Polk County Stats & Facts
County Seat:Bartow
Nearest MSA:Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA
Largest Cities:1 Lakeland
2 Winter Haven
3 Bartow
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.
Time Zone:Eastern
Local Area Code(s):863
Primary Contact:
Polk County Department of Economic
Development/Central Florida Development Council
600 N. Broadway, Ste. 300
Bartow, FL 33830
Name:Mr. Jim DeGennaro,
Director of Business Development
Phone:863-534-2512

Alternate Contact:
Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce
510 North Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Name:Jeffery Clark, Executive Director
Phone:863-533-7125
Fax:863-533-3793
E-mail:jeff@bartowchamber.com
Average
Temperature		HighLow
January:7049
July:9273
Florida Mean
Annual Precipitation		..........53
Average Annual
Rain Days		..........107
Polk
1980:321,652
1990:405,382
2006:561,606
2015(p):651,241
2030(p):779,172
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,089,888
21,767,500
26,419,200
(2005)
In-Migration28,007
Out-Migration17,657
Net-Migration10,350
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2006)
Labor Force269,119
Labor Force % of County Population47.9
Number in County Unemployed9,364
Unemployment Rate3.5%
N/D = No DataPolkFlorida
(2005)
Average
Employment		202,5817,747,729
Natural
Resources
& Mining		N/D
Education &
Health
Services		12.1%18.4%
Information1.1%2.2%
Manufacturing9.0%5.2%
Trade,
Transportation
and Utilities		23.1%20.8%
Other Services2.5%3.1%
Leisure &
Hospitality		8.0%11.5%
Construction7.3%7.6%
Financial
Activities		5.4%6.8%
Professional
& Business
Services		15.3%17.1%
Public
administration		6.0%5.8%
Unclassified0.1%0.1%

Average Annual Wage
(2005)
All Industries $24,946
Construction$33,830
Education &
Health Services		$35,107
Financial Activities$41,956
Information$42,149
Leisure & Hospitality$13,706
Manufacturing$41,595
Natural Resources
& Mining		N/D
Other Services$25,469
Professional & Business Services$31,867
Public administration$36,837
Trade, Transportation 
& Utilities		$30,932
Unclassified$24,943
PolkFlorida
2002$24,927$29,709
2003$25,518$30,128
2004$26,698$31,469
Major Private Sector Employers

Publix Super Markets
Business Line: Retail Food
Number of Employees........ 8,500
Wal-mart
Business Line: Retail General Merchandise
Number of Employees......... 5,500
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Business Line: Hospital / Medical
Number of Employees........... 4,000
MOSAIC
Business Line: Phosphate Mining
Number of Employees.......... 3,000
Winter Haven Hospital
Business Line: Hospital / Medical
Number of Employees.......... 2,500
GEICO
Business Line: Insurance
Number of Employees......... 2,000
State Farm Insurance
Business Line: Insurance
Number of Employees.......... 1,500
Watson Clinic
Business Line: Medical
Number of Employees.......... 1,300
GC Services
Business Line: Call Center
Number of Employees.......... 1,200
Florida Natural Growers
Business Line: Citrus Processing
Number of Employees......... 1,000
Federal InterstatesI-4
Federal HighwaysUS-27, US-98
State HighwaysSR-60
RailroadsCSX Rail
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Tampa International Airport
# Runways3
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)11002
General Aviation AirportsLakeland Linder Regional Airport
Local Deep Water PortTampa Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port49
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government8.7270
Schools8.0780
Special0.0000
Total16.8050
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise Zone
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Intangible Tax (per $1,000)$.50
Electric Companies:
  • Tampa Electric Company
  • Florida Power Corporation
  • Lakeland Electric

    • Natural Gas Companies:
  • TECO Peoples Gas Company
  • Central Florida Gas Company

    • Telephone Companies:
  • Verizon

    • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • County/City Service


    • Exisiting Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres1,500
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel1,000

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres3,000
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel2,000

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools    		TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:762,80045,847
    Secondary:702,48247,026
    Totals:1465,28292,873

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Webster University
  • Florida Southern College
  • Florida Metropolitan University
  • University of South Florida
  • Warner Southern College
  • Southeastern College
  • Webber International University

    • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Polk Community College
  • Florida Technical College
  • Keiser College

    • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Travis Technical Center
  • Ridge Technical Center

    • Other Schools:
  • Spurgeon Baptist Bible College