About Lakeland
Lakeland is a vibrant community conveniently located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando. With a population just over 120,279, the city limits cover 75.16 square miles. Lakeland has many lakes that are community focal points, providing scenic areas for recreation. In fact, much of Lakeland’s culture and iconic neighborhoods are built around the 38 named lakes found in the community.
Downtown Lakeland is a vital and enjoyable place for residents and visitors. It has been dubbed “Lakeland’s living room” and truly embodies the community spirit of Lakeland. There are quaint shops, casual restaurants, pubs, craft breweries and fine-dining experiences to be found in and around the historic brick buildings that surround the historic Munn Park town square.
The City embraces its past and that is evident strolling the tree lined, brick streets in the historic neighborhoods found throughout Lakeland. The area is home to Southeastern University, Florida Polytechnic University, Polk State College's Lakeland campus, and Florida Southern College, which hosts the largest on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Things to Do
Visitors to Lakeland will love the history of our city and will surely enjoy museums such as the Polk Museum of Art, which features exciting exhibitions by featured artists and a permanent collection that includes pieces by some of the most notable names in art—Ansel Adams, Marc Chagall, and Henri Matisse to name a few! Flight enthusiasts can't miss the annual SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In & Expo, the second largest event of its kind in the world and is Florida’s largest annual flight/fly-in convention. Classic car enthusiasts won't want to miss the annual MIDFLORIDA Auto Show & Lake Mirror Concours, which draws top car collectors from all over the southeastern United States during this renowned showcase of classic automobiles.
As a visitor and a resident, there is a dynamic array of things to see and do on any given day. You might want to start by taking a stroll around the historic Francis Langford Promenade at Lake Mirror, stopping to take in the beauty of our majestic Hollis Garden—a classical botanical garden that is part of Lakeland’s parks system—or by taking a brisk walk on one of the City’s many multi-use paths. You might want to wrap up your day with a leisurely picnic at one of the picnic tables around Lake Morton—a designated bird sanctuary and home to Lakeland's iconic swans—followed by a trip to the Lakeland Public Library and Polk Museum of Art (located just off of Lake Morton).
Commerce
Lakeland is also strong on the business front and boasts a number of notable corporate and mom-and-pop shops and restaurants. The community is the corporate home to Publix Supermarkets, one of the nations leading grocers, and Saddle Creek Logistics. Lakeland also houses regional hubs or distribution centers for GEICO Insurance, Amazon, Rooms to Go, Well Dyne, Advanced Auto Parts, Southern Wine & Spirits, FEDEX Corporate Services, O’Reily Auto Parts, Lockheed Martin and Pepperidge Farm. Visit the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the many local shops and restaurants that are an integral part of our community!
Stay Connected
Whether you are a full or part time resident or a visitor our beautiful city, we hope you will enjoy all that Lakeland has to offer. Thanks for stopping by!
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