Imperial Polk County is the geographical center of the state of Florida and has an estimated population of 581,000 persons. With 2,010 square miles of area, Polk County is the largest county located north of the Everglades. Polk County is known as the phosphate, water skiing and citrus capital of the world and is home to some of the state’s leading corporations. The county enjoys an average of 263 sun-filled days per year with a mean annual temperature of 73 degrees.
Among Polk County’s assets are 554 lakes and the headwaters of six rivers. The county has some of the best fishing, boating, golfing and tennis in the Southeast. Fantasy of Flight, Historic Bok Sanctuary and Sun 'n Fun Fly-in are major tourist attractions, and the county is the headquarters for spring training for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians.
The educational opportunities in Polk County are very accessible to the public. Florida Southern College, the Lakeland campus of the University of South Florida, Warner Southern College, Webber International University, Polk Community College, Webster University, Southeastern University, Traviss Technical Center and Ridge Technical Center offer higher education courses in Polk County. In addition, there are 86,705 students enrolled in public schools. The University of South Florida announced it will construct a new research college on Interstate 4 in Lakeland. The $150 million campus will be constructed in three years, and it is estimated will serve 10,000 students within a decade.
Complete Polk Demographic Profile
Florida Spotlight/Crossroads of Growth
Polk County 2005 Business Survey
Heartland Projects Ben Walker
In4mer
Median Household Income and Home Values
