Located midway between the larger cities of Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland, Florida is a smaller but still important city in central Florida. The city has a population of 93,428 but is the principal city in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan area (population 584,383). With its favorable year-round climate and rapid growth due to annexation, Lakeland has the potential to become an even more important center for Florida. Those moving to Lakeland can take part in that growth.
Economy:
Lakeland is a major location for distribution and manufacturing facilities for the central Florida region. Distribution centers in the city include those for Publix Super Markets, the Saddle Creek Corporation, Rooms to Go, Southern Wine, Advanced Auto Parts and JC Penney. 54 companies have manufacturing facilities in Lakeland, including Pepperidge Farm, KeySafety Systems, Inc., Ridge Lumber & Treating, Tampa Maid Foods and the Pepsi Bottling Group. The biggest overall employers in the city are Publix Super Markets, the Lakeland Regional Medical Center, GEICO, the Watson Clinic, GC Services, Rooms to Go and FedEx National LTL. With such exciting employment opportunities, it is easy to see why Lakeland moving companies are so busy transporting new residents and their belongings.
History:
The earliest European settlement of the Lakeland area began with scattered farming in the 1870s. In 1882, Abraham Munn came from Louisville, Kentucky to purchase 80 acres of land. He organized the Lakeland Improvement Company in 1884 and began to lay out city streets and to sell property lots. The value of Munn's property grew rapidly with the arrival of railway lines that same year, and the town of Lakeland was incorporated on January 1, 1885. The Florida land boom of the 1920s brought a short-lived prosperity to Lakeland and resulted in the construction of many buildings that still stand in the city. These include the Terrace Hotel, the New Florida Hotel, the Polk Theatre, the Promenade of Lake Mirror and the Polk Museum of Art. During World War II, Lakeland found prominence as the site for air training, first for British airmen and later for members of the Army Air Corps.
Tourism:
Much of Lakeland's tourist business is dependent on the city's proximity to attractions in the Orlando area (including Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens), but Lakeland also has many attractions of its own. Events occur throughout the year, including Mayfaire By-The-Lake (a nationally-known art show), performances by the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, the Sun-n-Fun Fly-In air show and the Lake Mirror Classic Car Show (held annually in October). The arts are also represented in Lakeland. The Lakeland Center is a major home for performance art and is the home of theater, visual art and music companies, as well as the site of an indoor sports arena. The Polk Museum of Art is also located in the city and features a permanent collection of Pre-Columbian art in addition to traveling exhibits. Air travelers to Lakeland can choose from either the Tampa or Orlando airports, both within an hour of the city. Transit around Lakeland is available from the Citrus Connection bus service.