About Lakeland

Lakeland, Florida is a city that sits on Interstate 4 half way between Orlando and Tampa in Polk County. They have a subtropical climate with very hot and humid summers. During the summer, temperatures will stay above 90 degrees for their highs. It will drop only into the 70s at night. Winters are a little cooler. Frost is possible, but it is unusual. Look in the Lakeland, FL yellow pages for area businesses.The land that Lakeland sits on belonged to the Paleo indians. They came here at the end of the Ice Age. They followed their game south. At one point in time, 250,000 Native Americans lived in Florida. When Spanish conquistadors came, the Indians were forced out. Many Indians caught the white man's diseases, such as Small Pox and Yellow Fever. Their immune systems could not fight the diseases, and they died. Those who survived were either killed or taken as slaves.People first settled here in the 1870s. The railroad came in 1884, causing development of the area. Abraham Munn founded Lakeland. He bought 80 acres that is now Lakeland's downtown area.

The city was created on January 1, 1885. Names that were rejected included Munnville, Rome City, and Red Bug. There are 38 lakes with names in Lakeland, so the name fits. Several lakes there have no names. Some are old phosphate mine pits that have filled with water. The largest one is Lake Parker. Swans first came here in 1923. By 1954, they were gone. Most likely the alligators took care of them. Someone living in Lakeland told Queen Elizabeth how much the swans were missed. She sent two of the royal swans to Lakeland. All swans there now are from those two. During the Spanish American War, Lakeland had 9,000 troops staying there. Much construction took place during Florida's boom. Several historical districts have buildings from the 1920s to the 1940s. Spring training for the Cleveland Indians was in Lakeland at Henley Field Ball Park from 1923 to 1927. After the boom came hard times. The Detroit Tigers saved Lakeland in 1934 by doing their spring training there. They still train there today at Joker Marchant Stadium. This location can be found in the Lakeland, FL business directory. Lakeland also has the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings all in one spot. He was asked in 1938 to build a college there.

Written by Lyndsey Morgan