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 Nestled
in the heart of sunny Florida, Lakeland
and surrounding Polk County offer
an unparalleled quality of life
for residents and businesses alike.
Located only an hour from both Tampa
and Orlando, the city boasts a skilled
workforce, strong economy, high
economic development, lodging and
convention facilities, quality health
care, exceptional educational opportunities,
an excellent transportation system
and abundant leisure activities
and cultural events. As we move
into the new millennium this thriving
city of 79,000 residents is the
perfect place to live and work.
 More
than 171,000 people live within
a seven-mile radius of downtown
Lakeland, and Polk County has an
estimated 471,657 residents throughout
its 2,048 square miles. Job opportunities
abound for both city and county
residents in such areas as phosphate
mining, tourism, distribution, light
manufacturing, citrus production
and retail and service industries.
Lakeland also boasts ideal subtropical
weather, with an average annual
temperature of 72 degrees. Rainfall
averages 50 inches per year. And,
at 216 feet above sea level, it
is one of the highest spots in peninsular
Florida.
Once a pioneering
settlement, Lakeland still enjoys
a strong sense of community and
work ethic. Volunteer and social
service organizations flourish,
employees believe in making a positive
contribution to their places of
work and businesses strive to offer
excellent services and products.
The 19th most
populated city in Florida, Lakeland
is a blend of modern conveniences
and diversions. Discover for yourself
the opportunities for success and
prosperity in this jewel of a city.
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Lakeland's
transportation system is
constantly growing. The
completion of several major
projects, including the
Polk Parkway and the downtown
Amtrak Station, along with
future projects, including
the In-Town Bypass and new
terminal and runway improvements
at Lakeland Linder Regional
Airport will make this strong
transportation system even
better in the future.
Surface
Transportation
 The
Polk Parkway - at $471 million,
the largest public works
project ever in Lakeland
- opened to travelers in
August 1998. This new, limited
access toll road provides
people in rapidly-growing
south Lakeland with direct
access to Interstate-4 and
the rest of Florida's interstate
highway network. The In-Town
Bypass, slated to begin
construction shortly after
the turn of the century,
is a project designed to
improve east-west traffic
flow in downtown Lakeland.
This new road will reduce
commercial traffic on downtown
streets.
Rail
Service
The completion of the Amtrak
station in late 1998, has
brought upgraded passenger
rail service to Lakeland.
Overlooking beautiful Lake
Mirror, due east of downtown
Lakeland, the train station
will allow rail passengers
access to trains bound daily
for Miami and Jacksonville.
Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL)
also has a passenger boarding
station in nearby Winter
Haven.
The CSX
Railroad System provides
access to the vast network
of rail within the county.
They offer multi-modal service
for freight and distribution,
including train, truck,
barge and container services.
Several switching yards
are available, and the north-south
and east-west mainlines
extend from the center of
Polk County.
Air
Transportation
Located about four miles
southwest of Lakeland's
central business district
is the city-owned and operated
Lakeland Linder Regional
Airport (863-648-3299, Fax:
863-648-3274). With nearly
200,000 air movements per
year, the airport is reported
to have the busiest contact
tower in the United States.
Lakeland Linder Regional
Airport handles private
aircraft and executive jets,
supports 190-plus based
aircraft, a terminal and
tower, office / hangar space
and two runways. It further
offers FBO facilities and
ground crews, and is I.L.S.,
V.O.R. and N.D.B. equipped.
The future
looks bright for this airport
as many new improvements
are in the works. The airport
hopes to enhance its ability
to attract a major airline
here to provide regular
service from Lakeland. New
runway and taxiway upgrades
and a modern new terminal
and air traffic control
tower will help the airport
keep pace with its heavy
volume. The Lakeland Linder
Regional Airport, combined
with the businesses located
at the airport's Lakeland
Airside Center and Lakeland
AirPark, employs more than
2,000 employees, making
them the seventh leading
employer in Polk County.
Two of
Florida's busiest commercial
airports are less than an
hour's drive from Lakeland.
Domestic and international
flights from both Tampa
International Airport and
Orlando International Airport
allow Lakeland residents
to access air transportation
with ease. For parking information
and passenger paging, call
Tampa International Airport
(1-800-767-8882) or Orlando
International Airport (407-825-2001).
Bus
Service
 Lakeland
is the only city in Polk
County offering low-cost,
public bus transportation.
The Citrus Connection (863-688-RIDE)
offers one-way fares for
adults for 75 cents and
50 cents for students, ages
6 to 18. A special discount
fare of 35 cents is offered
for elderly and handicapped
riders.
All children
under the age of six ride
free when accompanied by
an adult. The fleet of full-size,
air-conditioned buses follow
specific, pre-determined
routes and run Monday through
Friday from 5:45 a.m. to
7:15 p.m. and on Saturdays
from 7:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
The Citrus
Connection terminal in downtown
Lakeland serves as the hub
for all buses. The Citrus
Connection also offers a
call-ahead, door-to-door
service for Lakeland's elderly
and disabled residents.
The Handy Bus is an excellent
resource that continues
to grow, serving more than
8,000 riders a month.
For car
pooling purposes, the Citrus
Connection offers "The Van
Plan" - leased vans seating
15 passengers. Altogether,
the Citrus Connection serves
a total population of more
than 115,000 people.
Citrus
Trolley
The Downtown Citrus Trolley
offers a free ride through
the downtown area, as well
as a shuttle service to
the Lakeland Center. Its
continuous route stops as
needed and runs during the
hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
weekdays.
Port
Facilities
With three terminals, the
Port of Tampa (813-272-0555)
is a prime homeport for
cruise destinations. Located
in the upper northeast corner
of Tampa Bay on Hillsborough
Bay, it is used as a port
of call to many other cruise
ships throughout the year.
The Port of Tampa also has
82 public and private berths
that handle liquid and dry
bulk cargoes, including
phosphate, citrus and a
wide variety of goods manufactured
in Lakeland and other Polk
County cities.
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 Lakeland's
learning environment
is conducive to
earning a solid,
useful education.
Beginning with specialized
learning programs
for the youngest
children through
courses available
at institutions
of higher learning,
educational options
exist for everyone.
Many opportunities
for participating
in higher educational
activities also
exist in the city.
Seven institutions
in Lakeland and
Polk County have
been established
expressly for that
purpose.
Public
Schools
http://www.pcsb.k12.fl.us
The Polk County
Public School district
is composed of 63
elementary schools,
19 middle schools,
17 high schools
and nine adult,
alternative, vocational
or exceptional student
centers. Eight magnet
schools offer specialized
courses and enforce
discipline more
strictly than the
other public schools.
Six charter schools
are also located
in Lakeland.
Polk County's public
school system is
the 45th largest
in the nation, with
a student population
in excess of 77,000
students and a staff
of over 4,800 teachers.
More than one-third
of Polk County's
teachers have earned
advanced degrees,
equipping them with
the knowledge and
skills to serve
Lakeland's youth.
 There
is a great community
presence in the
schools that includes
a multitude of dedicated
volunteers donating
their time to helping
students in a variety
of ways. Volunteers
in Polk Schools
offer partnership
opportunities to
2,100 businesses.
Community support
is a very important
aspect of the learning
process in Polk
County and it is
part of what makes
the school system
so strong and effective.
More than $180,000
in scholarships
have been awarded
to students by the
Polk Education Foundation,
which is supported
financially by the
local business community.
A designation known
as Five Star Schools
has been given to
17 of the public
schools in Polk
County, a state
designation for
schools with exemplary
community involvement.
This is another
indication of the
remarkable amount
of parental and
other volunteer
involvement in school
programs. The public
schools of Polk
County are also
known for their
emphasis on computer-assisted
instruction, having
at least one lab
at every district
school.
Private
Schools
Students in Lakeland
can also benefit
from attending any
of the quality private
schools in the area,
of varying affiliations.
The scope of grade
levels available
at private schools
ranges from pre-school
and kindergarten
to 12th grade. Nursery/kindergarten
schools total 44,
while parochial
and private elementary
and secondary schools
have a total in
excess of 14.
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Area
offices
of Polk
County
Public
Schools |
|
East |
(863)
678-4267 |
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North
Central |
(863)
965-5462 |
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Northwest |
(863)
499-2866 |
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South
Central |
(863)
534-7454 |
|
Southwest |
(863)
648-3545 |
CC
Colleges
and Universities
 Florida
Southern College
(863-680-4111),
on the shores of
Lake Hollingsworth,
was founded in 1885
by the United Methodist
Church and is one
of Florida's oldest
private colleges.
At
Polk Community College
(863-297-1000),
students may earn
associate degrees
in 57 majors that
transfer easily
to the nine state
universities in
Florida. There are
also certificate
programs and continuing
education classes.
The curriculum of
Florida Metropolitan
University/Tampa
College Lakeland
(863-686-1444) equips
business students
with the knowledge,
skills and abilities
necessary for building
their careers. The
available degrees
include several
associates degrees
and bachelors and
masters degrees
in business administration.
Located in Southeast
Lakeland, the
University of South
Florida Lakeland
(863-667-7000) provides
Lakeland students
with the opportunity
to take advantage
of the resources
of the University
of South Florida
in Tampa. "Virtual"
classroom instruction
transmitted via
television from
the main campus
allows students
in Lakeland to communicate
with professors
at the Tampa location.
Southeastern College
(863-667-5000) is
a Pentecostal, Bible-based
college whose enrollment
is over 1,450 students.
Some of the available
programs include
bachelor of arts
degrees in church
ministries, church
business administration,
education, psychology,
communications and
music. Lakes, trees
and orange groves
enrich its 57-acre
campus. The Southern
Association of Colleges
and Schools and
the American Association
of Bible Colleges
accredit the college.
Keiser College
(863-701-8758) is
a two-year college
accredited to award
the Associate Degree.
Keiser College offers
18 majors in high
demand career fields.
The newest degree
program is an Associate
of Arts with a major
in eCommerce.
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Lakeland
has several
area art
shows, museums
and theatre
productions
that make
it a community
full of
cultural
flair. Lakeland's
publicly
supported
center for
the creative
arts is
called Arts
on the Park
(863-680-ARTS)
and is located
on the east
edge of
historic
Munn Park
downtown.
Its local
community
action projects
focus on
bringing
creativity
to Lakeland
while competitions,
exhibits
and publications
reach artists
across the
state. Admission
to the attraction
is free.
 One
of Florida's
last remaining
"atmospheric"
theaters,
the Polk
Theatre
(863-682-8227),
is a venue
for films,
live performances
and special
events for
the citizens
of Polk
County.
The Polk
Museum of
Art (863-688-7743)
displays
a permanent
exhibit
of pre-Columbian
artwork,
a sculpture
garden and
rotating
exhibits.
Lakeland's
community
theatrical
company,
the Pied
Piper Players
(863-499-8236)
is now in
its 12th
season of
presenting
family theatre
October
through
June. If
you are
in the mood
for the
ballet,
the Florida
Dance Theatre
(863-802-0399)
is just
for you.
Formerly
the Lakeland
Ballet,
this non-profit
organization
has been
presenting
major dance
performances
in Polk
County for
four seasons.
Students
at the Polk
Community
College
(863-297-1050)
perform
both short
and full-length
plays annually.
The students
of the PCC
Players
and The
Reader's
Theatre
design,
cast and
produce
the plays
in their
entirety
during the
school year.
Florida
Southern
College's
Festival
of Fine
Arts (863-680-4110)
runs from
October
through
April each
year and
features
musical,
theatrical
and dance
performances.
The Lakeland
Center hosts
The Imperial
Symphony
Orchestra
(863-688-3743)
in its Youkey
Theater.
The orchestra
also entertains
audiences
at other
places throughout
the county,
including
Bok Tower
Gardens.
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Shopping in Lakeland is a truly eclectic experience. Lakeland and Polk County have antique districts, plazas, shopping centers, major and mini malls, flea markets and farmers' markets. Major city thoroughfares such as South Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 North are home to an assorted number of shops and restaurants, including the Lakeland Square Mall. 
Spending an afternoon shopping is convenient at the mall, which features 130 specialty stores, a food court and high-quality department stores like Burdines, Belk-Lindsey, Dillard's North and Dillard's South, J. C. Penney, and Sears. Located off Interstate 4 at Exit 18, on U.S. 98 North, the mall has more than one million square feet of retail space.
More than 100 independently owned specialty and antique shops grace Lakeland's downtown district. These shops, located in historic buildings dating from the early 1900s, have an incredible selection of antiques, jewelry, china, crystal, clothing, art and much more. Stores such as Brooke Pottery, Eclectic Emporium, Yates & Hagan, Sara Christopher's, Nathan's Men's Store, and Lakeland Gift Basket, can provide the perfect wedding, anniversary, birthday or other special occasion gift. More antiquing is just a short drive to antique districts in Bartow, Davenport, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Polk City and Winter Haven.
 Over the past few years Lakeland's downtown nightlife and dining experiences have flourished. Evening visitors to the downtown may enjoy a Cajun-style dinner at Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille before heading over to Hurricane Alley for a margarita and some dancing at Lillian's Music Store. For those interested in having a "lager" in an authentic Irish pub, Molly McHugh's is right across the street. If live, slow rock or blues music is appealing, Trader's, a long-time Lakeland night spot is also within walking distance in the downtown area.
With Lakeland's many dining establishments to choose from, diners are sure to find a cuisine to their liking. Serving up everything from fine dining to a quick snack, Lakeland's restaurateurs offer meal options ranging from seafood cooked with Cajun spices to country barbecue; from Cuban, Chinese and Japanese cuisine to all-American burgers and fries.
Summer lunchtime Wednesdays have been improved with downtown's "Tunes at Noon," a summer music series in downtown Munn Park, and additional dining choices such as The Antiquarian, Lomanno's Meet Me for Coffee, Dona Maria, The Terrace Hotel and more.
What Does it Cost?
| Barber Shop: Standard men's haircut |
$7-$12 |
| Beauty Shop: Women's shampoos, trim and blow dry |
$10-$20 |
| Bowling: Per lane, per hour |
$5-$7 |
| Dentist: Cleaning and inspection (no X-rays or fluoride) |
$48 |
| Dry Cleaning: Men's two-piece suit |
$6.50-$8 |
| Hospital: Daily, semi-private room |
$425.60 |
| Movie: Evening price |
$6-$7 |
| Newspaper: Everyday home delivery, per month |
$10.60 |
| Physician: Office visit to general practitioner |
$45 |
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Polk County's abundance of wide-open space ensures that there are plenty of opportunities for recreational pursuits - whether it be hiking, camping, swimming or boating. Just visit one of the many municipal or county parks, two state parks, or rivers and lakes in the area. Boat ramps offer direct access to lakes and rivers at most of the parks. Lakeland has challenging golf courses, scenic parks, fresh lakes and rivers and tennis and racquetball courts. Hiking and biking trails are great for embarking on an adventure to explore lovely Lakeland.
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Known as the "Black Bass Capital of the World," Polk County has more than 600 scenic freshwater lakes, rivers and phosphate pits that provide natural havens for record-setting large mouth bass. For salt water activities, it is an easy drive to the Gulf of Mexico. A fishing license is required for both fresh and salt water fishing. Licensing locations can be obtained by calling the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (863-648-3203).
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A choice selection of 29 golf courses are located in Polk County. Some of these are public, such as Cleveland Heights.  Others are private and include Grasslands, The Club at Eaglebrooke, Highlands Fairways and the nationally acclaimed Grenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort near Haines City. Polk County hosts a number of nationally recognized golf tournaments annually. The PGA Cadillac Open and PGA Tour Qualifying Finals are played at Grenelefe, while the Lakeland ClassicNike Tour takes place at Grasslands. Also, The Club at Eaglebrooke hosts both the Eaglebrooke Lakeland FUTURES Classic and the Lakeland Hooters Classic. To find out the latest golf news, obtain a copy of the new golf guide, containing a listing and photographs of area golf facilities, call the Chamber (863-688-8551) or Polk County Sports Marketing (863-534-4370). Outstanding tennis facilities with all the amenities provide tennis instruction at many area clubs and municipal establishments and several tennis leagues meet regularly to play competitively in Lakeland.
The Lakeland Parks and Recreation Department (863-834-6035) offers tennis and swimming programs along with softball, basketball and soccer leagues. In addition, Lakeland residents can participate in dance, theater and writing programs. The department maintains a total of 49 parks, including baseball fields, lake front picnic areas and an in-line hockey rink for use by the public. The City of Lakeland also has 32 tennis courts, eight racquetball courts, and numerous bicycle trails available. Maps of the trails can be obtained by calling the Chamber (863-688-8551) or Polk County Sports Marketing (863-534-4370).
At the Lakeland Family YMCA (863-644-3528), parents and children alike enjoy athletic activities such as racquetball, gymnastics and swimming in an Olympic-sized pool. A variety of classes are offered in the multi-purpose gymnasium and the wellness center. Child-care facilities are provided and summertime activities include special snorkeling, camping and other planned outings.
To obtain a free Outdoor Recreation Guide containing up-to-date information on boat ramps, bass guide services and other sports-related activities and facilities, call the Chamber (863-688-8551) or the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau (800-828-7655).
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Sports fans have a place in Lakeland. The Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, the Kansas City Royals in Baseball City, and the Cleveland Indians in Winter Haven are all Major League Baseball teams which conduct their spring training in Polk County. Many of the pre-season games also take place here.
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The Lakeland Center is the training location of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning. Also, two of the Lightning's exhibition games against other NHL teams occur at the Center annually.
The Lakeland Center also draws teams, fans and media from all over the state during the first week of March each year to observe the Florida High School Athletic Association's (FHSAA) "Florida Finals" Boys' and Girls' State Basketball Tournament. For information, contact The Lakeland Center's box office at (863-499-8111).
A wide variety of sporting events are offered at Florida Southern College. The baseball, basketball and golf teams of FSC have been recognized nationally by several NCAA Division II championships.
Professional and college sports alike are available in the Lakeland region. The NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA Orlando Magic are nearby, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays play their regular season games at St. Petersburg's domed Tropicana Field. For college sports action, the University of South Florida has the newly established Bulls football team that plays at Tampa Stadium.
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In Lakeland, the USA International Speedway (863-984-3173) hosts eight to 10 major racing events annually. The 100-lap Hooters Formula Cup Series and the AC Delco Challenger Series continue to thrill area racing enthusiasts. The oval racetrack is three-quarters of a mile long and is designed to accommodate up to 30,000 fans. The Daytona International Speedway is also not far away. |
The annual Orange Cup Regatta is held on Lake Hollingsworth each year in early March when hydroplane boats compete on a five-mile course. A tradition since 1937, more than 100 boats in different classes participate. The course is considered one of the best in the country for spectators because they can follow the action from all spots along the lake. In addition, the racing venue for the UIM World Hydroplane Championship, Cypress Gardens, is also nearby.
In October, the U.S.T.A. Women's Challenger of Lakeland is held at ImperiaLakes Golf and Racquet Club and presents a chance to see first-class tennis matches.
 Throughout the year, there are a number of annual festivals and fairs. The nation's second largest convention, the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, is held in mid-April at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Aviation enthusiasts come from all over the world to witness the innovative aircraft displays and the air shows that are performed by some of the world's top exhibition pilots. Over 600,000 aviation hobbyists gather to observe air shows and aircraft displays and to attend forums and lectures.
On Mother's Day weekend, Mayfaire by-the-Lake, a juried art festival, is sponsored by the Polk Museum of Art on the shores of Lake Morton. In September, the Fall Festival gets underway at Munn Park where participants join together in a sidewalk arts and crafts celebration. Munn Park also plays host to the Snowfest in December, with a snow mountain in addition to an intriguing display of crafts.
The Downtown Lakeland Partnership, an association committed to supporting advertising, special events and more for the purpose of bringing visitors to the downtown area, hosts an annual "Holiday Walkabout." Held in early December, the walkabout is an invitation for holiday shoppers to take part in a downtown retailers' open house. Held amid a Dickens-like setting of holiday lighting and music, the walkabout draws hundreds each year.
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