text:
Hillcrest Heights, Florida

Hillcrest Heights is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. Hillcrest Heights is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 243 at the 2020 census.

History
In 1917, the Lakeside Club was built on the south shore of Crooked Lake. A year later, this club burnt to the ground and was rebuilt and named the Hillcrest Lodge. This lodge was well known and many celebrities stayed there including Bobby Jones, Babe Ruth and William Jennings Bryan.

In 1923, the town was officially incorporated as a municipality. A year later, the town's dirt roads were all paved.

Geography
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Hillcrest Heights is located at 27.82417°N, -81.53306°W.

Hillcrest Heights is located just south of Babson Park and east of Crooked Lake. The town is approximately nine miles south of Lake Wales and five miles (8 km) north of Frostproof. Hillcrest Heights 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 town has a total area of 0.2 sqmi, all land.

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

Government
Hillcrest Heights has a town council made up of five members including a mayor and vice mayor. The town does not have a city manager and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the town. Police services are contracted through the Polk County Sheriffs Office Department. The town's annual operating budget is less than $100,000. In the most recent 2009 elections, only the incumbent commissioners qualified and were elected by default.

Annexations
Although the town is only 107 acre, the residents and government of Hillcrest Heights have been aggressive in keeping the status quo in the town. Because of encroaching annexations by the City of Frostproof, the town is exploring the possibility of annexing Crooked Lake and nearby shores which would increase the size of the town to 6.7 mi. Although the annexation would not increase the population of Hillcrest Heights, it would help stop development of nearby areas. Many residents of adjacent census-designated place (CDP) of Babson Park, with a population of over 1,000 are also fearful of the Frostproof annexations, and the Babson Park Visioning Group is considering either incorporating the CDP or asking for annexation by Hillcrest Heights.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 243 people, 102 households, and 81 families residing in the town.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 254 people, 103 households, and 93 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 266 people, 99 households, and 75 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,640.3 PD/sqmi. There were 138 housing units at an average density of 851.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.62% White, 1.88% African American, 0.75% Asian, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.

In 2000, there were 99 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.2% 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 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $60,556, and the median income for a family was $62,143. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $33,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,802. About 2.9% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 5.7% of those 65 or over.

Media
Hillcrest Heights 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.

Transportation

 * State Road 17 – The Scenic Highway going through the center of town, leading northward to Highland Park and Lake Wales, and southward to Frostproof.
 * US 27 – A divided highway six miles (10 km) west of town.

Education
There are no public schools in Hillcrest Heights, though all of them are served by Polk County Public Schools. Generally students will attend elementary school at nearby Babson Park Elementary, and then go on to Frostproof Middle-Senior High School or take advantage of the Lake Wales charter school system.

Warner University is a few miles west of town.

title: Hillcrest Heights, Florida


text:
Inwood, Florida

Inwood is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,925 at the time of the 2000 United States Census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Inwood is located at 28.03833°N, -81.76611°W (28.038354, -81.766168).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which 1.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (4.50%) is water.

The four lakes in Inwood are as follows:

 * Lake Blue
 * Lake Cannon
 * Lake Jessie
 * Lake Deer

Lake Blue is the only lake located entirely within Inwood.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,925 people, 2,835 households, and 1,774 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,612.1 PD/sqmi. There were 3,249 housing units at an average density of 1,694.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 68.29% White, 23.51% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 3.51% from other races, and 3.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.86% of the population.

There were 2,835 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,973, and the median income for a family was $29,472. Males had a median income of $22,957 versus $20,024 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,295. About 14.8% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The public schools in Inwood are run by the Polk County School Board. There are 2 public elementary, 1 public middle, and 1 private schools listed in the following:

 * Elementary public schools
 * Inwood Elementary School
 * Garner Elementary School
 * Middle public schools
 * Westwood Middle School
 * Private schools
 * Immanuel Luther Church and School

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

title: Inwood, Florida


text:
Jan Phyl Village, Florida

Jan Phyl Village is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,633 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Jan Phyl Village was formed from a purchase in 1950 of 1,200 acres of land west of Winter Haven, purchased by Harry Lesnick of Vermont. He christened the area Jan Phyl Village after his daughters, Janet and Phyllis Lesnick. Most of the early development was real estate, sold to airmen and pilot instructors stationed at the nearby Bartow Air Base during the Korean War. The area suffered its first recession in 1953 at the cessation of U.S. military activity in Korea, leading to many homes being foreclosed. The area remains economically depressed as of 2014, with many closed storefronts. If a proposed transportation improvement program planned by the Polk Transportation Planning Organization is approved, major thoroughfares in the area will be widened by 2030 to accommodate additional traffic.

Geography
Jan Phyl Village is located at 28.01694°N, -81.77778°W (28.017059, -81.777810).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.8 sqmi, of which 4.7 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (2.28%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,633 people, 1,947 households, and 1,573 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,194.5 PD/sqmi. There were 2,033 housing units at an average density of 431.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.84% White, 16.90% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.95% Asian, 2.34% from other races, and 2.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.01% of the population.

There were 1,947 households, out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,219, and the median income for a family was $45,958. Males had a median income of $30,117 versus $21,072 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,389. About 5.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: Jan Phyl Village, Florida


text:
Kathleen, Florida

Kathleen is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,280 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
A post office called Kathleen has been in operation since 1886. The community was named for Catherine Prine, an early settler.

Geography
Kathleen is located at 28.12139°N, -82.02639°W (28.121494, -82.026303).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.3 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,280 people, 1,162 households, and 900 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 986.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,250 housing units at an average density of 375.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.87% White, 1.71% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.56% of the population.

There were 1,162 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,226, and the median income for a family was $40,925. Males had a median income of $33,442 versus $21,066 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,231. About 8.9% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

title: Kathleen, Florida


text:
Lake Alfred, Florida

Lake Alfred is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was approximately 6,374 at the 2020 US census.

History
The city was established soon after the South Florida Railroad reached the area in 1883. It had a number of early names, including Fargo, Chubb and Bartow Junction.

The settlement was named Fargo by snowbirds escaping the cold of Fargo, North Dakota. They at first named the settlement after their hometown, but the United States Postal Service protested after a series of mix-ups with the town of Largo. The town then became Chubb and later Bartow Junction because it lay at the junction of a railroad leading south into the county seat Bartow.

The name Lake Alfred was adopted in 1913 and was taken from the nearest large lake, named after Alfred Parslow, who came to Florida in 1877 and obtained a charter to build the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad.

In 1917, the State of Florida established the first off-campus center for the University of Florida in Lake Alfred, the Citrus Experiment Station to study ways of improving citrus growing. Today this location is known as the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.

Geography and climate
Lake Alfred 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 8.6 sqmi, of which 4.9 sqmi is land and 3.7 sqmi (42.84%) is water.

The exact coordinates for the location is at 28.10417°N, -81.72639°W.

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

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,374 people, 2,218 households, and 1,493 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,015 people, 1,839 households, and 1,372 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,890 people, 1,511 households, and 1,103 families residing in the city. The population density was 793.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,741 housing units at an average density of 355.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 78.25% White, 17.25% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.72% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.89% of the population.

In 2000, there were 1,511 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $36,809, and the median income for a family was $42,904. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $20,445 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,008. About 10.7% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Highways

 * – Lake Alfred lies near the western end of the concurrency between US 17 and US 92. The concurrency of US 17/92 leads eastward to Haines City and further toward Kissimmee; US 17 leads southward to Winter Haven; and US 92, westward to Auburndale and further to Lakeland.
 * – Leads northward to I-4 and toward Polk City

Mass transit
The city is served by buses of Winter Haven Area Transit, primarily the Route #15 bus.

Railroads played a role in the development in the history of the Lake Alfred. The city is currently served by the CSX Carters Subdivision, which was previously part of the Main Line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Amtrak uses the line but does not stop in the city. At one time the city served as the junction of the ACL Bartow Branch.

Airports
Two airports serve Lake Alfred, both of which are located in Winter Haven, west of the city. The Winter Haven Regional Airport along US 92 and the adjacent Jack Browns Seaplane Base located on the northeast shores of Lake Jessie.

Government and infrastructure
The Florida Department of Citrus has its department of scientific research in Lake Alfred.

Lake Alfred Public Library
Lake Alfred Public Library was started in 1962 by the Junior Women's Club. It was housed in the Dees Building on West Haines Blvd. 1000 books were donated by Lake Alfred residents and merchants. The books were also processed by volunteers. Merchant W.R. Dees provided the storefront requiring a low enough rent that the Junior Women's Club could pay. The club also held bake sales, rummage sales, and dances to raise money to provide for material needs such as furniture. The grand opening was October 1962. Within a year a larger storefront opened in the same building and volunteers once again moved the library. Volunteers ran the library causing for unpredictable hours in which the library was open. Sometimes it was only open 3 hours a week. In 1967, the city provided a small house in Lion's Park for the growing library to move to, and in 1969, the city hired a part-time professional librarian, and funded new books and supplies. In 1972, the City of Lake Alfred created a library board made up of seven members appointed by the city commission and city manager. It was not until 1973 that Lake Alfred took over the ownership and responsibility for the Lake Alfred Public Library. It was moved to the new Public Safety building on Pomelo Street with the library in between the police and fire department. In 2012, the library moved to a new building on North Seminole Avenue after the Friends of the Library group received money bequeathed by Florida Citrus Hall of Fame member, Edwin Moore,. The library is part of the Polk County Library cooperative. The library offers wireless printing, technology classes, print and e-books, WiFi, and children's programming The library is located at 245 N. Seminole Ave. Lake Alfred, Florida 33850.

Notable people

 * Dawayne Bryan, racing driver
 * Ahmed Johnson, professional wrestler
 * Manisha Singh, attorney and Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs

title: Lake Alfred, Florida


text:
Lake Hamilton, Florida

Lake Hamilton is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,537 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town is named after the lake itself: Lake Hamilton, which is one of the many lakes in the Chain of Lakes. Also, Middle Lake Hamilton and Little Lake Hamilton are located nearby.

From 1964 through the 1970s, Hurricane Aircats, military airboats used by the US Army in Vietnam, were manufactured in Lake Hamilton. The airboats were made by Hurricane Fiberglass Products Company, an airboat and fiberglass manufacturer based in the neighboring town of Auburndale.

Geography
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Lake Hamilton is located in Central Florida at 28.04667°N, -81.62222°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.9 sqmi, of which 3.0 sqmi is land and 0.9 sqmi (22.51%) is water.

The dominant geographic feature in the city is the large lake after which the city is named. Lake Hamilton is part of the Chain of Lakes. The lake has a surface area of 2,184 acre and an average depth of 7.2 ft.

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

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,537 people, 444 households, and 348 families residing in the town.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,231 people, 474 households, and 284 families residing in the town.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 1,304 people, 482 households, and 362 families in the town. The population density was 430.0 PD/sqmi. There were 535 housing units at an average density of 176.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 71.09% White, 25.15% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.30% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.06%.

Of the 482 households in 2000, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 21.0% of households were one person and 8.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.

The age distribution in 2000 was 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $33,438 and the median family income was $38,050. Males had a median income of $28,281 versus $21,833 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,199. About 13.3% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

 * State Road 17 – The Scenic Highway going through the center of town, paralleling US 27 and leading southward to downtown Dundee and Lake Wales
 * US 27 – Located just west of town, this divided highway leads to Lake Wales and Haines City.

title: Lake Hamilton, Florida


text:
Lake Wales, Florida

Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 16,361 at the 2020 census.

Early history
A survey by W.A. Williams and J. Jackson, deputy surveyors of the State of Florida was made of the region around present-day Lake Wales. The area was considered to be uninhabitable by early settlers. By 1879, the land around the present city was surveyed again by Sidney Irving Wailes, an agent for the Florida Land and Improvement Co., who changed the name of a lake, then known as Watts Lake, to Lake Wailes.

In 1902, G.V. Tillman scouted the region of Lake Wales and saw the potential for turpentine, citrus, and other industries. He developed the idea to settle the area around Lake Wailes.

Settlement
The city of Lake Wales was established near the lake in 1911–1912, planned by the Lake Wales Land Company. The spelling Wales was used for the city, although the lake is still generally spelled Lake Wailes. Allen Carleton Nydegger, a civil engineer, was contracted by the Lake Wales Land Company to plot out the community of Lake Wales. He and his crew camped on the shores of Crystal Lake and spent months plotting out the new community.""It was a foggy morning and having been a rainy fall, the water was up to both sides of the R.R. in many places causing us to almost regret having come to Florida. But just before coming to Lake Wales, the sun came out in all its glory and banished our idea of being in a swamp; we expected snakes and alligators to be running around like chickens and of course found that a great mistake...

The train stopped at the platform north of the little station (used to load and unload barrels of turpentine from the still) where they unloaded our trunks before we could get off... There were no sidewalks, no lights or hard roads just deep sand everywhere with hogs and cattle roaming all over, but when I stepped from the car door and saw how beautiful the view was over the two lakes, this big moss draped pine and oak and a church under construction, I was content..." - Excerpt from "Rose Wetmore's Diary", Autumn 1912."

The City of Lake Wales was officially incorporated as a town in May 1917.

Florida Land Boom
In 1925, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad built a new line from Haines City joining lines to Everglades City. A depot was opened on this line at Lake Wales in 1928.

21st century
In 2004, Lake Wales endured the effects of three hurricanes which came through the area: Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne. The three hurricanes brought hurricane-force winds to the Lake Wales area within a space of 44 days. In 2017, Hurricane Irma brought more hurricane-force winds to Lake Wales.

Geography
The town lies near the geographical center of the Florida peninsula. Lake Wales is located on the Lake Wales Ridge, a sandy upland area running roughly parallel to both coasts in the center of the peninsula. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.0 sqmi, of which 13.4 sqmi is land and 0.7 sqmi (4.71%) is water.

Lake Wales is located in Central Florida, west of Lake Kissimmee and east of Tampa.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Lake Wales has a humid subtropical climate, bordering on a tropical monsoon and dry-winter tropical savanna climate because of its hot days and warm nights, even in "winter". January is the only month of the year that has an average daily mean temperature below 18.0 C. The town is in hardiness zone 9b. In 2004, the eyes of Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, and Hurricane Jeanne all passed near the town. Virtually all physical damage has been restored.

Wildlife and environmental lands
Grassy Lake Preserve is a 185 acre preserve located behind Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School. Grassy Lake is primarily made up of Lake Wales Ridge scrub land.

Municipal government
Lake Wales is governed by a five-person city commission under the Commission-Manager form of government. The day-to-day operations of the city are run by a professional city manager who is appointed by the elected city commission.

City Commission
There are five commission members, of which four are city commissioners and one mayor. The legislative power of the city is vested in the city commission and it determines policies to be implemented by the City Manager.

The city commission is responsible for adopting ordinances, adopting an annual budget, developing an overall vision for the city, zoning changes, comprehensive plan amendments, certain types of development, redevelopment, franchises for provision of public services, bid awards, water and sewer rate changes, and changes in tax rate. The commission is also responsible for appointing the City Manager, the City Clerk, and the City Attorney.

Mayor
The mayor is presiding officer of the city commission and has a voice and a vote in its proceedings but no veto power. The current mayor is Jack Hilligoss, who took office in May 2022.

Elections and terms of office
Lake Wales municipal elections are nonpartisan.

Each member of the commission is elected to serve a 3-year term. The five commission members are elected at large, of which four commission members must reside and be nominated in the district represented by the seat to which they are elected. The mayor and can reside in any district of the city.

The commission shall elect from among its members a deputy mayor who shall act as mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor, and if a vacancy occurs, shall become mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Law enforcement
In 2016, a Lake Wales police officer, Travis Worley, was accused by a whistleblower on the Lake Wales police force of calling a black suspect a "nigger". The department suspended Worley for one day, but denied that he had used a racial slur. In 2019, he was named Lake Wales’ Officer of the Year. The whistleblower said she was subsequently targeted for punishment by the Lakes Wales police department and ultimately resigned. Worley has subsequently been accused on at least two occasions of using the N-word, including once in front of students at the local high school.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,361 people, 6,363 households, and 4,015 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,225 people, 5,710 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city.

Local attractions

 * Bok Tower Gardens
 * Camp Mack's River Resort
 * Dixie Walesbilt Hotel (also known as the Hotel Walesbilt)
 * Spook Hill, an optical illusion which makes a car in neutral appear as if it is traveling uphill (gravity hill)
 * The commercial historic district in the heart of the old town contains important examples of architecture from the period of the Florida land boom of the 1920s. The district's tallest building, the Walesbilt Hotel, has been boarded up for many years but has been purchased and is in the process of being restored.
 * The Lake Wales History Museum is a history museum funded by a public-private partnership. It is housed in the old Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot (Lake Wales, Florida). It offers exhibits and artifacts from the pre-Columbian era to modern.
 * Grove House, the visitor's center for the agricultural cooperative Florida's Natural (located across from the company's processing plant).
 * Chalet Suzanne
 * The Shrine of Ste Anne des Lacs

Notable people

 * Edward Bok, editor at Ladies' Home Journal, died in Lake Wales in 1930 within sight of his beloved Singing Tower
 * Pat Borders, 1992 World Series MVP, part-time Lake Wales resident and Lake Wales High School alumnus
 * Wade Davis, MLB pitcher for the Colorado Rockies and for 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals; born in Lake Wales
 * Walt Faulkner, racecar driver, lived in Lake Wales from 1926 to 1936
 * Mario Gosselin, NASCAR driver/owner, lives and operates DGM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Lake Wales
 * Red "Galloping Ghost" Grange, iconic player in the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL, was living in Lake Wales when he died in 1991
 * Dominique Jones, NBA player, born and attended high school in Lake Wales
 * Ryan Shakes, American social media personality
 * Amar'e Stoudemire, NBA player, born in Lake Wales
 * Robbie Tobeck, center for NFL's Seattle Seahawks; born in Lake Wales

Transportation

 * US 27.svg US 27 – This divided highway leads northward to Haines City and Interstate 4 going north, and Frostproof, Sebring, and eventually Miami going south.
 * Florida 60.svg State Road 60 – Also known as Hesperides Road, it leads eastward to Florida's Turnpike and Vero Beach. Westward the highway leads to Bartow and the Tampa Bay region.
 * Florida 17.svg State Road 17 – The Scenic Highway running through the center of town, paralleling US 27 southward to Frostproof and northward to Haines City

Bus service is provided to Winter Haven and Frostproof by Winter Haven Area Transit.

Lake Wales Municipal Airport (FAA LID: X07) is a public-use airport located 2 mi west of the central business district of the city of Lake Wales in Polk County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned.

Chalet Suzanne Air Strip This single grass strip four miles north of downtown serves light aircraft arriving at the Chalet Suzanne Inn and Restaurant, a local landmark.

Media
Lake Wales 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.

Education
Lake Wales is home to twelve schools, six of which are charter, three of which are traditional public schools and three private schools. Dale R Fair Babson Park Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, Polk Avenue Elementary and Lake Wales High School were converted to charter status in the Fall of 2004. Edward W. Bok Academy Middle opened in the Fall of 2008 to create a seamless K–12 charter system. McLaughlin Middle School and Fine Arts Academy, Roosevelt Academy Of Leadership And Applied Technology School, and Spook Hill Elementary School are still traditional public schools. Lake Wales Lutheran School, Candlelight Christian Academy, and The Vanguard School are private.

Lake Wales is also home to two colleges, Warner University and Webber International University. The J.D. Alexander Center, a satellite campus of Polk State College is located in downtown Lake Wales in 2009.

Healthcare
The only hospital in Lake Wales is AdventHealth Lake Wales.

title: Lake Wales, Florida


text:
Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. Located along I-4 east of Tampa and west of Orlando, it is the most populous city in Polk County. As of the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is sometimes locally referred to by the nickname "Swan City" due to its sizeable population of swans, all of whom are descendants of two mute swans given to Lakeland by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.

Lakeland is the corporate headquarters of Publix, a supermarket chain.

European-American settlers arrived in Lakeland from Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina in the 1870s. The city expanded in the 1880s with the arrival of rail service, with the first freedmen railway workers settling here in 1883. They and European immigrants also came because of land development opportunities with farming, citrus, cattle and phosphate industry developing. Lakeland is home to the 1,267 acre.

History
<!-- ===Timeline===

 * 1884
 * South Florida Railroad begins operating
 * Freedmen establish St. John's Baptist Church in what would come to be called the Moorehead community south of Lake Wire
 * Town platted on land of Abraham Munn
 * 1885 – Town of Lakeland incorporated on January 1, 1885. Kentucky businessman, Abraham Munn, who had purchased 80 acres of land in what is now downtown Lakeland in 1882 and platted the land for the town the previous year. He donated the land and money to build the first railroad depot in Lakeland which helped boost transportation and enterprise
 * 1891 – Electric lighting introduced
 * 1894
 * Acton becomes part of Lakeland
 * "Freeze damages citrus crops"
 * 1900 – Population: 1,180
 * 1904 – Fire
 * 1905 – Population: 3,299
 * 1910 – Munn Park and the Confederate monument were dedicated
 * 1911 – Lakeland Evening Telegram newspaper begins publication
 * 1912 – Auditorium built
 * 1913 – City Hall built
 * 1915 – Lakeland Morning Star newspaper begins publication
 * 1916 – Morrell Memorial Hospital opens
 * 1921 – William Bowles was the last of 20 African-American men lynched in the county since Reconstruction; he had allegedly insulted a white woman
 * 1922 – Florida Southern College relocates to Lakeland
 * 1924 – Lakeland Terrace Hotel in business
 * 1925 – Henley Field Ball Park opens
 * 1928 – Lakeland Theatre in business
 * – The first high school is opened for Mooreland black students
 * 1930 – Population: 18,554
 * 1933 – Junior Welfare League of Lakeland formed
 * 1935 – Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God established
 * 1936 – WLAK radio begins broadcasting
 * 1937 – Roxy Theatre in business (approximate date)
 * 1941 – Lakeland Ledger newspaper begins publication
 * 1949 – WONN radio begins broadcasting
 * 1953 – Filmland Drive-In cinema in business
 * 1957 – WWAB radio begins broadcasting
 * 1960 – Lakeland Indians baseball team formed
 * 1966 – Joker Marchant Stadium opens
 * 1967 – Much of the Moorehead community is displaced as city uses eminent domain to buy property for civic center and later Veterans Memorial Park
 * 1977 – "It snows in Lakeland"
 * 1980 – Population: 47,406
 * 1988 – Lakeland Square Mall in business
 * 1990 – Population: 70,576
 * 1993
 * George Jenkins High School opens
 * International Sport Aviation Museum established
 * 1998 – Lakeland.net website online (approximate date)
 * 2004 – August: Hurricane Charley occurs
 * 2005 – Lakeside Village shopping center in business
 * 2009 – Gow Fields was elected as Lakeland's first African-American mayor
 * 2010 – Population: 97,422
 * 2014 – Florida Polytechnic University opens
 * 2020 – Population: 112,641
 * 2021 – September: A shooting and subsequent shootout occurs in Lakeland, killing four people and injuring a fifth, and resulting in the arrest of a suspect
 * 2022 – Opening of Bonnet Springs Park

-->

Early history

In the 18th century Native Americans groups, collectively called "Seminoles", moved into the areas left vacant. In 1823, the United States and the various tribes in Florida signed the Treaty of Moultrie Creek, which created a reservation in central Florida that included what is now Polk County. Starting in 1832, the United States government tried to move the Seminoles in Florida west to the Indian Territory. Most of the Seminoles resisted, resulting in the Second Seminole War, 1835–1842. By the end of that war, most of the Seminoles had been sent west, with a few remnants pushed well south of what is now Polk County.

Statehood and the 19th century
Florida became a state in 1845, and Polk County was established in 1861. After the American Civil War, the county seat was established southeast of Lakeland in Bartow. While most of Polk County's early history centered on the two cities of Bartow and Fort Meade, eventually, people entered the areas in northern Polk County and began settling in the areas which became Lakeland.

Lakeland was first settled in the 1870s, and began to develop as the rail lines reached the area in 1884. Freedmen settled here in 1883, starting development of what became the African-American neighborhood of Moorehead. Lakeland was incorporated January 1, 1885. The town was founded by Abraham Munn (a resident of Louisville, Kentucky), who purchased 80 acre of land in what is now downtown Lakeland in 1882 and platted the land for the town in 1884. Lakeland was named for the many lakes near the town site.

In April 1898, the Spanish–American War began and started a crucial point in Lakeland's development. While the war ended quickly and had little effect on most of the nation, the Florida peninsula was used as a launching point for military forces in the war. The then small town of Lakeland housed over 9,000 troops. The 10th Cavalry Regiment, one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments, were housed on the banks of Lake Wire. Soon after being stationed there, the black troops faced conflict with the local white population. In one event, a local druggist refused to sell to black soldiers and an argument ensued which eventually escalated to the point where the druggist brandished a pistol. The soldiers shot the druggist before he could fire, which resulted in two of the troops being arrested.

The Florida Boom and the 20th century
The Florida boom resulted in the construction of many significant structures in Lakeland, a number of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes the Terrace Hotel, New Florida Hotel (Regency Tower, currently Lake Mirror Tower), Polk Theatre, Frances Langford Promenade, Polk Museum of Art (not a product of the 1920s boom), Park Trammell Building (formerly the Lakeland Public Library and today the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce), and others. The city also has several historic districts that have many large buildings built during the 1920s and 1940s. The Cleveland Indians held spring training there from 1923 to 1927 at Henley Field Ball Park. Parks were developed surrounding Lake Mirror, including Barnett Children's Park, Hollis Gardens, and the newest, Allen Kryger Park.

The "boom" period went "bust" quickly, and years passed before the city recovered. Part of the reemergence was due to the arrival of the Detroit Tigers baseball team in 1934 for spring training. The Tigers still train at Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium and own the city's Class A Florida State League team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers. In the mid-1930s, the Works Progress Administration built the Lakeland Municipal Airport.

In 1938, Florida Southern College President Ludd Spivey invited architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design a "great education temple in Florida." Wright worked on the project for over 20 years as Spivey found ways to fund it and find construction workers during World War II. Wright's original plan called for 18 structures; in total he designed 30, but only 12 were completed. Wright's textile block motif is used extensively on the campus. The concrete blocks he used are in need of restoration.

Wright titled the project Child of the Sun, describing his Florida Southern buildings as being "out of the ground, into the light, a child of the sun." It is the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world, and attracts 30,000 visitors each year. In 1975, the "Florida Southern Architectural District" was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2012, Wright's campus was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.

World War II
At the beginning of World War II, the Lakeland School of Aeronautics—headquartered at the recently built Lakeland Municipal Airport—became part of a nationwide network of civilian flight schools enjoined for the war effort by the United States Army Air Corps.

Between 1940 and 1945, more than 8,000 Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces cadets trained on two-seater Stearman PT-17 and PT-13 biplanes at the school (renamed the Lodwick School of Aeronautics in the midst of this period).

From June 1941 until October 1942, 1,327 British Royal Air Force cadets trained at the Lakeland facility. The Lodwick School of Aeronautics closed in 1945. The airport ceased flight operations in the 1960; the site has since then housed the Detroit Tigers' "Tiger Town" baseball complex.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 67 sqmi, of which 45.84 sqmi is land and 5.61 sqmi (10.90%) is covered by water. Lakeland is within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain, with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

Lakes
The dominant feature in Lakeland is the city's many lakes. Thirty-eight lakes are named, with a number of other bodies of water unnamed, mostly phosphate mine pits that eventually filled with water. The largest of these is Lake Parker, which is 2550 acre in size. Much of the culture of Lakeland revolves around its many lakes, and many people use the lakes as reference points in much the same way people in other towns use streets as reference points, such as "I live near Lake Beulah." In addition to Lake Parker, some of the more prominent lakes in the Lakeland area are Lake Hollingsworth, Lake Morton, Lake Mirror, and Lake Gibson.

Swans are one of the most visible features on the lakes near downtown Lakeland. They have a long history, the first swans appearing around 1923. By 1954, the swans were gone, eradicated by alligators and pets. A Lakeland resident who mourned the passing of the swans wrote to Queen Elizabeth II. The royal family allowed the capture of two of the royal swans, and the swans now on the lakes of Lakeland are the descendants of the one surviving royal swan sent by the Queen.

In July 2006, Scott Lake, one of the city's lakes, was almost totally drained by a cluster of sinkholes. Later the lake partially refilled.

Climate
Lakeland, like most other parts of Florida north of Lake Okeechobee, is in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). Typically, summers are hot and humid with high temperatures seldom dropping below 90 °F and 70 °F for the overnight low. Like most of Central Florida, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm throughout the summer. Winters in Lakeland are drier and warm, with frequent sunny skies. High temperatures range in the mid 70s during the day, with lows in the 50s. Cold snaps drop temperatures below freezing twice a year on average.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 112,641 people, 41,750 households, and 24,433 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 97,422 people, 40,529 households, and 24,654 families residing in the city.

Between 2008–2012, the per capita income was $23,817 and the median household income was $40,284. Persons below the poverty line in 2008–2012 were 17.5% according to the US Census.

2000 census
As of 2000, 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39% were individuals and nontraditional families. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

In 2000, the city the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $16,119, and for a family was $17,468. Males had a median income of $14,137 versus $9,771 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,760. About 47% of families and 35% of the population were below the poverty line, including 97% of those under age 18 and 9% of those age 65 or over.

Languages
As of 2000, those who spoke only English at home accounted for 91% of all residents, while 9% spoke other languages at home. The most significant were Spanish speakers who made up 6.4% of the population, while German came up as the third-most spoken language, which made up 0.8%, and French was fourth, with 0.5% of the population.

Religion
In 1913, the Wolfson family arrived from Lithuania and became the first Jewish settlers to the area. After some struggles, the Jewish community in Lakeland flourished and the first synagogue, Temple Emanuel opened in 1932. The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute presents classes and seminars in Lakeland in partnership with Chabad of Lakeland.

Lakeland is home to the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, which was established in 2005.

In 1994, the first and only mosque in the county was established. It was called Masjid Aisha, but is now called the Islamic Center of Lakeland.

Christianity makes up the largest religious group in Lakeland. As of 2013, an estimated 300 churches existed with an address in the city.

Economy
Lakeland is the largest city on Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa. Large industries in the Lakeland area are citrus, cattle, and phosphate mining. In the past few decades, tourism, medicine, insurance, transportation, and music have grown in importance.

Citrus growing dates back to the early settlers who planted trees in the area, in the 1850s. After a series of freezes in counties north of Polk County, the area became the focal point for citrus growing in Florida. Although citrus is no longer the largest industry in the area, it still plays a large part in the economy of Lakeland and Polk County.

Phosphate mining is still important to the economy of Lakeland, although most of the mining now takes place farther south. The Bone Valley produced 25% of the U.S. phosphate supply.

Lakeland's largest employer is Publix Super Markets. Publix is one of the largest regional grocery chains in the United States with over 1,200 stores across the American South. Publix employs over 6,500 people in the Lakeland area including headquarter and warehouse employees.

Lakeland is a transportation hub. FedEx Freight and FedEx Services and the Saddle Creek Corporation employ over 600 people in the area. Other large employers in the area include Amazon, GEICO, Rooms To Go, and Lakeland Regional Health.

Culture
The Lakeland History Room is a special collections archive established in 1987 housed within the Lakeland Public Library's main branch. The Lakeland History Room maintains the City's collection of historical materials as well as other locally relevant collections composed of documents, photographs, maps, building plans, audio/visual media, scrapbooks, specialty items like citrus crate labels, artwork, yearbooks, posters, and postcards. The LHR maintains a large digital collection with over 7,000 images of the city of Lakeland, its landmarks, significant historical moments, cultural institutions, and prominent citizens. The LHR provides one-on-one assistance with historic research, a history lecture series with prominent local historians, a DIY Digitizing Lab for personal material preservation, and genealogical programs and resources.

In 2019, an initiative led by Lakeland City Commissioner Phillip Walker, was first presented to the City Commission to create the City's first History and Culture Center. The project was unanimously approved by the Commission and funds were allocated for the project's construction; although, the exhibit's content design would be funded by local donations and grant funding. An advisory committee made up of educators, city officials, local business owners, and civic and community leaders, led by former Mayor Gow Fields, was established to organize and advise the City in the design, content, and construction of the exhibit. The Lakeland Public Library was eventually chosen as the location of the future exhibit space due to its central location within the city, its status as a community hub, and because it was the current home of the city's local archive, the Lakeland History Room, which would be expanded into the Lakeland History and Culture Center. Construction on the project is currently underway and it is unknown when the project will be completed.

Historic districts

 * Beacon Hill-Alta Vista Residential District
 * Biltmore-Cumberland Historic District
 * Dixieland Historic District
 * East Lake Morton Residential District
 * Lake Hunter Terrace Historic District
 * Munn Park Historic District
 * South Lake Morton Historic District

Buildings and locations

 * Central Avenue School
 * Cleveland Court School
 * Florida Southern College
 * John F. Cox Grammar School
 * Lakeland Center
 * Lakeland Square Mall
 * Lakeside Village
 * Old Lakeland High School
 * James Henry Mills Medal of Honor Parkway
 * Oates Building
 * Polk State College
 * Polk Museum of Art
 * Polk Theatre
 * Southeastern University (Florida)
 * USA International Speedway
 * Florida Polytechnic University
 * Winston School
 * Without Walls Central Church – a local/regional megachurch
 * Silvermoon Drive-in
 * Bonnet Springs

Libraries

 * Lakeland Public Library
 * Larry R. Jackson Branch Library
 * eLibrary South Lakeland

Stadiums
Joker Marchant Stadium, north of downtown, hosts spring training for the Detroit Tigers, as well as their Lakeland Flying Tigers class-A Florida State League and GCL Tigers rookie-league Gulf Coast League minor league baseball teams.

RP Funding Center is also home to two indoor sports teams. The Lakeland Magic is a basketball team playing in the NBA G League and is an affiliate of the Orlando Magic. The Florida Tropics SC is an indoor soccer team playing in the Major Arena Soccer League. The Tropics organization also operates an outdoor team, the Lakeland Tropics, which competes in the Premier Development League. The Florida Tarpons were an indoor football team playing in the American Arena League for one season after relocating from Estero, Florida.

History of sports teams
In the 1980s, the Lakeland Center briefly played host to the indoor version of the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. The Lakeland Center has also hosted a few hockey teams, the Lakeland Ice Warriors, the Lakeland Prowlers, and the Lakeland Loggerheads. The United States Basketball League once had a team here as well called the Lakeland Blue Ducks. Sun 'n Fun was home to Lakeland's only roller derby league, the Lakeland Derby Dames; however, the team was dissolved in November 2015.

The Lakeland Center also hosts the Florida High School Athletic Association's state basketball finals.

Government and politics
Lakeland is governed by a six-member city council. Four members are elected from single-member districts; the other two are elected at-large, requiring them to gain a majority of the votes. The mayor is elected.

Mayor
The City of Lakeland was incorporated on January 1, 1885. The mayor is one of seven members of the City Commission, acting as the board chair and performing mostly ceremonial and procedural duties beyond the powers of the other six. Prior to 1988, the City Commission selected Lakeland's mayor from among its members. Mayors can be on the board for up to 12 years in a lifetime, or 16 years in combination with holding a regular commission position. Lakeland's first mayor was J.W. Trammell.

The first female mayor was Lois Q. Searl, who served in 1965. The 1970 municipal election placed the first African-American on the City Commission, Dr. John S. Jackson. In 1972, he became the first black mayor for the city. In 1980, Carrie R. Oldham became Lakeland's first African-American female mayor.

Since 1988, the mayor has been elected by the city's voters.

Mayors of Lakeland
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=70% align="left" ! style="background:#F5DEB3"| Mayors of Lakeland, Florida

Law enforcement
On September 28, 2006, Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Vernon "Matt" Williams and his K-9 partner Diogi were shot and killed after a routine traffic stop in the Wabash area of Lakeland. More than 500 police officers from a variety of law enforcement agencies joined in a search for Angilo Freeland, suspected of murdering Williams and stealing his gun. Freeland was found hiding in a rural area the next morning. Nine officers from five different law enforcement agencies surrounded Freeland and shot him when he raised Williams' stolen gun at them. A total of 110 shots were fired, and Freeland was hit 68 times, killing him instantly. Multiple investigations concluded the officers' use of force was justified. Deputy Williams and Diogi were laid to rest on October 3, 2006, after a funeral that included a one-hour-and-45-minute procession to Auburndale.

In 2021, the Lakeland Police Department hired numerous former NYPD officers. Two of the new hires failed to disclose that they had been disciplined by the NYPD, and one new hire used to work in the NYPD's notorious anti-crime units which were disbanded after high-profile scandals.

Education
The 28 elementary schools, seven middle schools, five traditional high schools, and three magnet-choice high schools in the Lakeland area are run by the Polk County School Board.

Traditional public high schools

 * George W. Jenkins High School
 * Kathleen High School
 * Lake Gibson High School
 * Lakeland Senior High School
 * Tenoroc High School

Magnet high schools

 * Central Florida Aerospace Academy
 * Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts
 * Polk State College Lakeland Collegiate High School

Traditional public middle schools

 * Kathleen Middle School
 * Lake Gibson Middle School
 * Crystal Lake Middle school
 * Sleepy Hill Middle School
 * Lakeland Highlands Middle School
 * Southwest Middle School

Magnet middle schools

 * Lawton Chiles Middle School
 * Rochelle School of the Arts (elementary and middle)

Charter schools

 * McKeel Academy of Technology
 * Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse
 * Lakeland Montessori Middle School
 * Lakeland Collegiate High school
 * Magnolia Montessori Academy

Private schools

 * Calvary Baptist Church Academy
 * Geneva Classical Academy
 * Heritage Christian Academy
 * Lakeland Christian Preparatory School
 * Lakeland Christian School
 * Parkway Christian Academy
 * Resurrection Catholic School
 * Santa Fe Catholic High School
 * Sonrise Christian School
 * St Anthony
 * St Joseph
 * St Lukes
 * St Paul Lutheran School
 * Victory Christian Academy
 * Excel Christian Academy

Colleges and universities

 * Florida Polytechnic University
 * Florida Southern College
 * Florida Technical College
 * Keiser University
 * Webster University
 * Polk State College
 * Southeastern University
 * Whitefield Theological Seminary

A number of opportunities exist for higher education around the Lakeland area. Southeastern University is the largest university in the area, with undergraduate enrollment around 6200. Southeastern is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. Florida Southern College, established in 1883 and with a current undergraduate enrollment of just over 2600, is on Lake Hollingsworth. Florida Southern is the home of the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. In July 2008, the University of South Florida's Lakeland campus was granted partial autonomy by Governor Charlie Crist and became Florida Polytechnic University. Florida Polytechnic (FLPoly) is just inside the Lakeland's northeast border at the intersection of I-4 and Polk Parkway. They also have some administrative offices on the campus of Polk State College on Winter Lake Road. FLPoly is focused on STEM degree programs, such as engineering and computer science. Both Everest University and Keiser University, two multisite, accredited universities, have locations in Lakeland. Traviss Career Center is a vocational school. Webster University offers on-site, regionally accredited graduate degree programs in business and counseling at their Lakeland Metropolitan Campus

Media
Polk County is within the Tampa Bay television market. Charter Spectrum is the cable television franchise serving Lakeland, which offers most television stations from the Tampa Bay market, as well as WFTV, the ABC affiliate from Orlando. WMOR-TV, an independent television station, is licensed to Lakeland, with its studios in Tampa and its transmitter in Riverview.

Lakeland and Polk County are within its own radio market. Local radio stations include:

WLLD 94.1 FM is licensed to Lakeland, but has wider focus on the Tampa Bay area, with studios in St. Petersburg. WKES 91.1 FM is also licensed to Lakeland as part of the statewide Moody Radio Florida network, with studios in Seminole, near St. Petersburg. Most major stations from Tampa Bay and a few from Orlando are also available.
 * WLKF 1430 AM
 * WONN 1230 AM
 * WWAB 1330 AM
 * WPCV 97.5 FM
 * WWRZ 98.3 FM

Print media include The Ledger, a local newspaper owned by Gannett. Patterson Jacobs Media Group publishes a magazine, The Lakelander.

LkldNow is a nonprofit digital news organization that covers Lakeland news.

Transportation
Because Lakeland is the largest city on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, the city is an important transportation hub. The county nickname, Imperial Polk County, was coined because a large bond issue in 1914 enabled wide roads between the cities of Polk County.

The important freeways and highways in Lakeland today are:
 * is the main interstate in Central Florida linking Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Daytona Beach.
 * (or Polk Parkway), is a tolled beltway around Lakeland, with both ends terminating at I-4. Although its shape, location, and tolls makes it impractical as a "bypass" road, it is useful as a way of getting from part of town to another and providing access to I-4 from most parts of the city.
 * , following Memorial Boulevard for most of the city, was the route leading to both Tampa and Orlando before I-4 was built; US 92 is still a main road leading to Plant City going west, and Auburndale, Winter Haven, and Haines City going east.
 * , going south, follows Bartow Road and leads to Bartow, the county seat. Heading north out of town, it provides a route to Dade City.
 * , following mostly rural land, provides access to Lake County and the Florida’s Turnpike.
 * , following Florida Avenue, the main north–south route in Lakeland, is also the main road leading south to Mulberry.
 * , Winter-Lake Road, is in southern Lakeland, leading to Winter Haven and Legoland Florida.

Bicycle routes
In recent years, the Lakeland area has developed a number of paved, multi-use bicycle routes including the Lake-To-Lakes Trail, which runs from Lake Parker through downtown, past several lakes, ending at Lake John. Other routes include University Trail, which connects Polk State College to Florida Polytechnic University, and the Fort Fraser Trail, which runs along US Highway 98 from Polk State College to Highway 60 in Bartow.

Public transportation

 * Lakeland Amtrak Station
 * Lakeland Linder International Airport In 2017, Linder received its first international flight and was renamed Lakeland Linder International Airport in 2018.
 * Lakeland Greyhound Terminal
 * Citrus Connection local bus service.

Utilities
Water and wastewater in the Lakeland area is managed by Lakeland Water Utilities, municipal water supply is treated at local water plants, T.B. Williams and C. Wayne Combee. The water is mainly supplied by wells that draw from the Floridan aquifer. Power is generated by a nonprofit public power utility, Lakeland Electric.

Lakeland Electric is a municipal utility and government department of the city of Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland was the third city in the state of Florida to have electric lighting powered in 1891 by The Lakeland Light and Power Company after Jacksonville and Tampa. Over a decade later in 1904, citizens purchased the private light power plant for $7,500 establishing the locally owned, municipal utility known today as Lakeland Electric.

Power plants
Lakeland Electric powers the city of Lakeland by two power plants, C.D. McIntosh Power Plant, coal-natural gas combined cycle plant slated to phase out in 2024, and Larsen Memorial. The last coal unit at C.D. McIntosh Power Plant was phased out in January 2024, a plan presented by the Lakeland Electric staff in 2019.

Entertainment

 * Nat Adderley, jazz cornetist and composer
 * Lindsey Alley, Mouseketeer and actress
 * Bobby Braddock, record producer in Country Music Hall of Fame
 * Howard J. Buss, composer
 * Charleene Closshey, film/Broadway actress, musician, and producer
 * Copeland, pop/alternative rock band
 * Jonny Diaz, Christian musician
 * Samantha Dorman, Playboy Playmate
 * Rhea Durham, Victoria's Secret model
 * Faith Evans, singer
 * Stephen Baron Johnson, painter
 * Frances Langford, singer, actress, and radio star (1930s and 1940s)
 * Neva Jane Langley, Miss America 1953
 * Mike Marshall, bluegrass musician and mandolinist
 * Kara Monaco, Playboy Playmate
 * Robert Phillips, guitarist
 * Lauren Miller Rogen, actress
 * Forrest Sawyer, NBC reporter and anchor
 * SoulJa, rapper
 * Steve1989MREInfo, YouTube personality
 * J. D. Sumner, singer and songwriter
 * Dan White (1908–1980), American actor in film and television
 * Monte Yoho, drummer for Outlaws

Sports

 * George Almones, NBA Player
 * Dwayne Bacon, NBA Player
 * Danny Baggish, pro darts player
 * Andy Bean, PGA Tour golfer
 * Ahmad Black, NFL player, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Keon Broxton- Milwaukee Brewers Center Fielder
 * Desmond Clark, NFL player, Chicago Bears
 * Lance Davis, MLB player, Cincinnati Reds
 * Matt Diaz, former MLB player
 * Paul Edinger, NFL player, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears
 * Justin Forsett, running back, UC Berkeley
 * Carson Fulmer, former Vanderbilt baseball player, drafted 8th overall by Chicago White Sox
 * Kenneth Gant, NFL safety
 * Ronnie Ghent, football player
 * Matt Grothe, quarterback, South Florida Bulls
 * Nick Hamilton, pro wrestling referee
 * Killian Hayes, basketball player
 * Alice Haylett, AAGPBL All-Star pitcher
 * Drew Hutchison, MLB pitcher
 * Lee Janzen, PGA Tour golfer, U.S. Open winner
 * Ray Lewis, NFL player, Baltimore Ravens, Super Bowl champion and MVP, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year
 * Freddie Mitchell, NFL player, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs
 * Joe Nemechek, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver
 * Joe Niekro, MLB knuckleball pitcher
 * Lance Niekro, MLB player, San Francisco Giants
 * Steve Pearce, MLB player, Boston Red Sox
 * Maurkice Pouncey, NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Mike Pouncey, former NFL player
 * Boog Powell, former MLB player
 * Chris Rainey, NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Andrew Reynolds, professional skateboarder
 * Chris Sale, MLB player, Boston Red Sox
 * Brenda Sell, Taekwondo Grandmaster
 * Rod Smart, NFL & XFL player
 * Donnell Smith, NFL player, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots
 * Ron Smith, NFL player, Los Angeles Rams
 * Bill Spivey, basketball player
 * Jameson Taillon, MLB pitcher, New York Yankees
 * Adarius Taylor, NFL linebacker
 * Jim Thomas, NBA player
 * Justin Verlander, MLB pitcher, Houston Astros
 * Chris Waters, former MLB player
 * Brooks Wilson, MLB pitcher, Atlanta Braves
 * Alec Asher, former MLB baseball player

Other

 * Charles T. Canady, Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Court
 * Lawton Chiles, Senator and Governor of Florida
 * Carol Jenkins Barnett, philanthropist and businesswoman, the daughter of George W. Jenkins
 * George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets
 * Floretta Dukes McKenzie, educator and Superintendent of Washington, D.C. Public Schools
 * R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
 * Marvin Pipkin, scientist engineer that had many inventions and innovations for the light bulb.
 * Gene Ready, Florida businessman and state legislator
 * Charles Z. Smith, Associate Justice, Washington State Supreme Court
 * Park Trammell, Mayor of Lakeland, Florida Attorney General, Governor of Florida and U.S. Senator

Sister cities
Lakeland Sister Cities International (LSCI), a chapter of Sister Cities International, was formed in 1990 with Lakeland's first sister city Richmond Hill, Canada.
 * 🇲🇩 Bălți, Moldova (since 1997)
 * Chongming County, Shanghai, China (since 2007)
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 * 🇯🇲 Portmore, Jamaica (since 2009)
 * 🇨🇦 Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (since 1990)

In popular culture
In 1990, Lakeland made its Hollywood debut when the Southgate Shopping Center was featured in the movie Edward Scissorhands. It was also used in the filming of the Judd Nelson movie Endure. Classrooms from Florida Southern College were used in the Adam Sandler comedy, The Waterboy. The Lakeland civic center also was the filming location for music video for Little Red Corvette by the musician Prince. In 2020, the Southgate Shopping Center was featured as the exterior of the “Big Top Mall” in the movie The One and Only Ivan, with other scenes located at the Silver Moon Drive-In and Dobbins Park.

title: Lakeland, Florida


text:
Lakeland Highlands, Florida

Lakeland Highlands is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,056 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is an affluent residential community located south of the Lakeland city limits, and north of the Mulberry city limits. Lakeland Highlands neighbors Medulla, and together the two communities make up much of what is known as South Lakeland (unincorporated).

The area is addressed to Lakeland, with zip codes 33807, 33812, and 33813. Its schools include, George W. Jenkins Senior High School (named after the founder of Publix Supermarkets, based in Lakeland), Scott Lake Elementary, Lakeland Highlands Middle School and Valleyview Elementary. This area has been experiencing high growth for over two decades with new subdivisions being developed every year. Considered part of the Tampa Bay Area, it is becoming a bedroom community of Tampa.

Geography
Lakeland Highlands is located at 27.96333°N, -81.94944°W (27.963351, -81.949439).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.2 sqmi, of which 5.6 sqmi is land and 0.6 sqmi (9.25%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,557 people, 4,501 households, and 3,740 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,248.8 PD/sqmi. There were 4,748 housing units at an average density of 850.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.21% White, 2.47% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.85% of the population.

There were 4,501 households, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $66,053, and the median income for a family was $71,176. Males had a median income of $50,714 versus $30,018 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,122. About 2.1% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

title: Lakeland Highlands, Florida


text:
Loughman, Florida

Loughman (LOFF-mǝn) is a census-designated place (CDP) in the northeast corner of Polk County, Florida, United States, near the Osceola county line. The population was 1,385 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area has grown rapidly since 2000 due, in large part, to its proximity to Walt Disney World and the Orlando, Florida area.

Geography
Loughman is located at 28.24611°N, -81.56833°W (28.246002, −81.568470).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.8 sqmi, of which 3.7 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.33%) is water.

History
Loughman was settled shortly after the South Florida Railroad reached the area in 1883. The place was originally named Lake Locke.

Loughman was on the route of the Dixie Highway, which ran parallel to the line of US 17/92 and was renamed Old Kissimmee Road (although it is named Old Tampa Highway north of the Osceola County line). A monument dated 1930 marks the Polk county line. Nearby, some of the brick-paved highway remains.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,385 people, 546 households, and 369 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 372.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,088 housing units at an average density of 292.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.65% White, 13.14% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 3.83% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.47% of the population.

There were 546 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 23.8% 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 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,445, and the median income for a family was $34,063. Males had a median income of $20,160 versus $15,565 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,205. About 14.0% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Loughman is on U.S. Highway 17/92, at the junction with Poinciana Parkway (opened in 2016) and Ronald Reagan Parkway (County Road 54).

Bus service is provided by Citrus Connection from Loughman to Posner Park (with connections to Haines City and Four Corners).

title: Loughman, Florida


text:
Medulla, Florida

Medulla is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in western Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. Medulla is an affluent residential community located south of the Lakeland city limits, and north of the Mulberry city limits. Medulla neighbors Lakeland Highlands, and together the two communities make up much of what is known as south (unincorporated) Lakeland. The population was 8,892 at the 2010 census. The area is addressed to Lakeland, with zip codes 33811 and 33813.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.7 km2), of which 5.7 square miles (14.7 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.35%) is water.

History
A post office was established at Medulla in 1881, and remained in operation until 1909. Before the post office opened, the community was called Spring Hill. The name Medulla was given to the area due to its connecting link on the stagecoach rail-line between Bartow and Fort Meade, similar to how the medulla oblongata (in the lower part of the brain) connects with spinal cord. Medulla saw a period of rapid growth throughout the 1990s and early 2000s with development of Deer Brooke, a mega deed restricted community. Development of many other smaller subdivisions soon followed.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,637 people, 2,567 households, and 1,791 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,169.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,739 housing units at an average density of 482.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.53% White, 11.65% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.20% of the population.

There were 2,567 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,460, and the median income for a family was $51,691. Males had a median income of $35,698 versus $26,341 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,459. 6.0% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

title: Medulla, Florida


text:
Mulberry, Florida

Mulberry is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area, with parts of unincorporated Lakeland on its northern boundary. The population was 3,952 at the 2020 census. Mulberry is home to the 334-acre Alafia River Reserve, and it is the headquarters to Badcock Home Furniture.

History
The first white settlers appeared in the Mulberry area in the 1840s. The first industry in Mulberry was logging the longleaf yellow pine which dominated the area.

The town had no official name, but the railroad which came through town stopped at a mulberry tree to let off passengers and drop off the mail. The old mulberry tree became the de facto meeting place in town, and eventually gave the town its name. Several lynchings and hangings took place from this mulberry tree. In 1886, phosphate rock was discovered in the Peace River, and the dominant logging industry gave way to mining operations. The phosphate industry gave the town stability, leading to Mulberry's incorporation in 1901. In 1910, Mulberry's Masonic lodge was established and remains operational today.

Florida Pebble Strike
By 1919, many miners had joined the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers. In April of that year, the union called a strike asking for a minimum wage and an eight-hour work day, after which the mining companies brought in strikebreakers from Georgia. Electricity was cut off from both Mulberry and Fort Meade. On the evening of August 21, 1919, four mine guards for the Prairie Pebble Phosphate Company opened fire upon the town in an apparent attempt to break the strike, claiming that a man had shot at the power house in which they were sheltered. During the indiscriminate shooting, two adults were wounded and a two-year-old child was killed after being shot through the heart. Later that night, another black man was killed when the guards continued firing in Mulberry's black neighborhood. The sheriff's investigation found no evidence of a firearm in the accused man's possession nor at the location from which it was claimed he had fired. After quelling the rage of the townspeople, who wanted to attack the power house and mine guards, the sheriff arrested the four mine guards shortly after midnight.

Lynchings
The Ku Klux Klan maintained a presence in Mulberry, with the last public march occurring in 1979. At least six black people were lynched in the early 1900s, as well as at least one white man.

Geography and climate

The exact coordinates for the City of Mulberry are located at 27.90972°N, -81.96917°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km$2$), of which 3.1 square miles (8.0 km$2$) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.4 km$2$) (4.36%) is water.

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

Mulberry is located at the junction of state roads 60 and 37.

Mulberry is located in the humid subtropical climate zone of the (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,952 people, 1,417 households, and 1,020 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 3,817 people, 1,547 households, and 1,009 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,230 people, 1,328 households, and 925 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,053.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,611 housing units at an average density of 525.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 76.5% White, 20.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.7% other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.4% of the population.

In 2000, there were 1,328 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.87.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 25.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $28,247, and the median income for a family was $28,860. Males had a median income of $29,417 versus $20,965 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,828. About 14.7% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The economy of Mulberry is dominated by phosphate mining. The Bone Valley is the world's most productive phosphate rock mining area. According to the Chamber of Commerce, Mulberry is the "Official Phosphate Capitol of the World." The Mosaic Company operates the Nichols mine approximately two miles east of town. Mulberry is the home of Badcock Home Furniture, whose first store was opened in Mulberry in 1904 and which now extends to 382 stores throughout the southeast United States.

Arts and humanities

The Mulberry Cultural Center opened in the fall of 2015, and featured over 25 different art and humanities exhibits. It also hosts a variety of culturally enriching programs for all ages.

In 2018, the Mulberry Murals Initiative was founded to bring art to people of all backgrounds. These public art displays throughout the city have been commissioned by the City of Mulberry.

Transportation

 * State Road 37, which leads north toward Lakeland and south toward Bradley Junction Two rail lines intersect in the middle of the highway about a half mile south of the intersection of SR 37 and SR 60
 * State Road 60, leading west toward Brandon and east toward Bartow and Lake Wales.
 * Mulberry was served by two railroads. The line running east and west belonged to the Seaboard Airline Railroad while the north-south railroad belonged to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.  There is a combined yard that belonged to both railroads to the west and north of Mulberry proper and this is where the railroad interchanged traffic rather than at interchanges at the crossing of the two lines south of the downtown area.  The crossing of the two railroads is very unusual as it takes place in the middle of a 4-lane divided highway crossing of traffic on State Road 37 at SW 2nd Street.    Both of these railroad lines merged into the Seaboard Coastline in 1967 and in turn were folded into the CSX Railroad in 1986.   Considerable traffic was and still is generated by the Bone Valley phosphate industry

Education
Public schools in Mulberry are operated by the Polk County School Board. The three elementary schools in the area are Kingsford, Purcell, and Sikes. Mulberry Middle and Mulberry High round out the educational system in Mulberry. Mulberry Christian Academy is a private elementary school where financial aid is available to families who qualify.

Library
The Mulberry Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. The library is located at 905 NE 5th Street, Mulberry, FL 33860. Offers a variety of resource including video games, books, DVDs, audio-books, CDs, and digital materials. The library also hosts a number of programs for the community.

Media
Mulberry 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.

Sinkholes
On June 15, 1994, a sinkhole appeared in a toxic waste disposal pond near the city of Mulberry. Phosphogypsum, the byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry, is highly toxic and mildly radioactive. The 110 feet wide and 200 feet deep sinkhole dumped this toxin into caves that lead to the Floridan Aquifer. Drinking water for over ten million Florida residents comes from this aquifer. The company mining the phosphate, IMC-Agrico, now a part of The Mosaic Company, started the sinkhole remediation process immediately. It has spent over $6 million trying to repair the damage to the Florida water supply.

On August 27, 2016, the Mosaic Company discovered a giant sinkhole under a gypsum stack. Over 200 million gallons of water contaminated with phosphogypsum disappeared into its 45-foot wide maw.

title: Mulberry, Florida


text:
Polk City, Florida

Polk City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,713 at the 2020 census.

History
Polk City was incorporated as the Town of Polk City in 1925, and changed by ordinance to the City of Polk City in 2005. The city was named after the county, itself named after James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States.

Geography
The exact coordinates for the City of Polk City is located at 28.18028°N, -81.82972°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, all land. Polk City 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
The climate for the City of Polk City is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Polk City has a humid subtropical climate zone, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,713 people, 945 households, and 661 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,562 people, 659 households, and 456 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,516 people, 542 households, and 422 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,966.2 PD/sqmi. There were 596 housing units at an average density of 773.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.13% White, 1.91% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.78% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.11% of the population.

In 2000, there were 542 households, out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.07.

In 2000, in the town the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $28,158 versus $20,579 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,108. About 13.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Annual cultural events
There is a yearly Founder's Day festival in midtown park located at the beginning of General James A. Van Fleet State Trail.

Museums and other points of interest
Fantasy of Flight, an aviation-related attraction, takes visitors back to the pioneering days of early flight, World War I, World War II, and beyond. The museum closed in April 2014 but is planned to reopen later in a downscaled form. Polk City Community Library is a public library that is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. It provides free computer use and interlibrary loan services. The library is located at 215 S. Bougainvillea Avenue.

Sports
While small in both size and population Polk City offers its residents a vast array of activities throughout the year. For children there is Tee-Ball and Little League as well as a Pee-Wee football league.

Government
Polk City has a council-manager form of government, and is governed by a five-person council that elects a mayor and vice mayor from its membership.

Utilities
The Polk City power grid is supported by distribution lines from Lakeland Electric and TECO.

Transportation

 * – Located just south of the city, it is a major highway in Central Florida, leading westward to Lakeland and Tampa and eastward to Orlando.
 * – Called Commonwealth Avenue, this road leads southward to Lakeland and northward across the Green Swamp, toward Groveland.
 * – This road leads southward to I-4 and Auburndale.

title: Polk City, Florida


text:
Wahneta, Florida

Wahneta is a census-designated place (CDP) in central Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,731 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,731 people, 1,342 households, and 1,050 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,954.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,464 housing units at an average density of 604.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.20% white, 1.01% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 26.08% from other races, and 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.26% of the population.

There were 1,342 households, out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 21.7% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.53 and the average family size was 3.79, all of whom lived in the same room.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.9% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. 86.5% of the population have been arrested at least once, 45.2% having been arrested for a felony. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $22,349, and the median income for a family was $26,339. Males had a median income of $19,568 versus $16,364 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,433. About 24.6% of families and 29.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.7% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010 Wahneta had a population of 5,091. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 58.5% Mexican, 6.2% other Hispanic, 34.1% non-Hispanic white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.4% reporting two or more races.

title: Wahneta, Florida


text:
Waverly, Florida

Waverly is a census-designated place (CDP) in east-central Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,927 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 sqmi, of which 3.5 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi (1.12%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,927 people, 864 households, and 603 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 543.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,178 housing units at an average density of 332.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 69.64% White, 25.53% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.51% of the population.

There were 864 households, out of which 15.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 16.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 39.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,720, and the median income for a family was $30,382. Males had a median income of $21,853 versus $24,931 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,203. About 13.5% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

title: Waverly, Florida


text:
Willow Oak, Florida

Willow Oak is a census-designated place (CDP) in western Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,917 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,917 people, 1,784 households, and 1,250 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,529.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,932 housing units at an average density of 600.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.67% White, 7.02% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.45% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.95% of the population.

There were 1,784 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,591, and the median income for a family was $45,545. Males had a median income of $31,819 versus $22,425 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,729. About 7.2% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Willow Oak, Florida


text:
Winston, Florida

Winston is a former census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,024 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
Winston is located at 28.03889°N, -82.00333°W (28.038998, -82.003472).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,024 people, 3,293 households, and 2,265 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,656.2 PD/sqmi. There were 4,352 housing units at an average density of 798.7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 63.29% White, 25.61% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 7.91% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.20% of the population.

There were 3,293 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 30.7% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,204, and the median income for a family was $28,307. Males had a median income of $25,368 as opposed to $18,484 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $11,507. About 19.2% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.4% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Winston, Florida