Lakeland, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lakeland,Florida
nickname =
settlement_type = City
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption = Downtown Lakeland at night


flag_size =
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seal_size =
image_blank_emblem =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Polk
government_footnotes =
government_type = Commission-Manager
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Ralph L. Fletcher
leader_title1 = City Manager
leader_name1 = Douglas B. Thomas
established_title = Settled
established_date = c. 1875
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 = Incorporated (city)
established_date3 = 1 January 1885
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes = cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US12&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7 |title=Florida by Place. Population, Housing, Area, and Density: 2000 |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-11-25]
area_total_sq_mi = 51.45
area_land_sq_mi = 45.84
area_water_sq_mi = 5.61
area_water_percent = 10.9
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes = cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-12.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-11-25 |format=XLS]
population_note = Census Bureau estimate
population_total = 89108
population_density_km2 = 660.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1711
population_metro = 561606
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 28 |latm = 2 |lats = 28 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 57 |longs = 32 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 141
elevation_ft = 197
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 863
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-38250GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0294459GR|3
website = http://www.lakelandgov.net/
footnotes =

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 the Principal City of the Lakeland, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 561,606 in July, 2006.cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/CBSA-EST2006-01.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-11-25 |format=XLS]

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 80 acres 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 which directly contributed to the defeat of Hitler. Hundreds of young British men 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, then returned home to fight the Battle of Britain. Their skills in shooting down German warplanes was crucial to Britain's survival. When America entered the war, the Army Air Corps relied on training fields like Lodwick to supply 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 29, 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 Kathleen 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 [ [http://www.polksheriff.org/library/Bios/judd.html Resume of Colonel Grady C. Judd, Jr ] ] , 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. [ [http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/NEWS26/610040399 Information about Deputy Williams' funeral.] ]

Lakeland is home to one of the first Hindu temples in the United States. Fact|date=June 2008 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 coor dms|28|2|28|N|81|57|32|W|city (28.041248, -81.958978).GR|1 Lakeland is 141 feet above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of convert|51.45|sqmi|km2|1. convert|45.84|sqmi|km2|1 of it is land and convert|5.61|sqmi|km2|1 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 [cite news |url=http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/NEWS/606230389/1039 |title='The Lake is Dry' |publication="The Ledger" |author=Diane Lacey Allen |date=23 June 2006 |accessdate=3007-11-25] The lake later partially refilled. [cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205444,00.html |title=Florida Lake Swallowed by Sinkhole Reappearing |publisher=Associated Press |date=25 July 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-25]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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 non-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:

*WLKF 1430 AM
*WONN 1230 AM
*WWAB 1330 AM
*WPCV 97.5 FM
*WWRZ 98.3 FM

Education

High Schools

* All Saints' Academy
* George W. Jenkins High School
* Kathleen High School
* Lakeland High School
* Lake Gibson High School
* Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts
* McKeel Academy of Technology
* Santa Fe Catholic High School
* PCC Collegiate High School
* Lakeland Christian School
* Victory Christian Academy
* Sonrise Christian School
* Tenoroc High School

Colleges

* Florida Southern College
* Polk Community College
* Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God
* University of South Florida Polytechnic

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 [http://www.traviss.edu/] . It is NAFTC´s Training Center.

ports

Attractions and points of interest

Historic districts and City Neighborhoods

* 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
* John F. Cox Grammar School
* Florida Southern College
* Henley Field Ball Park
* Joker Marchant Stadium
* Lake Mirror Promenade
* Lakeland Center
* Lakeland Square Mall
* Lakeside Village
* Old Lakeland High School
* James Henry Mills Medal of Honor Parkway
* Oates Building
* Polk Community College
* Polk Museum of Art
* Polk Theatre
* Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God
* University of South Florida, Lakeland campus
* USA International Speedway
* Winston School
* Without Walls Central Church - a local/regional megachurch
* Word of Life Worship Center - a local/regional producing fruit

Notable Lakelanders

*Nat Adderley, legendary jazz cornetist and composer of jazz standard "Work Song".
*Lindsey Alley, former Mouseketeer of the New Mickey Mouse Club and actress.
*Wayne Anderson, NASCAR Nextel Cup driver
*Andy Bean, PGA Tour golfer.
*Lawton Chiles, now deceased former Senator and Governor of Florida.
*Desmond Clark, NFL Player: Chicago Bears. A graduate of Kathleen High School
*Copeland, alternative/emo band
*Denison Marrs, former emo/space rock band
*Lance Davis, former Major League baseball player: Cincinnati Reds (born in Winter Haven, resided in Lakeland)
*Matt Diaz, Major League baseball player: Atlanta Braves
*Samantha Dorman, "Playboy" Playmate
*Rhea Durham, Victoria's Secret model
*Paul Edinger, former NFL player: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears. A graduate of Kathleen High School
*Faith Evans, Singer.
*Justin Forsett, University of California-Berkeley running back
*Matt Grothe, Quarterback, South Florida Bulls football team, a Big East Conference program. A graduate of Lake Gibson High School.
*Lee Janzen, PGA Tour golfer who has won the U.S. Open twice.
*George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets.
*Neva Jane Langley, Miss America (1953)
*Chris Elrod, Christian comedian and writer [http://chriselrod.com]
*Frances Langford, famous singer, actress, and radio star during the 1930s and 1940s.
*Ray Lewis, NFL player: Baltimore Ravens. Super Bowl champion; 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year; Super Bowl MVP. A graduate of Kathleen High School
*Alana Locke, actress
*Howard Marshall, Former NASA scientist, former Cypress Gardens ski performer, PCC Collegiate High School teacher.
*Mike Marshall, Bluegrass musician and world renowned mandolinist.
*Rocco Mediate, PGA Tour golfer.
*Freddie Mitchell, Former NFL Player: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs A graduate of Kathleen High School
*R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
*Kara Monaco, Playboy Playmate
*Joe Nemechek, NASCAR Nextel Cup driver.
*John Nemechek. NASCAR Late brother of Joe Nemechek
*Lance Niekro, Major League baseball player: San Francisco Giants
*Joe Niekro, former Major League baseball player
*Robert Phillips noted classical guitarist.
*John Wesley "Boog" Powell, MLB player: Baltimore Orioles
*Andrew Reynolds, Professional skateboarder
*Forrest Sawyer, NBC reporter and anchor.
*Rod Smart, Former NFL player; former XFL player "He Hate Me". A graduate of Lakeland High School
*John Daniel "J. D." Sumner, American singer and songwriter.
*Keydrick Vincent, NFL player: Baltimore Ravens. A graduate of Lake Gibson High School
*Lou Whitaker, former Major League baseball player: Detroit Tigers
*Aaron Cone, current Independent baseball player:San Angelo Colts
*Jimmy Waibel,NHRA 1968 Stock eliminator champion Driver for the smothers Brothers racing in 1969-1970. NHRA division 2 Hall of fame, a graduate of Lakeland High
* Jeremy Waibel, Current NHRA Driver for K&N high flow filters and Waibel Competition, Graduate of Lake Gibson High

Transportation

*Lakeland Amtrak Station
*Lakeland Linder Regional Airport
*Citrus Connection local bus service

ister Cities

*flagicon|Moldova Bălţi, Moldova
*flagicon|Japan Imabari, Japan
*flagicon|Canada Richmond Hill, Canada

References

External links

* [http://www.lakelandgov.net/ City of Lakeland] official site
* [http://www.theledger.com/ "The Ledger" newspaper]