“Polk County, Florida”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Polk County is located in the U.S. state of Florida. The county population was 602,095, as of the 2010 census.^[2] Its county seat is Bartow,^[3] and its largest city is Lakeland.

Polk County comprises the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.^[4] This MSA is the 87th-most populous metropolitan statistical area and the 89th-most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.^[5]^[6]

The center of population of Florida is located in Polk County, near the city of Lake Wales.^[7]

Polk County is home to one public university, one state college, and four private universities. One Fortune 500 company, Publix Super Markets, has headquarters in the county.

History

The first people to inhabit the area now called Polk County arrived close to 12,000 years ago during the last ice age as the first paleo-indians following big game southward reached the peninsula of Florida.^[8]^[9] By this time, the peninsula had gone through several expansions and contractions due to changing sea level; at times the peninsula was much wider than it is today, while at other times it was almost entirely submerged with only a few small islands exposed. These first paleo-indians, nomadic hunter/gatherers who did not establish any permanent settlements, eventually gave way to the "archaic people". These were ancestors of the historic Native Americans who came in contact with the Spaniards when they arrived on the peninsula. These Native Americans thrived on the peninsula. It is estimated that there were more than 250,000 in 1492 when Columbus set sail for the New World. As was common elsewhere in the Americas, contact with Europeans had a devastating effect on the Native Americans. Smallpox, measles, and other diseases, to which the Native Americans had no immunity, caused widespread epidemic and death.^[9]^[10] Those who had not succumbed to diseases such as these were often either killed or enslaved as Spanish explorers and settlers arrived. Within a few hundred years, nearly the entire pre-Columbian population of Polk County had been wiped out.

For around 250 years after Ponce De Leon arrived on the peninsula, the Spanish nominally ruled Florida but established few settlements. In the late 17th century, Florida went through an unstable period in which the French and British ruled the peninsula. By this time, the remnants of early Native Americans joined with refugee Creek Native Americans from Georgia and The Carolinas to form the Seminole Indian Tribe, through a process of ethnogenesis.^[9]After the American Revolution, the peninsula briefly reverted to Spanish rule. In 1819, Florida became a U.S. territory as a result of the Adams-Onis Treaty. From the 1830s until 1842, the US conducted the Seminole Wars in an effort to remove the Seminole from the territory. Some were removed to Indian Territory, but others retreated to the Everglades and never surrendered.

While Florida gained statehood in 1845, it was not until 1861 that Polk County was created from the eastern part of Hillsborough County. It was named in honor of former US President James K. Polk,^[11] whose 1845 inauguration was on the day after Florida became a state.

Following the Civil War, the county commission established the county seat on {{convert|120|acre|km2}} donated in the central part of the county. Bartow, the county seat, was named after Francis S. Bartow, a Confederate colonel from Georgia who was the first Confederate brigade commander to die in battle. Colonel Bartow was buried in Savannah, Georgia with military honors, and promoted posthumously to the rank of Brigadier General. The original name of the town was Fort Blount. Several other towns and counties in the South changed their name to Bartow. The first courthouse built in Bartow was constructed in 1867. It was replaced twice, in 1884 and in 1908. As the third courthouse to stand on the site, the present structure houses the Polk County Historical Museum and Genealogical Library.

After the Civil War, some 400 Confederate veterans settled here with families before the end of the century.

Post-Reconstruction era to World War II

In the post-Reconstruction period, black railway workers were among the first African Americans to settle in Polk County, in 1883 south of Lake Wire. The following year they founded St. John's Baptist Church, which also served as the first school for freedmen's children. Other workers arrived for jobs in the phosphate industry. This area became the center of a predominately African-American community later known as Moorehead, after Rev. H.K. Moorehead, called to St. John's in 1906. The community developed its own businesses, professional class, and cultural institutions. Its students had to go to other cities for high school until 1928, when the first upper school to serve blacks was established here.^[14]

White violence rose against blacks in the late 19th century in a regionwide effort to establish and maintain white supremacy as Southern states disenfranchised most blacks and imposed Jim Crow. Whites lynched 20 African Americans in Polk County from 1895-1921;^[12] Three black men whose names were not recorded were murdered in a mass lynching on May 25, 1895, accused of rape. While others were killed for alleged crimes (never proven), one black man was lynched for supposedly insulting a white woman. The man, Henry Scott was a porter on a train from Lakeland to Bartow. While he was preparing a berth for one woman on May 20, 1920, another white woman became angry that he made her wait. She sent a telegram to the next station where he was met by a sherriff, arrested, and then turned over to a mob that shot him 40-t0 times.^[13] Columbia County also had 20 such lynching murders; these two counties had the second-highest total of lynchings of African Americans of any county in the state.^[14]

In the first few decades of the 1900s, thousands of acres of land around Bartow were purchased by the phosphate industry. The county seat became the hub of the largest phosphate industry in the United States, attracting both immigrants and African-American and white workers from rural areas.^[18]

Polk County was the leading citrus county in the United States for much of the 20th century, and even the county seat Bartow has had several large groves. In 1941, the city built an airport northeast of town in the county.^[15] The airport was taken over by the federal government during World War II and was the training location for many Army Air Corps pilots during the war.^[15] The airport was returned to the city in 1967 and renamed as Bartow Municipal Airport.^[15]

Mid-20th century to present

In the 20th century, the Ku Klux Klan revived and was active in Polk County, even after World War II. Klansmen were photographed in hoods and robes in 1958 in a church in Mulberry.^[12] During the 1960s violence related to civil rights movement was attributed to the Klan; in 1967 a white man shot and severely wounded a popular African-American high school football player who was integrating Lake Ariana Beach.^[12] A Klan group marched in Lakeland in full regalia in 1979, their last public march by the Confederate monument in Munn Park.^[12]

Since the late 20th century, growth in Polk County has been driven by its proximity to both the Tampa and Orlando metropolitan areas along the Interstate 4 corridor. Recent growth has been heaviest in Lakeland (closest to Tampa) and the Northeast areas near Haines City (nearest to Orlando). From 1990 to 2000, unincorporated areas grew 25%, while incorporated areas grew only 11%. In addition to cottage communities that have developed for commuters, Haines City has suburban sprawl into unincorporated areas. Despite the impressive growth rate, the unemployment rate of Polk has typically been higher than that of the entire state.^[16] For example, in August 2010, the county had an unemployment rate of 13.4%, compared to 11.7% for the entire state.^[16]

During the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, three hurricanes, Charley, Frances and Jeanne all tracked over Polk County, intersecting in a triangle that includes the city of Bartow.^[17]

Winter Haven was best known as the home of the Cypress Gardens theme park, which operated from 1936 to September 23, 2009.^[18] Legoland Florida has since been built on the site of former Cypress Gardens, and has preserved the botanical garden section. Winter Haven was the location of the first Publix supermarket circa 1930; today Publix's corporate offices are located in Lakeland. Country musician Gram Parsons was from a wealthy family in Winter Haven.

In 2018 the Lakeland City Commission voted to move the Confederate monument, installed in 1910 at Munn Park in Lakeland, to Veterans Memorial Park. This was the location of the original African-American community of Moorehead, which was first settled in 1883. Owners were bought out in 1967 by eminent domain for county civic development of a conference center and the later Veterans Memorial Park. Some members of the black community have objected to the Confederate monument being relocated to the land of what had been their historic community in Lakeland, saying it would be more appropriate to be located in the cemetery with numerous Confederate graves.^[19]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2011|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1798|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|213|sqmi}} (10.6%) is water.^[20] It is the fourth-largest county in Florida by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

In addition, at its northeast corner, Polk County touches Orange County at a quadripoint called Four Corners, Florida; Lake and Osceola counties lie between.

Climate

Polk County, like most of Florida, has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). It lies in the 9b USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b, where the average annual minimum temperature is 25-30°F (-3.9°C to -1.1°C).^[21] The last measurable snow in the county fell in 1977, but snow flurries and sleet fell on January 8, 2010 over the course of an hour on an exceptionally cold day.^[22]

During the summer rainy season from June to September, sea breezes from both coasts move inland, where the moist air is heated and rises to form thunderstorms. On many days, the sea breeze thunderstorms from both coasts will move inland, colliding in Polk County to form especially strong thunderstorms.^[23]{{rp|589}} Polk County is located in the middle of "lightning alley", which has more lightning annually than any region in the United States. Largely due to its size, the county receives the overall highest number of lightning strikes in the area.^[23]{{rp|590-591}}

The Green Swamp is prone to fog in winter. In the pre-dawn hours of January 8, 2008, smoke from a prescribed burn contributed to especially dense fog on Interstate 4 that caused a major pileup involving 70 vehicles in ten separate crashes that resulted in five deaths.^[24] A 2017 study by the Climate Impact Lab determined that among the 131 U.S. counties with more than 500,000 residents, Polk County would be the most economically impacted (as a percentage of GDP) by climate change by the end of the twenty-first century.^[25]

Tropical cyclones

The eyes of 12 hurricanes have passed through the county at hurricane strength in recorded history, including Hurricane Irma (2017, category 1), Hurricane Jeanne (2004, category 1), Hurricane Charley (2004, category 2), Hurricane Donna (1960, category 2), Hurricane King (1950, category 1), the 1949 Florida hurricane (category 2), the 1945 Homestead hurricane (category 1), the 1933 Treasure Coast hurricane (category 1), the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane (category 2), Hurricane Four of the 1894 season (category 1), and Hurricane Three of the 1871 season, and Hurricane Eight of the 1859 season (category 1).^[27] Additionally, four storms were downgraded from hurricane strength at a location outside the county to tropical storm force at some point within the county and, given the hours between National Hurricane Center updates (modern era) or earlier estimates, it is not clear whether these brought hurricane-force sustained winds to Polk County: Hurricane Frances (2004), Hurricane Erin (1995) Hurricane Two of the 1939 season, and the 1910 Cuba hurricane (category 1).^[27] Numerous tropical storms have passed through the county.^[27]

Hurricane Charley in 2004—the first of three hurricanes to hit the county in six weeks—is the strongest storm in recent history to pass through the county, mainly impacting the eastern half of the county. The Lake Wales Fire Department recorded an unofficial maximum wind speed of {{convert|95|mph|abbr=on}} sustained and a gust of {{convert|101|mph|abbr=on}}.^[28] The hurricane entered the county south of Fort Meade, shortly after it passed Wauchula (in Hardee County), where a maximum wind gust of {{convert|109|mph|abbr=on}} was recorded by emergency management officials^[29]. The hurricane-force wind field was relatively narrow, with the most intense wind damage being within {{convert|10|mi|abbr=on}} of the center of the eye.^[30] For example maximum recorded winds were only {{convert|41|kn|abbr=on}} sustained and a gust of {{convert|54|kn|abbr=on}} at Gilbert Airport on the northwest side of the city.^[31]

Demographics

2010 Census

There were 227,485 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% (3.4% male and 7.6% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05.^[38]^[39]

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.^[39]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,946, and the median income for a family was $51,395. Males had a median income of $37,768 versus $30,655 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,881. About 11.5% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those aged 65 or over.^[40]

In 2010, 10.7% of the county's population was foreign-born, with 37.8% being naturalized American citizens. Of foreign-born residents, 70.4% were born in Latin America, 11.5% were born in Europe, 10.2% born in Asia, 4.9% in North America, 2.6% born in Africa, and 0.4% were born in Oceania.^[37]

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 483,924 people, 187,233 households, and 132,373 families residing in the county. The population density was 258 people per square mile (100/km²). There were 226,376 housing units at an average density of 121 per square mile (47/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.58% White (74.6% were Non-Hispanic White),^[41] 13.54% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.82% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 9.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000 only 37% of county residents lived in incorporated metropolitan areas.^[42]

There were 187,233 households, of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% have someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,036, and the median income for a family was $41,442. Males had a median income of $31,396, versus $22,406 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,302. 12.90% of the population and 9.40% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.10% were under the age of 18 and 8.10% were 65 or older.

Languages

As of 2010, 81.80% of all residents spoke English as their first language, while 14.34% spoke Spanish, 0.70% French Creole (mostly Haitian Creole,) and 0.51% of the population spoke French as their mother language.^[43] In total, 18.20% of the population spoke languages other than English as their primary language.^[43]

Economy

Polk County's economy is supported by a workforce of over 275,000 in 2010.^[44] Traditionally, the largest industries in Polk County's economy have been phosphate mining, agriculture, and tourism.^[45]

Notable companies headquartered in Polk County include Publix (the employee-owned grocery chain) and Florida's Natural (the agricultural cooperative).

Top employers

Sports

Professional baseball, especially major league spring training, was historically a major generator of tourist traffic for Polk County. Today, however, only the Detroit Tigers remain for spring training. Additionally the Class A-Advanced Lakeland Flying Tigers play in Joker Marchant Stadium after spring training.^[47]

College sports are also popular in Polk County. The Florida Southern Moccasins play in NCAA Division II in the Sunshine State Conference.

Government and politics

The executive and legislative powers of the county are vested in the five-member Board of County Commissioners. While the county is divided into five separate districts, each commissioner is elected [at-large]], countywide, ^[48] requiring them to gain majority support. Each term lasts for four years, with odd-numbered districts holding elections in presidential election years, and even-numbered districts holding elections two years later. Like all elected officials in the state, county commissioners are subject to recall. The commissioners elect a chairman and vice-chairman annually. The chairman selects the chairs of each committee, who work with the county manager to establish the policies of the board. The commission meets twice a month- generally every other Tuesday. Additional meetings take place as needed, but must be announced per the Florida Sunshine laws.^[48] Melony Bell, from Fort Meade, serves as a County Commissioner.

Among the most important duties of the county commission is levying taxes and appropriations. The Ad Valorem millage rate levied by the county for county government purposes is 6.8665.^[44] The commission is responsible for providing appropriations for other countywide offices including the sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector and supervisor of elections. The county and circuit court systems are also partially supported by the county budget, including the state attorneys and public defenders. A portion of the county's budget is dedicated to providing municipal level services and regulations to unincorporated areas, such as zoning, business codes, and fire protection. Other services benefit both those in municipalities and in unincorporated Polk County, such as those that provide recreational and cultural opportunities.

Party registration

Education

Universities and colleges

Library Cooperative

The Polk County Library Cooperative was formed October 1, 1997 through an Interlocal Agreement between the 13 municipalities with public libraries and the Board of County Commissioners. The Cooperative enables the city-owned and -operated public libraries to open their doors to all residents of the county, including those in the unincorporated area.^[51]

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) offers library patrons the opportunity to request and receive books that are not owned by the Winter Haven Public Library. Through ILL, not only do patrons have access to the circulating book collections of all the library systems in Polk County but also all of the library systems in Florida, as well as universities and public library systems throughout the United States.^[52]

Cooperative member libraries

Services

Polk County Historical & Genealogical Library

The Polk County Historical & Genealogical Library was first established in 1937. It opened to the public in January 1940. The library was first located in the office of the County Attorney and was housed in a metal bookcase. Since then the library has been housed in several different locations within the old Polk County Courthouse. In 1968 the library hired its first full-time employee. By 1974 the library added a second employee and was moved to a new location on Hendry Street. In 1987 the library relocated once again, back to the 1908 Courthouse. The library then went under a ten-year renovation process, which led to an expansion that included all three floors of the eastern wing of the Courthouse. As of 2013, the library is located in the east wing of the Historical Courthouse in Bartow. It is governed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and administered by the Neighborhood Services Department and the Leisure of Services Division. The library holds one of the largest Genealogical and Historical collections in the Southeast United States.^[53]

The Polk County Historical & Genealogical Library currently holds over 40,000 items in the collection. The collection includes books, microfilm, and periodicals that include information about the history and genealogy of the entire eastern United States. The selection of materials related to the history of Polk County contains local newspapers dated back to 1881, aerial photography to 1938, city directories to 1925 and property tax rolls to 1882. There are four full-time staff members available for assistance at the library. The library also offers local obituary searches and basic looks-ups using email.^[54]

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Television

Transportation

Airports

Highways

Intercity rail

Polk County has two Amtrak train stations, in Winter Haven and Lakeland. The Lakeland station is served by Amtrak's Silver Star while the Winter Haven station is served by both Amtrak's Silver Star and Silver Meteor.

Communities

According to the 2010 Census, just under 38% of the population of the county lives in one of Polk's seventeen incorporated municipalities.^[58] The largest city, Lakeland, has over 97,000 residents and is located in the western edge of the county. The other core city of the metropolitan area, Winter Haven, is located in the eastern part of the county and has 34,000 residents. The county seat, Bartow, is located southeast of Lakeland and southwest of Winter Haven and has over 17,000 residents. The cities of Bartow, Lakeland, and Winter Haven form a roughly equilateral triangle pointed downward with Bartow being the south point, Lakeland the west point, and Winter Haven the east point.^[59]^[60]

The other major cities in the county with a population over 10,000 include Haines City, Auburndale, and Lake Wales. Haines City is in the northeast part of the county and has over 20,000 residents. Auburndale is located northwest of Winter Haven and Lake Wales is around 16 miles east of Bartow.

Cities

Towns

Village

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References

1. ^{{Cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/polkcountyflorida/PST045217 | title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Polk County, Florida}}
2. ^¹{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12105.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}
4. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas|publisher=United States Office of Management and Budget|date=February 28, 2013|accessdate=March 20, 2013}}
5. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv|title=Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|format=CSV|work=2012 Population Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division|date=March 2013 |accessdate=March 20, 2013|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401093220/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv |archivedate=April 1, 2013|df=}}
6. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv|title=Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|format=CSV|work=2012 Population Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division|date=March 2013|accessdate=March 20, 2013|deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517083619/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv|archivedate=May 17, 2013|df=}}
7. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt|title=Centers of Population by State: 2010|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}
8. ^{{cite web |url = http://www.ancientnative.org/tao.php |title = Ancient Native |accessdate = 2010-09-09 |publisher = HOTOA |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101017085248/http://www.ancientnative.org/tao.php |archivedate = 2010-10-17 |df = }}
9. ^¹²{{cite web |url = http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/History.asp |title = Polk County History |accessdate = 2010-09-11 |publisher = Polk Counjty Historical Association |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182027/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/History.asp |archivedate = 2011-07-27 |df = }}
10. ^{{cite web |author = Weibel, B |url = http://attractions.uptake.com/blog/florida-native-american-museums-7383.html |title = Trail of Florida's Ancient Heritage |accessdate = 2010-09-09 |publisher = active.com |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100713193146/http://attractions.uptake.com/blog/florida-native-american-museums-7383.html |archivedate = 2010-07-13 |df = }}
11. ^{{cite book|title=Publications of the Florida Historical Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA33|year=1908|publisher=Florida Historical Society|page=33}}
12. ^¹²³Kimberly C. Moore, "Lynchings, Klan activity part of Polk’s history", The Ledger, 07 May 2018
13. ^{{cite news |title=Woman’s Impatience Revealed as Cause of Porter’s Death |publisher=New York Negro World |date=May 29, 1920|quote="The woman sent a telegram to the next station stating that Scott had insulted her. When the train stopped, Scott was removed by a deputy sheriff. From there the story followed the usual lynching pattern. A mob “over-powered” the sheriff and killed the Negro. The coroner’s jury returned the usual verdict, “Death at the hands of parties unknown.”"}}
14. ^[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-supplement-by-county.pdf Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County], 3rd Edition, 2017, p. 3
15. ^¹²{{cite web |url=http://www.bartow-airport.com/airhistory.htm |title=Airport History |accessdate=2010-09-12 |publisher=Bartow Municipal Airport |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204060330/http://www.bartow-airport.com/airhistory.htm |archivedate=2010-12-04 |df= }}
16. ^¹{{cite web| url = http://www.ledgerdata.com/unemployment/| title = Unemployment Rate Polk County, FL| accessdate = 2010-10-08| publisher = The Ledger}}
17. ^{{cite web|url=http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2005/04/Bossakarticle.pdf|title="X" Marks the Spot: Florida, the 2004 Hurricane Bull's-Eye|last=Bossak|first=Brian H.|date=April 2005|work=Sound Waves|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=26 March 2010}}
18. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20091227/NEWS9709/912275051|title=Cypress Gardens Closes Once Again; Its Future Is Uncertain|first=GARY WHITE THE|last=LEDGER|date=|website=theledger.com}}
19. ^¹Kimberly C. Moore, "Confederate vets, former slaves form Lakeland’s history", The Ledger, 09 May 2018; accessed 27 June 2018
20. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}
21. ^{{cite web |last1=Fraisse |first1=Clyde |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Information |url=http://www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/USDA-Plant-Hardiness.pdf |accessdate=16 October 2018 }}
22. ^{{cite news |last1=Walter |first1=Shoshana |title=Snow, Sleet Pelt Frigid Polk |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20100109/News/608065271/LL/ |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=The Ledger |date=January 9, 2010 |location=Lakeland, Florida}}
23. ^¹{{cite book |last1=Collins |first1=Jennifer |last2=Paxton |first2=Charles |last3=Wahl |first3=Thomas |last4=Emrich |first4=Christopher |editor1-last=Chassignet |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Jones |editor2-first=James |editor3-last=Misra |editor3-first=Vasubandhu |editor4-last=Obeysekera |editor4-first=Jayantha |title=Florida's Climate: Changes, Variations, & Impacts |date=November 2017 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=9781979091046 |doi=10.17125/fci2017 |chapter-url=http://floridaclimateinstitute.org/docs/climatebook/Ch20-Collins.pdf |accessdate=16 October 2018 |chapter=Climate and Weather Extremes}}
24. ^{{cite news |last1=Maready |first1=Jeremy |title=One Year After Tragic I-4 Pileup, Questions Remain |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20090108/News/608127525/LL/ |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=The Ledger |date=January 8, 2009 |location=Lakeland, Florida}}
25. ^{{cite news |last1=Guinn |first1=Christopher |title=Climate researchers: As temperatures rise, Polk would be at heightened risk |url=https://www.theledger.com/news/20170715/climate-researchers-as-temperatures-rise-polk-would-be-at-heightened-risk |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=The Ledger |date=July 15, 2017 |location=Lakeland, Florida}}
26. ^http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mlb
27. ^¹²{{cite web |title=Historical Hurricane Tracks |url=https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/ |website=NOAA Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool |publisher=NOAA |accessdate=16 October 2018}}
28. ^{{cite news |last1=Chambliss |first1=John |last2=Rousso |first2=Rick |title=Charley Whips Through Polk |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20040813/News/608120847/LL/ |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=The Ledger |date=August 13, 2004 |location=Lakeland, Florida |quote=Over land, Charley lost some punch but still pummeled Lake Wales with gusts up to 101 mph and sustained winds of 95 mph for about 45 minutes, according to the Lake Wales Fire Department.}}
29. ^{{cite web |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Barry |title=Hurricane Charley Preliminary Storm Survey I |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/tbw/HurricaneCharley/text/charleylocalsummary.pdf |publisher=National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Weather Forecast Office |accessdate=16 October 2018 |date=2004|pages=3–4}}
30. ^{{cite web |last1=Linhares |first1=Mark |title=Hurricane Charley Preliminary Storm Survey II |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/tbw/HurricaneCharley/text/charleylocalsummary2.pdf |publisher=National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Weather Forecast Office |accessdate=16 October 2018 |pages=1, 3 |date=2004}}
31. ^{{cite web |last1=Pasch |first1=Richard |last2=Brown |first2=Daniel |last3=Blake |first3=Erik |title=Tropical Cyclone Report - Hurricane Charley - 9-14 August 2004 |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL032004_Charley.pdf |publisher=National Hurricane Center |accessdate=16 October 2018 |page=8 |date=18 October 2004}}
32. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|accessdate=June 9, 2017}}
33. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}
34. ^{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}
35. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}
36. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2014}}
37. ^¹²³{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml |title=Polk County: SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=factfinder.census.gov |accessdate=October 23, 2015}}
38. ^¹²{{cite web |url=http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/polk-county/105/ |title=Polk County Demographic Characteristics|publisher=ocala.com |accessdate=October 23, 2015}}
39. ^¹{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml |title=Polk County: Age Groups and Sex: 2010–2010 Census Summary File 1|publisher=factfinder.census.gov |accessdate=October 23, 2015}}
40. ^{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF |title=Polk County, Florida: SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=factfinder.census.gov |accessdate=November 18, 2015}}
41. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.muninetguide.com/states/florida/Polk.php |title=Demographics of Polk County, FL |publisher=MuniNetGuide.com |accessdate=October 23, 2015}}
42. ^Polk County Demographic Profile (Central Florida Development Council) – retrieved June 1, 2007
43. ^¹{{cite web | url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&SRVY_YEAR=2010&geo=county&state_id=12&county_id=95&mode=geographic&lang_id=&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=®ion_id=&division_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r&pc=1 | title=Modern Language Association Data Center Results of Polk County, Florida | publisher=Modern Language Association | accessdate=October 23, 2015}}
44. ^¹{{cite web| url = http://www.eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=34&Display=all| title = Polk County Profile| accessdate = 2011-10-27| publisher = Enterprise Florida}}
45. ^¹{{cite web |url = http://www.polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=8&nav=res&id=120 |title = Polk's Profile |accessdate = 2011-10-27 |publisher = Polk County Board of County Commissioners |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111011053629/http://polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=8&nav=res&id=120 |archivedate = 2011-10-11 |df = }}
46. ^{{Cite web | url=https://www.cfdc.org/data-research/top-employers/ | title=Top Employers ‹ Central Florida Development Council}}
47. ^http://www.centralfloridasports.com/sports/baseball.aspx
48. ^¹{{cite web |url = http://www.polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=70&nav=gov&id=124 |title = Board of County Commissioners |accessdate = 2011-09-27 |publisher = Polk County Website |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110922194920/http://www.polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=70&nav=gov&id=124 |archivedate = 2011-09-22 |df = }}
49. ^{{Cite web|url=http://www.polkelections.com|title=Active Voter Statistics|access-date=8 November 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107052229/https://www.polkelections.com/|archivedate=7 November 2018}}
50. ^{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|date=|website=uselectionatlas.org}}
51. ^¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²¹³¹⁴¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷¹⁸¹⁹²⁰²¹²²²³²⁴²⁵{{cite web|url=http://www.mypclc.org/about-us|title=About Us - Polk County Library Cooperative|author=|date=|website=www.mypclc.org}}
52. ^{{Cite web|url=http://whpl.mywinterhaven.com/services.html|title=Library Services|website=whpl.mywinterhaven.com|access-date=2016-03-09}}
53. ^{{cite web| url = http://library.mypclc.org/historical/about-us| title = About Us| accessdate = 2013-08-09| publisher = Polk County Library Cooperative}}
54. ^{{cite web| url = http://library.mypclc.org/historical/collections-and-services| title = Overview| accessdate = 2013-08-09| publisher = Polk County Library Cooperative}}
55. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=52&nav=res&id=4358| title = Historical and Genealogical Library| accessdate = 2013-08-09| publisher = Polk County Board of County Commissioners}}
56. ^Tampa Bay metro market hits milestone - Tampa Bay Business Journal, July 18, 2007
57. ^{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Kimberly C |title=Airport director on a mission to bring airline service to Lakeland Linder International Airport |url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20180712/airport-director-on-mission-to-bring-airline-service-to-lakeland-linder-international-airport |accessdate=20 July 2018 |publisher=Lakeland Ledger |date=12 July 2018}}
58. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20110317/NEWS/110319792| title = Census: Polk's Population Larger, More Diverse| accessdate = 2011-09-26| publisher = The Ledger}}
59. ^{{cite web |url = http://fipr1.state.fl.us/fipr/fipr1.nsf/0/7bdd9643b1c47a2485256b2f00569595/$FILE/04-039-087Final.pdf |page = 5 |title = Publication 04-39-087 |accessdate = 2010-10-17 |publisher = University of Florida |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110816102319/http://fipr1.state.fl.us/fipr/fipr1.nsf/0/7bdd9643b1c47a2485256b2f00569595/$FILE/04-039-087Final.pdf |archivedate = 2011-08-16 |df = }}
60. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Orlando,+Fl| title = Map of Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven showing 'triangle'| accessdate = 2010-10-17}}

History

Post-Reconstruction era to World War II

Mid-20th century to present

Geography

Adjacent counties

Climate

Tropical cyclones

Demographics

2010 Census

2000 Census

Languages

Economy

Top employers

Sports

Government and politics

Party registration

Education

Universities and colleges

Library Cooperative

Interlibrary Loan

Cooperative member libraries

Services

Polk County Historical & Genealogical Library

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Television

Transportation

Airports

Highways

Intercity rail

Communities

Cities

Towns

Village

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

History

Miscellaneous