Polk County, Florida - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Polk County, Florida

Government
Bartow is the county seat for Polk County

Polk County Commissioners

Polk County Clerk Of Courts
255 N Broadway Ave
Bartow, FL 33830-3912
Phone: 863-534-4000

Polk County Public Information
330 W Church St
Bartow, FL 33830-3760
Phone: 863-534-6090
Fax: 863-534-6055
Postal address:
Drawer CA04
P.O. Box 9005
Bartow, FL 33831-9005
Email: pio@polk-county.net

Facts

Size: 2,010 square miles
Land area: 1,875 square miles
Polk County is larger than the state of Rhode Island, the fourth largest county in the state.
The county has 554 natural freshwater lakes!.
County area code is 863

Location
Polk County is in the heart of central Florida, about midway between the east and west coasts and the Georgia-Florida border and the southern tip of the state. It is on the I-4 corridor. Polk County is about 25 miles east of Tampa and about 35 miles southwest of Orlando.

A major portion of northern Polk County, approximately 220,000 acres, is known as the "Green Swamp."

Polk County Lake Atlas

Population:

2000 - 483,924
2010 - 550,000 (estimated)
The median age: 40.4 years old (1999)

Climate

Try this weather page for the area

History:
Polk County was formed in 1860 as the states 39^th county. It was created from Hillsborough County. It was named in honor of James Knox Polk, the 11^th President of the United States. The county seat of Bartow was named after the Civil War and was named for Francis S. Bartow, a confederate Colonel. The courthouse was built in 1867 and replaced twice, once in 1884 and once in 1908.

Economy:

The primary basis for the area economy is: phosphate mining, agriculture and tourism. The world's largest phosphate deposits are located here with mining continuing on about 200,000 acres. The county has the largest farmland acreage in the state at 621,489 acres in 1997. Of course, tourism plays a large part in the local economy. Just touching the surface, you may visit Cypresss Gardens, Bok Tower Gardens and Fantasy of Flight. The area is a major headquarters for Major League Baseball Spring training with a number of teams working out year each year during the pre-season. Many more major attractions are located within an hour's drive, such as the Walt Disney World resort area.

Library:

Polk County Library Cooperative

Organizations & Groups

Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau

Attractions & Information

Polk County Online

Polk County Historical Library & Museum
in the east wing of the historic courthouse
100 East Main Street
Bartow, Florida 33830
Telephone: 863-534-4386
Fax: 863-534-4387

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This page was last updated on 1 February 2010 at 9:03 pm

This page was created 9 August 1999