Winter Haven

History

The Timucua and the Calusa were the earliest known inhabitants of the Winter Haven area. Both of these groups were deeply affected by war and disease from the Spanish conquest of Florida in the early 1500s. The Timucua were particularly affected by the expedition of Hernando de Soto. By the 19th century, both these groups no longer existed. During these expeditions the Spanish explorers claimed the entire peninsula of Florida for the Spanish monarchy. In the 19th century the Creek and the Seminole were known to live and hunt in this area. During the Seminole Wars the Seminole leader, Chipco, and his followers were known to live in the Winter Haven area. Several small skirmishes during the war were fought in and around Winter Haven. In 1819, after the signing of the Adams-Onís Treaty, the United States gained control of Florida. The first American or European settlers in the area were encouraged to settle there by the Armed Occupation Act of 1842. The area was platted from 1884 to 1885, and would first be known as Harris Corners. This name was in reference to F.A.K. Harris, who opened the first mercantile store in the area around this time. His second store and the first stand-alone Publix store, was a 27 ft by 65 ft building at 199 West Central Avenue, opened in 1935, which exists today as the Regenerations thrift store. During the 1930s and 1940s, citrus magnate, John A. Snively operated one of the largest fruit packing plants in the world in Winter Haven. Another defining event in Winter Haven was the opening of Cypress Gardens in 1936 by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife, Julie Pope. They first got the idea for the park from a Good Housekeeping magazine that they were reading. By the 1950s, Cypress Gardens was nationally famous. It featured a beautiful…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (30.45%) is water. Winter Haven is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills. It has an average elevation of above sea-level. The city is located at the headwaters of the Peace River. Winter Haven has 50 lakes within its borders, including its famous Chain of Lakes. The lakes are by far the city's most distinctive feature. Winter Haven bills itself as "The Chain of Lakes City". The city has two prominent chains of lakes; the northern chain has nine lakes interconnected by a series of canals. The southern chain features sixteen lakes interconnected by a series of canals. The southern chain has several prominent lakes, including Lake Eloise, Lake Howard, and Lake Lulu. Most of the lakes in Winter Haven formed in a similar fashion to sinkholes, through dissolving of the limestone ground. These types of lakes are called "solution lakes". all-time Feb low | source = }}

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,647
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,938
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,854
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,753
• White Ibis

  Eudocimus albus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,325
• Fish Crow

  Corvus ossifragus A.Wilson, 1812 · Aves
  8,092
• Boat-tailed Grackle

  Quiscalus major Vieillot, 1819 · Aves
  8,009
• Osprey

  Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,743

Largest nearby schools

• RIDGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
  High · DAVENPORT · 2,711 students · 23.4:1 ratio
• HAINES CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · HAINES CITY · 2,700 students · 20.5:1 ratio
• WINTER HAVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · WINTER HAVEN · 2,467 students · 21.3:1 ratio
• AUBURNDALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · AUBURNDALE · 1,716 students · 23.2:1 ratio
• LAKE REGION HIGH SCHOOL
  High · EAGLE LAKE · 1,545 students · 26.2:1 ratio
• SHELLEY S. BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · HAINES CITY · 1,403 students · 23.4:1 ratio
• CHAIN OF LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · WINTER HAVEN · 1,130 students · 16.6:1 ratio
• JERE L. STAMBAUGH MIDDLE
  Middle · AUBURNDALE · 1,127 students · 26.2:1 ratio