Polk State College campus called The PSC Advanced Technology Center at Clear Springs is projected to open by 2012. This 20 acre campus will be  located near the intersection of State Road 60 and 80 Foot Road.

While there are currently no colleges or universities in Bartow, there are several within a 20 mi radius of Bartow. The nearest university, University of South Florida Polytechnic is located 6 mi northwest of city limits in Lakeland on a joint campus with Polk State College. Florida Southern College and Southeastern University are also located in Lakeland. Warner University is located to the east in Lake Wales.

Media
Bartow is part of the Tampa/St. Pete television market, the 13th largest in the country. There are two AM radio stations within the city: WQXM (1460 AM) and WWBF (1130 AM). These stations are part of the local Lakeland/Winter Haven radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country. In addition to the stations in the local market, people in the area have the choice of both Tampa Bay and Orlando area radio stations and as of the 2010 market sweeps several of the most listened to stations in the market are in the Tampa Bay area.

The Polk County Democrat is the only newspaper published within Bartow. It is a semi-weekly paper which began publication in 1931. The dominant daily newspaper is The Ledger out of Lakeland, although the Tampa Tribune, the News Chief out of Winter Haven, Florida and the Orlando Sentinel have some circulation in town.

Transportation
The street grid of Bartow is a typical four quadrant grid with Main Street as the east–west axis and Broadway Avenue as the north–south axis. Broadway is co-signed with U.S. Route 98 in the northern commercial district and leads southward into the center of town before heading into one of the older residential sections of town. Main Street is the old State Road 60 leading into the historic heart of downtown Bartow.

The primary numbered routes going through Bartow are State Road 60 and U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 98. State Road 60 is a major state highway leading to both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and is the major east–west route through town. Originally traveling along Main Street, State Road 60 now follows Van Fleet Drive bypassing the downtown area, and is commonly known as "the 60 Bypass" by locals. Heading east on State Road 60 leads to Lake Wales and on to Vero Beach, while westbound leads to Mulberry and eventually Tampa. U.S. 17 is the main north–south route on the east side of town. It is a four lane divided highway leading north to Winter Haven and south to Fort Meade. U.S. 98 is cosigned with U.S. 17 until its intersection with SR 60. Briefly cosigned with State Road 60 until its intersection with Broadway Avenue. US 98 then turns northward onto Broadway Avenue heading towards Lakeland. State Road 570, known as the Polk Parkway, is a toll road located (10 km) north of city limits on U.S. 98. The Polk Parkway provides direct freeway access to Tampa and Orlando via Interstate 4.

The explosive growth expected in the area in the next few decades has created a need for a reexamination of the area's transportation infrastructure. The Central Polk Parkway is a proposed limited access highway that would connect the Polk Parkway with U.S. 17 and State Road 60. The Northern Bartow Connector, which was expected to be completed by 2015 but was shelved as of 2016, is a partial loop around the north part of town connecting U.S. 98 with State Road 60 east of town. However, the portion connecting U.S. 98 and U.S. 17 was completed in 2013.

For aviation needs, Bartow Executive Airport is available. The airport has a VFR control tower, three 5,000 ft runways - including two parallel runways, a restaurant with views of the airfield, and includes an industrial park and warehouse storage. Both Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) are within 60 mi driving distance from the center of Bartow.

Bartow has its own bus system, the Bartow Shuttle, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Citrus Connection has buses that serve the Bartow downtown area from Lakeland, and Winter Haven Area Transit serves Bartow from Winter Haven and Fort Meade.

Library
The Bartow Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. The library is located at 2150 S. Broadway Ave. Bartow, FL 33830. The library first started May 19, 1897 above Polk County National Bank. After obtaining a Carnegie Grant the public library was opened on February 8, 1915. It moved to the current location in 1998. The Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library is housed within the Polk County Historical Museum in the historic Old Polk County Courthouse and contains more than 40,000 items in its collection pertaining to history and genealogy of the eastern United States.

Notable people
As it is the county seat, many government officials and politicians have been associated with Bartow since its founding. Perhaps the most notable is Spessard Holland, former Florida governor and U.S. Senator, who governed the state during World War Two and introduced the 24th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which prohibited use of the poll tax in federal elections. Holland had opposed previous civil rights legislation. Spessard L. Holland Elementary, named in his honor, opened in 2009. His predecessor in the U.S. Senate, Charles O. Andrews, also attended school in Bartow. Others who were raised and schooled in Bartow include former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen Grimes, former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, who had a key role during the 2000 U.S. Presidential election, and former U.S. congressman Adam Putnam.

The most notable military officer from Bartow is four-star general James Van Fleet, who was the commanding officer of the United Nations forces during the Korean War. Other generals associated with the City of Bartow include Albert H. Blanding, who served during World War One, and Confederate General Evander M. Law, who lived for his last forty years in Bartow.

Numerous men who became professional athletes were born, lived in or associated with the city of Bartow. Some were born in Polk General Hospital, a public hospital in Bartow which closed in 1995, but most were generally associated with other cities in Polk County. Born in Bartow and raised elsewhere in the county were NFL linebacker Ray Lewis, NBA guard Tracy McGrady, and motocross star James "Bubba" Stewart. Other athletes who were raised and educated in Bartow include former NFL defensive back (2023 Hall of Fame class) Ken Riley, former NFL defensive back Marcus Floyd, former Cleveland Indians outfielder Frank Baker, and former NASCAR driver Rick Wilson.

Other notable people from Bartow include Lake Eola Park founder Jacob Summerlin, January 2010 Playboy  Playmate Jaime Faith Edmondson, centenarian Charlie Smith, lynching victim Fred Rochelle, and Ossian Sweet, a physician who challenged the color line in Detroit and was acquitted of murder charges.

title: Bartow, Florida


text:
Combee Settlement, Florida

Combee Settlement is a census-designated place and unincorporated area in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,436 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area includes the separate unincorporated community of Country Club Estates.

ZIP code
The ZIP code for Combee Settlement is 33801.

Geography
Combee Settlement is located at 28.05806°N, -81.90944°W (28.058007, -81.909473); or about 3 miles ENE of Lakeland.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.5 km$2$ (2.1 mi²), all land.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 5,436 people, 2,193 households, and 1,429 families in the CDP. The population density was 990.0/km$2$ (2,563.3/mi²). There were 2,488 housing units at an average density of 453.1/km$2$ (1,173.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.91% White, 5.72% African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.92% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.40%.

Of the 2,193 households 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 26.8% of households were one person and 9.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median household income was $30,923 and the median family income was $35,532. Males had a median income of $26,523 versus $21,267 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,461. About 14.4% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010 Combee Settlement had a population of 5,577. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 69.8% non-Hispanic white, 9.2% black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 3.0% reporting two or more races and 18.2% Hispanic or Latino.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Combee Settlement, Florida


text:
Crooked Lake Park, Florida

Crooked Lake Park is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,682 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Crooked Lake Park is located at 27.83167°N, -81.59°W (27.831739, -81.589984).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.5 km2, all land.V

Crooked Lake Park is across US 27 from Warner University.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,682 people, 645 households, and 472 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,159.7 /km2. There were 758 housing units at an average density of 522.6 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.56% White, 4.28% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.83% of the population.

There were 645 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,804, and the median income for a family was $42,404. Males had a median income of $26,125 versus $22,075 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,731. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Crooked Lake Park, Florida


text:
Cypress Gardens, Florida

Cypress Gardens is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,169 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Cypress Gardens is located at 28.00333°N, -81.69056°W (28.003443, -81.690492).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.3 sqmi, of which 3.8 sqmi is land and 0.5 sqmi (11.42%) is water.

Demographics
2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 10,169 people and 3,766 households in the CDP. The population density was 2,937.3 people per square mile. The racial make up of the CDP was 82.3% White, 4.8% African American, 1.7% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 20.1% of the population.

 2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 8,844 people, 3,584 households, and 2,630 families in the CDP. The population density was 2,328.6 PD/sqmi. There were 3,942 housing units at an average density of 1,037.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.09% White, 1.92% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.10%.

Of the 3,584 households 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.1% of households were one person and 12.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.84.

The age distribution was 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.

The median household income was $49,778 and the median family income was $57,387. Males had a median income of $39,286 versus $26,595 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,366. About 2.4% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

title: Cypress Gardens, Florida


text:
Davenport, Florida

Davenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,043 at the 2020 Census. The city's population has increased dramatically since the 2010 Census, when the population was 2,888.

History
The settlement in the area now known as Davenport was established in 1838 when the US military set up Fort Davenport during the Second Seminole War, about 12 miles north of the present site of Davenport. The fort was one of a number built at 20 mile intervals along a trail from Fort Brooke to Fort Mellon. The fort only lasted a few years. The fort was named for Colonel William Davenport, who served as the local U.S. commander in the war. There is no known documentary evidence to support an alternative claim that the city was named for a railroad conductor.

The modern city of Davenport had its start in the 1880s when the South Florida Railroad was extended to that point. The settlement was first known as Horse Creek, for the creek first recorded on a US Army survey of 1849 which flows past the site to enter Snell Creek and eventually Lake Hatchineha in the Kissimmee River system. A post office was established at Horse Creek in 1884, and the name of the post office was changed to Davenport in 1886. Davenport was incorporated in 1915.

The South Florida Railroad opened a station half a mile north of the present site of the city. The railroad line was acquired by the Plant System in 1893, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. In 1926, it was replaced by a new station in the downtown area. It was later closed in the 1970s. From 1958 to 1986 there was a second station, the Vertagreen Railroad Station, opened only for the transportation of fertilizer and not for public use.

Geography and climate
Davenport is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 sqmi, of which 1.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (3.68%) is water.

The exact coordinates for the city are located at 28.15861°N, -81.60806°W.

Davenport is located in the humid subtropical zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,043 people, 1,503 households, and 1,159 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,888 people, 953 households, and 687 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,924 people, 708 households, and 536 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,230.5 PD/sqmi. There were 913 housing units at an average density of 583.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.85% White, 6.91% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 4.52% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.12% of the population.

In 2000, there were 708 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.90.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $29,408, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $31,341 versus $25,492 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,544. About 7.2% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The area around Davenport in northeast Polk County used to be centered on the remote Circus World amusement park. It was redeveloped in 1987 into Boardwalk and Baseball and included a minor league baseball park that would attract spring training and minor league baseball teams for the Kansas City Royals, earning the area the moniker "Baseball City". The amusement park failed in 1990, and the Royals left for Arizona and the Cactus League in 2003. The Baseball City name is now extinct, and the area around the stadium (which was demolished in 2005) has been redeveloped into Posner Park, a large outdoor shopping mall.

Transportation

 * – Located 8 miles north of town, this freeway provides access westward to Lakeland and Tampa, and eastward to the Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando.
 * – This main north/south route cuts through the center of town, leading northward to Kissimmee and southward to Haines City.
 * – Located a few miles west of town, US 27 provides access to I-4 going northward, and leads southward to Haines City and Lake Wales.

Railroads have always been a part of Davenport's history, and freight and passenger trains still run through the city, although the railroad stations have been closed for many years. The former ACL main line which ran through the city is now part of the CSX Carters Subdivision.

Healthcare
The only hospital in Davenport is AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

title: Davenport, Florida


text:
Dundee, Florida

Dundee is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,235 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
A post office called Dundee has been in operation since 1912. The town was named after Dundee, in Scotland. Dundee was first settled in 1911, and incorporated as a town in 1925. On April 2, 2024, the town held a referendum on whether it should adopt city status, 68% voted for Dundee to remain a town, compared to 32% voting in favour of being a city.

Geography and climate
The exact coordinates for the Town of Dundee is located at 28.01139°N, -81.59944°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.3 sqmi, of which 3.9 sqmi is land and 0.4 sqmi (8.82%) is water.

Dundee is located in the humid subtropical climate zone under (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,235 people, 1,416 households, and 1,218 families residing in the town.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 3,717 people, 1,602 households, and 1,047 families residing in the town.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 2,912 people, 1,123 households, and 811 families in the town. The population density was 740.7 PD/sqmi. There were 1,457 housing units at an average density of 370.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 69.92% White, 22.05% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.56% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.37%.

Of the 1,123 households in 2000, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.1% of households were one person and 14.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

In 2000, the age distribution was 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $29,174 and the median family income was $33,831. Males had a median income of $30,218 versus $20,449 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,411. About 11.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
The major roads running through Dundee are:
 * US 27 – Located just west of town, this divided highway leads to Lake Wales and Haines City.
 * SR 17 – This Scenic Highway goes through the center of town and provides an alternate route parallel to US 27 across eastern Polk County.
 * SR 542 – Also called Dundee Road, it leads from downtown Dundee to US 27 and on westward, straight to downtown Winter Haven.

title: Dundee, Florida


text:
Eagle Lake, Florida

Eagle Lake is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the town being centered around a subsection of U.S. Highway 17. The population was 3,008 as of 2020.

History
Eagle Lake began c. 1880 as a settlement when John Bingham purchased 160 acres on a knoll between the areas now known as Eagle Lake, Crystal Lake, and Spirit Lake. He named the lake on which his original cabin was constructed Eagle Lake because of a nesting in a nearby pine tree. About the same time, in 1882, Louisa McLeod purchased 115 acres in the area to the east. As the land was sold, the city began to take shape and was laid out around 1887.

Earlier on, Eagle Lake was known for its local businesses. These included a brickyard, a turpentine mill, and two citrus packing houses that were both lost in the 1940s. During the mid 1950s and into the 1960s, the city was host to a wooden bathing house with dressing rooms, long wooden covered dock, dance hall, picnic facilities, and a diving platform at the Crystal Beach Pavilion on the southwest side of Eagle Lake. During the 1980s, the city adopted the motto "Growing with People in Mind". It continues to be the tenet of the city today.

Geography
Eagle Lake is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain, with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 sqmi, of which 1.4 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (3.50%) is water.

Climate
Eagle Lake is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,008 people, 796 households, and 573 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,255 people, 641 households, and 462 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,496 people, 879 households, and 637 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,800.5 PD/sqmi. There were 964 housing units at an average density of 695.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 82.09% White, 4.73% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 9.86% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.47% of the population.

In 2000, there were 879 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.21.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $35,078. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $19,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,249. About 14.6% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics
The City of Eagle Lake has a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of five commissioners, each elected for a two-year term. The mayor and vice-mayor are sitting commissioners whom are elected annually by the commissioners. The city's executive powers rest with the city manager, as contracted by the city commission. The budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year is $2.4 million. Water and sewer services are provided by the City of Eagle Lake to residents within the incorporated city limits and nearby areas. Eagle Lake is encompassed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District which regulates and permits the use of water in the region. The city of Eagle Lake also operates the Eagle Lake Public library, which is part of the Polk County Library Cooperative.

Law enforcement
After signing a contract with the Polk County Sheriff's office in 2007, the City of Eagle Lake began contracting law enforcement services from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Fire services
Fire services for the city are contracted with the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. Eagle Lake is home to Polk County Fire Rescue Station 460 (Rescue 46).

Library
The Eagle Lake Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. The library is located at 75 North Seventh Street Eagle Lake, Florida 33839. It is a part of the city hall complex.

Transportation
The main highway going through town is U.S. 17. At the southern end of town, the highway divides into two three-three lane one way segments, with the northbound section on 5th Street and the southbound segment on 4th Street. On the north side of town, the two segments converge to become. a six-lane divided highway. US 17 leads northward to Winter Haven and southward to Bartow. Eagle Lake also intersects with County Road 540. This thoroughfare provides access to State Road 570 and U.S. 98 for travel to nearby Lakeland, FL, and major metropolitan cities Tampa and Orlando. Eagle Lake is also located close to Bartow Municipal Airport. This location provides a travel hub for private flights in and out of the Central Florida area.

Public schools
Public schools in Eagle Lake (and all of Polk County) are operated by Polk County Public Schools.
 * Eagle Lake Elementary
 * Pinewood Elementary
 * Lake Region High School

Colleges and universities

 * Polk State College has campuses located in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Lake Wales.
 * Florida Polytechnic University is located within about 15 minutes of the city.
 * Florida Southern College and Southeastern University are located in Lakeland.
 * Warner University is located in Lake Wales.
 * Webber International University is located in Babson Park.

Recreation and leisure
The city has a baseball / softball complex that has three 200' fields and one 275' field. Additionally, the City Hall complex hosts basketball, racquetball and shuffleboard courts, as well as a skate park and playground for children.

There are also two boat ramps available for access to Lake McLeod and Eagle Lake. At the Eagle Lake ramp, there is also a municipal park that has a pavilion, playground, beach, and restroom facilities.

title: Eagle Lake, Florida


text:
Fort Meade, Florida

Fort Meade is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. , the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,100. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The city was named for George Meade, at the time an Army lieutenant serving in Florida following the Second Seminole War. Fort Meade is home to Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School, several historic buildings, and Streamsong resort. The area is popular with kayakers and canoers.

History

Fort Meade is the oldest city in Polk County, dating its origins to 1849, when it was established along a new military road from Tampa (Fort Brooke) to Fort Pierce following the Second Seminole War. The town and road were originally sited by then-lieutenant George Meade of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, whose commander named it for him. Around the start of the American Civil War a mounted volunteer company nicknamed the "Hickory Boys" was formed at the fort. The 1880s business district was located on old Wire Street (now Broadway), which was a casualty of four devastating fires. There are over 150 buildings which are designated as landmarks. In the 1890s, the Fort Meade Street Railway operated a horse-drawn service in the town.

The earliest known burial is John I. Hooker (1821–1862), located in the town's Evergreen Cemetery. Fort Meade's Christ Church (Episcopal) located at 1 North Cleveland Avenue, was built in 1889. It is a frame vernacular with Gothic Revival elements and was designed by architect J. H. Weddell. Located within the historic district, the church was used for the HBO motion picture Judgment, featuring Blythe Danner, Keith Carradine and Jack Warden (1990). Future Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was stationed at the fort in 1851. The town was burned by Union forces in 1864 and all of the original structures were destroyed, except the second fort which was dismantled in the 1890s. Fort Meade has over 300 homes on the National Register of Historic Places and a handful that date to the late 1800s.

Historic homes and buildings

 * Old Fort Meade School House Museum, c. 1885
 * Rev. Wm James Reid House, c. 1900
 * W.O. Williams/R.C. McClellan House, c. 1898

Geography and climate
Fort Meade is located 20 miles southwest of Legoland in Winter Haven. Fort Meade is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain, with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.0 km2, of which 12.9 km2 is land and 0.1 km2 (1.00%) is water.

Fort Meade is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).

Economy
Economic growth has been evident in Fort Meade. Mosaic Corporation developed a world class 10,000 acre golf and spa resort named Streamsong nearby. Legoland Florida opened on October 15, 2011, and is having an economic impact on Fort Meade and the surrounding areas. Many of the historic homes are being purchased and restored despite a depressed Florida real estate market.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,100 people, 2,164 households, and 1,302 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,626 people, 2,199 households, and 1,659 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,691 people, 2,068 households, and 1,528 families residing in the city. The population density was 441.2 /km2. There were 2,625 housing units at an average density of 203.5 /km2. The racial makeup of the city was 67.60% White, 21.84% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 9.21% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.17% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,068 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.16.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $32,984, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $30,617 versus $21,813 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,499. About 15.0% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Designated a Blueway community
As of July 20, 2011, Fort Meade officially became only the second city in all of Florida to be designated as a "Blueway" community by the Florida Paddlers Association. Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area is a popular launching and pick-up site for kayak and canoe enthusiasts and is the site for the annual Peace River Paddle hosted by Florida Paddlers.

Media
Fort Meade is part of the Tampa/St. Pete television market, the 13th largest in the country, and part of the local Lakeland/Winter Haven radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country.

Library
The Fort Meade Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. The library is located at 75 East Broadway Fort Meade, Florida 33841. The library aims to host educational opportunities and encourage literacy in the community of Fort Meade.

History
The Fort Meade Public Library was founded in 1934 by the Fort Meade's Woman Club. Although there was not enough space to house a library at the Woman's Clubhouse, Mr. Ben Johnson, a real estate broker offered a vacant room at 212 West Broadway free of charge for the library. Club members solicited others in the community to donate books and magazines and club members donated their own materials. The library was run by club member volunteers and was open only a few days out of the week. After several years, the library outgrew its space and moved to a room on the second floor of city hall. Mrs. T.K. White managed the library and kept it open 15 hours a week but after a few years, the library once again needed to move. The Woman's Club received permission to use the abandoned Chamber of Commerce building on 75 East Broadway for the public library. After failed efforts to receive state funding for the library Mr. Grady Courtney, city manager called a meeting for the city to take over the responsibility of the library. The vote was unanimous in favor of the public library and on May 1, 1965, Mrs. Codey Shirley took over management of the library, implementing the Dewey Decimal System. The library at this time had 4,000 resources and received a 200 book donation from Bartow Public Library. A new library building was completed in 1976. The Fort Meade Public Library is the first library to become a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative.

Points of interest

 * Patterson Park

Transportation
Major highways in Fort Meade:
 * US 17 – North–south highway on the middle of town. North of town it leads to Bartow. Southbound leads to Wauchula.
 * US 98 – Co-signed with US 17 on the north side of town, US 98 turns eastbound at East Broadway Avenue and leads to Frostproof and US 27.

Notable people

 * Jason Baker (born 1978), Florida State Contemporary Fiddle Champion, 2003
 * Melony Bell, (born 1961), politician
 * Francis A. Hendry (1883–1917), Florida early settler, politician
 * George W. Hendry (1838–1914), Florida early settler, land developer, farmer
 * Onterio McCalebb (born 1989), former Auburn University running back and current NFL cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals
 * Andrew McCutchen (born 1986), MLB outfielder, born and raised in Fort Meade
 * Dan White (1908–1980), Award-winning American Actor, well known for appearing in Western films and TV shows

title: Fort Meade, Florida


text:
Frostproof, Florida

Frostproof is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The city is located in southern Polk County on the Lake Wales Ridge. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,877 at the 2020 census.

History
The settlement in the area now known as Frostproof was established in 1850. This settlement, like many in central Florida at the time, was set up as a fort and was called Fort Clinch. The fort was named after the local Lake Clinch which was, in turn, named after the Seminole War commander Duncan Lamont Clinch.

This settlement was abandoned only months later. By the 1880s, Frostproof began to see its first permanent settlers as homesteaders were attracted to the abundant hunting in the area which included much deer and turkey, as well as ample fishing.

The name was a marketing ploy to convince potential landowners that the town has never had, and never would have, a frost that could destroy the large citrus-driven economy. However, only a couple of years later, a frost during The Great Freeze of 1895 killed most of the citrus in Frostproof. Prior to being named Frostproof, the town was named Keystone City. However, after being confused regularly with Keystone Heights, a city in North Florida, Frostproof was coined.

W.H. Overocker applied for the first post office here in 1892, with a name of Keystone City. Postal authorities disallowed it because there was already a Keystone Heights in Florida. Joseph Washington Carson suggested Frostproof as a substitute, but Overocker instead chose Lakemont. Carson's choice of Frostproof was based on the town's relatively minor damage from the freeze in December 1894, which ruined much of the state's citrus crop.

Carson volunteered to deliver the application to the post office in Fort Meade and on the way changed the name from Lakemont to Frostproof, which was approved. Overocker, to his surprise, was appointed the postmaster of Frostproof. The early post office was located on the corner of Wall Street and Carson Avenue.

After many delays, Frostproof first received rail service in 1912. Frostproof's Historic Train Depot no longer has passenger trains or freight arriving or departing; however, it is open for tours.

The Historic Downtown District runs East and West between Lake Clinch and Lake Reedy on Wall Street.

Geography
Frostproof is located between two lakes: Lake Clinch and Lake Reedy. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 sqmi, all land. Frostproof is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

Climate
Frostproof is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). In spite of the city's name, Frostproof experiences at least one night of sub-freezing temperatures during 65% of its winters.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,877 people, 1,283 households, and 833 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,992 people, 1,181 households, and 892 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,975 people, 1,119 households, and 792 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,196.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,504 housing units at an average density of 605.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 78.22% White, 3.90% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 14.35% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 21.65% of the population.

In 2000, there were 1,119 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In 2000, in the city, 26.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.2% was from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $30,412, and the median income for a family was $33,707. Males had a median income of $27,234 versus $18,273 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,396. About 14.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas
 * Ben Hill Griffin Jr., founder of the citrus empire, politician, and member of the Forbes 400 in 1989
 * Alvin Harper, former NFL American football wide receiver
 * Travis Henry, former NFL American football running back
 * Nickell Robey, NFL American football cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams

Business
Frostproof is home to the Latt Maxcy Corporation and Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., both members of the agricultural cooperative Florida's Natural. Frostproof is also home to the Historic Ramon Theater built in 1925. The theater is still in operation and hosts live music and entertainment as well as murder mystery events. The Historic Atlantic Coast Line Train Depot, built in 1912, has been renovated and is "Polk County's Newest Old Attraction." Art and Culture plays a significant role in Frostproof.

Media

 * The city has a weekly newspaper, the Frostproof News.
 * The Ledger, based in Lakeland, is the most popular daily newspaper.
 * While there are no television stations located in Frostproof, broadcast signals from Tampa Bay and Orlando area television stations are available.
 * Most cable and satellite providers offer Tampa Bay and Orlando area stations. Starlink is available in the rural areas of Frostproof.
 * Attractions and places of local interest may be found by visiting the “Visit Frostproof” website created by a local tourism ambassador.

Transportation

 * State Road 17 – The Scenic Highway, leading north to Lake Wales
 * US 27 – A four-lane divided highway running north–south just west of town, also leading northward to Lake Wales, and southward to Sebring.
 * US 98 – Running west from US 27, this road leads to Ft. Meade and eventually to Bartow and Lakeland. Southbound, it is co-signed with US 27.

Education
The public schools in Frostproof are operated by the Polk County School Board. There are three schools in Frostproof: Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, Frostproof Elementary School and Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School. The high school in Frostproof has won the state football championship three times—in 1974, 1992, and 1999—and the state softball championship once, in 2006.

title: Frostproof, Florida


text:
Fussels Corner, Florida

Fussels Corner is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,313 at time of the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Fussels Corner is located at 28.06194°N, -81.85361°W (28.061905, -81.853604).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.1 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 5,313 people, 2,236 households, and 1,647 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 752.7 PD/sqmi. There were 2,989 housing units at an average density of 423.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.71% White, 5.44% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.86% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.74% of the population.

There were 2,236 households, out of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 19.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,395, and the median income for a family was $41,263. Males had a median income of $26,145 versus $20,293 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,998. About 8.6% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: Fussels Corner, Florida


text:
Gibsonia, Florida

Gibsonia is a former census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,507 at the 2000 census. Most of the community's core is now part of neighboring Lakeland. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Gibsonia is located at 28.11306°N, -81.97111°W (28.112941, -81.970987).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 sqmi, of which 2.6 sqmi is land and 0.6 sqmi (20.12%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,507 people, 1,747 households, and 1,271 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,748.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,971 housing units at an average density of 764.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.99% White, 2.66% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.59% of the population.

There were 1,747 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,010, and the median income for a family was $44,405. Males had a median income of $30,015 versus $22,454 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,010. About 7.2% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Gibsonia, Florida


text:
Haines City, Florida

Haines City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. Its population was 26,669 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Haines City was platted in 1885, shortly after the South Florida Railroad reached the area. The city was first known as "Clay Cut", but there was no railroad station. It is said that the inhabitants persuaded the railroad company to build a station by agreeing to rename their city Haines City, to honor a senior railroad official, former Confederate States Army Colonel Henry Haines.

Haines City was originally incorporated under the General Statutes of Florida as the "Town of Haines City" on February 23, 1914. The first state legislative act affecting it was enacted on May 20, 1919, and, by Chapter 8272, it was reincorporated as the "City of Haines City" on January 5, 1925, under a Mayor-Council form of government. The present charter was adopted as Chapter 12790 on July 1, 1927, changing the form of government to "Commission-Manager Plan," as amended. The city operates under a commission-manager form of government and provides the following services as authorized by its charter: Public safety (Police and Fire), Streets and Highways, Culture-Recreation, Public Improvements, Sanitation, Planning and Zoning and General and Administrative Services.

The early settlers planted citrus groves, and citrus growing and processing became the main industry of the city.

From 1974 to 1986, Circus World, a theme park created by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was open just north of Haines City. After Circus World shut down, Boardwalk and Baseball opened on the same site. It featured carnival games and theme park styled rides like the Grand Rapids Flume. It closed in 1990, and the site has been redeveloped as a residential and shopping complex named Posner Park.

In recent years, Haines City has seen explosive growth, largely because of its easy access to Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort. New residential areas have been developed on the edges of the city. On high ground in the north of the city, Southern Dunes, a golf and country club with both vacation homes and residential homes, was developed between 1995 and 2005.

In 2004, Haines City experienced three hurricanes. Hurricane Charley passed through the city in August. Hurricane Frances came right on the heels of Charley but mostly just dumped a lot of rain. Hurricane Jeanne soon followed packing a punch not quite as strong as Charley but longer lasting. The city has since recovered.

Four years after Charley, Haines City got struck again this time by a weaker storm named Tropical Storm Fay. This storm caused little damage, but schools closed on the second day of the school year (Tuesday, August 19, 2008) due to it; the original plan had been to close schools Tuesday and Wednesday, but the lack of danger it showed on Tuesday caused the change in agenda.

Park renovations
A new park on Lake Eva, replacing a previous park on the site, was completed in 2009. The city has also built a new park, called "8-Acre Park", and auditorium in the Oakland area, on the northern side of the city.

Brush fire
Haines City was the site of a 350 acre brush fire on March 25, 2009. It was a scare to the residents of dozens of houses in a housing complex named Randa Ridge.

Legoland
Haines City is responding to the arrival of Legoland Florida in Winter Haven. Legoland's expected tourist influx is leading Haines City to search for ways to advertise and bring more people to the historic downtown area, specifically, motorists coming down U.S. 27 from Interstate 4.

City officials
Haines City operates on a council-manager system, with five City Commissioners elected at large who appoint a City Manager and other officials in the city administration.

Geography
The approximate coordinates for the City of Haines City is located at 28.11028°N, -81.61556°W, within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain, part of the Lake Wales Ridge, a sandy terrain consisting of a low ridge of gently rolling hills rising from the coastal flatlands.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.8 sqmi, of which 8.3 sqmi is land and 0.6 sqmi, 7.27% of the total, is water.

Climate
Haines City is located in the humid subtropical zone as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). The porous white sands and open terrain create the often hot and dry climate that parts of interior Florida near the Lakes Wales sand ridge is known for.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,669 people, 7,640 households, and 5,589 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,535 people, 6,961 households, and 4,975 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,174 people, 4,749 households, and 3,409 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,588.7 PD/sqmi. There were 6,283 housing units at an average density of 757.7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 54.87% White, 31.86% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 10.42% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.33% of the population.

In 2000, there were 4,749 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $27,636, and the median income for a family was $30,678. Males had a median income of $21,806 versus $19,279 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,818. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
The major highways in the Haines City area are:
 * (Interstate 4) – Six miles north of town on US 27 lies Interstate 4, the main interstate highway in central Florida. It leads westward to Lakeland and Tampa, and eastward toward Orlando.
 * – US 17/92 enters the city from Lake Alfred in the west, bisecting the downtown as Hinson Avenue until turning north on 17th Street and exiting towards Davenport.
 * – The main north–south highway in the area, US 27 leads northward to I-4 and further to Clermont. It leads southward to Lake Wales, Sebring and eventually Miami.
 * – Called 10th Street in Haines City, this old Scenic Highway leads through hills in eastern Polk County and providing a scenic route southward to Lake Hamilton, Dundee, and Lake Wales, and on to Sebring.
 * – This road, also a scenic drive, connects SR 17 and US 27 in southern Haines City, and continues westward from there as Lucerne Park Road on its way to Winter Haven.

The streets are laid out in a rough grid plan, with streets running north–south and numbered from 1st Street to 30th Street, and named avenues running west–east.

Haines City is served by an hourly bus service to Lake Alfred and Winter Haven by Winter Haven Area Transit and, from December 16, 2012, by hourly Lynx bus services to Poinciana and Four Corners.

Railroads have always been a part of Haines City's history, and freight and passenger trains still run through the city, although the railroad station has been closed for many years.

Library
The Haines City Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. It is located at 111 N 6th Street Haines City, FL 33844.

Haines City first established a library in 1916, under the direction of the Women's Club of Haines City. The first library was located inside the Leisure Lodge, which was located on Railroad Park. In 1927, when that building was demolished as part of a street widening project, the library relocated to Hinson Avenue. The library was forced to relocate again in 1959 due to another street widening project, at which time the Women's Club rented space for the library at the Palm Crest Hotel (also known as the Polk Hotel, which today houses the Landmark Baptist College). The City of Haines City assumed official responsibility of the library in September 1960, whereupon it moved the library to a building on Ledwith Avenue. The library moved to its current location on N. Sixth Street in 2012, and is co-located with City Hall. A non-profit organization, the Friends of the Haines City Public Library, Inc., provides support to the library.

In 1997, the Polk County Library Cooperative was created. This interlocal agreement between municipal and county governments allows all residents to receive library services and materials from any library within the county. The library co-op also supplies a mobile library and a Books by Mail service, which mails library materials to patrons without fees.

Education
Haines City's public school district is served by Polk County Public Schools.

Public elementary schools

 * Alta Vista Elementary School
 * Bethune Academy (Elementary School)
 * Eastside Elementary School

Public middle schools

 * Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology (Middle School)
 * Shelley S. Boone Middle School

Public high schools

 * Haines City High School
 * Ridge Community High School

Private schools

 * Landmark Baptist College
 * Landmark Christian School
 * Champions Christian Academy

Notable people

 * Wayne Gandy (born 1971), professional NFL football player
 * Mary Hatcher (1929–2018), singer and actress
 * Derwin James (born 1996), professional NFL football player
 * Tommy Land (born 1955), Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands
 * Joseph Mitchell (1922–1993), city manager 1974–1977; formerly the city manager of Newburgh, New York
 * Jah Reid (born 1988), professional NFL football player
 * James Stewart Jr. (born 1985), American professional motocross racer
 * Malcolm Stewart (born 1992), American professional Supercross racer
 * Sevyn Streeter (born 1986), R&B singer and songwriter

title: Haines City, Florida


text:
Highland City, Florida

Highland City is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,051 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The modern-day area of Highland City was the site of the United States Army's Fort Fraser, established in 1837 during its war with the Seminole Indians. Zachary Taylor, former U.S. President, commanded the fort for a short period. Fort Fraser was abandoned shortly after its construction.

In 1885, the Pemberton Ferry Branch of the South Florida Railroad was completed between Lakeland and Bartow. The area now known as Highland City was the only stop between the two larger cities. The stop, and eventual village, was named for the Haskell brothers, who were early investors in the South Florida Railroad. E. B. Haskell was a newspaper publisher from Boston, Massachusetts and his brother Dr. C. C. Haskell, of Maitland, Florida, was an original stakeholder in the South Florida Railroad. In addition to the town of Haskell, the South Florida Railroad's #6 locomotive was named the E. B. Haskell.

The Haskell freight depot was built by the railroad company along the roadway that would later become U.S. Highway 98. (In 1958, the depot was demolished due to its proximity to the roadway, and was replaced by a new freight building). The first postmaster (and also the first freight agent of the depot) in Haskell, Thomas A. Goode, was appointed on February 9, 1887.

Developer W. F. Hallam had begun to develop the Lakeland Highlands area by 1924. Hallam built the Hallam Country Clubhouse in the area west of Highland City and the road accessing the clubhouse became known as Clubhouse Road. The development of the Highlands also brought an influx of new residents to the Haskell community.

In 1925, the community of Haskell was incorporated by the Florida legislature, which also had the effect of officially changing the community's name to Highlands City. The city elected its first officials:

By 1927, the town's official area was reduced due to a lawsuit brought on behalf of a few Highland City landowners. This ended the town's short stint as an incorporated place.

Name
A common error in referring to this place is to add an 'S' to the end of "Highland", causing the name to incorrectly read "Highlands City". For example, a new train depot, constructed in 1958, originally featured a sign with the mistakenly spelled "Highlands City" name. Lakeland Ledger reporter Courtland Anderson made special note of the error in the caption of his photo of the new depot.

When the community was briefly incorporated in the 1920s, the plural form was used.

Modern Community
The Highland City Volunteer Fire Department (HCVFD) works in conjunction with the Polk County Fire Department to provide fire protection for the Highland City area. For many years, HCVFD operated the fire service in Highland City on a completely volunteer basis. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Polk County consolidated many of its fire districts, and the Highland City fire station became an official Polk County Fire Station, under command of the Fire Chief of Polk County.

As of 1996, the Highland City community had organized an active community group. The group's goals included beautification, utility upgrades and safer neighborhoods.

On December 9, 2006, the community saw the grand opening of the Fort Fraser Trail, a 7.75-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail extending from the Polk State College campus south to Bartow.

Geography
Highland City is located at 27.96278°N, -81.87944°W (27.962901, -81.879380).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, all land.

Highland City's street addresses put them on the Lakeland street grid; most street names have "SE" in their name, indicating that they are southeast of Lakeland's "point zero" intersection of Florida Avenue and Main Street. However, Highland City is often considered to be culturally closer to Bartow than Lakeland. Highland City Elementary, primarily feeds into Bartow Middle School and Bartow High School. Unlike its nearest neighbor, Lakeland Highlands, which is somewhat affluent, Highland City is a working class area with many mobile homes.

The Highland City census designated place is located on U.S. Highway 98, northwest of Bartow and east of Lakeland Highlands. The approximate limits of the Highland City census designated place are County Road 540A to the south, Clubhouse Road to the North, Strickland Avenue to the west, and 1st Street SE to the east.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,051 people, 766 households, and 562 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,474.7 PD/sqmi. There were 818 housing units at an average density of 987.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.72% White, 10.24% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.90% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.12% of the population.

There were 766 households, out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,823, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $26,833 versus $21,038 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,925. About 9.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: Highland City, Florida


text:
Highland Park, Florida

Highland Park is a village in Polk County, Florida, United States. Highland Park is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its population was 251 at the 2020 US census.

Geography
The approximate coordinates for the Village of Highland Park is located at 27.86528°N, -81.56583°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.7 sqmi, of which 0.4 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi (37.50%) is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the Village of Highland Park has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 251 people, 83 households, and 52 families residing in the village.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 230 people, 107 households, and 81 families residing in the village.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 244 people, 112 households and 73 families residing in the village. The population density was 544.2 PD/sqmi. There were 174 housing units at an average density of 388.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 94.26% White, 0.82% African American, 3.69% Asian, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

In 2000, there were 112 households, of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 0.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.70.

In 2000, 16.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 32.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $41,875 and the median family income was $56,667. Males had a median income of $43,333 vand females $18,750. The per capita income was $30,097. None of the families and 3.9% of the population were living below the poverty line.

Transportation

 * Florida 17.svg State Road 17 – The Scenic Highway two miles west of the village, leading northward to Lake Wales and southward to Hillcrest Heights and Frostproof.
 * US 27.svg US 27 – A four-lane divided highway four miles west.

title: Highland Park, Florida