Polk County
Explore the Greater Lakeland metro →
- Population
- 790,694
- Area
- 1,798.14 sq mi (4,657.15 km²), 212.27 sq mi water
- Median age
- 39.5
- Households
- 289,425
- Persons per household
- 2.7
- Median household income
- $65,978
- Median house value
- $266,500
Demographics: 2020–2024 ACS
Polk County, smack dab in the center of Florida, is a place where nature, history, and urban development meet. The county seat, Bartow, is steeped in history, with museums and buildings showcasing Polk County's past. Lakeland, the largest city, offers a vibrant cultural scene with art, parks, and even a yearly swan festival! Polk County's got natural beauty in spades, too. Hike or bike through rolling hills and citrus groves, or explore the shores of Lake Okeechobee. If you're more of a water enthusiast, you can go fishing or boating in this scenic region.
Cities & Towns in Polk County
Local News
Daily Ridge
Published October 02Polk County High School Football Week 7 Preview
By Ethan Jones: Week 7 is here, and once again, Polk County is gearing up for another Friday night filled with exciting high school football matchups. As the season continues to move along, the games are becoming more important, the district races are starting to take shape, and…
Daily Ridge
Published October 02Fire Station One Open House Set for October 10
Fire Station 1 is opening its doors, and you’re invited! Join the City of Winter Haven for a morning of family fun, games, refreshments, station tours and fire engines, plus a bounce house! When: Saturday, October 109:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Where: Fire Station 1 Ave G SW, Winter Haven…
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Published October 02JD Vance to Florida U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon: ‘Get the hell out of here. You don’t belong in America’
Vice President JD Vance said in Florida Thursday that it was almost “too easy” to attack the candidacies of the two top Democrats running on the statewide ballot next month, David Jolly for governor and Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate. Yet the political reality is that he was in…
Daily Ridge
Published October 02Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Dead Donkey, Multiple Dead Cats Found At Property
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 59-year-old Melissa McKinney of Logan Lane in Winter Haven after an investigation by the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit and Environmental Crimes detectives. The investigation began earlier in the week…
Daily Ridge
Published October 02City of Davenport Celebrating Multicultural Family Fest October 3
City of Davenport – Tomorrow, Davenport comes together to celebrate the cultures, music, food, and community spirit that make our city special. Join us for the Multicultural Family Fest on Saturday, October 3, from 3–9 p.m. at the Tom Fellows Community Center, 207 North Blvd. W.…