Avon Park, Florida

Avon Park

Logo
Nickname(s): The City of Charm

Location in Highlands County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°35′40″N 81°30′12″W / 27.59444°N 81.50333°W / 27.59444; -81.50333Coordinates: 27°35′40″N 81°30′12″W / 27.59444°N 81.50333°W / 27.59444; -81.50333
Country  United States
State  Florida
County Highlands
settled 1884
Incorporated (town) 1886
Incorporated (city) 1 January 1926
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Mayor Sharon Schuler
 • City Manager Julian Deleon
Area[1]
 • Total 5.65 sq mi (14.6 km2)
 • Land 4.64 sq mi (12.0 km2)
 • Water 1.02 sq mi (2.6 km2)  18.1%
Elevation[2] 121 ft (37 m)
Population (1 July 2007)[3]
 • Total 9,030
 • Density 1,841.8/sq mi (711.1/km2)
  Census estimates
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 33825-33826
Area code(s) 863
FIPS code 12-02750[4]
GNIS feature ID 0278007[5]
Website http://www.avonpark.cc

Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824.[3] It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

History

The first permanent settler in Avon Park was Oliver Martin Crosby, a Connecticut native who moved to the area in 1884 to study the wildlife of the Everglades. By 1886, enough people had followed that the town of "Lake Forest" was founded. As President of the Florida Development Company, he recruited settlers to the area, many of whom were from England including many from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in England, who gave the town its name.[6]

In 2006, then-mayor Thomas Macklin proposed City Ordinance 08-06, which that would have blocked the issuance or renewal of city licenses to businesses that hired illegal aliens, fined any property owner who rented and leased property to illegal aliens, and established English as the city's official language, banning the use of other languages during the conduct of official business except where specified under state or federal law.[7] The ordinance was defeated by the city council, on a 3–2 vote.[8]

Geography

Avon Park is located at 27°35′40″N 81°30′12″W / 27.59444°N 81.50333°W / 27.59444; -81.50333 (27.594418, -81.503437).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.65 square miles (14.6 km2). 4.64 square miles (12 km2) of it is land and 1.02 square miles (2.6 km2) of it (18.1%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1920890—
19303,355277.0%
19403,125−6.9%
19504,61247.6%
19606,07331.7%
19706,71210.5%
19808,02619.6%
19908,0420.2%
20008,5426.2%
20108,8363.4%
Est. 20148,879[10]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
Lake Verona is located within the city of Avon Park, Florida

At the 2000 census,[4] there were 8,542 people, 3,218 households and 2,114 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,841.8 per square mile (710.8/km2). There were 3,916 housing units at an average density of 844.4 per square mile(325.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 58.90% White, 29.2% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.35% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.71% of the population.

There were 3,218 households of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

Age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median household income was $23,576, and the median family income was $27,617. Males had a median income of $21,890 versus $18,678 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,897. About 21.3% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The City of Avon Park operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with a City Manager who operates under the direction of an elected four-member council and mayor. As of December 2013 the mayor is Sharon Schuler and the City Manager is Julian DeLeon. The city also provides fire protection, utilities, and sanitation service to its residents. The City's police and Sheriff work jointly to provide law enforcement.

Transportation

Avon Park Executive Airport is a public-use airport located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the central business district.

Education

Public Schools

Avon Elementary School
Park Elementary School
Memorial Elementary School
Avon Park Middle School
Avon Park High School

Private Schools

Colleges

Media

Television

Avon Park is located in a fringe viewing area; its television stations originate in distant cities. Local television services offer signals from WFTV, the ABC affiliate in Orlando; WINK-TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Myers/Naples; WFLA-TV, the Tampa Bay area NBC affiliate; and WTVT, the Tampa Bay area Fox affiliate.

Radio

Avon Park is in the Sebring radio market, which is ranked as the 288th largest in the United States by Arbitron.[12] Radio stations broadcasting from Avon Park include WFHT/1390 (Lounge), WAPQ-LP/95.9 (Religious), WWOJ/99.1 (Country) "OJ99.1" & WWMA-LP/107.9 (Religious).

Newspapers

Local print media include the News-Sun, a newspaper published on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and Highlands Today, a daily local supplement to The Tampa Tribune that covers newsworthy events in Highlands County.

Points of interest

Notable residents

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Avon Park has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [14]

References

  1. ↑ "Florida by Place. Population, Housing, Area, and Density: 2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  2. ↑ "Avon Park, United States Page". Falling Rain Genomics. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  3. 1 2 "Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida" (XLS). US Census Bureau. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ African American Sites in Florida by Kevin M. McCarthy page 95
  7. ↑ "Avon Park Ordinance 08-06" (PDF). City of Avon Park. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  8. ↑ Hutchinson, Bill (5 August 2006). "Avon Park's debate far from finished". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ratings–Sebring Market". Arbitron. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  13. ↑ http://downtownavonpark.stratostore.com/edgar-delaney-sr/ Mayor DeLaney
  14. ↑ Climate Summary for Avon Park, Florida

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Avon Park.
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