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Winter Haven, Florida
Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°2′4″N 81°43′18″W / 28.03444, -81.72167
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Polk
Area
- Total	25.4 sq mi (65.8 km²)
- Land	17.7 sq mi (45.8 km²)
- Water	7.7 sq mi (20 km²)
Elevation	167 ft (51 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	26,487
- Density	1,042.8/sq mi (402.5/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	863
FIPS code	12-78275GR2
GNIS feature ID	0293425GR3

Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 27,855, making it the second most populated city in Polk County. Winter Haven is best known as the home of Cypress Gardens, a theme park which has recently gone through renovations to add thrill rides. Country musician Gram Parsons was from a wealthy family in Winter Haven. Winter Haven was also home to the first Publix supermarket circa 1930.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Gallery 4 Sports 5 Education 5.1 K-12 Schools 5.2 Colleges 5.3 Trivia 6 External links

Winter Haven is located at 28°2′4″N, 81°43′18″W (28.034314, -81.721680)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.8 km² (25.4 mi²). 45.8 km² (17.7 mi²) of it is land and 20.0 km² (7.7 mi²) of it (30.45%) is water.

Winter Haven, is called "The Chain of Lakes City" because of its numerous fresh water lakes which touch or are contained within the city limits. 24 of the lakes are connected by a system of navigable canals better known as the "Chain of Lakes". Winter Haven has its own professional sports team (Cleveland Indians Spring Training, a Major League Baseball training establishment subsidized by local taxes), which plays at Chain of Lakes Park, and a theme park (Cypress Gardens Adventure Park – Florida’s first theme park). It is also the home of Winter Haven Hospital and Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport. Winter Haven also contains many buildings designed by Gene Leedy, one of the founders of the Sarasota School of Architecture.

The city gets its name from it obvious lack of colder weather with a warm tropical climate throughout the majority of the year. The average temperature is 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 26,487 people, 11,833 households, and 6,934 families residing in the city. The population density was 578.4/km² (1,498.3/mi²). There were 13,912 housing units at an average density of 303.8/km² (787.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.51% White, 23.16% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.94% of the population and 0.001%.

There were 11,833 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,884, and the median income for a family was $39,657. Males had a median income of $30,943 versus $21,812 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,383. About 10.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Winter Haven, having many small lakes, is home to many ski schools, both for water skiing and barefoot skiing. Winter Haven is the Major League Baseball spring training site for the Cleveland Indians. The Boston Red Sox used to have a spring training site in Winter Haven.

The school district that serves Winter Haven is the Polk County School District

• Elbert Elementary
• Garden Grove Elementary School
• Garner Elementary School
• Inwood Elementary
• Jewett School of the Arts (Elementary)
• Lake Shipp Elementary
• Snively Elementary
• Westwood Middle School
• Jewett Academy Middle School
• Denison Middle School
• Winter Haven Senior High School
• Lake Region High School
• Brigham Academy Elementary School
• All Saint's Academy
• Rachel's School for the Custodial Arts.
• Mark Wilcox Center
• Winter Haven Christian School
• Grace Lutheran School
• St. Joseph School

• Polk Community College (PCC)

• Winter Haven is the Spring Training location for the Cleveland Indians, who have used the Chain of Lakes Park for spring training games since 1993. 2008 is to be the Indians final year in Winter Haven as they move to Arizona for the 2009 spring season.
• From 1966 through 1992, The Boston Red Sox used the Chain of Lakes Park for their Spring Training location.
• The Florida Regional Office for State Farm Insurance is located in Winter Haven.

• City of Winter Haven official site
• The Main Street Program Main Street is a comprehensive downtown revitalization program

that encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation. The Main Street Program was originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980

• Winter Haven News Chief community news
• The Lakeland Ledger newspaper serving Winter Haven and all of Polk County
• Theatre Winter Haven “one of the best community theatres in America”
• Florida Citrus Festival January and February

• Winter Haven, Florida is at coordinates 28°02′04″N 81°43′18″W / 28.034314, -81.72168Coordinates: 28°02′04″N 81°43′18″W / 28.034314, -81.72168

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Florida
County seat: Bartow
Cities	Auburndale | Bartow | Davenport | Eagle Lake | Fort Meade | Frostproof | Haines City | Lake Alfred | Lakeland | Lake Wales | Mulberry | Polk City | Winter Haven
Towns	Dundee | Hillcrest Heights | Lake Hamilton
Villages	Highland Park
CDPs	Babson Park | Combee Settlement | Citrus Ridge | Crooked Lake Park | Crystal Lake | Cypress Gardens | Fussels Corner | Gibsonia | Highland City | Inwood | Jan Phyl Village | Kathleen | Lakeland Highlands | Loughman | Medulla | Poinciana | Wahneta | Waverly | Willow Oak | Winston
Communities	Brewster