Bartow, Florida

{{Main|History of Bartow, Florida}}

{{See also|History of Florida}}

A Spanish map of the Florida peninsula drawn in 1527 shows a native settlement called Rio de la Paz near present-day Bartow.{{cite web

|url=http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/History.asp

|title=Polk County History

|access-date=2010-09-11

|publisher=Polk County Historical Association

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182027/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/History.asp

|archive-date=July 27, 2011

}} Little is known about these Native Americans who made their home near present-day Bartow. It is likely that their population suffered high mortality from European diseases, such as smallpox and measles.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ancientnative.org/tao.php

|title=Ancient Native

|access-date=2010-09-09

|publisher=HOTOA

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017085248/http://www.ancientnative.org/tao.php

|archive-date=October 17, 2010

|url-status=dead

}} The remnants of these pre-Columbian peoples probably joined the Creek Indians who migrated from the north to become the Seminole Indian tribe.

The first non-Indian settlement in the area was a colony of Black Seminole, free blacks and escaped slaves who established Minatti south of Lake Hancock in the late 1810s.{{cite web

|url=http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june98.pdf

|title=Over the Branch

|access-date=2010-09-28

|publisher=Polk County Historical Association

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182905/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june98.pdf

|archive-date=July 27, 2011

}} These "maroons", as they were commonly called, were slaves who escaped from Georgia and the Carolinas.{{cite web

| url = http://www.africanaheritage.com/RiverSlaveryinFLexcerpt.asp

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070308114556/http://www.africanaheritage.com/RiverSlaveryinFLexcerpt.asp

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2007-03-08

| author = Rivers, L.

| title = Interaction Between Blacks and Indians

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = University of South Florida

}} The Black Seminole of Minatti were allies of the Red Stick Creek in Talakchopko, a village that preceded present-day Fort Meade.{{cite web

| url = http://lookingforangola.org/Interview_Canter_Brown_Jr.asp

| title = Interview with Cantor Brown, PhD

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = University of South Florida

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100902134431/http://lookingforangola.org/Interview_Canter_Brown_Jr.asp

| archive-date = September 2, 2010

}} The Seminole leader Osceola had strong ties to Talakchopko. Many of the events leading up to the Second Seminole War were associated with Osceola and the Minatti war chief Harry. By the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842, both Minatti and Talakchopko had been destroyed by US forces.{{cite web

| url = http://www.africanaheritage.com/BrownTalesofAngolaexcerpt.asp

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070309065117/http://www.africanaheritage.com/BrownTalesofAngolaexcerpt.asp

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2007-03-09

| author1 = Brown, C

| author2 = Jackson, D.

| name-list-style = amp

| title = Free Blacks, Red Stick Creeks, and International Intrigue in Spanish Southwest Florida

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = University of South Florida

}}{{page needed|date=March 2018}}

File:Bartow S Res Dist Holland BF01.jpg located at 590 East Stanford Avenue]]

The Armed Occupation Act of 1842 facilitated European-American settlement of the Florida peninsula in the 1840s, although the act prohibited settlement near the Peace River, as this was considered Seminole land.{{cite web

| url = http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=005/llsl005.db&recNum=539

| title = Armed Settlement Act Text

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = Library of Congress

}} Enforcement of that part of the act was not strictly enforced; however, and settlers eventually moved into the area. As the settlement grew, the residents began to plant citrus trees and build one-room school houses and churches. In 1851, Fort Blount was established by Redding Blount. Bartow developed east of this site.{{cite web

|url=http://mainstreetbartow.com/time.asp

|title=A look back in time

|access-date=2010-09-11

|publisher=Mainstreet Bartow

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226230300/http://mainstreetbartow.com/time.asp

|archive-date=December 26, 2009

}} At some point in the 1850s, Fort Blount was renamed as Peace Creek or Peas Creek, which was a translation of the Spanish Rio de la Paz of early maps.

About a month after the secession of Florida in 1861, the state established Polk County from the eastern portion of Hillsborough County.{{cite web

|url=http://www.polksheriff.org/InsidePCSO/Pages/SheriffsofPolkCounty.aspx

|title=Sheriffs of Polk County

|access-date=2010-09-13

|publisher=Polk County Sheriff's Office

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125082058/http://www.polksheriff.org/InsidePCSO/Pages/SheriffsofPolkCounty.aspx

|archive-date=January 25, 2010

}} A few months later, the American Civil War began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. Because of the turmoil of secession and the war, the county had no official county seat for its first six years.{{cite web

| url = http://www.jud10.org/Courthouses/Polk/polk.html

| title = Polk County Courthouse

| access-date = 2010-10-07

| publisher = Florida 10th Judicial Circuit

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101101130759/http://jud10.org/Courthouses/Polk/polk.html

| archive-date = November 1, 2010

| url-status = dead

}} The state legislature had directed the voters of Polk County to choose a site for the county seat and mandated that the site be named "Reidsville". During the war, the area's major contribution to the Confederacy was supplying food, particularly cattle and beef.{{cite web

| url = http://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/ranching/

| title = Cow Hunters and Cattle Barons

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = State Library and Archive of Florida

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004011804/http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/photo_exhibits/ranching/| archive-date= October 4, 2010 | url-status= live}} The Union army and navy had effective control of the west coast of Florida, and many cattlemen retreated inland and formed the "Cow Cavalry" as a defense against Union troops.{{cite web

| url = http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/cvl_war/cvl_war1.htm

| title = Florida's Role in the Civil War: "Supplier of the Confederacy"

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = University of South Florida

}} One of the wealthiest members of the Cow Cavalry was Jacob Summerlin. After Summerlin purchased the Blount property in 1862, he donated a large parcel of land to build a county courthouse, two churches and a school. Later that year, the town which had been known as Fort Blount, Peace Creek, Peas Creek, and briefly Reidsville, was permanently renamed Bartow in honor of Francis S. Bartow, the first Confederate brigade commander to die during the war.

File:Bartow Brown LB house01.jpg

Bartow recovered slowly from the war.{{cite web|url=http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june03.pdf |title=Polk County Historical Association Quarterly 6-2003 |publisher=Polk County Historical Association |date=June 2003 |access-date=October 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402101638/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june03.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 }} The first Polk County Courthouse was built in 1867, which firmly established the city as county seat. Although Florida formally rejoined the union in 1868, the Reconstruction era did not end in Florida until 1877.{{cite web

| url = http://www.floridamemory.com/Exhibits/timeline/

| title = Timeline of Florida History

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = State Library and Archives of Florida

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101122182633/http://floridamemory.com/Exhibits/timeline/

| archive-date = November 22, 2010

| url-status = dead

}}

The 1880s and 1890s were a period of growth for the city of Bartow; from 1880 to 1900, the city would grow from 386 residents to 1,983.{{cite web

| url = http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1ch08.pdf

| title = 1900 Census Data

| access-date = 2010-10-15

| publisher = US Census Bureau

}}{{cite web

| url = http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-01.pdf

| title = 1880 Census Data

| access-date = 2010-10-15

| publisher = US Census Bureau

}} On July 1, 1882, the town was incorporated as a city.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B5AsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OPsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6238%2C352248 | title=Blount family first settled Bartow | work=Lakeland Ledger | date=February 17, 1982 | access-date=June 6, 2015 | author=Sawyer, Martha F. | pages=6C}} In 1885, the Florida Southern Railroad, a north–south route from North Florida to Southwest Florida opened in Bartow.{{cite web

| url = http://www.taplines.net/fs/fs.html

| title = Florida Southern's Narrow Gauge Years 1879–1896

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = taplines.net

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101013183934/http://www.taplines.net/fs/fs.html| archive-date= October 13, 2010 | url-status= live}} A year later, the Bartow Branch of the South Florida Railroad, connecting Tampa and Orlando, was completed.{{cite web

| url = http://taplines.net/southflorida/southflorida2

| title = Florida Southern's Narrow Gauge Years 1879–1896

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = taplines.net

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525045440/http://taplines.net/southflorida/southflorida2

| archive-date = May 25, 2011

| url-status = dead

}} The railroads were catalysts for growth of the area; during the Spanish–American War, the Bartow rail yards became a crucial part of the supply line directed at US troops in Cuba. In 1887, Summerlin Institute, the first brick schoolhouse south of Jacksonville, was built.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowhighschool.com/Web%20Pages/history.htm

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091017022634/http://bartowhighschool.com/Web%20Pages/history.htm

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2009-10-17

| title = History of Bartow High School

| access-date = 2010-10-07

| publisher = Bartow High School

}}

By the turn of the century, Bartow had become the most populous city south of Tampa on the Florida peninsula – larger than Miami or West Palm Beach.{{cite web

| url = http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1ch08.pdf

| title = Us Census

| access-date = 2010-09-16

| publisher = US Census

}}

As the city grew, a number of industries moved into the Bartow area. In the first few decades of the 1900s, thousands of acres of land around the city were purchased by the phosphate industry. Bartow would become the hub of the largest phosphate industry in the United States.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=8&nav=gov&id=120

| title = Polk's Profile

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = Polk County Government

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101130051135/http://polk-county.net/subpage.aspx?menu_id=8&nav=gov&id=120

| archive-date = November 30, 2010

}}

Polk County was the leading citrus county in the United States for much of the 20th century and the city has several large groves. In 1941, the city built an airport northeast of town.{{cite web

|url=http://www.bartow-airport.com/airhistory.htm

|title=Airport History

|access-date=2010-09-12

|publisher=Bartow Municipal Airport

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204060330/http://www.bartow-airport.com/airhistory.htm

|archive-date=December 4, 2010

}} The airport was taken over by the federal government during World War II and was the training location for many Army Air Corps pilots during the war. The airport was returned to the city in 1967 and renamed as Bartow Municipal Airport.

For most of the 20th century, Bartow's growth was modest, especially in comparison to the rest of the county and state. While other cities in Polk County aggressively annexed adjacent land and allowed rapid growth, the government of Bartow generally took a more cautious approach.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20070805/NEWS/708050440/1039?p=2&tc=pg

| title = 18,000-Acre Development Near Bartow Awaits Approval

| access-date = 2010-10-21

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} Bartow's growth was also limited because most of the land surrounding the city was owned by phosphate mining companies, making residential growth impractical.{{cite web

| url = http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/geologictopics/mine_map0802.pdf

| title = Map of Phosphate Mining Areas

| access-date = 2010-10-21

| publisher = Florida Department of State

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101012000935/http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/geologictopics/mine_map0802.pdf

| archive-date = October 12, 2010

| url-status = dead

}} Although Bartow had been the largest city in Polk county in 1900, by the 1910 U.S. Census, Lakeland had surpassed it in population.{{cite web

| url = http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_fl1-01.pdf

| pages = 19–21

| title = 1970 Census Data

| access-date = 2010-10-15

| publisher = US Census Bureau

}} Bartow remained the second largest city in the county until sometime in the 1950s, when Winter Haven superseded it.

In the late 1990s phosphate operations in the area moved southward, and much of the former phosphate land became available for sale.{{cite web

| url = http://www1.fipr.state.fl.us/PhosphatePrimer/0/AE4CF5150A93866485256F800079933B

| title = Florida's Phosphate Deposits

| access-date = 2010-10-21

| publisher = Florida Department of State

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725192613/http://www1.fipr.state.fl.us/PhosphatePrimer/0/AE4CF5150A93866485256F800079933B

| archive-date = July 25, 2011

}} In 1999, Connecticut financier Stanford Phelps purchased the former Clear Springs phosphate lands east and south of city limits; he announced plans for an 18,000-acre development, the largest project in Polk County history.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20090725/NEWS/907265017

| title = Clear Springs Construction a step closer

| access-date = 2010-09-10

| newspaper = The Ledger

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004063453/http://www.theledger.com/article/20090725/NEWS/907265017| archive-date= October 4, 2010 | url-status= live}} After nearly a decade of delays, the plan received final approval in 2009. The Clear Springs Development includes plans for more than 11,000 new homes, {{convert|1,000,000|ft2|m2}} of commercial space, three schools, and a golf course. According to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Bartow's population is projected to grow to over 25,000 people by 2015.{{cite web

| url = http://clearspringsco.com/first-phase-of-clear-springs-to-include-10000-homes-town-center-shopping-area/

| title = Clear Springs Plan moving forward

| access-date = 2010-09-10

| publisher = Polk county Democrat

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004152955/http://clearspringsco.com/first-phase-of-clear-springs-to-include-10000-homes-town-center-shopping-area/| archive-date= October 4, 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20070805/NEWS/708050440?tc=ar

| title = 18,000 Acre Development near Bartow Awaits Approval

| access-date = 2010-09-10

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} When buildout of the Clear Springs Development is completed by 2030, the population of the city is projected to be over 45,000 residents.

File:Kissengen Spring flooded from Peace River backflow after 3 hurricanes passed through the area, October, 2005.jpg

Bartow is located slightly southwest of the geographical centers of both Polk County and peninsular Florida.{{cite web

| url = http://polkvision.com/our-region/

| title = PolkVision/Our Region

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = PolkVision

}} The city is approximately {{convert|39|mi|km}} east of Tampa and {{convert|51|mi|km}} southwest of Orlando.{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Tampa,+Fl

| title = Distance from Bartow to Tampa

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = indo.com

}}{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Orlando,+Fl

| title = Distance from Bartow to Orlando

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = indo.com

}} The cities of Bartow, Lakeland, and Winter Haven form a roughly equilateral triangle pointed southward, with Bartow being the south point, Lakeland the west point, and Winter Haven the east point.{{cite web

| url = http://fipr1.state.fl.us/fipr/fipr1.nsf/0/7bdd9643b1c47a2485256b2f00569595/$FILE/04-039-087Final.pdf

| page = 5

| title = Publication 04-39-087

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = University of Florida

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110816102319/http://fipr1.state.fl.us/fipr/fipr1.nsf/0/7bdd9643b1c47a2485256b2f00569595/%24FILE/04-039-087Final.pdf

| archive-date = August 16, 2011

}}{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Orlando,+Fl

| title = Map of Bartow, Lakeland, Winter Haven showing 'triangle'

| access-date = 2010-10-17

}} The city is located near the headwaters of the Peace River at Lake Hancock.{{cite web

| url = http://www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/sarasota_bay_peace_myakka/peace/

| title = Peace River Watershed

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection

| url-status = usurped

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101015170317/http://www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/sarasota_bay_peace_myakka/peace/

| archive-date = October 15, 2010

}} Bartow is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.{{cite web

| url = http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw208

| title = Florida's Geological History

| access-date = 2010-10-14

| publisher = University of Florida

}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000 the city had a total area of {{convert|11.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|11.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (1.23%) is water. As a result of the annexation of over {{convert|26000|acre|km2}} of undeveloped land, primarily the Clear Springs land, the area of the city has quadrupled to over {{convert|52|sqmi|km2}} with more annexation still pending.

Bartow is located on the South Central Florida Ridge, as classified by the USDA.{{cite web

|url=http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/mlra_fl.html

|title=MLRAs in FL

|access-date=2010-09-10

|publisher=USDA

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008050915/http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/mlra_fl.html

|archive-date=October 8, 2010

|url-status=dead

}} Most soils in the Bartow area are sandy; other soils have sandy surface layers and clay subsoils, and the eastern outskirts of town have a clay-rich floodplain through which the Peace River flows. Drainage outside of the floodplain ranges from good to excessive for the most part except for a poorly drained band which cuts across the northern part of town. Much of Bartow is built on the Fort Meade soil series, which is well drained, high in organic matter, and rich in phosphorus, an uncommon combination in Florida, much appreciated by area gardeners.{{cite web

| url = http://ortho.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/dat/F/FORT_MEADE.html

| title = Fort Meade Series

| access-date = 2010-09-10

| publisher = National Cooperative Soil Survey

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101014083135/http://ortho.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/dat/F/FORT_MEADE.html

| archive-date = October 14, 2010

| url-status = dead

}}{{cite web

| url = https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

| title = Web Soil Surbey

| access-date = 2010-09-10

| publisher = USDA

}}

{{See also|Climate of Florida|Climate of the Tampa Bay area}}

File:2004 hurricanes.jpg

Bartow, like most of Florida, is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). The climate of Bartow and other inland cities is slightly different than those cities on the coasts of Florida. Typically, the ocean or gulf tends to moderate the climate of cities on the coast. As Bartow is further from the coast than almost any other city in Florida, it tends to have higher daytime temperatures cooler temperatures at night. Regardless, the climate pattern prevalent throughout central Florida is evident in Bartow: hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and relatively drier and milder winters.

On average, a tropical system brings hurricane-force winds to the Polk County area less than once every ten years, although the 2004 hurricane season in which three hurricanes hit within 44 days was a case study in the law of averages.{{cite web

| url = http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2004/oct2004/

| author1 = Gray, W.

| author2 = Klotzbach, P

| name-list-style = amp

| title = Forecast Of Atlantic Hurricane Activity For Oct. 2004

| access-date = 2010-09-29

| publisher = Colorado State University

| archive-date = August 21, 2014

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140821090959/http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2004/oct2004/

| url-status = dead

}} Until 2004, the most recent storm to bring hurricane-force winds to the Bartow area had been Hurricane Donna in 1960.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20100529/NEWS/5295022

| title = 2004 Hurricane Season Taught Polk to Stay Vigilant

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| newspaper = The Ledger

}}

While Florida's vulnerability to hurricanes is well known, hurricanes are not the most common severe weather threat seen in the Polk County area. The area is in the center of "lightning alley", the most concentrated lightning strike area in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/lightning_alley.html|title=Staying Safe in Lightning Alley|access-date=September 24, 2007|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA}} Lightning is not the only threat from central Florida thunderstorms. The more severe storms bring the threat of tornadoes, although Florida tornadoes very rarely reach the size of those elsewhere in the United States. Even hail is not out of the question; one storm in March 1996 caused a one-foot accumulation of hail in areas of Bartow.{{cite web

| url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/media/mlb/pdfs/FloridaHazardousWeather_Mar.pdf

| title = Florida hazardous weather by day

| access-date = 2010-09-16

| publisher = NOAA

}}

Freezes are an occasional occurrence in the Bartow area and can be a problem if temperatures remain below freezing for a sustained period of time. On average, the area can expect an annual minimum temperature of {{convert|32|F}}, putting it in plant hardiness zone 10a. Snow is a rare phenomenon in the area, perhaps a few times every century.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20100109/NEWS/1105044

| title = Snow, Sleet Pelt Frigid Polk

| access-date = 2010-09-27

| newspaper = The Ledger

}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Bartow, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present

|single line = Y

|Jan avg record high F = 83.2

|Feb avg record high F = 85.4

|Mar avg record high F = 87.9

|Apr avg record high F = 91.3

|May avg record high F = 94.6

|Jun avg record high F = 96.2

|Jul avg record high F = 96.3

|Aug avg record high F = 95.9

|Sep avg record high F = 94.4

|Oct avg record high F = 91.5

|Nov avg record high F = 87.4

|Dec avg record high F = 83.7

|year avg record high F = 97.3

| Jan high F = 72.9

| Feb high F = 75.9

| Mar high F = 79.7

| Apr high F = 84.2

| May high F = 88.7

| Jun high F = 90.9

| Jul high F = 91.9

| Aug high F = 91.7

| Sep high F = 89.7

| Oct high F = 85.2

| Nov high F = 79.0

| Dec high F = 74.7

|year high F = 83.7

|Jan mean F = 61.2

|Feb mean F = 64.0

|Mar mean F = 67.7

|Apr mean F = 72.5

|May mean F = 77.6

|Jun mean F = 81.1

|Jul mean F = 82.3

|Aug mean F = 82.3

|Sep mean F = 80.7

|Oct mean F = 75.5

|Nov mean F = 68.3

|Dec mean F = 63.6

|year mean F = 73.1

| Jan low F = 49.5

| Feb low F = 52.1

| Mar low F = 55.7

| Apr low F = 60.8

| May low F = 66.4

| Jun low F = 71.3

| Jul low F = 72.6

| Aug low F = 72.9

| Sep low F = 71.8

| Oct low F = 65.9

| Nov low F = 57.5

| Dec low F = 52.6

|year low F = 62.4

|Jan avg record low F = 34.1

|Feb avg record low F = 37.2

|Mar avg record low F = 42.4

|Apr avg record low F = 50.2

|May avg record low F = 58.8

|Jun avg record low F = 67.8

|Jul avg record low F = 70.3

|Aug avg record low F = 70.5

|Sep avg record low F = 67.4

|Oct avg record low F = 53.2

|Nov avg record low F = 44.1

|Dec avg record low F = 37.6

|year avg record low F = 32.3

|Jan record high F = 90

|Feb record high F = 91

|Mar record high F = 97

|Apr record high F = 99

|May record high F = 101

|Jun record high F = 103

|Jul record high F = 102

|Aug record high F = 100

|Sep record high F = 98

|Oct record high F = 97

|Nov record high F = 96

|Dec record high F = 90

|year record high F =

|Jan record low F = 18

|Feb record low F = 22

|Mar record low F = 23

|Apr record low F = 34

|May record low F = 45

|Jun record low F = 56

|Jul record low F = 60

|Aug record low F = 61

|Sep record low F = 55

|Oct record low F = 32

|Nov record low F = 25

|Dec record low F = 18

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.66

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.10

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.84

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.72

| May precipitation inch = 2.95

| Jun precipitation inch = 8.28

| Jul precipitation inch = 7.56

| Aug precipitation inch = 7.78

| Sep precipitation inch = 7.31

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.03

| Nov precipitation inch = 1.49

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.16

|year precipitation inch = 50.88

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 6.0

| Feb precipitation days = 5.2

| Mar precipitation days = 5.5

| Apr precipitation days = 4.8

| May precipitation days = 6.5

| Jun precipitation days = 13.0

| Jul precipitation days = 15.0

| Aug precipitation days = 15.7

| Sep precipitation days = 12.3

| Oct precipitation days = 7.0

| Nov precipitation days = 4.4

| Dec precipitation days = 5.5

| year precipitation days = 100.9

|Jan snow inch =

|Feb snow inch =

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|Apr snow inch =

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|Jun snow inch =

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|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days =

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|year snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tbw

| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = May 23, 2021

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00080478&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = May 23, 2021

}} }}

{{US Census population

|1880= 386

|1890= 1386

|1900= 1983

|1910= 2662

|1920= 4101

|1930= 5269

|1940= 6158

|1950= 8694

|1960= 12849

|1970= 12891

|1980= 14780

|1990= 14716

|2000= 15340

|2010= 17298

|2020= 19309

|footnote=Population 1890-2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census Of Population And Housing|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2008-11-01}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,309 people, 6,546 households, and 4,378 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Bartow city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bartow+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 17,298 people, 5,909 households, and 4,097 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Bartow city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bartow+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

In 2010, the population density was 377.1 inhabitants per square mile of land (976.7/km²).{{cite web|title=Florida: 2010 — Population and Housing Unit Counts (CPH-2-11)|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-11.pdf|website=census.gov|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 7, 2015|page=70 (36 Florida)|date=September 2012}} There were 7,130 housing units at an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km²).{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 7, 2015}}

In 2010, there were 5,909 households, of which 67.4% were families (one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption), 27.4% consisted of individuals, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were heterosexual married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12. Among housing units, 87.7% were occupied and 1.4% were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use; 63.5% of occupied housing units were owner-occupied and 36.5% were occupied by renters. an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km²).

In 2010, the median age was 36.2 years; 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 males there were 112.6 females. For every 100 males age 18 and over, there were 120.1 females. an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km²).

According to the American Community Survey between 2009 and 2013, the median income for a household in the city was 44,297, and the median income for a family was 56,009. Among full-time, year-round workers, males had a median income of $39,540 versus $32,076 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,994. About 17.2% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over. an average density of 155.4 per square mile of land(402.5/km²).

File:Homeland FL Methodist Church01.jpg

The first two churches built in town, the First Baptist and the First Methodist churches, were constructed on land given by the city founder Jacob Summerlin in 1867. Jacob Summerlin was known as the "King of the Crackers" and owned much of the land located around Bartow.{{cite web

| url = http://www.gbgm-umc.org/firstumcbartow/history.html

| title = First Methodist Church History

| date = March 2003

| access-date = 2010-10-15

| publisher = First Methodist Church

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110615170502/http://www.gbgm-umc.org/firstumcbartow/history.html

| archive-date = June 15, 2011

}} These churches, although not housed in the original buildings, are still extant today. In 1919, more than 8,000 people came to Bartow to hear former baseball star and traveling evangelist Billy Sunday preach, which was twice as much as the population of Bartow and more than the population of the county's largest city Lakeland at the time.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/mar03.pdf

| title = Billy Sunday

| date = March 2003

| access-date = 2010-09-26

| publisher = Polk County Historical Association

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727183316/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/mar03.pdf

| archive-date = July 27, 2011

| url-status = dead

}} As of 2010, there are more than 70 churches within the Bartow area.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/our-community/churches

| title = Our Community Churches

| access-date = 2010-09-11

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100912162309/http://www.bartowchamber.com/our-community/churches

| archive-date = September 12, 2010

| url-status = dead

}}

Like most of the Bible Belt, Bartow has a high number of people affiliated with evangelical Protestant denominations with over 62% of churchgoers belonging to evangelical denominations.{{cite web

| url = http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/12105_2000.asp

| author = Harpool, A.

| title = Religion in Polk

| access-date = 2010-09-26

| publisher = The Association of Religious Data Archives

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101205145429/http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/12105_2000.asp

| archive-date = December 5, 2010

| url-status = dead

}}{{cite web

| url = http://plaza.ufl.edu/adam1987/measurechange.pdf

| title = Delineating the Two Florida's

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = University of Florida

}} According to data published by the Glenmary Research Center in 2000, the denomination which has the largest number of adherents in Bartow is the Southern Baptist Convention with 27%, followed by the Roman Catholic church with 19%. Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are also prominent making up 17% of Bartow's church attendance. The Pentecostal experience known as the Lakeland revival, which attracted controversy for its claims of supernatural healing, was started up the road at the Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland.{{cite news |url=http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/29/1075189.aspx |title=Revivalist Claims Hundreds of Healings |publisher=MSNBC |author=Rhee, Alice |date=May 29, 2008 |access-date=2008-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601001145/http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/29/1075189.aspx |archive-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20080425/NEWS/804250386|title=Faith-Healing 'Outpouring' Overflows Venue|date=April 25, 2008|publisher=TheLedger.com|access-date=2008-07-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080704151633/http://www.theledger.com/article/20080425/NEWS/804250386| archive-date= July 4, 2008 | url-status= live}} Other churches which have a presence in Bartow include the United Methodist Church at 9%, and the Episcopal and Lutheran churches with 2% apiece. While there are no synagogues in town for Jewish Bartownians, Temple Emanuel is a conservative synagogue only {{convert|12|mi|km}} away in Lakeland.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/sept02.pdf

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727183406/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/sept02.pdf

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2011-07-27

| title = Temple Emanuel History

| date = October 2002

| access-date = 2010-09-26

| publisher = Temple Emanuel

}} There are two Muslim mosques and a Hindu temple in the county.{{cite web

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20080316/NEWS/803160428?p=3&tc=pg

| title = Ledger Religion in Polk

| access-date = 2010-09-26

| publisher = Lakeland

| archive-date = March 3, 2016

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215513/http://www.theledger.com/article/20080316/NEWS/803160428?p=3&tc=pg

| url-status = dead

}}

File:Bartow Downtown Comm dist Stuart bldg01.jpg

The economy of Bartow is driven by four sectors: government, mining, agriculture, and tourism. While Bartow's population is less than 20,000, it is shaped by its proximity to several large centers of population. Within a {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} radius of the center of town, there are close to 8 million people.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/economy.htm

| title = Economy of Bartow

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622091956/http://www.bartowchamber.com/economy.htm

| archive-date = June 22, 2011

}}

The dominant force in the economy of Bartow is city, county and state government. As a small city which is the seat of a county with over half a million people. In addition to city and county offices, there are also a number of regional, state, and federal offices located within Bartow city limits. Nine of the seventeen largest employers in Bartow are government entities.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/major-employers.htm

| title = Major Employers

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622092035/http://www.bartowchamber.com/major-employers.htm

| archive-date = June 22, 2011

}} The largest by far is the Polk County School Board with over 12,000 employees. Other county entities which employ many people in the Bartow area include the county commission, the sheriff's department, the clerk of court, the tax collector, and the property appraiser. The Florida Department of Transportation District One office is located in Bartow and is responsible for southwest Florida's transportation needs.{{cite web

| url = http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/districts/dist1.shtm

| title = FDOT District One

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = Florida Department of Transportation

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100826004004/http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/districts/dist1.shtm| archive-date= August 26, 2010 | url-status= live}}

There are several large businesses with headquarters elsewhere which were founded in Bartow. The large international law firm of Holland & Knight was founded in Bartow in 1929.{{cite web

| url = http://www.hklaw.com/id77/extended1/biosSGRIMES/

| title = Biography of Stephen Grimes

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = Holland & Knight

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120203204810/http://www.hklaw.com/id77/extended1/biosSGRIMES

| archive-date = February 3, 2012

| url-status = dead

}} What eventually become the large Burdines and Sons department store chain was founded in Bartow in 1896 as Payne and Burdines.{{cite web

|url=http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june96.pdf

|title=History of Burdines

|pages=1–3

|date=June 1996

|access-date=2010-09-26

|publisher=Polk County Historical Association

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182710/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june96.pdf

|archive-date=July 27, 2011

}} A couple years after opening his store, William M. Burdines opened a store in Miami and relocated his operations there.

File:Bartow crths new01.jpg

Phosphate mining has been a major player in Bartow's economy since the discovery of phosphate rock in 1881.

Polk County is part of the Bone Valley which is the richest source of phosphate rock in the world; 75% of the United States's supply and 25% of the world's supply come from the Bone Valley. The largest employer in the phosphate industry is Mosaic which employs over 3,000 people in the area.

In terms of area, Polk County has {{convert|600000|acre|km2}} dedicated to agriculture. According to the US Census of Agriculture, Polk County is the top citrus production county in Florida.{{cite web

| url = http://www.pcfb.org/polkagriculture.htm

| title = Polk County Ag Statistics

| access-date = 2010-10-14

| publisher = Polk County Farm Bureau

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727165707/http://www.pcfb.org/polkagriculture.htm

| archive-date = July 27, 2011

}} Polk County is also ranked second in the state in production of honey and fourth in number of heads of cattle. Since 1997 the new bumper crop in the area is blueberry.{{cite web

| author = Townsend, B.

| url = http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/clear-springs-sees-gold-in-blueberries/

| title = Clear Springs Sees Gold In Blueberries

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = Tampa Bay Online

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130203222925/http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/clear-springs-sees-gold-in-blueberries/

| archive-date = February 3, 2013

| url-status = dead

}} From 2000 to 2007 the area has more than doubled its production of blueberries and accounts for more than 35% of the state's production of the fruit. While spring is usually a "dead" time for every other blueberry growing area in North and South America, Polk County blueberries peak from March to May.

Although there are no major tourist attractions in the immediate Bartow area, the city is located less than {{convert|50|mi|km}} from both the Walt Disney World Resort and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Lake+Buena+Vista,+Florida

| title = Distance from Bartow to Lake Buena Vista, FL

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = indo.com

}} The city is also less than {{convert|20|mi|km}} from Legoland Florida in Winter Haven and Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales.{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Winter+Haven,+Florida

| title = Distance from Bartow to Winter Haven

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = indo.com

}}{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Lake+Wales,+Florida

| title = Distance from Bartow to Lake Wales

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = indo.com

}} As a city with many historical sites dating back over 100 years, Bartow is also a point of interest for those interested in historical sites and monuments.{{cite web

|url=http://www.flheritage.com/facts/reports/places/index.cfm?fuseaction=ListAreas&county=polk

|title=Florida's History Through Its Places, Bartow

|access-date=2010-10-14

|publisher=Florida Department of State

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123054335/http://flheritage.com/facts/reports/places/index.cfm?fuseaction=ListAreas&county=Polk

|archive-date=November 23, 2010

|url-status=dead

}}

File:BartowFLsign.jpg

There are several annual events in the Bartow area which have a long tradition. Many of these are large events which draw people from other communities to the city such as the Cricket Club Halloween Parade and Carnival held each year since 1942 or the annual Fourth of July Celebration held at Mosaic Park.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20081001/COLUMNISTS/810010415

| title = Bartow Halloween Parade is Oct. 30

| access-date = 2010-09-14

| newspaper = The Ledger

}}{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20080627/COLUMNISTS/806270430

| title = Bartow Plans July 4 Bash

| access-date = 2010-09-14

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} The Bloomin' Arts Festival is an art show held in early March by the Bartow Art Guild.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20110328/NEWS/110329439

| title = South Polk: Bloomin' Arts Show Winners Announced

| access-date = 2012-01-21

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} Every February brings the Annual L.B. Brown Festival at the L.B. Brown House on L.B. Brown Avenue (formally Second Avenue).{{cite web

| url = http://www.lbbrown.com/events.htm

| title = L.B. Brown events

| access-date = 2012-01-21

| publisher = Neighborhood Improvement Corporation of Bartow, Inc.

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111105030540/http://lbbrown.com/events.htm

| archive-date = November 5, 2011

}}

Bartow's discarded natural Christmas trees are piled around a telephone pole for the annual New Year's Eve bonfire, a unique tradition spanning more than seven decades which has sometimes been covered by national media.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20141230/news/141239923

| title = Bartow's Traditional Tree Burning Tonight

| access-date= 2015-05-23

| newspaper = The Ledger

}}

The Polk County Arts Alliance based in Bartow is designated the official Art Agency by the county commission and is in charge of furthering the performing arts in the county.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polkartsalliance.org/

| title = Polk Arts Alliance Home Page

| access-date = 2010-09-14

| publisher = Polk Arts Alliance

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727181937/http://www.polkartsalliance.org/

| archive-date = July 27, 2011

}} The Bartow Performing Arts Series sponsors five performances every year. The Imperial Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble of ninety volunteer musicians throughout the county who perform a dozen or so events every year including a concert "under the stars".{{cite news

| url = http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/561/imperial-symphony-orchestra/

| title = Imperial Symphony Orchestra

| access-date = 2010-09-14

| newspaper = The Ledger

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713194559/http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/561/imperial-symphony-orchestra/

| archive-date = July 13, 2011

| url-status = dead

}} The city also has a volunteer band, the Bartow Adult Concert Band, which performs several shows a year.{{Cite news |last=Roslow |first=Jeff |date=August 29, 2018 |title=Adult Concert Band names civic center stage for founder |work=YourSun |url=https://www.yoursun.com/polk/newsarchives/adult-concert-band-names-civic-center-stage-for-founder/article_1c762c86-c36d-5fef-b5ec-e9013b235c69.html |access-date=October 18, 2022}} On the third Friday of every month, Main Street is blocked off for Friday Fest at 6 p.m. for a night of live music and entertainment, informally known as "Tow Jam" by natives.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20060721/COLUMNISTS0112/607210311

| title = Bartow's Friday Fest 'Tow Jam

| access-date = 2011-11-06

| newspaper = The Ledger

}}

File:South Florida Military Academy 1895.JPG

{{See also|List of Registered Historic Buildings in Bartow, Florida}}File:Bartow Swearingen JJ house01.jpgThe city's Historic Architecture Review Board is responsible for the preservation, enhancement and promotion of historic buildings, landmarks and districts within the city.{{cite web

|url=http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={654C54F3-96E5-4A87-B4E6-93AB4B57D613}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107010903/http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B654C54F3-96E5-4A87-B4E6-93AB4B57D613%7D

|archive-date=November 7, 2006

|title=Historic Architecture Review Board

|access-date=2010-10-15

|publisher=City of Bartow

|url-status=dead

}} Three districts in the city, the Bartow Downtown Commercial District, the Northeast Bartow Residential District, and the South Bartow Residential District have been designated as historic districts.{{cite web

| url = http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/FL/Polk/districts.html

| title = Polk County Historic Districts

| access-date= 2010-10-08

| publisher = National Register of Historic Places

}} New construction within these districts is regulated by the board and they have the power to veto construction which might alter the character of the neighborhood.

While the towering oaks and ever-present azalea bushes which spawned the city's nickname give many of the historic landmarks of the city a distinctive Southern "look and feel", many styles of architecture are represented in Bartow's historic buildings. The South Bartow and Northeast Bartow historic districts are characterized by masonry vernacular and various revival styles, while downtown is dominated by frame vernacular and classical revival styles. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places with distinctive architectural styles include the Thompson and Company Cigar Factory built in a Mission Revival Style and the L.B. Brown House built with distinctive Victorian ornamentation.{{cite web

| url = http://www.lbbrown.com/

| title = Historic L.B. Brown House

| access-date= 2010-09-12

| publisher = lbbrown.com

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101012101020/http://www.lbbrown.com/| archive-date= October 12, 2010 | url-status= live}} The L.B. Brown House is notable as perhaps the only house still standing in Florida built by a freedman.{{cite web

| url = http://lbbrown.com/

| title = L.B. Brown House

| access-date= 2011-11-06

| publisher = lbbrown.com

}} The Old Polk County Courthouse, Bartow's most recognizable symbol seen on its city seal, was built in 1909 in a neoclassical style. The Polk County Historical Museum is located in the Old Polk County Courthouse and consists of exhibits presenting local and regional history from pre-Columbian to present eras, along with a history and genealogical library.

Florida Senator Spessard L. Holland was born in Bartow. His home is located on South Broadway 2 blocks north of Bartow High School. Senator Holland was a founding member of the Holland and Knight Law Firm. The firm's original office was located on South Central Avenue across the street from the Bartow Post Office.

There are several other notable buildings in Bartow which are not on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wonder House at 1075 Mann Road features natural air-conditioning (using rainwater), secluded outdoor bathtubs, and numerous mirrors that let occupants see who is at the door from other parts of the home.{{cite web

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20081115/COLUMNISTS/811150267?p=2&tc=pg

| title = The Wonder House

| access-date= 2011-11-06

| work = The Ledger

}} The current owners of the Wonder House are restoring it and plan to open a museum. The Thomas Lee Wilson House, also known as the Stanford Inn, at 555 East Stanford Street was the "Sultenfuss Funeral Parlor" in the movie My Girl.{{cite web

| url = http://www.thestanfordinn.com/

| title = The Stanford Inn

| access-date= 2011-11-06

| publisher = The Stanford Inn

}} The house at 935 South Oak Avenue known as "Windsweep" was the residence used in the movie China Moon.{{cite web

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20081128/COLUMNISTS/811280318?p=1&tc=pg

| title = Florida Movies

| access-date= 2010-10-17

| work = The Ledger

}}

Many of the recreational opportunities in the area are outdoor activities designed to take advantage of the warm subtropical climate. There are eighteen parks in the City of Bartow Department of Parks and Recreation.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/bartow-area-parks-recreation-facilities.htm

| title = Bartow Area Parks & Recreation Facilities

| access-date = 2010-09-11

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622091246/http://www.bartowchamber.com/bartow-area-parks-recreation-facilities.htm

| archive-date = June 22, 2011

}} Mary Holland Park, named after the wife of former Florida governor Spessard Holland, is a {{convert|119|acre|km2|adj=on}} park with three lakes, a playground, an overnight camping area, and a skateboard park. The Bartow Civic Center is a {{convert|31|acre|m2|adj=on}} complex with meeting rooms, concert facilities and a public pool. Bartow Park is a {{convert|95|acre|m2|adj=on}} complex with softball, baseball and soccer fields and a track for remote control cars. The Bartow Golf Course is a par 72, 6,300 yard course designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross, with a restaurant and an area for barbecuing.

The Tour de Tow is an annual cycling tour held in September.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/cycling.htm

| title = Cycling

| access-date = 2011-11-06

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111110113454/http://www.bartowchamber.com/cycling.htm

| archive-date = November 10, 2011

}} The Fort Fraser Trail is a {{convert|7.7|mi|km}} path leading from Bartow to South Lakeland.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20061127/NEWS/611270351?p=2&tc=pg

| title = Grand Opening for Fort Fraser Trail Coming Up

| access-date = 2010-10-20

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} The path follows a converted CSX railroad line and is popular with area cyclists, joggers, and in-line skaters. Plans have been made to build a replica of the historic Fort Fraser along the path, as well as adding historical markers. Five picnic areas and six rest shelters are available along the path.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/bartow-area-parks-recreation-facilities.htm

| title = Ft. Fraser Trail

| access-date = 2010-10-20

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622091246/http://www.bartowchamber.com/bartow-area-parks-recreation-facilities.htm

| archive-date = June 22, 2011

}}

Polk County has over 550 lakes.{{cite news

| url = http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/article/16/polk-county-lake-facts/

| title = Polk County Lake Facts

| access-date = 2010-10-14

| newspaper = The Ledger

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713195138/http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/article/16/polk-county-lake-facts/

| archive-date = July 13, 2011

| url-status = dead

}} Most of these lakes were formerly strip mines; they are closed to the public, only 88 of the lakes are open to the public via boat ramp access. The area has a national reputation for largemouth bass fishing and there are tournaments held weekly almost year-round.{{cite web

| url = http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/38107

| title = Florida Largemouth Bass - "Battle With The Best"

| access-date = 2010-10-14

| publisher = American Chronicles

}}{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20100901/NEWS/9015018?p=1&tc=pg

| title = Upcoming Tournaments

| access-date = 2010-10-20

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} Some of the lakes on the east side of Bartow offer anglers the opportunity to catch 50 largemouth bass a day.{{cite web

| url = https://www.espn.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/news/story?page=b_fea_dest_BMM0709_Clear_Springs

| title = Mining Clear Springs Lunkers

| date = August 28, 2007

| access-date = 2010-11-08

| publisher = ESPN

}}

File:Bartow city hall01.jpg

The City of Bartow has a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of five commissioners, each elected for a three-year term.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartowchamber.com/government.htm

| title = Bartow City Government

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = Bartow Chamber of Commerce

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622091328/http://www.bartowchamber.com/government.htm

| archive-date = June 22, 2011

}} The mayor is a member of the city commission elected annually by the commissioners, although traditionally the position is rotated. As of 2022, the mayor of Bartow is Steve Githens Other commissioners are Nick Adams, Leo Longworth, Tanya Tucker and Trish Pfeiffer".{{cite web

| url = http://www.cityofbartow.net/index.aspx?page=62| title = City Officials - Mayor and Commissioners

| access-date = May 10, 2021

| publisher = City of Bartow

| date = 2021

}}{{cite web|title=Mayor and City Commission|url=http://www.cityofbartow.net/index.aspx?page=62|work=City of Bartow, FL|publisher=City of Bartow, FL|access-date=November 2, 2013|date=November 2013}} The city executive powers rest with the city manager, as contracted by the city commission. In 2010, the city's budget was $74.2 million.{{cite news

| url = http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/city/bartow/

| title = Guide to Polk, Bartow

| access-date = 2010-10-07

| newspaper = The Ledger

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713195133/http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/city/bartow/

| archive-date = July 13, 2011

| url-status = dead

}}

Electricity, waste disposal and water are municipal services provided by the city of Bartow to residents in city limits and nearby areas. Bartow is part of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and in times of drought, the city strictly enforces the restrictions set forth by the district.{{cite web

| url = http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/watman

| title = Florida Water Management Districts

| access-date = 2010-09-12

| publisher = State of Florida

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100920064245/http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/watman| archive-date= September 20, 2010 | url-status= live}} Although it is a private entity outside of the city limits of Bartow, the Bartow Executive Airport is governed and administrated by the city commission which convenes as the Bartow Airport Authority. As of 2016, the Bartow Police Department has five sergeants, twenty officers, three K-9 officers, two school resource officers, two public safety aides, and one parking enforcement specialist, while the Bartow Fire Department has 18 full-time firemen.{{cite web

|url=http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={859E9F20-D3D0-4F32-8310-CBC75E4C1DE4}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107011008/http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B859E9F20-D3D0-4F32-8310-CBC75E4C1DE4%7D

|archive-date=November 7, 2006

|title=Bartow Police Department

|access-date=2010-09-26

|publisher=City of Bartow

|url-status=dead

}}{{cite web

|url=http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0DCE6F66-2AE7-42F7-A320-8A32EB073D0B}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103194903/http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B0DCE6F66-2AE7-42F7-A320-8A32EB073D0B%7D

|archive-date=November 3, 2007

|title=Bartow Fire Department

|access-date=2016-07-16

|publisher=City of Bartow

|url-status=dead

}} The city of Bartow also operates the Bartow Public library, which was founded in 1897 and has reciprocal borrowing agreements with other public libraries in Polk County.{{cite web

|url=http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D9A9AF7B-FFD2-4991-9857-C8BE924F5003}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716172500/http://bartow.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BD9A9AF7B-FFD2-4991-9857-C8BE924F5003%7D

|archive-date=July 16, 2007

|title=Bartow Library

|access-date=2010-09-26

|publisher=City of Bartow

|url-status=dead

}}

Bartow, as well as the rest of Polk County, is part of the so-called I-4 corridor. The I-4 corridor is seen by political analysts as the most politically competitive part of the state.{{cite news

| url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/28/as-i-4-corridor-goes-so-goes-florida/

| title = As I-4 Corridor goes so goes Florida

| access-date = 2010-09-11

| newspaper = The Washington Times

}} Polk is considered the most conservative county in the corridor.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20081011/NEWS/810110366?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar

| title = Candidates scramble to claim I-4 corridor

| access-date = 2010-09-11

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} Even though the majority of the residents of Bartow are members of the Democratic Party, outnumbering the Republican Party in party affiliation (53.3% to 31.7%), voters tend to support Republicans in most state and federal elections.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polkelections.com/home/facts/reg2.asp

| title = Voter Registration Statistics, Bartow Precincts 502-509

| access-date = 2010-09-11

| publisher = Polk County Supervisor of Elections

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061113164228/http://www.polkelections.com/home/facts/reg2.asp

| archive-date = November 13, 2006

}} In 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain's lead over Democrat Barack Obama (53.6% to 46.5) in the city was larger than that of both the county and state.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polkelections.com/home/facts/reg2.asp

| title = 2008 Presidential Election Results, BartowPrecincts (502-509)

| access-date = 2010-09-11

| publisher = Polk County Supervisor of Elections

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061113164228/http://www.polkelections.com/home/facts/reg2.asp

| archive-date = November 13, 2006

}}

All of Bartow's local representation in the state and federal legislatures are members of the Republican Party. Bartow is represented in the state Florida House of Representatives by Ben Albritton.{{cite web

| url = http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/District/H406H020_district_63.pdf

| title = Polk County District Map

| access-date = 2010-09-26

| publisher = Florida State House }}

In the Florida Senate, Bartow is represented by Denise Grimsley.{{cite web

|url=http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?Tab=legislators&Submenu=1&File=index.html&Directory=Legislators/senate/021/map_data/

|title=District 21 Map

|access-date=2010-09-26

|publisher=Florida State Senate

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105091435/http://flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?Tab=legislators&Submenu=1&File=index.html&Directory=Legislators%2Fsenate%2F021%2Fmap_data%2F

|archive-date=November 5, 2010

|url-status=dead

}} In the United States House of Representatives, Bartow is located in Florida's 15th congressional district, and represented by Congressman Scott Franklin.

The Florida Department of Citrus has its headquarters in the Bob Crawford Agricultural Center in Bartow."[http://fdocgrower.com/florida-department-of-citrus/contact-us/ Contact]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151016170058/http://fdocgrower.com/florida-department-of-citrus/contact-us/ Archive]). Florida Department of Citrus. Retrieved on September 13, 2015. "Physical Address

Bob Crawford Agricultural Center 605 E. Main Street Bartow, FL 33830"

File:Bartow High School SI01.jpg

{{See also|List of schools in Bartow, Florida}}

The schools in Bartow are operated by the Polk County School Board, although several of them predate the establishment of the school board, and were autonomous at one time. Bartow High School, formerly Summerlin Institute, is the oldest high school in the county and one of the oldest high schools in the state of Florida. In 1923 Union Academy, became the first African-American high school in Polk County. Court-ordered integration began in Bartow during the fall of 1969, and the former black high school Union Academy became a middle school. In 1971, Summerlin Institute officially became Bartow High School, a name it had been known as informally at least since the early 1900s. There are currently seven elementary schools and two middle schools which are feeder schools of Bartow High School. Located at the campus of Bartow High School is the International Baccalaureate School of Polk County which offers an academically challenging environment and the Summerlin Academy which offers a military-oriented education.

It is expected that the rapid growth of the Clear Springs development will necessitate the building of at least two elementary schools and a middle school within the next twenty years.{{cite web

| url = http://clearspringsco.com/first-phase-of-clear-springs-to-include-10000-homes-town-center-shopping-area/

| title = First Phase of Clear Springs To Include 10,000 Homes, Town Center Shopping Area

| access-date = 2010-09-10

| publisher = The Polk County Democrat

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004152955/http://clearspringsco.com/first-phase-of-clear-springs-to-include-10000-homes-town-center-shopping-area/| archive-date= October 4, 2010 | url-status= live}} As part of this development, a new Polk State College campus called The PSC Advanced Technology Center at Clear Springs is projected to open by 2012. This {{convert|20|acre|m2}} campus will be located near the intersection of State Road 60 and 80 Foot Road.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polk.edu/businessandcommunity/news/Pages/ConstructionBeginsatClearSprings.aspx

| title = Polk state college advanced technology center at clear springs

| access-date = 2010-09-24

| publisher = Polk State College

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111211184341/http://polk.edu/businessandcommunity/news/Pages/ConstructionBeginsatClearSprings.aspx

| archive-date = December 11, 2011

}}

While there are currently no colleges or universities in Bartow, there are several within a {{convert|20|mi|0|abbr=on}} radius of Bartow. The nearest university, University of South Florida Polytechnic is located {{convert|6|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of city limits in Lakeland on a joint campus with Polk State College.

Florida Southern College and Southeastern University are also located in Lakeland.{{cite web

| url = http://www.indo.com/cgi-bin/dist?place1=Bartow,+Fl&place2=Lakeland,+Florida

| title = Distance from Bartow to Lakeland

| access-date = 2010-10-17

| publisher = indo.com

}} Warner University is located to the east in Lake Wales.

{{See also|Media in Tampa Bay}}

Bartow is part of the Tampa/St. Pete television market, the 13th largest in the country.{{cite web

| url = http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/10/nielsen-local-television-market-universe-estimates/5037

| title = Top Nielsen Markets

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = TV By the Numbers

| archive-date = April 1, 2012

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120401072025/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/09/10/nielsen-local-television-market-universe-estimates/5037/

| url-status = dead

}} There are two AM radio stations within the city: WQXM (1460 AM) and WWBF (1130 AM). These stations are part of the local Lakeland/Winter Haven radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country.{{cite web

| url = http://www.arbitron.com/home/mm001050.asp

| title = Arbitron Markets

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = Arbitron

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101016182624/http://arbitron.com/home/mm001050.asp| archive-date= October 16, 2010 | url-status= live}} In addition to the stations in the local market, people in the area have the choice of both Tampa Bay and Orlando area radio stations and as of the 2010 market sweeps several of the most listened to stations in the market are in the Tampa Bay area.

The Polk County Democrat is the only newspaper published within Bartow. It is a semi-weekly paper which began publication in 1931.{{cite news

| url = http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95047484/

| title = Polk County Democrat

| access-date = 2011-11-06

| publisher = Library of Congress

}} The dominant daily newspaper is The Ledger out of Lakeland, although the Tampa Tribune, the News Chief out of Winter Haven, Florida and the Orlando Sentinel have some circulation in town.{{cite web

| url = http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/engl288.06/webprojects/finalproject/jer21/Web%20Presentation/articles/lepub.htm

| title = The Ledger Publishers, 1996–Present

| access-date = 2010-09-16

| publisher = Cornell University

}}

The street grid of Bartow is a typical four quadrant grid with Main Street as the east–west axis and Broadway Avenue as the north–south axis. Broadway is co-signed with U.S. Route 98 in the northern commercial district and leads southward into the center of town before heading into one of the older residential sections of town. Main Street is the old State Road 60 leading into the historic heart of downtown Bartow.{{cite web

| url = https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bartow,+Florida&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.775203,86.572266&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bartow,+Polk,+Florida&ll=27.894846,-81.840978&spn=0.021164,0.042272&t=h&z=15

| title = Map of Bartow, FL

| access-date = 2010-10-14

| publisher = Google Maps

}}

The primary numbered routes going through Bartow are State Road 60 and U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 98. State Road 60 is a major state highway leading to both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and is the major east–west route through town. Originally traveling along Main Street, State Road 60 now follows Van Fleet Drive bypassing the downtown area, and is commonly known as "the 60 Bypass" by locals.{{cite web

| url = http://www.polk-fl.net/districtinfo/departments/learning/aae/documents/DirectionsJimMilesAAEWarehouse3.pdf

| title = Assessment, Accountability & Evaluation

| access-date = 2010-10-19

| publisher = Polk County

}} Heading east on State Road 60 leads to Lake Wales and on to Vero Beach, while westbound leads to Mulberry and eventually Tampa. U.S. 17 is the main north–south route on the east side of town. It is a four lane divided highway leading north to Winter Haven and south to Fort Meade. U.S. 98 is cosigned with U.S. 17 until its intersection with SR 60. Briefly cosigned with State Road 60 until its intersection with Broadway Avenue. US 98 then turns northward onto Broadway Avenue heading towards Lakeland. State Road 570, known as the Polk Parkway, is a toll road located (10 km) north of city limits on U.S. 98. The Polk Parkway provides direct freeway access to Tampa and Orlando via Interstate 4.{{cite web

|url=http://www.floridasturnpike.com/about_system.cfm#6

|title=Polk Parkway

|access-date=2010-10-19

|publisher=Florida's Turnpike Authority

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922145103/http://floridasturnpike.com/about_system.cfm

|archive-date=September 22, 2010

|url-status=dead

}}

The explosive growth expected in the area in the next few decades has created a need for a reexamination of the area's transportation infrastructure. The Central Polk Parkway is a proposed limited access highway that would connect the Polk Parkway with U.S. 17 and State Road 60.{{cite news

|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20100913/NEWS/9135071

|title=Proposed Central Polk Parkway Plans Being Sharpened

|access-date=2010-09-23

|newspaper=The Ledger

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918020513/http://www.theledger.com/article/20100913/NEWS/9135071

|archive-date=September 18, 2010

|url-status=live

}} The Northern Bartow Connector, which was expected to be completed by 2015 but was shelved as of 2016, is a partial loop around the north part of town connecting U.S. 98 with State Road 60 east of town.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20071011/NEWS/710110515?p=1&tc=pg

| title = County OKs Road for Bartow Connector Route

| access-date = 2010-09-23

| newspaper = The Ledger

}} However, the portion connecting U.S. 98 and U.S. 17 was completed in 2013.{{cite web|title=Editorial: Finish the Bartow Northern Connector First|url=http://www.ocala.com/opinion/20160925/editorial-finish-bartow-northern-connector-first|website=ocala.com|publisher=Ocala StarBanner|access-date=May 19, 2017}}

For aviation needs, Bartow Executive Airport is available. The airport has a VFR control tower, three 5,000 ft runways - including two parallel runways, a restaurant with views of the airfield, and includes an industrial park and warehouse storage.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bartow-airport.com/runway.htm

| title = Airport diagram

| access-date = 2010-09-14

| publisher = Bartow Municipal Airport

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101204060402/http://www.bartow-airport.com/runway.htm

| archive-date = December 4, 2010

}} Both Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) are within {{convert|60|mi|km}} driving distance from the center of Bartow.

Bartow has its own bus system, the Bartow Shuttle, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Citrus Connection has buses that serve the Bartow downtown area from Lakeland, and Winter Haven Area Transit serves Bartow from Winter Haven and Fort Meade.{{cite news

| url = http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/article/33/buses-trains-airports-give-residents-myriad-transportation-choices/

| title = Buses, Trains, Airports Give Residents Myriad Transportation Choices

| access-date = 2010-10-01

| newspaper = The Ledger

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713195122/http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/article/33/buses-trains-airports-give-residents-myriad-transportation-choices/

| archive-date = July 13, 2011

| url-status = dead

}}{{cite web

| url = http://www.polktransitauthority.com/transit-today/

| title = Transit Today

| access-date = 2010-10-01

| publisher = Polk Transit Authority

}}

The Bartow Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofbartow.net/index.aspx?page=318|title = City of Bartow, FL : About Us}} The library is located at 2150 S. Broadway Ave. Bartow, FL 33830.{{Cite web|url=https://pclc.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/bartow|title = BARTOW}} The library first started May 19, 1897 above Polk County National Bank. After obtaining a Carnegie Grant the public library was opened on February 8, 1915. It moved to the current location in 1998. The Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library is housed within the Polk County Historical Museum in the historic Old Polk County Courthouse and contains more than 40,000 items in its collection pertaining to history and genealogy of the eastern United States.Historical and Genealogical Library. [https://www.polk-county.net/historical-and-genealogical-library"], Polk County website, 2023. Retrieved on April 26, 2023.

{{See also|List of people from Bartow, Florida}}

As it is the county seat, many government officials and politicians have been associated with Bartow since its founding. Perhaps the most notable is Spessard Holland, former Florida governor and U.S. Senator, who governed the state during World War Two and introduced the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited use of the poll tax in federal elections. Holland had opposed previous civil rights legislation.{{cite web

| url = http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/holland.htm

| title = A Guide to the Spessard L. Holland Papers

| access-date = 2010-09-24

| publisher = University of Florida

}} Spessard L. Holland Elementary, named in his honor, opened in 2009. His predecessor in the U.S. Senate, Charles O. Andrews, also attended school in Bartow.{{cite web

| url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000244

| title = ANDREWS, Charles Oscar

| access-date = 2010-11-11

| publisher = congress.gov

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101105092734/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000244| archive-date= November 5, 2010 | url-status= live}} Others who were raised and schooled in Bartow include former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen Grimes,{{cite web

|url=http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/justices/retired/grimes.html

|title=Justice Stephen H. Grimes

|access-date=2010-10-01

|publisher=Florida Supreme Court

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521030338/http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/justices/retired/grimes.html

|archive-date=May 21, 2011

}} former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, who had a key role during the 2000 U.S. Presidential election,{{cite web

| url = http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=101

| title = Women in Congress:Katherine Harris

| access-date = 2010-09-24

| publisher = house.gov

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101007122628/http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=101

| archive-date = October 7, 2010

| url-status = dead

}} and former U.S. congressman Adam Putnam.{{cite web

| url = http://adamputnam.house.gov/bio.shtml

| title = Congressman Adam H. Putnam

| access-date = 2010-10-01

| publisher = Congressional Website of Adam Putnam

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924225723/http://adamputnam.house.gov/bio.shtml

| archive-date = September 24, 2010

| url-status = dead

}}

The most notable military officer from Bartow is four-star general James Van Fleet, who was the commanding officer of the United Nations forces during the Korean War. Other generals associated with the City of Bartow include Albert H. Blanding, who served during World War One, and Confederate General Evander M. Law, who lived for his last forty years in Bartow.{{cite web

| url = http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/evander-law-is-born

| title = Evander Law

| access-date = 2010-10-26

| publisher = History Channel

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120928095641/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/evander-law-is-born

| archive-date = September 28, 2012

| url-status = dead

}}{{cite web

|url=http://www.flheritage.com/services/sites/floridians/?section=b

|title=The Great Floridians 2000 Program

|access-date=2010-10-01

|publisher=myflorida's history website

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031004955/http://flheritage.com/services/sites/floridians/?section=b

|archive-date=October 31, 2010

|url-status=dead

}}

Numerous men who became professional athletes were born, lived in or associated with the city of Bartow. Some were born in Polk General Hospital, a public hospital in Bartow which closed in 1995, but most were generally associated with other cities in Polk County.{{cite web

| url = http://www.bluetoad.com/display_article.php?id=635089

| title = Eight Hospitals Took Care Of Residents

| access-date = 2011-11-06

| publisher = The Ledger/bluetoad.com

}} Born in Bartow and raised elsewhere in the county were NFL linebacker Ray Lewis,{{cite web

| url = http://www.nfl.com/players/raylewis/profile?id=LEW562347

| title = Ray Lewis NFL Bio

| access-date = 2010-10-08

| publisher = NFL

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101012092255/http://www.nfl.com/players/raylewis/profile?id=LEW562347| archive-date= October 12, 2010 | url-status= live}} NBA guard Tracy McGrady,{{cite web

| url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgratr01.html

| title = Tracy McGrady, basketball-reference.com

| access-date = 2010-11-08

| publisher =basketball-reference.com

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101204071144/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgratr01.html| archive-date= December 4, 2010 | url-status= live}} and motocross star James "Bubba" Stewart.{{cite web

| url = http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/493/1094/Motorcycle-Article/James-Stewart-Bio.aspx

| title = James Stewart Bio

| access-date = 2010-10-26

| publisher = Motorcycle USA

| archive-date = May 27, 2010

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100527040702/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/493/1094/motorcycle-article/James-stewart-bio.aspx

| url-status = dead

}} Other athletes who were raised and educated in Bartow include former NFL defensive back (2023 Hall of Fame class) Ken Riley, former NFL defensive back Marcus Floyd, former Cleveland Indians outfielder Frank Baker, and former NASCAR driver Rick Wilson.{{cite news

| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20100828/NEWS/8285061

| title = Polk's Former Pros Have No Regrets

| access-date = 2010-10-26

| newspaper = The Ledger

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101031190311/http://www.theledger.com/article/20100828/NEWS/8285061| archive-date= October 31, 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite web

| url = http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/features/08/23/where.is.rick.wilson/index.html

| title = Where is ... Rick Wilson?

| access-date = 2010-10-26

| publisher = NASCAR.com

}}

Other notable people from Bartow include Lake Eola Park founder Jacob Summerlin, January 2010 Playboy Playmate Jaime Faith Edmondson,{{cite web

| url = http://www.daemonstv.com/2009/12/16/jaime-faith-edmonson-from-the-amazing-race-in-playboy/

| title = Jaime Faith Edmondson From The Amazing Race in Playboy

| date = December 16, 2009

| access-date = 2010-09-23

| publisher = daemonstv.com

}} centenarian Charlie Smith,{{cite magazine

|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,899657,00.html

|title=Gerontology: Secret of Long Life

|access-date=2010-10-07

|magazine=Time

|date=July 14, 1967

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015091852/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C899657%2C00.html

|archive-date=October 15, 2010

|url-status=dead

}} lynching victim Fred Rochelle, and Ossian Sweet, a physician who challenged the color line in Detroit and was acquitted of murder charges.{{cite web

|url=http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/sweet-ossian-1895-1960

|title=Sweet, Ossian (1895-1960)

|date=July 18, 2007

|access-date=2010-10-08

|publisher=blackpast.org

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009010040/http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah%2Fsweet-ossian-1895-1960

|archive-date=October 9, 2010

|url-status=live

}}

{{Portal|Florida}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage|Bartow (Florida)|Bartow, Florida}}

• {{Official website|https://www.cityofbartow.net/}}

{{Polk County, Florida}}

{{Florida}}

{{Lynching in the United States}}

{{Florida county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Polk County, Florida

Category:County seats in Florida

Category:Populated places established in 1851

Category:1851 establishments in Florida

Category:Cities in Florida