Surrounded by fragrant citrus groves
and gentle rolling hills and located near
the center of Polk County, the city of Winter
Haven is a prosperous community built
along an extensive chain of fresh-water
lakes. Tampa and Orlando
are an easy hour's drive, putting Central
Florida's attractions within easy reach.
With a 2004
population of about 27,900 residing
in an area of 24 square miles, Winter
Haven has long been a hub of economic
activity. Although new development is
moving toward the US 27 corridor to the
east, the city continues to offer a wide
variety of shopping and services.
The Winter Haven area attractions, as
well as the local lifestyle, are more
relaxed than those of nearby metropolitan
areas. The City has continued a steady,
controlled growth that minimizes congestion
and allows for a more enjoyable pace of
life. It offers many attractive
residential neighborhoods along the many
waterfronts. |
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Native
plants and exotic species combine in a
magnificent display creating a horticultural
masterpiece in the world-famous attraction
of Cypress Gardens, located on Cypress
Gardens Blvd just southeast of the city.
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Recently, State Farm Insurance consolidated
its regional headquarters near Winter
Haven; Sherwin Williams, Wal-Mart, and
Scotty's all have large distribution
centers in the area. Other sectors of
our local economy include agriculture,
cattle, light industry, health care,
retirement and tourism.
Winter Haven is operated by a city commission/
manager form of government. The city
also operates Gilbert Field, Winter
Haven's municipal airport.
Neighboring
the airport is the Eagles Landing Aviation
Community, home to those families who
enjoy flying and wish to be close to
their aircraft. |
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Among the major assets are the excellent
health care facilities which include two
hospitals, two large multi-specialty clinics
and a walk-in clinic, nursing homes, assisted
living facilities, managed care, home
health care, and a wide spectrum of specialized
physicians and dentists.
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| The first known
family to settle in the area were the Thornhills,
who arrived in the 1860s. Originally the town
was named "Harris Corners" in the
mid-1880's since the owners of the first mercantile
store, Adele and F.A.K. Harris, would cook for
the workers on the new railroad. Around the
turn of the century the population had grown
to 400 and Winter Haven could boast of having
citrus groves, a school. a post office, a real
estate office, a Social Club, churches, hotels,
floral nurseries, a canning factory and the
headquarters of the Florida Growers Association.
Winter Haven was incorporated in 1911, and by
this time its residents had acquired banks,
a band, a newspaper, a movie theater and 15
automobiles. The canals that connect Winter
Haven's Chain of Lakes began with the organization
of the Twenty Lakes Boat Course Club in 1915.
In 1924, the Florida Citrus Festival was first
held to salute this important local agribusiness
and in 1936 tourism became an economic mainstay
as a man named Dick Pope opened Cypress Gardens
- and the eyes of the world - to the beauty
of Winter Haven.
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Widely recognized as the water skiing
capital of the world, this is a boater's
paradise. Winter Haven is 146 feet above
sea level. Its city limits touch or
surround 41 lakes with a unique 16-lake
southern chain and nine-lake northern
chain connected by navigable canals
and is
renowned for boating, fishing, water
skiing and family fun. Polk County's
2,002 square miles include 550 lakes.
Public
boat ramps are scattered along lake
shores, some in conjunction with beaches,
fishing piers, recreational facilities
and picnic grounds. Lake Shipp Park,
an 18-acre county park, has a boat ramp,
a swimming beach and picnic tables.
Picnic tables and boat ramps draw people
to Lake Cannon Park during the summer.
You'll find everything from lessons
on barefoot skiing to fishing guides
and boat tours. Three marinas make boating
supplies and fuel convenient. Lakefront
restaurants offer dining with a view.
The
American Water Ski Hall of Fame has
long been located in the Winter Haven
area and is now located near Fantasy
of Flight just off Interstate 4.
Colorful displays depict the history
of water skiing and champion skiers. |
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Winter
Haven is the spring training home of the
Cleveland Indians. A comfortable
7000-seat stadium where you are so close
to the players you can literally reach
out and touch them. The symmetric park's
foul lines are 340 feet deep and the center
field wall sits 425 feet back. The
Indians always welcome a crowd at their
spring training games. |
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The City
has a wide variety of activities for fun
and entertainment and offers golf courses,
tennis courts, skydiving, camping, water
skiing, airboat rides, fishing, shuffleboard,
a senior center, movie theaters, auditoriums
and an award-winning theatre company.
Theatre Winter Haven (TWH) stages eight
productions each year in the city's 332-seat
auditorium in the Chain of Lakes Convention
Center and is recognized as one of the
best community theaters in the southeast,
having received international acclaim.
Polk Community College's 500-seat theater
provides an ideal setting for music and
drama performed by local and national
talent. And The Symphony Guild of
Winter Haven co-sponsors many concerts
during the year featuring various orchestras. |
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2004 Estimated Owner-Occupied Single-Family
Home Value: $93,426
The Polk County Public School system is the 8th
largest school district in Florida and the 42nd
largest in the nation. The school system serves
approximately 77,000 students from pre-kindergarten
through adult school classes. The system includes
high schools, middle schools, elementary schools
and ten "other" schools, which include
adult, alternative education, technical and exceptional
student education centers. |
Hospital/medical center:
WINTER HAVEN HOSPITAL (200 AVE F NE)
Other hospitals/medical
centers:
BARTOW MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; BARTOW,
FL)
HEART OF FLORIDA REGIONAL MED CENTER (about 15 miles;
DAVENPORT, FL)
LAKELAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 19 miles;
LAKELAND, FL)
Airports certified for carrier
operations:
LAKELAND LINDER RGNL (about 21 miles; LAKELAND, FL;
ID: LAL)
ORLANDO INTL (about 40 miles; ORLANDO, FL; ID: MCO)
TAMPA INTL (about 56 miles; TAMPA, FL; ID: TPA)
Other public-use airports:
WINTER HAVEN'S GILBERT (about 3 miles; WINTER HAVEN,
FL; ID: GIF)
JACK BROWNS (about 3 miles; WINTER HAVEN, FL; ID:
F57)
BARTOW MUNI (about 9 miles; BARTOW, FL; ID: BOW)
Golf Courses:
Baytree Golf Club, 701 Overlook Dr, Winter Haven,
FL 33884, (863)325-8737, semi-private, 18 hole, 6644
yds, Par 71, CR-70.9, S-120
Carefree RV Country Club, 9705 Lake Bess Rd, Winter
Haven, FL 33884, (863)324-5965, private, 9 hole, 2133
yds, Par 35, CR-N/A, S-N/A
Cypresswood Golf & Country Club, 1099 Clubhouse
Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884, (863)324-6174, semi-private,
18 hole, 6912 yds, Par 72, CR-73.1, S-126
Four Lakes Golf Club, 990 La Quinta Blvd, Winter Haven,
FL 33881, (863)291-0930, semi-private, 18 hole, 6021
yds, Par 71, CR-69.3, S-121
Lake Bess Country Club, 218 Golf Aire Blvd, Winter
Haven, FL 33884, (863)326-9171, public, 9 hole, 4434
yds, Par 70, CR-N/A, S-N/A
Lake Henry Golf Club:
(a) Lake Henry Course, 1 Century Dr, Winter Haven,
FL 33881, (863)299-2683, private, 18 hole, 2910 yds,
Par 60, CR-N/A, S-57
(b) South Course, 1 Century Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33881,
(863)299-2683, private, 9 hole, 1144 yds, Par 29,
CR-N/A, S-N/A
Lake Region Yacht & Country Club, 4200 Country
Club Rd S, Winter Haven, FL 33881, (863)324-4579,
private, 18 hole, 6469 yds, Par 72, CR-71.3, S-130
Terry's Par 3, 3500 Lucerne Park Rd, Winter Haven,
FL 33881, (863)294-5573, public, 18 hole, 1789 yds,
Par 54, CR-N/A, S-N/A
Willowbrook Golf Course, 4200 State Road 544, Winter
Haven, FL 33881, (863)291-5899, public, 18 hole, 6450
yds, Par 72, CR-70.6, S-118
Colleges/Universities:
POLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Location: 999 AVE H NE; Public;
Website: www.polk.cc.fl.us)
RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER (Location: 7700 STATE RD 544;
Public; Website: www.pcsb.k12.fl.us/ridge)
Other colleges/universities
with over 2000 students:
TRAVIS TECHNICAL CENTER (about 16 miles; LAKELAND,
FL)
VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 43 miles; ORLANDO,
FL)
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY (about 44 miles; ST LEO, FL)
ROLLINS COLLEGE (about 47 miles; WINTER PARK, FL)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (about 48 miles; TAMPA,
FL)
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-ORLANDO CAMPUS (about 48 miles;
MAITLAND, FL)
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (about 49 miles; ORLANDO,
FL)
Public high schools::
WINTER HAVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Grades: 09 - 12)
RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER (Grades: 09 - 12)
Private high schools:
ALL SAINTS ACADEMY (Location: 5001 SR540W; Grades:
PK - 12)
HAVEN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Location: 2105 KING ROAD
SW; Grades: PK - 12)
Biggest public primary/middle
schools:
WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL (Grades: 06 - 08)
DENISON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Grades: 06 - 08)
GARDEN GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades: PK - 05)
FRED G. GARNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades: PK - 05)
JEWETT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (FORMERLY JEWET (Grades:
PK - 08)
LAKE SHIPP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades: PK - 05)
WAHNETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Grades: PK - 06)
FRANK E. BRIGHAM ACADEMY (Grades: KG - 05)
JEWETT MIDDLE ACADEMY (Grades: 06 - 08)
JOHN SNIVELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF CHOICE (Grades:
PK - 05)
Private primary/middle schools:
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL (535 AVENUE M NORTHWEST; Grades:
PK - 8)
GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL (S320 BATES AVENUE SE; Grades:
PK - 8)
WINTER HAVEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (1801 HAVENDALE BLVD
POB 9262; Grades: PK - 8)
ST JOHNS UNITED METHODIST PRE (1800 CYPRESS GARDENS
BLVD; Grades: PK - 1)
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (1449 34TH STREET N W; Grades:
PK - 5)
CYPRESS PRESCHOOL (124 AVENUE G SOUTH EAST; Grades:
KG - KG)
Winter
Haven Florida
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Winter Haven Subdivisions
Interlaken, Lake Rochelle
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