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Winter Haven, Florida real estate sits near the center of Polk County, which in turns sits near the center of the Sunshine State. A constant flow of new residents continues to move into Winter Haven, Florida existing homes or resale homes every day. Searching Winter Haven, Florida MLS resale listings is almost effortless on NewHomesRealEstate.net because we have volumes of comprehensive listings of Winter Haven existing homes for sale, from mansions to investment properties to condominiums to townhouses.
The Buyer’s Agents of NewHomesRealEstate.net are licensed Florida real estate agents with access to extensive information on the up-to-date inventory of Winter Haven existing homes and Winter Haven resale homes on the market. With a click of your computer mouse, you can search thousands of resale homes in Winter Haven, Florida. Customize your search by price and property type to quickly find the perfect resale home that meets your home-buying needs for you and your family.
More than 80 percent of all homebuyers start searching for their new home on the Internet and our Winter Haven MLS listings are the perfect place to start. View our library of resale listings and see for yourself. Each listing contains detailed information including color photos, property type, square footage, distance from major metropolitan cities, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage size and MLS number. With this amount of information at your fingertips, it is easy to see why NewHomesRealEstate.net is one of the premier Internet resources for Winter Haven resale homes.
We invite you to review our MLS listings and once you have found a resale home you are interested in, call us toll-free (1-888-441-1385) or complete our very short information request form online. Either way you will be contacted shortly by a Buyer’s Agent and you will begin your exciting home search with a company that has helped thousands of home buyers find their Winter Haven dream home. Winter Haven, Florida Area DemographicsWinter Haven, Florida real estate lies about halfway between the large metropolitan areas of Tampa-St. Petersburg and Orlando, but it feels like a world away. With a population of 27,855 (2004 U.S. census estimate), Winter Haven has resisted rampant growth while retaining a small-town feel. Winter Haven is the second-largest city in Polk County (population: 524,389), which ranks No. 10 among Florida’s 67 counties in population. Lakeland (population: 88,357) is the largest city in Polk County and Bartow (population: 16,278) is the county seat.
Polk County has more of a rural character than some of its neighboring counties. Three industries have long been the mainstays of the Polk County economy: phosphate, citrus and cattle. About 75 percent of the phosphate used in the U.S. and 25 percent of the world’s supply is mined in Polk County or a neighboring Central Florida county. Polk ranks sixth among Florida counties in agricultural production and with more than 95,000 acres planted in citrus was ranked first in citrus harvested in 2003-04. Polk is also ranked third in the state in number of cattle in 2004, with an estimated 105,000 head of beef and dairy cows.
Due to its inland location, Winter Haven experiences wider temperature fluctuations than many other parts of Florida. The average high during the summer months is 92 degrees and Winter Haven can exceed 100 degrees on the hottest days. Winter lows average 50 degrees in the coldest months, with temperatures sometimes flirting with the freezing mark, although rarely for more than a few hours overnight.
Winter Haven, Florida History and CultureWinter Haven, Florida real estate offers a less-crowded, more rural lifestyle than typical Florida. It takes more than an hour to drive from Winter Haven to either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, but watersports are extremely popular anyway, thanks to the county’s 550 lakes of all shapes and sizes. About 80 of the lakes offer public access. Winter Haven has 45 freshwater lakes that are within or touch the city limits. Fourteen of these lakes are connected by a system of navigable canals better known as the “Chain of Lakes.”
Reminders of Polk County’s ancient history abound, as archeologists have cataloged bones from dinosaurs, mastodons and extinct marine animals, often discovered as a result of phosphate-mining operations. Native Americans roamed the wide-open ranges of Polk County for thousands of years and the Seminole tribe fought three wars with settlers in the 19th century, but settlers had taken over much of the land by the time of the Civil War. The first family to settle in the Winter Haven area was the Thornhills, who arrived in the 1860s. Others followed and they worked the fertile soil, growing strawberries, eggplant, guavas, tomatoes, peaches and peppers.
The world’s largest deposit of phosphate was discovered in Polk County 1881. A climate favorable to citrus, strawberry and cattle production didn’t begin to flourish until the arrival of the railroad in the mid-1880s. The Harris family operated the first store in town and railroad worked dubbed the place “Harris Corners.” With the arrival of the railroad, produce, phosphate and cattle all could reach markets more easily. The population grew to 400 by 1900 and Winter Haven was incorporated in 1911. The canals that connect Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes began with the organization of the Twenty Lakes Boat Course Club in 1915.
In 1930, George Jenkins opened the very first Publix Food Store overlooking Central Park in Winter Haven; the supermarket chain now has nearly 900 stores in five states and is No. 1 in Florida. In 1936, Dick Pope opened Cypress Gardens (now Cypress Gardens Adventure Park) in Winter Haven. With its lush gardens, water ski shows and Southern belles, Cypress Gardens was Florida’s first theme park. Winter Haven was well on its way to becoming the beautiful, thriving town that it is today.
The area grew slowly until after World War II, when military training facilities brought young men to the area who stayed or returned after the war. The county became popular with retirees and tourists, lured by attractions such as Cypress Gardens, Historic Bok Sanctuary (Bok Tower Gardens) and an affordable cost of living.
New initiatives championed by the city include lakefront nature parks as well as the “Chain of Lakes” trail which will begin in downtown Winter Haven and stretch northward four miles to the Lake Alfred community. Neighborhood planning calls for sidewalks, buffers and respect for the natural beauty that gives the area its charm. Winter Haven has completed a $3.5 million streetscape project and Central Park renovations that have transformed the beauty and charm of downtown. The Ritz Theatre is currently being restored. A new police station opened in 2003 and a magnificent new public library (recently voted as most beautiful in Florida) opened in 2004.
Winter Haven, Florida Attractions, Activities and AmenitiesWith all its natural beauty, it’s easy to see why people choose Winter Haven, Florida real estate. Although the county has grown considerably in the past few decades, Winter Haven remains much as it has for decades, a place with clean air, less crime, less traffic and lower taxes than much of the rest of Florida.
Natural wonders are all around. With 550 lakes, Polk County is a water lover’s paradise. Fishing, swimming, boating and water skiing are popular among Polk County residents and visitors, who enjoy these activities in mostly uncrowded surroundings. The wide open spaces of Polk County attract hunters, hikers, cyclists and bird watchers. More than 100 of golf courses beckon. Charming towns and villages dot Polk County and central Florida and many of them retain links to their historic pasts. It’s no wonder that Polk County is popular with retirees.
One place that has changed is Cypress Gardens, which nearly closed and became a housing development a few years ago. Once the biggest attraction in Florida, the park survived with assistance from the state and has added thrill rides, including five roller coasters, with a sixth planned for 2007.
Saddle Creek Park, between Lakeland and Winter Haven, is almost 800 acres of land converted into a public recreation area from a former phosphate mine.
As Polk County’s largest city, Lakeland is home to Florida Southern College, a private, liberal arts school with about 1,800 students that is home to the largest collection (12 buildings) of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. The city of Lakeland is known for its Promenade of Lake Mirror and the black swans of Lake Morton. Lakeland’s well-maintained historic district includes many large buildings erected from the 1920s to the 1940s, such as the Terrace Hotel and the Marble Arcade.
Other Polk County attractions include: Historic Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales, with 128 acres of gardens and a 205-foot marble and coquina carillon tower perched on the highest point in peninsular Florida; Cow Camp at Lake Kissimmee State Park, where the lives of cattle ranchers in the 1800s are reenacted on weekends and holidays; International Market World in Auburndale, a flea market featuring more than 800 vendors; Fantasy of Flight, a collection of more than 40 vintage aircraft in Polk City; and Grove House, at Lake Wales, where exhibits and a museum celebrate Florida citrus.
The annual Sun ’n Fun Fly-in, held annually since 1975 at Lakeland’s Linder Regional Airport, is a weeklong event that draws about 4,000 airplanes and more than 160,000 people to enjoy the wonders of flight.
Residents and vacationers enjoy music festivals and drama and dance performances at Theatre Winter Haven and Polk Community College’s 500-seat auditorium. The Florida Citrus Festival, Winterfest and Polk County Fair provide the kind of old-Florida experiences that make Polk County a rare blend of cultural diversity and exhilarating festivity. The Lakeland Center is the county’s primary venue for conventions, sports, concerts and entertainment.
Baseball’s Cleveland Indians hold spring training in Winter Haven at beautiful Chain-O-Lakes Park. The Detroit Tigers have held spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland for 70 years and a Tigers minor-league team plays in Lakeland during the summer months.
Few places in Florida combine the best of old and new Florida as Winter Haven. Whether you seek a luxury home, a starter home, a condominium, a townhouse or an investment property, NewHomesRealEstate.net can help you find the Winter Haven, Florida real estate you desire.
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