|
|
|
|
Lakeland, Florida
|
| |
|
| |
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 89,108. Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 561,606 in July, 2006.
land was first settled in the 1870s and began to develop as the rail lines reached the area in 1884.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Lakeland, Florida' Start a new discussion about 'Lakeland, Florida' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 89,108. Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 561,606 in July, 2006.
History
Lakeland was first settled in the 1870s and began to develop as the rail lines reached the area in 1884. It was incorporated 1 January 1885. The town was founded by Abraham Munn (a resident of Louisville, Kentucky), who purchased of land in what is now downtown Lakeland in 1882 and platted the land for the town in 1884. Among the names considered (and rejected) for the town by its residents were Munnville, Red Bug and Rome City.
The Florida boom resulted in the construction of many significant structures in Lakeland, a number of which are today listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes the Terrace Hotel, New Florida Hotel (Regency Towers), Polk Theatre, Promenade of Lake Mirror, Polk Museum of Art (not a product of the 20's 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 with many large buildings built during the 1920s and 1940s. The Cleveland Indians held spring training here from 1923 to 1927 at Henley Field Ball Park. Many new parks have been privately funded surrounding Lake Mirror. They are the 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 re-emergence was due to the arrival of the Detroit Tigers in 1934 for spring training. (The team continues to train at Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium and owns the city's Florida State League team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers.) The development of the Lakeland Municipal Airport as a major facility in central Florida transportation was another factor. The 1930’s also featured the arrival of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1938 he came to Lakeland at the request of Florida Southern College President Ludd Spivey to design a "great education temple in Florida." For 20 years Wright worked on his "true American campus" creation. In his original master plan he called for 18 buildings (and several other structures), 9 of which were completed and nine left on the drawing board. All of the buildings were built out of what Wright called his "textile block system," the first use of such a system in Florida. He called his project "A Child of the Sun," so named from the architect’s own description of being "out of the ground, into the light, a child of the sun." It is the largest one-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world, and in many ways helped to form a pattern for many colleges in Florida and other areas of the country in the future years.
During World War II, Lakeland made an important contribution to the war effort. Hundreds of young British airmen were taught to fly at Lakeland's Lodwick airfield by volunteer flight instructors, a collection of barnstormers and independent pilots. These British airmen enjoyed the hospitality of Lakeland during their training and then returned home to fight in the Battle of Britain. Their skills in downing German warplanes were crucial to Britain's survival. Later, when America entered the war, the Army Air Corps relied on training fields like Lodwick to train pilots for its fighters, bombers, and transport planes.
In 1990, Lakeland made its Hollywood debut when the Southgate Shopping Center was featured in the hit movie Edward Scissorhands, starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.
It is also mentioned near the end of the Sublime song "April 26, 1992 (Miami)" when lead singer Bradley Nowell lists the cities burning across the United States.
Lakeland made national headlines on 28 September 2006 when 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 the town. The incident sparked outrage among the central Florida law enforcement community. More than five-hundred law officials came together in search of Angilo Freeland, the suspect wanted in connection with the murder. The next morning Freeland was found hiding under a fallen tree. 9 SWAT Team members fired 110 shots at Freeland, hitting him 68 times and killing him on the spot. "God will be his judge and jury now" said Sheriff Grady Judd, adding "we ran out of bullets" on Oct 1, 2006 to the Orlando Sentinel. Deputy Williams and Diogi were laid to rest on 3 October 2006 after a funeral that included a one-hour and 45 minute procession to Auburndale.
Lakeland is home to one of the first Hindu temples in the United States. Publix Super Markets is also headquartered there. The first Red Lobster restaurant was opened there; however, the original restaurant has since closed.
Geography
Lakeland is located at (28.041248, -81.958978). Lakeland is above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (10.90%) is water.
In July 2006, Scott Lake, one of the city's lakes, was almost totally drained by a cluster of sinkholes The lake later partially refilled.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 78,452 people, 33,509 households, and 20,373 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,711.3/mi² (660.8/km²). There were 38,980 housing units at an average density of 850.3/mi² (328.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.52% White, 21.26% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.41% of the population.
There were 33,509 households out of which 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 39.2% were individuals and non-traditional families. 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 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.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,119, and the median income for a family was $40,468. Males had a median income of $32,137 versus $23,771 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,760. About 10.7% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Lakeland has seen explosive growth. According to The Tampa Tribune the population in 2020 is projected to be 115,000 residents.
Media
The local newspaper is The Ledger, owned by The New York Times.
The local radio stations are:
Education
High Schools
Colleges
Other
Polk Community College shares a campus with a regional campus of the University of South Florida. In July 2008, USF Lakeland was granted partial autonomy by Gov. Charlie Crist. AT that point, the school officially became the University of South Florida Polytechnic. USFP plans a new campus located just inside the City of Lakeland's northeast border at the intersection of I-4 and the Polk Parkway.
Traviss Career Center is a vocational school. It is NAFTC´s Training Center.
Sports
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|
| Lakeland Flying Tigers | FSL, Baseball | Joker Marchant Stadium | 1963 | 3 |
|---|
Attractions and points of interest
Historic districts and City Neighborhoods
Buildings and locations
Notable Lakelanders
Entertainment
- Nat Adderley, jazz cornetist and composer
- Lindsey Alley, Mouseketeer and actress
- Copeland, pop/alternative rock band
- Denison Marrs, indie rock band
- Samantha Dorman, Playboy Playmate
- Rhea Durham, Victoria's Secret model
- Faith Evans, singer
- Neva Jane Langley, Miss America (1953)
- Chris Elrod, Christian comedian and writer
- Frances Langford, singer, actress, and radio star (1930s and 1940s)
- Alana Locke, actress
- Mike Marshall, Bluegrass musician and mandolinist
- Kara Monaco, Playboy Playmate
- Robert Phillips, guitarist
- Forrest Sawyer, NBC reporter and anchor
- J. D. Sumner, singer and songwriter
Sports
- Wayne Anderson, NASCAR Nextel Cup driver
- Andy Bean, PGA Tour golfer
- Desmond Clark, NFL player, Chicago Bears.
- Lance Davis, MLB player, Cincinnati Reds
- Matt Diaz, MLB player, Atlanta Braves
- Paul Edinger, NFL player, Minnesota Vikings & Chicago Bears
- Justin Forsett, running back, UC Berkley
- Matt Grothe, quarterback, South Florida Bulls
- Lee Janzen, PGA Tour golfer, U.S. Open winner
- Ray Lewis, NFL player, Baltimore Ravens, Super Bowl champion & MVP, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Rocco Mediate, PGA Tour golfer.
- Freddie Mitchell, NFL Player, Philadelphia Eagles & Kansas City Chiefs
- Joe Nemechek, NASCAR Nextel Cup driver.
- John Nemechek, NASCAR Nextell Cup driver
- Joe Niekro, MLB player
- Lance Niekro, MLB player, San Francisco Giants
- Boog Powell, MLB player, Baltimore Orioles
- Andrew Reynolds, Professional skateboarder
- Rod Smart, NFL & XFL player
- Keydrick Vincent, NFL player, Baltimore Ravens
- Lou Whitaker, MLB player, Detroit Tigers
Other
Transportation
Sister Cities
External links
|
| |
|
|
