Polk County Profile


County Seat: Bartow
Nearest MSA: Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA
Largest Cities: 1 Lakeland
2 Winter Haven
3 Haines City
Miles* To:
Tallahassee ................................... 232
Orlando ................................... 51
Tampa ................................... 42
Jacksonville ................................... 166
Miami ................................... 178
Atlanta ................................... 434
Chicago ................................... 1021
Dallas ................................... 952
New York ................................... 990
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
Polk
1980: 321,652
1990: 405,382
2010: 602,095
2020(p): 713,900
2040(p): 932,300
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,810,310
21,326,800
26,018,800
Average Temperature High Low
January: 70 49
July: 92 73
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation 53
Average Annual Rain Days 107
(2010)
In-Migration 27,468
Out-Migration 26,470
Net-Migration 998
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2010)
Labor Force 275,449
Labor Force % of County Population 45.7
Number in County Unemployed 34,546
Unemployment Rate 12.5%
N/D = No Data Polk Florida
(2010)
Average Annual Employment 189,581 7,109,630
Natural Resources & Mining 3.4% 1.2%
Construction 4.9% 5.0%
Manufacturing 7.4% 4.3%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 23.1% 21.2%
Information 0.9% 1.9%
Financial Activities 5.9% 6.6%
Professional & Business Services 13.5% 14.8%
Education & Health Services 14.9% 22.0%
Leisure & Hospitality 8.5% 13.2%
Other Services 2.5% 3.3%
Public administration 6.8% 6.6%
Unclassified 0.0% 0.0%

Average Annual Wage
(2010)
All Industries $35,676
Construction $37,974
Education & Health Services $40,158
Financial Activities $43,647
Information $44,176
Leisure & Hospitality $16,375
Manufacturing $45,383
Natural Resources & Mining $27,392
Other Services $30,344
Professional & Business Services $37,259
Public administration $40,180
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $33,615
Unclassified N/D
Polk Florida
2007 $32,532 $39,449
2008 $33,245 $40,133
2009 $32,336 $38,965
Major Private Sector Employers
Publix Super Markets
Business Line: Retail Food
Number of Employees - 9,300
Wal-mart
Business Line: Retail General Merchandise
Number of Employees - 5,100
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Business Line: Hospital / Medical
Number of Employees - 4,600
MOSAIC
Business Line: Phosphate Mining
Number of Employees - 1,950
Winter Haven Hospital
Business Line: Hospital / Medical
Number of Employees - 2,500
State Farm Insurance
Business Line: Insurance
Number of Employees - 1,400
GEICO
Business Line: Insurance
Number of Employees - 2,000
Watson Clinic
Business Line: Medical
Number of Employees - 1,500
GC Services
Business Line: Call Center
Number of Employees - 1,000
Florida Natural Growers
Business Line: Citrus Processing
Number of Employees - 1,000
Federal Interstates I-4
Federal Highways US-27, US-98
State Highways SR-60
Railroads CSX Rail
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service: Tampa International Airport & Orlando International Airport
# Runways 9
Longest Paved Runway(ft.) 11002
General Aviation Airports Lakeland Linder Regional, Bartow Municipal, Winter Haven Gilbert Field, Lake Wales Municipal
Local Deep Water Port Tampa Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port 49
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government 6.8665
Schools 7.6700
Special 0.0000
Total 14.5365
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option) 1.00
Federal Enterprise Zone No
State Enterprise Zone Yes
STATE
Corporate Income Tax 5.5%
Personal Income Tax 0.0%
Retail Sales Tax 6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Tampa Electric Company
  • Lakeland Electric
  • Progress Energy
Natural Gas Companies:
  • TECO Peoples Gas Company
  • Central Florida Gas Company
Telephone Companies:
  • Verizon
Water & Sewer Companies:
  • County/City Service
Exisiting Industrial Zoned Land Yes
Number of Acres 3,000
Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 500
Industrial Parks Yes
Number of Acres 2,500
Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 800
Foreign Trade Zones No
Zone Number(s)
Public
Schools		 Teachers Enrollments
Totals: 157 7,704 95,178
Private Schools Available: Yes
POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:
Colleges/Universities:
  • Webster University
  • Florida Southern College
  • Warner Southern College
  • Webber International University
  • University of South Florida Polytechnic
  • Southeastern University
  • Everest University
Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Polk Community College
  • Florida Technical College
  • Keiser College
Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Ridge Technical Center
  • Traviss Technical Center
Other Schools:
  • Spurgeon Baptist Bible College
Cost of Living
Price Level Index, (2010)
Florida State Average = 100
Sample
2008 97.59
2009 98.07
2010 98.98
Medical Services:
  • Bartow Memorial Hospital
  • Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center
  • Lake Wales Hospital
  • Lakeland Regional Medical Center
  • Watson Clinic
  • Winter Haven Hospital
Recreational Opportunities:
  • Golf Courses
  • Lake Kissimmee State Park
  • Pro Baseball Spring Training
  • Van Fleet Bike Trail
  • Youth Sports Leagues
Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Bok Tower Gardens
  • Cypress Gardens Adventure Park
  • Homeland Heritage Park
  • Lake Wales Depot Museum
  • Mulberry Phospate Museum
  • Polk County Historical Library
Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Florida Citrus Festival
  • Haven Art Festival
  • Mayfair by the Lake

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