Winter Haven

Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, spreading across several lakes and laced with canals that separate residential neighborhoods. Streets run parallel to shores while other waterways connect different quarters to one another.

The settlement started in 1884 with the railroad expansion that brought farms and new residents to the inland region. Over the following decades the town grew into a proper city after citrus cultivation became the main economic activity.

The name refers to the mild climate that draws visitors from northern regions during cooler months. Downtown clusters around shops and cafes that locals visit daily for groceries and meals.

Downtown walks easily on foot while other neighborhoods require a car to reach. For boat trips on the lakes, weekdays offer calmer conditions with fewer other vessels around.

A former botanical garden from the 1930s now forms part of a theme park site and preserves old plant collections among the rides. Some cypress trees date back to the original layout and tower above newer attractions.

Location: Polk County

Inception: 1884

Elevation above the sea: 77 m

Website: http://mywinterhaven.com

GPS coordinates: 28.03333,-81.71667

Latest update: December 13, 2025 01:45