| Welcome
to Haines City and the "Heart of
Florida." Set on a rolling expanse
of hills in Polk
County, Haines City offers the comfort
and convenience of modern life without
the hustle and hassle of a big city.
It is truly a "city growing for
tomorrow." Located at the
northern portion of the Lake Wales Ridge,
Haines City is the commercial center
of growing northeast Polk County.
Situated along the busy US 27 corridor,
at the intersection of US 17 & 92,
10 miles south of Interstate 4, it's
a 30 minute drive to Orlando,
about an hour from Tampa, and both
of Florida's seashores are within a
90-minute drive. |
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| Haines
City, with an approximate population of
13,800, has resisted becoming over-crowded.
Instead this close-knit, friendly community
has maintained its high quality of life,
favorable working conditions, rural ambiance,
and almost unlimited outdoor recreation.
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Golfers
will find eight courses to whet their
appetites and many more in surrounding
areas. In addition, a wide variety of
employment, cultural and educational opportunities
are available. |
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Its
natural beauty remains largely untouched
and yet it is within an arm's reach of
two major metropolitan areas. It is a
great place for your family and for your
business. Residents here say that, as
a place in which to enjoy life and prosper,
Haines City has no equal. |
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At least sixteen lakes in the greater Haines
City area provide scenic
views, excellent freshwater fishing,
water sports, and home sites. Recreational
facilities, such as manicured golf courses,
tennis courts, shuffleboard, public pools,
and structured programs and activities,
are abundant in and around the city. |
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Governed by
a commission/manager form of government, Haines
City provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities,
including fresh-water beaches, and two city-operated
swimming pools.
High school sports
take the stage in early fall, when the Haines
City High Hornets fields its highly popular
football team, followed by both boys' and girls'
basketball, and winding out the year with baseball
and track. It's amateur gamemanship at its purest,
and loyal fans follow them avidly.
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On
the pro side, major league baseball spring training
gets under way in late January at the Kansas City
Royals complex, just eight miles north of Haines
City at the intersection of Highway 27 and Interstate
4. The 8,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium is
owned by Anheuser Busch, and is leased to the
Royals.
Twelve
miles from Haines City, pennant-winning Cleveland
Indians train at Winter Haven, and twenty miles
west, the Detroit Tigers play at Lakeland. Throughout
the central Florida area, inter-league games
are a daily event during March. In St. Petersburg,
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays club is playing its
third year of expansion baseball.
Pro sports fans
may also take their choice of seasons and teams.
In Orlando, The Magic delights their basketball
fans; and likewise in Tampa, the Buccaneers
are tantalizing their supporters. Also in Tampa,
one may see championship horse jumping competitions,
professional ice hockey by the Lightning, soccer
by the Mutiny, and horse racing at Olsmar. Greyhounds
chase the mechanical rabbits at Orlando and
St. Petersburg. At nearby Auburndale, drivers
grind the turf at the stock car race track.
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When the first
settlers came to the Haines City area, they found
it rich with wild game and fish. The pine forests
provided industries producing lumber and turpentine.
Others became farmers in the muck areas of the
region, and early citrus growers began clearing
the land for what was to become the heart of the
present-day industry. |
In very recent
years, the Economic Development Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce has aggressively pursued light
industry and commercial development with good
success. Long dependent upon citrus production
as its principal industry, Haines City is becoming
popular as a retirement center. New golf course
communities and expanding shopping opportunities
are speeding the growth of the area. |
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Celebrating our
national Independence Day has a high priority
in the city's agenda, and the result is one of
the county's largest day-long programs including
country music groups, baby contests, pie and watermelon
eating contests, arts, food and craft booths and
culminates with Polk County's largest fireworks
display. |
Statistics:
Population (year 2000): 13,174,
Est. population in July 2002: 13,708 (+4.1% change)
Elevation: 200 feet
Land area: 8.3 square miles
Median house value: $56,800 (year 2000)
Hospitals/medical centers:
HEART OF FLORIDA REGIONAL MED CENTER (about
8 miles; DAVENPORT, FL
WINTER HAVEN HOSPITAL (about 12 miles; WINTER
HAVEN, FL)
BARTOW MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles;
BARTOW, FL)
Airports certified for carrier
operations:
LAKELAND LINDER RGNL (about 29 miles; LAKELAND,
FL; ID: LAL)
ORLANDO INTL (about 31 miles; ORLANDO, FL;
ID: MCO)
ORLANDO SANFORD (about 53 miles; ORLANDO,
FL; ID: SFB)
Other public-use airports:
WINTER HAVEN'S GILBERT (about 10 miles;
WINTER HAVEN, FL; ID: GIF)
JACK BROWNS (about 10 miles; WINTER HAVEN,
FL; ID: F57)
CHALET SUZANNE AIR STRIP (about 12 miles;
LAKE WALES, FL; ID: X25)
College/University:
LANDMARK BAPTIST COLLEGE (Location:
810 East Hinson Ave; Private, not-for-profit;
Offers Doctor's degree)
Colleges/universities with
over 2000 students:
POLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 8 miles; WINTER
HAVEN, FL
TRAVIS TECHNICAL CENTER (about 24 miles;
LAKELAND, FL
VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 35 miles;
ORLANDO, FL
ROLLINS COLLEGE (about 39 miles; WINTER
PARK, FL
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-ORLANDO CAMPUS (about
41 miles; MAITLAND, FL
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (about 41
miles; ORLANDO, FL; 7)
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY (about 47 miles; ST
LEO, FL
Public high school:
HAINES CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students:
1,912; Grades: 09 - 12)
Public primary/middle schools:
SHELLEY S. BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Grades:
06 - 08)
SANDHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades:
PK - 05)
ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades:
PK - 05)
EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades:
PK - 05)
BETHUNE ACADEMY (Grades: PK - 05)
DANIEL JENKINS ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY
(FORMERLY J. (Grades: 06 - 12)
HAINES CITY BEST PROGRAM (Grades:
KG - 12)
Private primary/middle schools
:
LANDMARK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Location:
2020 EAST HINSON AVENUE; Grades: PK - 6)
FIRST BAPTIST CHILD DEVELOPMENT (Location:
2250 STATE ROAD 17 SOUTH; Grades: PK - 3)
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