Plant City, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Plant City, Florida
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Hillsborough
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area_total_km2 = 58.9
area_land_km2 = 58.6
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 22.7
area_land_sq_mi = 22.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 29915
population_density_km2 = 507.9
population_density_sq_mi = 1317.8
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 28 |latm = 0 |lats = 51 |latNS = N
longd = 82 |longm = 7 |longs = 44 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 39
elevation_ft = 128
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 33563-33567
area_code = 813
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-57550GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0289021GR|3
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Plant City is a city in Hillsborough County, Florida, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. The population was 29,915 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 30,906 [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls] .

Many people believe it was named for the flora (especially vegetables and fruits, as well as tropical houseplants) grown at plant nurseries in its tropical Gulf Coast climate. However, it was named after prominent railroad developer, Henry B. Plant (see Plant System).

Plant City is known as the winter strawberry capital of the world, and hosts the annual Florida Strawberry Festival in the late winter (usually in February or early March), which is attended by people from all over the United States as well as many people from around the world.

History

Plant City's original name was Ichepucksassa (also known as Idasukshed) after the Indian village that once occupied the territory. Its name caused so much confusion that the city was renamed Cork, after the postmaster's Irish hometown. It was finally given the name Plant City in commemoration of Henry B. Plant, and his railroad, which significantly boosted the commerce in this primarily agricultural community by incorporating it with the South Florida Railroad.

Originally, Plant City was a large cotton center, but after changing its primary crop to strawberries it gained recognition as the winter strawberry capital of the world.

Geography

Plant City is located at coor dms|28|0|51|N|82|7|44|W|city (28.014250, -82.128864)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 22.8 square miles (58.9 km²), of which, 22.6 square miles (58.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.

The city and its surrounding area are in the Southern Flatwoods section as defined by the USDA. [http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/mlra_fl.html] The section as a whole is noted for its sandy, infertile, poorly drained soils. In and around Plant City, however, high organic matter content and scattered phosphate nodules make many of the soils more fertile than typical for the flatwoods. [http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx]

Area Schools

Public Schools

Bryan Elementary (K-5)
Burney Elementary (K-5)
Cork Elementary (K-5)
Jackson Elementary (K-5)
Knights Elementary (K-5)
Lincoln Elementary Magnet (K-5)
Robinson Elementary (K-5)
Springhead Elementary (K-5)
Trapnell Elementary (K-5)
Walden Lake Elementary (K-5)
Wilson Elementary (K-5)
Marshall Middle (6-8)
Tomlin Middle (6-8)
Turkey Creek Middle (6-8)
East County Alternative (6-12)
Simmons Career Center (6-12)
Durant High School (9-12)
Plant City High School (9-12)
Simmons Exceptional Center (K-12)
Teen Parent East Program (K-12)
Plant City Adult Learning Lab (GED Prep)

Private Schools

First Presbyterian Learning Center II (PK-K)
Palnez Academy (PK-6)
Evangelical Presbyterian Church Learning Center (PK)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 29,915 people, 10,849 households, and 7,843 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,321.9 people per square mile (510.4/km²). There were 11,797 housing units at an average density of 521.3/sq mi (201.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.67% White, 16.16% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.10% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.42% of the population.

There were 10,849 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,584, and the median income for a family was $43,328. Males had a median income of $33,417 versus $23,585 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,815. About 11.3% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Plant City Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located convert|2|mi|km southwest of the central business district.

National historic status

There are several locations in Plant City which have been included in the National Register of Historic Places. They are:

* Bing Rooming House
* Downtown Plant City Commercial District
* Downtown Plant City Historic Residential District
* Glover School
* Hillsboro State Bank Building
* North Plant City Residential District
* Plant City High School
* Plant City Union Depot
* Standard Oil Service Station
* Historic Turkey Creek High School

Additional photographs

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.plant-city.fl.us Plant City official website]
* [http://www.plantcity.com/affiliates.html PlantCity.com, the official directory to community]
* [http://www.plantcitygov.com/rec/rec-facility-parks-pc-stadium.htm Plant City Stadium & Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex] (Stadium converted to softball in 1999, formerly spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team from 1987-1996)
* [http://plantcitybikefest.com/Page.asp?ID=1000 Plant City Bike Fest] (Monthly motorcycle event in downtown historic Plant City at McCall Park)
* [http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/ Florida Strawberry Festival Homepage]
* [http://www.plantcity.com/carshow Strawberry Classic Car Show] (Monthly car show in McCall Park)
* [http://www.downtownplantcity.com Downtown Plant City Merchant's & Business Association Homepage]
* [http://www.ci.plant-city.fl.us/rec/rec-facility-parks-sansone.htm Mike Sansone Park]
* [http://www.hccfl.edu Hillsborough Community College] (With campuses in Tampa, MacDill Air Force Base, Ybor City, Brandon, and Plant City, and a virtual "eCampus" online)
* [http://bml.hcplc.org Quintilla Geer Bruton Memorial Library] (Main library for Plant City) [http://www.ci.plant-city.fl.us/boards/plctybl1.htm]
* [http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/UFDC/?c=fdnl1&b=UF00028413 "The Courier"] newspaper that serves Plant City, Florida is available in full-text with images in [http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/UFDC/?c=fdnl1 Florida Digital Newspaper Library]