| Winter Haven, Florida | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| The Orange Dome | |
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Winter Haven, Florida
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Polk |
| Incorporated | Nov. 27, 1923[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.4 sq mi (65.8 km2) |
| • Land | 17.7 sq mi (45.8 km2) |
| • Water | 7.7 sq mi (20 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 26,487 |
| • Density | 1,042.8/sq mi (402.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 863 |
| FIPS code | 12-78275[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0293425[3] |
| Website | http://www.mywinterhaven.com |
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County. It is a principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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The area was platted in 1884 and would first be known as Harris Corners.[4] A year later, the name Winter Haven was suggested because of the area's pleasant climate.[4] By the end of the century the population grew to around 400 and in 1911, the City of Winter Haven was incorporated. The Chain of Lakes canals were begun in 1915. Winter Haven became home to the first Publix supermarket, circa 1930.
The first Florida boom took place in the 1920s as towns sprang up all over the peninsula. Florida's potential as a place to live and a place to visit was first realized then, but the Great Depression slowed growth in Florida until after World War II. In Winter Haven; however, the definitive event in the city's history happened in 1936 with the opening of Cypress Gardens by Dick and Julie Pope.[4] It was announced on January 21, 2010, that the former site of Cypress Gardens will become Legoland Florida,[5] the second Legoland park in the United States, and the largest in the world. It is expected to open by the end of 2011.[6]
Winter Haven featured many buildings designed by Gene Leedy, one of the founders of the Sarasota School of Architecture.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.4 square miles (66 km2). 17.7 square miles (46 km2) of it is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) of it (30.45%) is water. Winter Haven is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.[7]
Winter Haven is called "The Chain of Lakes City" because of its numerous fresh water lakes which touch or are contained within the city limits. 24 of the 45 lakes in Winter Haven are connected by a system of navigable canals better known as the "Chain of Lakes".
Winter Haven is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).[8] The city gets its name from its obvious lack of colder weather with a warm tropical climate throughout the majority of the year. The average temperature is 73.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
| Climate data for Winter Haven, Florida |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
92 (33) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
91 (33) |
92 (33) |
103 (39) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
76 (24) |
80 (27) |
84 (29) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
93 (34) |
92 (33) |
90 (32) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
74 (23) |
84.0 (28.9) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 51 (11) |
52 (11) |
56 (13) |
60 (16) |
66 (19) |
71 (22) |
72 (22) |
73 (23) |
72 (22) |
66 (19) |
59 (15) |
52 (11) |
62.5 (16.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
25 (−4) |
23 (−5) |
32 (0) |
46 (8) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
62 (17) |
59 (15) |
44 (7) |
22 (−6) |
19 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.39 (60.7) |
2.57 (65.3) |
3.36 (85.3) |
2.21 (56.1) |
3.68 (93.5) |
6.91 (175.5) |
8.12 (206.2) |
7.52 (191) |
6.16 (156.5) |
2.64 (67.1) |
2.43 (61.7) |
2.23 (56.6) |
50.22 (1,275.6) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[9] | |||||||||||||
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 26,487 people, 11,833 households, and 6,934 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,498.3 inhabitants per square mile (578.4/km²). There were 13,912 housing units at an average density of 787.0 per square mile (303.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.51% White, 1.96% African American, 1.02% Asian, 0.19% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population and 0.001%.
There were 11,833 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,884, and the median income for a family was $39,657. Males had a median income of $30,943 versus $21,812 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,383. About 10.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Winter Haven, having many small lakes, is home to many ski schools, both for water skiing and barefoot skiing.
It used to be the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies (1928–1937), Boston Red Sox (1966–1992) and the Cleveland Indians (1993–2008). The Red Sox moved to Fort Myers in 1992, and the Indians left after 2008 to return to Arizona.
Major routes through, to, and from Winter Haven include:
The streets of downtown Winter Haven are arranged in a grid plan. 1st Street (SR 549) is the north-south axis, with two sets of numbered streets running parallel - one to the east (e.g. 7th St. NE/SE), and one to the west (e.g. 6th St. NW/SW). Central Avenue (SR 542) is the west-east axis, with two sets of lettered avenues similarly running parallel on either side.
Winter Haven has an Amtrak train station. Local commuter bus service is provided by Winter Haven Area Transit and the Citrus Connection.
Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport and the adjacent Jack Browns Seaplane Base are located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the central business district.
Winter Haven is part of the Tampa/St. Pete television market, the 13th largest in the country and part of the local Lakeland/Winter Haven radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country.[10][11]
Public schools in Winter Haven are operated by Polk County Public Schools.
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