what about polk county?
tommyFrom the Polk County BOCC webpage:
Polk County is strategically located in the center of the Florida peninsula, about equal distance from the east and west coast and half way between the Georgia-Florida border and the Southern tip of the peninsula. Polk lies on the Interstate-4 corridor, 25 miles east of Tampa and 35 miles southwest of Orlando. As the geographic center of Florida, it is estimated that more than 7.5 million people reside within a 100 mile radius of Polk County. This is one of the largest concentrations of population in the southeast.
According to the Tampa Bay Partnership, Polk County is part of the Tampa Bay area on the West Coast of Florida. Ok, cool. Go Tampa Bay!!
But according to myRegion.org, Polk is part of the Central Florida region, which extends all the way past Disney World to the Space Coast and Daytona Beach. Oh, Ok. Go Tourism!!
Strategically located indeed. Well which is it? Can it really be part of both? Perhaps the county should be a region all to itself. According to Tribune reporter Billy Townsend, it seems that many of you on this end of the I-4 corridor act as if Polk County is your crazy uncle:
It’s the county of oranges, phosphate mountains and trailer parks. It’s where they spread hepatitis through meth use, once elected a white supremacist sheriff, and often find themselves in perp walks on Orlando or Tampa Bay TV.
Never mind that Polk ranks ninth in population among Florida’s 67 counties, or that rapid growth and commercial investment have made it ground zero for debates over the future of shipping, the I-4 corridor and higher education priorities.
It’s still just the place you drive through quickly on the way to Disney World, right?
I don’t know. There seem to be some great people over there. And they seem to have a decent number o’ bloggers (plus look at the sidebar).
When people ask you about Polk County, what do you tell them? That is, uh, does anyone ever ask you about Polk County? Which side of the state does that place belong? Suburb of Orlando? Suburb of Tampa? Do you visit that area? Is that area the least bit interesting or important to you?
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February 21st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I would argue that Polk is a suburb of Tampa and should be including in Greater Tampa Metro area population statistics. The city of Lakeland is much closer, mileage-wise, to Tampa than to Orlando. And satellite images of development seem to indicate that that West Polk, in commuting distance of Tampa, is more developed than East Polk, in commuting distance of Orlando. But I’m interested to hear the perspective of actual residents.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Polk BOCC is wrong. The official geographic center of Florida is the town of Hernando. However, despite the town’s name it is actually in Citrus County, about 10 miles south of Dunnellon.
The geograhic center tends to be placed west to account for the Florida panhandle.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
When someone says “Central Florida”, I ask “Which one?”
Growing up in Tampa I was indoctrinated into the belief that we were in Central Florida. Presumably as measured from North to South. However, upon matriculating in Gainesville, they believed themselves to be residents of Central Florida; as measured East to West.
I don’t know what that contributes to this discussion, but I’ve always found it funny.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Chris - Center is relative, and several areas claim to be the center of the state - each using different parameters. By their definition, which they explain in the claim, they are the center of the state.
I grew up in Polk County. Honestly, it is almost 2 regions all by itself, the west part of the county (Lakeland and Bartow specifically) is certainly more Tampa-oriented, and the east (which is the faster growing area right now) is very much becoming a bedroom community of Orlando.
Growing up there was great, because we always had the advantages of both Tampa and Orlando. Never more than a couple of hours from anything. But once you got home, the traffic and headaches of living in either metro area became a distant memory. Cost of living was relatively low, but the perks were pretty good (as a high-schooler we’d pull up to I-4 and flip a coin as to which way to go for fun, beaches or trouble.)
I do kinda miss having all the TV and Radio options of BOTH markets …
The growth there has been pheomenal … I last lived there in 2000 (Winter Haven) … now I can hardly get around on the East side of the county without getting lost — because there are so many new or re-routed roads.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Historicallly and culturally, I would say Polk is more a part of the central Florida region than the Tampa Bay area.
Polk is definitely not subservient to Hillsborough and Tampa could learn a lesson or three on livability, quality of life, and the value of public education from Lakeland.
If Polk is the crazy uncle, Hillsborough is the backwards, redneck extremist whose car you don’t want parked in front of your house.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Polk has need to partnership with both the “Tampa Bay” and “Central Florida” regions. As has already been noted, the “Four Corners” area near Haines City and Davenport is among the fastest growing areas of the state now. And, of course, our side of the county more closely identifies with Tampa Bay. You get the best of both worlds, and Polk County offers a lot on it’s own that are not advertised. Billy did a great job on the Tribune piece.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I’m from Lakeland, and currently live in Tampa, and I’ve always felt much more like a part of the Tampa area. It is a great place that has grown from the small town “where nothing exciting ever happens” (how I described it when I was young) to a place I actually miss now, and like to visit often.
As far as the “spread[ing] hepetitis through meth use” comment: wow, what a stereotype. Lakeland in particular has some beautiful areas (Lake Mirror and Lake Hollingsworth) and is a nice town with lots of friendly faces.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
you have a pic of a Polk County native two posts below, in “the sunshine state college roundball update.” Dominique Jones of Lake Wales, now a freshman at USF, will put Polk County on the map!
April 1st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
All of Florida is just one big subdivion. An urban sprawl with No real central city. Orlando, Tampa or St.Petersburg are not real cities. They are NOT pedestrian friendly, complete Chaos when it comes to transportation and very UNCONTROLLED growth. They seriously need to take lessons from west coast cities like Portland and Seattle….or even Charlotte and Raliegh. Now those are real cities. Urban Sprawl-is when you cut down all the trees and name the streets after them. The new state song should be “Pave Paradise and Put Up A Parking Lot” What a Joke! Seriously!!!!!