Central Florida city with history and lakefront views
Containing 38 lakes, Lakeland is well stocked with natural Florida beauty. Located along Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando, it’s the largest city in Polk County, with 120,200 residents and counting. “We’ve seen quite substantial growth in our area over the last several years,” says Kevin Cook, Director of Communications for the city of Lakeland. An average of 88 people move to the area daily, including neighboring Winter Haven. Centered around the original town square dating back to 1884, downtown Lakeland is a thriving community hub with over 40 restaurants and bars, 20 retail stores and weekly events. Lakeland embraces its past, which is preserved in seven historic districts whose streets are with bricks and flanked by canopies of mature trees. The city’s popular districts include Historic Dixieland, with lakeside views, parks and retail options and Historic Beacon Hill, with well-kept homes and proximity to downtown. “We have established neighborhoods that are tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the busy cities around us, but if you want to enjoy the nightlife, it’s a short drive to Tampa or Orlando,” Cook says.
In the mid-1890s, some 25 trains were pulling into Lakeland’s new train depot each day, and the community began to grow thanks to its attractive location and a railroad service connecting the city to other parts of the state. The city aims to preserve its architectural and cultural character, yet it’s also thinking ahead. Economic incentives continue to draw new employers to the area, with a projected 10-year job growth of 42.5%, according to a 2023 report from the city. Besides mom-and-pop shops, Lakeland is the location the Publix Supermarkets corporate headquarters and regional hubs or distribution centers for national companies such as Amazon. Whether it’s a quiet day at the park or a night on the town, Lakelanders find beauty in the history, nature and culture that surrounds them.
Home values on the rise
Housing sales are on the rise in Lakeland, jumping from 2,421 in 2010 to 4,096 in 2022, with a median price of about $315,000. Homes also tend to keep their value. Properties are expected to appreciate 3.7% on average between 2023 and 2024. The city’s historic districts protect more than 1,600 buildings and 13 individual landmarks. Craftsman bungalows are especially popular in the historic districts. Other vintage styles include Queen Anne, Mediterranean Revival, Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival. There are plenty of options for homebuyers looking for newer homes. “There are a lot of new developments being built by the airport in southwest Lakeland,” says Cook. “That’s where most of our open land is located, so that’s where developers and national builders are purchasing large swaths of land.” Surrounding its namesake lake, the Lake Hollingsworth neighborhood offers lakefront views and scenic walking and biking trails. Both the Grasslands and Oakbridge neighborhoods contain newer homes and are located by the Grasslands Golf and Country Club. Cleveland Heights has homes between 1901 and the 1980s near the Cleveland Heights Golf Course.
Six A-rated schools in Lakeland
Lakeland is encompassed by the Polk County Public School District, which receives a B grade from Niche. Quality educational institutions are located throughout the district, with 24 K-12 public schools earning a B-plus or higher. Lakeland itself has six A or A-minus schools. Located near the southern end of the city, Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School makes an A and offers an accelerated early-college experience. Qualifying high school juniors and seniors can study on Polk State College’s Lakeland campus to work towards their associate degree along with their high school diploma. Less than three miles from downtown, McKeel Academy of Technology serves grades seven through 12 and earns an A. It offers six academies and programs, including CREATE – Computer Science, Robotics, Electronics and Technical Education. Lakeland is home to several public and private universities, including Southeastern University, Florida Polytechnic University, Polk State College and Florida Southern College, the location of the world's most extensive on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Rec complexes have sports and community programs
There is a reason why the Lakeland logo is a swan. “It’s almost a rite of passage for people to come and feed the swans on Lake Morton,” Cook says. “Every hour, there are people out there feeding the swans.” Lakeland’s parks are as abundant and varied as its lakes, with over 70 parks and recreation venues. Near the downtown area, locals make a loop around Lake Mirror on the historic Frances Langford Promenade, stopping to see the manicured landscaping at Hollis Garden. Common Ground Park is Polk County’s first inclusive play experience, accommodating children of all abilities with ground-accessible play structures. Three Parks Trail is a large loop connecting parks and recreation facilities, with Common Ground Park on the north side and Curtis Peterson Park on the south end. Lakeland has several large recreation complexes, which, in addition to outdoor spaces with sports courts and fields, serve as gathering spaces for the community concert band, beginner guitar classes, children’s ballet and dozens of other community programs. Locals get up close and personal with animals at Safari Wilderness Ranch or watch the Detroit Tigers train at Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland is home to several museums, including the Polk Museum of Art, Florida Children’s Museum and Florida Air Museum.
Downtown Lakeland lights up at night
Several shopping centers are located along Florida Avenue South toward the city's center with grocery stores and chain restaurants. Toward the city's north side is the Lakeland Square Mall, an indoor mall with several department stores, a trampoline park and a movie theater. Lakeside Village is an outdoor shopping center with a wide selection of stores, casual restaurants and a movie theater. It gets a festive makeover for the holidays with a Christmas tree in the center. For big box shopping, Lakeland has two Targets, two Walmarts and two Home Depots. Downtown, locals peruse locally owned boutiques from wide, shaded walkways. “It’s a pretty magical experience walking through the downtown at night because we have those old-fashioned string lights and drip lights in the trees,” Cook says. The dining scene includes many craft breweries and casual restaurants with a handful of high-end eateries. It’s also a cultural center with movies at the historic Polk Theater, plays at the Lakeland Community Theatre and live music on Friday nights.
Pilots flock to Florida’s largest aviation expo
The Downtown Farmers Curb Market brings Lakeland residents out every Saturday with food vendors, plants and herbs, home décor, furniture and clothes. Lakeland hosts First Fridays, with a Classy Car Show, a Makers Market and varying themes depending on the month. Aviation enthusiasts can stay grounded in Lakeland while pilots fly in from all over to attend the Sun ‘n’ Fun Aerospace Expo. A Lakeland tradition 50 years strong, it attracts 200,000 visitors to see aircraft of all shapes and sizes, enjoy aerial performances and attend hands-on workshops. With a mission of inspiring and educating people of all ages, the expo offers STEM and Career Fair activities for younger aviators.
Golf carts zip around the downtown
Bicyclists and pedestrians can get around the city safely thanks to a network of sidewalks, bike lanes and trails that integrate with roadways. The city earns bronze-level distinctions from Walk Friendly Communities and the League of American Bicyclists. Locals take I-4 to drive 56 miles to Orlando and 35 miles to Tampa. The Squeeze is a free golf cart service that takes locals around the downtown on Fridays and Saturdays. It stops every 6-8 minutes for a fast connection to points of interest. The Citrus Connection bus system services Lakeland and connects with nearby cities such as Winter Haven. The Lakeland Amtrak station is centrally located in the city and services Miami, Orlando, and points beyond Florida.
Property crime, lake pollution are realities in Lakeland
According to FBI statistics, there were 350 violent crimes and 3,230 property crimes reported in Lakeland in 2019. Violent crime in Lakeland was 18% lower than the national average for that year, while property crime was 36% higher. Lakeland has a lengthy list of polluted lakes, and in 2023, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued mandates for the city to improve the water quality for several lakes. Imbalanced nutrient levels in the lakes lead to issues such as harmful algae blooms.
