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Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population
was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004
estimates, the city had a population of 27,855. Winter Haven is best known as
the home of Cypress Gardens, a theme park which has recently gone through
renovations to add thrill rides. Country musician Gram Parsons was from a
wealthy family in Winter Haven. Winter Haven was also home to the first Publix
supermarket circa 1930.
Geography
Location of Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is located at 28°2′4″N, 81°43′18″W (28.034314, -81.721680)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.8
km˛ (25.4 mi˛). 45.8 km˛ (17.7 mi˛) of it is land and 20.0 km˛ (7.7 mi˛) of it
(30.45%) is water.
Winter Haven has 50 fresh-water lakes which touch or are contained within the
city limits. 24 of the lakes are connected by a system of navigable canals
better known as the "Chain of Lakes". Winter Haven has its own professional
sports team (Cleveland Indians Spring Training, a Major League Baseball training
establishment subsidized by local taxes), which plays at Chain of Lakes Park,
and a theme park (Cypress Gardens Adventure Park – Florida’s first theme park).
It is also the home of Winter Haven Hospital and Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport.
Winter Haven also contains many buildings designed by Gene Leedy, one of the
founders of the Sarasota School of Architecture.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 26,487 people, 11,833 households, and
6,934 families residing in the city. The population density was 578.4/km˛
(1,498.3/mi˛). There were 13,912 housing units at an average density of
303.8/km˛ (787.0/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 71.51% White, 23.16%
African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander,
1.87% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of
any race were 4.94% of the population.
There were 11,833 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18
living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.0% of all
households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who
was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the
average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.8%
from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.4% who were 65
years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there
were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,884, and the median income
for a family was $39,657. Males had a median income of $30,943 versus $21,812
for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,383. About 10.5% of
families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including
24.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.