Polk City, Florida Explained

Polk City, Florida
Official Name:City of Polk City
Settlement Type:City
Motto:"Peace & Serenity"
"Building Today For A Better Today"
Mapsize:250x500px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States of America
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Florida
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Polk
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Joe LaCascia
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Wayne Harper
Leader Title2:Commissioners
Leader Name2:Brian Knouff,
Charles Nichols, and
Micheal T. Blethen
Leader Name3:Patricia Jackson
Leader Title4:City Attorney
Leader Name4:Thomas Cloud
Established Title2:Incorporated (Town)
Established Date2:April 3, 1925[1]
Established Title3:Incorporated (City)
Established Date3:2005
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:13.17
Area Land Km2:11.67
Area Water Km2:1.50
Area Total Sq Mi:5.08
Area Land Sq Mi:4.50
Area Water Sq Mi:0.58
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:2713
Population Density Km2:232.54
Population Density Sq Mi:602.22
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:28.1803°N -81.8297°W
Elevation Ft:148
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:33868
Area Code:863
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:12-57950[3]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2407139
Website:Polk City Florida Official Website

Polk City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland - Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,713 at the 2020 census.

History

Polk City was incorporated as the Town of Polk City in 1925, and changed by ordinance to the City of Polk City in 2005.[1] The city was named after the county, itself named after James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States.[4]

Geography

The exact coordinates for the City of Polk City is located at 28.1803°N -81.8297°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8sqmi, all land. Polk City is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.[5]

Climate

The climate for the City of Polk City is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Polk City has a humid subtropical climate zone, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[6]

Demographics

2010 and 2020 census

Polk City racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race!Pop 2010[7] !Pop 2020[8] !% 2010!% 2020
White (NH)1,3231,71184.70%63.07%
Black or African American (NH)141030.90%3.80%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)3100.19%0.37%
Asian (NH)9420.58%1.55%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)000.00%0.00%
Some other race (NH)0160.00%0.59%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)24961.54%3.54%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)18973512.10%27.09%
Total1,5622,713

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,713 people, 945 households, and 661 families residing in the city.[9]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,562 people, 659 households, and 456 families residing in the city.[10]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,516 people, 542 households, and 422 families residing in the town. The population density was 1966.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 596 housing units at an average density of 773/mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 94.13% White, 1.91% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.78% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.11% of the population.

In 2000, there were 542 households, out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.07.

In 2000, in the town the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $36,705. Males had a median income of $28,158 versus $20,579 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,108. About 13.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

There is a yearly Founder's Day festival in midtown park located at the beginning of General James A. Van Fleet State Trail.[11]

Museums and other points of interest

Fantasy of Flight, an aviation-related attraction, takes visitors back to the pioneering days of early flight, World War I, World War II, and beyond.[12] The museum closed in April 2014 but is planned to reopen later in a downscaled form.[13] [14] Polk City Community Library is a public library that is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative. It provides free computer use and interlibrary loan services. The library is located at 215 S. Bougainvillea Avenue.

Sports

While small in both size and population Polk City offers its residents a vast array of activities throughout the year. For children there is Tee-Ball and Little League as well as a Pee-Wee football league.

Government

Polk City has a council-manager form of government, and is governed by a five-person council that elects a mayor and vice mayor from its membership.

Utilities

The Polk City power grid is supported by distribution lines from Lakeland Electric and TECO.[15]

Infrastructure

Transportation

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Polk City. mypolkcity.org.
  2. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 31, 2021.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  4. Web site: Profile for Polk City, Florida, FL. ePodunk . September 22, 2012.
  5. Web site: Florida's Geological History. 2010-10-14. University of Florida.
  6. Web site: World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. 2008-11-06. 2010-09-10. University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.
  7. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Polk City city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  8. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Polk City city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  9. Web site: S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Polk City city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  10. Web site: S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Polk City city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  11. Web site: Polk City Founders' Day Set For Saturday. September 19, 2012.
  12. Web site: Fantasy of Flight. Fantasy of Flight . September 19, 2012.
  13. Web site: Fantasy of Flight closing as daily attraction . tbo.com . 2013-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140309090742/http://tbo.com/news/business/fantasy-of-flight-closing-as-daily-attraction-20140304/ . 2014-03-09 . dead .
  14. Web site: General aviation in the marketplace . General Aviation News/ . 2013-03-14.
  15. Web site: LE and TECO Improve Reliability . Lakeland Electric . 2019-08-13 . 2020-03-10.