Sandwiched between Orlando and Tampa Bay,
Polk County is a bit like an overlooked middle child, sometimes
overshadowed by flashier younger and older siblings.
But shine a spotlight on the county that sits in the geographical
center of Florida and you’ll realize that, despite its
low profile, Polk County is a special place indeed. It has
picturesque small towns and giant master-planned communities;
historic tourist attractions and a college designed by a legendary
architect; a strong arts community and a diversified economy.
Larger than Rhode Island and as big as Delaware,
with a population of more than a half-million, Polk County
has a key selling point that also sometimes causes it to be
overlooked: its location between two metropolises that are
steadily growing toward one another.
But Polk boasts its own rich history and
distinctive identity. Tourism was thriving in Polk years before
Walt Disney started buying land in Central Florida, and continues
to boost the local economy.
Venerable Cypress Gardens, one of Florida’s first major
tourist draws, has been renovated and enlarged beyond its
traditional water-skiing shows and hoop-skirted Southern belles
to include an amusement park with heart-stopping rides. And
historic Bok Tower Gardens, with its 60-bell carillon tower,
remains the perfect place for a pastoral stroll through lush
parklands.
Polk County has its share of bustling mid-sized
cities, including its two largest: Lakeland, population nearly
90,000, which is on Money magazine’s “Best Places
to Live in America” list; and Winter Haven, population
nearly 28,000, which is home to Cypress Gardens. Laid-back
Bartow, with a population of approximately 16,000, is the
county’s seat.
A thriving arts scene is also evident, with a string of museums,
art centers and theaters. And architecture buffs can see the
largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work in one
location on the campus of Florida Southern College.
Fans of the Boys of Summer can watch the
Detroit Tigers tune up during spring training in Lakeland,
or the Cleveland Indians in Winter Haven.
But it looks like housing may be Polk’s
next big industry, particularly in the Four Corners area where
Polk, Lake, Orange and Osceola counties meet. Huge new communities,
such as ABD Development’s Providence, with plans for
4,800 homes, are quickly coming out of the ground.
In addition, at the 365-acre former site
of Boardwalk and Baseball at U.S. 27 and 1-4, Boardwalk Land
and Development is set to build Posner Park, a pedestrian-friendly,
mixed-use development, with brand-name retailers, boutiques,
restaurants, offices, a hotel, and multi-family residences.
