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74-570: 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. 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

148-510: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ). It lies in the USDA plant hardiness zone 9b , where the average annual minimum temperature is 25–30 °F (−4 – −1 °C). The last measurable snow in the county fell in 1977 , but snow flurries and sleet fell on January 8, 2010 , over the course of an hour on an exceptionally cold day. During the summer rainy season from June to September, sea breezes from both coasts move inland, where

222-455: 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 (64.4 °F). 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. Grassy Lake Preserve

296-781: A U.S. territory as a result of the Adams-Onis Treaty . In 1823, the Treaty of Moultrie Creek created a reservation in central Florida for the Seminoles and other Native Americans in Florida. What is now Polk County was within the boundaries of that reservation. An attempt to remove all Native Americans in Florida to west of the Mississippi River, starting in 1832, led to the Second Seminole War . Most of

370-560: 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. 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. In 2004, Lake Wales endured the effects of three hurricanes which came through

444-427: A female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were not families; 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 2.96. In the county, the age distribution was 24.4% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 or older. The median age

518-461: A female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were not families. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% (3.4% male and 7.6% female) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the age distribution was 23.5% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 or older. The median age

592-656: A gust of 54 kn (100 km/h; 62 mph) at Gilbert Airport on the northwest side of the city. As of the 2020 United States census , 725,046 people, 240,879 households, and 165,183 families were residing in the county. U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Ethnic/Race Demographics: In 2010, the largest ancestry groups were: 12.2% German, 11.6% American, 11.2% English, 10.8% Irish, 7.6% Mexican, 5.8% Puerto Rican, 4.1% Italian, 2.6% French, 2.1% Polish, 2.0% Scotch-Irish, 1.8% Scottish, 1.5% Dutch, and 1.2% Cuban. Of the227,485 households, 27.3% had children under 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had

666-542: A hot, dry, desert like habitat. Due primarily to a long period of isolation, plants and animals that live on the Ridge have developed ways to deal with their harsh environment. One of the scrub's best known residents is Florida's only endemic bird, the Florida scrub-jay . When walking through scrub areas, small scrub lizards often race off in the distance — perhaps an adaptation for crossing the hot sand quickly. Many animals of

740-449: A location outside the county to tropical storm force at some point within the county and, given the hours between National Hurricane Center updates (modern era) or earlier estimates, it is not clear whether these brought hurricane-force sustained winds to Polk County: Hurricane Frances (2004), Hurricane Erin (1995) Hurricane Two of the 1939 season , and the 1910 Cuba hurricane (category 1). Numerous tropical storms have passed through

814-413: A mass lynching on May 25, 1895, accused of rape. While others were killed for alleged crimes (never proven), one black man was lynched for supposedly insulting a white woman. The man, Henry Scott, was a porter on a train from Lakeland to Bartow. While he was preparing a berth for one woman on May 20, 1920, another white woman became angry that he made her wait. She sent a telegram to the next station where he

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888-694: A powerful chief based in southern Lake County or eastern Orange County . For the next 280 years , the Spanish (and, between 1763 and 1783, the British) ruled Florida, but did not venture into the interior of the Florida peninsula south of the Oklawaha River valley ( Acuera Province). The indigenous peoples of the Florida peninsula declined in numbers, and the people who became known as the Seminole moved into central Florida. In 1821, Florida became

962-471: A series of small islands existed. It is the remnants of those islands that make up today's Lake Wales Ridge. Although the waters have receded, the islands continue to support distinctive life forms found nowhere else. Today several communities are located inside the Lake Wales sand ridge, with the glaring white sands visible in many neighborhoods. These relic sand dunes created over thousands of years by

1036-543: 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

1110-411: Is Grady Judd . As of November 30, 2023. Polk County Public Schools serves the county. Lake Wales Ridge Florida's ancient sand islands stretch for over 100 miles (160 km) down the middle of central Florida. Glacial changes and the rising and falling of the oceans caused dramatic transformations on the Florida peninsula. Covered almost completely by water two million years ago, only

1184-578: Is a 185 acres (0.75 km) preserve located behind Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School. Grassy Lake is primarily made up of Lake Wales Ridge scrub land. 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. There are five commission members, of which four are city commissioners and one mayor. The legislative power of

1258-606: Is a public-use airport located 2 miles (3.2 km) 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. Lake Wales is part of the Tampa / St. Pete television market,

1332-436: 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. The only hospital in Lake Wales is AdventHealth Lake Wales . Polk County, Florida Polk County ( / p oʊ k / ) is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida . The county population

1406-697: Is also responsible for appointing the City Manager, the City Clerk , and the City Attorney . 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. 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

1480-469: Is home to professional baseball and basketball teams and boasts a rich history of collegiate sports competition at a number of its institutions of higher learning, including perennial NCAA Division II national championship contender and titleholder (in multiple sports), Florida Southern College . Professional baseball , especially major league spring training , was historically a major generator of tourist traffic for Polk County. Today, however, only

1554-535: Is located in Polk County, near the city of Lake Wales . Polk County is home to one public university, one state college, and four private universities. The first people to inhabit the area now called Polk County were the Paleoindians who arrived in Florida at least 12,000 years ago, late in the last ice age . With large amounts of water locked up in continental ice caps, the sea level was more than 150 feet (46 m) lower than at present. The Florida peninsula

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1628-400: Is supported by a workforce of over 275,000 in 2010. Traditionally, the largest industries in Polk County's economy have been phosphate mining , agriculture , and tourism . Notable companies headquartered in Polk County include Publix (an employee-owned grocery chain) and Florida's Natural (an agricultural cooperative). The top employers of Polk County are as follows: Polk County

1702-613: Is the fourth-largest county in Florida by land area and fifth-largest by total area. Polk County is within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain, with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills. Part of the Lake Wales Ridge runs through eastern Polk County, which is known for its rolling hills with unique wildlife and plants. The highest elevation in

1776-435: The 1949 Florida hurricane (category 2), the 1945 Homestead hurricane (category 1), the 1933 Treasure Coast hurricane (category 1), the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane (category 2), Hurricane Four of the 1894 season (category 1), and Hurricane Three of the 1871 season , and Hurricane Eight of the 1859 season (category 1). Additionally, four storms were downgraded from hurricane strength at

1850-957: The Detroit Tigers remain for spring training. Additionally, the Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers play in Joker Marchant Stadium after spring training. Professional basketball made its debut in 2017 when the Lakeland Magic took the court in its home venue, RP Funding Center . The team is the NBA G League developmental affiliate of the NBA 's Orlando Magic . In 2023, the team relocated from Polk County to Osceola County . College sports are also popular in Polk County. The Florida Southern Moccasins play in NCAA Division II in

1924-624: The Manasota culture , which flourished from 2,500 years ago until around 800 AD, when it was replaced by the Safety Harbor culture , from circa 800 until after 1700. The Peace River valley may have hosted a distinct culture during the Safety Harbor period. In 1539, Ponce De Leon sent a detachment (between 80 and 180 men) of his expedition from his landing place on Tampa Bay across northern Polk County to visit Urriparacoxi ,

1998-708: The Sunshine State Conference . The Southeastern Fire play in NAIA Sun Conference . The executive and legislative powers of the county are vested in the five-member board of county commissioners. While the county is divided into five separate districts, each commissioner is elected at-large , countywide, requiring them to gain majority support. Each term lasts for four years, with odd-numbered districts holding elections in presidential election years, and even-numbered districts holding elections two years later. Like all elected officials in

2072-450: The 13th largest in the country and part of the local Lakeland/Winter Haven radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country. 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

2146-702: The 1960s, violence related to civil-rights movement was attributed to the Klan. In 1967, a white man shot and severely wounded a popular African-American high-school football player who was integrating Lake Ariana Beach. A Klan group marched in Lakeland in full regalia in 1979, their last public march by the Confederate monument in Munn Park. Fred Rochelle , 16, was burned alive in a public spectacle lynching before thousands in Polk County, Florida, in 1901. Since

2220-524: 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

2294-519: The Lakeland City Commission voted to move the Confederate monument from Munn Park, where it was installed in 1910, to Veterans Memorial Park. What is now Veterans Memorial Park was first settled in 1883 as the community of Moorehead, the original African-American community in the area. Owners were bought out in 1967 by eminent domain for county civic development of a conference center and the later Veterans Memorial Park. Some members of

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2368-515: The N-word, including once in front of students at the local high school. 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. Bus service is provided to Winter Haven and Frostproof by Winter Haven Area Transit . Lake Wales Municipal Airport (FAA LID: X07)

2442-776: The Paleoindian period was followed by the Archaic period , which ended 2,500 to 3,000 years ago, with the emergence of recognizable archaeological cultures in Florida. In eastern Polk County, the Kissimmee River valley was occupied by people of the Belle Glade culture , which persisted from about 3,000 years ago until the collapse of the Native American population in Florida after 1700. Native American people in western Polk County were part of, or influenced by,

2516-609: The area. The Green Swamp is prone to fog in winter. In the predawn hours of January 8, 2008, smoke from a prescribed burn contributed to especially dense fog on Interstate 4 that caused a major pileup involving 70 vehicles in 10 separate crashes that resulted in five deaths. The eyes of 12 hurricanes have passed through the county at hurricane strength in recorded history, including Hurricane Irma (2017, category 1), Hurricane Jeanne (2004, category 1), Hurricane Charley (2004, category 2), Hurricane Donna (1960, category 2), Hurricane King (1950, category 1),

2590-500: 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. 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

2664-429: The black community have objected to the Confederate monument being relocated to the site of what had been their historic community in Lakeland, saying it would be more appropriate to be located in the cemetery with numerous Confederate graves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,011 square miles (5,210 km ), of which 213 square miles (550 km ) (10.6%) are covered by water. It

2738-638: The center of the peninsula. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 14.0 square miles (36 km), of which 13.4 square miles (35 km) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km) (4.71%) is water. Lake Wales is located in Central Florida , west of Lake Kissimmee and east of Tampa . According to the Köppen climate classification , Lake Wales has a humid subtropical climate , bordering on

2812-458: 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

2886-489: The city of Bartow. Winter Haven was best known as the home of the Cypress Gardens theme park, which operated from 1936 to September 23, 2009. Legoland Florida has since been built on the site of former Cypress Gardens, and has preserved the botanical garden section. Winter Haven was the location of the first Publix supermarket circa 1930; today, Publix's corporate offices are located in Lakeland. In 2018,

2960-441: The county budget, including the state attorneys and public defenders. A portion of the county's budget is dedicated to providing municipal-level services and regulations to unincorporated areas, such as zoning, business codes, and fire protection. Other services benefit both those in municipalities and in unincorporated Polk County, such as those that provide recreational and cultural opportunities. The current Sheriff of Polk County

3034-455: The county is Crooked Lake Sandhill at 305 feet, with the second-highest being Iron Mountain, the location of Bok Tower at 295 feet above sea level. Several artificial raised phosphate tailings ponds in the center of the county rise up to 375 feet. In addition, at its northeast corner, Polk County touches Orange County at a quadripoint called Four Corners, Florida ; Lake and Osceola Counties lie between. Polk County, like most of Florida, has

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3108-507: The county south of Fort Meade, shortly after it passed Wauchula (in Hardee County), where a maximum wind gust of 109 mph (175 km/h) was recorded by emergency management officials. The hurricane-force wind field was relatively narrow, with the most intense wind damage being within 10 mi (16 km) of the center of the eye. For example, maximum recorded winds were only 41 kn (76 km/h; 47 mph) sustained and

3182-492: The county was 79.58% White (74.6% were Non-Hispanic White ), 13.54% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.82% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. About 9.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000, only 37% of county residents lived in incorporated metropolitan areas. Of the 187,233 households, 29.0% had children under 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had

3256-653: The county's population was foreign-born , with 37.8% being naturalized American citizens . Of foreign-born residents, 70.4% were born in Latin America, 11.5% Europe, 10.2% Asia, 4.9% North America, 2.6% Africa, and 0.4% were born in Oceania. As of the census of 2000, 483,924 people, 187,233 households, and 132,373 families resided in the county. The population density was 258 people per square mile (100 people/km ). The 226,376 housing units had an average density of 121 per square mile (47/km ). The racial makeup of

3330-400: The county. Hurricane Charley in 2004—the first of three hurricanes to hit the county in six weeks—is the strongest storm in recent history to pass through the county, mainly impacting the eastern half of the county. The Lake Wales Fire Department recorded an unofficial maximum wind speed of 95 mph (153 km/h) sustained and a gust of 101 mph (163 km/h). The hurricane entered

3404-411: 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. In 2016, a Lake Wales police officer, Travis Worley, was accused by

3478-506: The dynamic movements of sea, ice and wind now provide refuge for rare and endangered plants and animals. Although consisting of a variety of habitats from low and wet bayheads to high and dry sandhills, the ridge is most famous for its scrub habitat. Wildlife and plants once isolated on these islands evolved extremely unusual characteristics. This forest in miniature consists of clusters of shrubs scattered between patches of open sand. The lack of canopy cover and very deep porous sands create

3552-484: The expansion of slavery and whose 1845 inauguration was on the day after Florida became a state. Following the Civil War, the county commission established the county seat on 120 acres (0.49 km ) donated in the central part of the county. Bartow, the county seat, was named after Francis S. Bartow , a Confederate colonel from Georgia who was the first Confederate brigade commander to die in battle. Colonel Bartow

3626-518: The federal government during World War II and was the training location for many Army Air Corps pilots during the war. The airport was returned to the city in 1967 and renamed as Bartow Municipal Airport. In the 20th century, the Ku Klux Klan revived and was active in Polk County, even after World War II. Klansmen were photographed in hoods and robes in 1958 in a church in Mulberry. During

3700-453: The few Seminoles remaining in Florida were confined to an informal reservation in southern Florida. While Florida gained statehood in 1845, Polk County was not created until a month after Florida had seceded from the Union. It was formed from the eastern part of Hillsborough County and named in honor of former US President James K. Polk , who had been popular with Southerners for supporting

3774-531: The fighting in the early years of the war occurred north of Polk County. By 1837, the Seminoles were being pushed south, and late that year, Colonel Zachary Taylor , as part of a coordinated push against the Seminoles, led a column east from Fort Brooke (today's Tampa) into what is now Polk County, and then south between the Kissimmee and Peace River valleys, culminating in the Battle of Lake Okeechobee . By 1843

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3848-421: The first school for freedmen 's children. Other workers arrived for jobs in the phosphate industry. This area became the center of a predominately African-American community later known as Moorehead, after Rev. H.K. Moorehead, called to St. John's in 1906. The community developed its own businesses, professional class, and cultural institutions. Its students had to go to other cities for high school until 1928, when

3922-401: The first upper school to serve blacks was established here. White violence rose against blacks in the late 19th century in a regionwide effort to establish and maintain white supremacy as Southern states disenfranchised most blacks and imposed Jim Crow . Whites lynched 20 African Americans in Polk County from 1895 to 1921; Three black men, whose names were not recorded, were murdered in

3996-413: The hot sun and fast draining soils. In the early twentieth century parts of the ridge were converted to citrus groves. More recently, some of the citrus groves, particularly in the north of the ridge, have been redeveloped for residential housing. Today several areas of the Ridge are protected National Wildlife Refuges and State Forest . The refuge preserves natural habitat in four separated areas of

4070-467: The hub of the largest phosphate industry in the United States, attracting both immigrants and African-American and white workers from rural areas. Polk County was the leading citrus county in the United States for much of the 20th century, and even the county seat Bartow has had several large groves. In 1941, the city built an airport northeast of town in the county. The airport was taken over by

4144-456: The impressive growth rate, the unemployment rate of Polk has typically been higher than that of the entire state. For example, in August 2010, the county had an unemployment rate of 13.4%, compared to 11.7% for the entire state. During the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season , three hurricanes, Charley , Frances , and Jeanne , all tracked over Polk County, intersecting in a triangle that includes

4218-478: 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

4292-579: The late 20th century, growth in Polk County has been driven by its proximity to both the Tampa and Orlando metropolitan areas along the Interstate 4 corridor. Recent growth has been heaviest in Lakeland (closest to Tampa) and the northeast areas near Haines City (nearest to Orlando). From 1990 to 2000, unincorporated areas grew 25%, while incorporated areas grew only 11%. In addition to cottage communities that have developed for commuters, Haines City has suburban sprawl into unincorporated areas. Despite

4366-426: The moist air is heated and rises to form thunderstorms. On many days, the sea-breeze thunderstorms from both coasts move inland, colliding in Polk County to form especially strong thunderstorms. Polk County is located in the middle of "lightning alley" , which has more lightning annually than any region in the United States. Largely due to its size, the county receives the overall highest number of lightning strikes in

4440-428: The most important duties of the county commission is levying taxes and appropriations. The ad valorem millage rate levied by the county for county government purposes is 6.8665. The commission is responsible for providing appropriations for other countywide offices including the sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, and supervisor of elections. The county and circuit court systems are also partially supported by

4514-405: 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

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4588-479: 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. The city of Lake Wales was established near

4662-568: The scrub spend much of their lives underground to escape the hot Florida sun as well as to avoid predators. The gopher tortoise digs a burrow underground that may be up to ten feet deep and up to 30 feet long. More than 360 species may share the gopher's burrow. Other small animals such as the sand skink leave only S-shaped tracks as it "swims" just beneath the surface of the sand. It is the only known sand-swimming skink in North America and occurs in only seven counties in Florida . Most of

4736-525: The site, the present structure houses the Polk County Historical Museum and Genealogical Library. After the Civil War, some 400 Confederate veterans settled here with families before the end of the century. In the post-Reconstruction period, black railway workers were among the first African Americans to settle in Polk County, in 1883 south of Lake Wire. The following year, they founded St. John's Baptist Church, which also served as

4810-415: The state, county commissioners are subject to recall. The commissioners elect a chairman and vice-chairman annually. The chairman selects the chairs of each committee, who work with the county manager to establish the policies of the board. The commission meets twice a month- generally every other Tuesday. Additional meetings take place as needed, but must be announced per the Florida sunshine laws . Among

4884-418: The total population, 19.1% were under 18 and 8.1% were 65 or older. As of 2010, 81.80% of all residents spoke English as their first language , while 14.34% spoke Spanish, 0.70% French Creole (mostly Haitian Creole ,) and 0.51% of the population spoke French as their mother language . In total, 18.20% of the population spoke languages other than English as their primary language . Polk County's economy

4958-504: The vegetation in the Lake Wales Sand Ridge consists of (or has evolved into) scrub plants with thick waxy coated leaves that are drought tolerant. The leaves of the sand live oak are thick and leathery, rolled in at the edges to help retain as much water as possible during the blazing hot days of summer. Species of Opuntia , Yucca , Scrub plum , and scrub Serenoa repens palm dot the landscape and are well adapted to

5032-409: Was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.1 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 36,036, and for a family was $ 41,442. Males had a median income of $ 31,396, versus $ 22,406 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,302. 12.90% of the population and 9.40% of families were below the poverty line . Of

5106-507: Was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.7 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 43,946, and for a family was $ 51,395. Males had a median income of $ 37,768 versus $ 30,655 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 21,881. About 11.5% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those aged 65 or over. In 2010, 10.7% of

5180-481: Was 725,046, as of the 2020 census , and estimated to be 818,330, as of July 1, 2023. Its county seat is Bartow , and its largest city is Lakeland . Polk County comprises the Lakeland–Winter Haven metropolitan statistical area (MSA). This MSA is the 77th-most populous one and the 89th-most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012. The center of population of Florida

5254-408: 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

5328-574: Was buried in Savannah, Georgia , with military honors, and promoted posthumously to the rank of brigadier general. The original name of the town was Fort Blount. Several other towns and counties in the South changed their names to Bartow to honor the brigade commander. The first courthouse built in Bartow was constructed in 1867. It was replaced twice, in 1884 and in 1908. As the third courthouse to stand on

5402-402: Was met by a sheriff, arrested, and then turned over to a mob that shot him 40-50 times. Columbia County also had 20 such lynching murders; these two counties had the second-highest total of lynchings of African Americans of any county in the state. In the first few decades of the 1900s, thousands of acres of land around Bartow were purchased by the phosphate industry. The county seat became

5476-657: Was twice as wide as it is today, and Florida was cooler and much drier, with few, if any, flowing rivers. Both animals and humans were dependent on scattered water holes, such as sinkholes , deep holes in otherwise dry river beds, and rain-fed lakes perched on impervious clay. Most Paleoindian campsites found in Florida have been found at water holes. The largest collection of late (more than 9,500 years ago) Paleoindian microlithic tools known from Florida were found in Lake Weohyakapka , near Nalcrest in Polk County. As sea levels rose and Florida became warmer and wetter,

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