Lakeland, Metropolitan center in Polk County, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County in central Florida that spreads across an area with 38 named lakes. The connected waters define neighborhoods and recreation zones and supply the entire region with a network of parks along the shorelines.
The settlement began in 1875 when pioneers from Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina established farms and communities throughout the region. The town grew around the existing lakes and attracted settlers drawn by fertile soil and mild climate.
The Florida Southern College campus holds the largest assembly of Frank Lloyd Wright structures found anywhere in the world. The organic architecture blends with subtropical gardens and offers a walking route through modernist principles.
The city sits along Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando and provides direct highway connections to major Florida destinations. The central location enables access to international airports in both directions within 30 to 60 minutes of driving.
Two mute swans from Queen Elizabeth II arrived in 1957 and established a lineage that continues to inhabit Lake Morton and surrounding waters. The royal flock is maintained by local volunteers who ensure the descendants remain a defining feature of the city.
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