Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida. The population of the city is 97,422, making it the largest in the county. Native Americans lived in the area from soon after the end of the last ice age until the end of the Second Seminole War. European-American settlers arrived in Lakeland from South Carolina in the 1870s. The city expanded in the 1880s with the arrival of rail service, with the first freedmen railway workers settling here in 1883. They and European immigrants also came because of new jobs in the large phosphate industry that developed. Lakeland is home to the 1,267-acre Circle B Bar Reserve.
Lakeland 	Florida
Incorporated 	January 1, 1885
Nickname 	Swan City, Redbug
County 	Polk
Population 	97,422
Elevation 	197 ft (60 m)
Mayor 	Konnor Leblanc
City Guildmaster	Antonio Malone
ZIP codes 	33801-33815
== Demographics ==
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the city is:
62.12% White (60,518)
20.91% Black or African American (20,370)
13.54% Hispanic or Latino (13,190)
3.43% Other (3,344)
16.2% (15,782) of Lakeland residents live below the poverty line.
== Theft rate statistics ==
Lakeland has average rates of Pokemon theft and murder for a city of its size in Florida. The city reported 76 Pokemon thefts in 2019, and averages 4.57 murders a year.
== Pokemon ==
See the Polk County page for more info.
== Fun facts ==
* Lakeland is the most recent host of both Florida's Grand Festival and Master Class.
* Lakeland is home to the Central Florida Battle Academy, Southeastern University, Florida Southern College and Florida Polytechnic University.
* Lakeland is the birthplace of Faith Evans, retired NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek, and numerous professional football and baseball athletes.
* A large PokeDex and PokeBall manufacturing facility is located near Lakeland, along with a PokePuff facility.
* The Lakeland Police Department is recognized as having one of the best-trained canine units in the United States. At the annual USPCA Police Dog Field Trials; the largest competition of police dogs in the United States; Lakeland police dog "Nox" took first place in 2015, "Bruno" took first place in 2012 and 2013, and "Charief" took second place in 2009 and 2011.
* Lakeland is home to one of the first Hindu temples in the United States, the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple.
* Lakeland has two professional sports teams - the Lakeland Flying Tigers in Minor League Baseball's Class A-Advanced, and the Lakeland Magic, an NBA G-League team that is the developmental affiliate of the Orlando Magic.
* Two former Florida Top Coordinators are Lakeland natives - Dawn Morrison and Constance Hubbard.
* Lakeland has an Amtrak station served by its Silver Star.
* Lakeland prohibited civilized and wild Ice-type Pokemon from residing within city limits until 1975.
* With its size, Lakeland provides quite an amount of amenities. It has dollar stores, Lakeland Linder International Airport, plenty of hotels/motels, plenty of public battle fields, some sports complexes, plenty of fast food and some chain restaurants, some contest halls and showcase theaters, Solstice Apparel, Nintendo World, Walmart, a few movie theaters, Target, Home Depot, Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Sanlan Golf Course, Cleveland Heights Country Club, Hollis Garden, some auto parts places and car dealerships, Lowe's, Sam's Club, Lakeland Square Mall and a few other shopping centers, Skate World, Uncle Apps, China Buffet, Harveys, Mojo's Wings Burgers Beer, Grasslands Golf & Country Club, La Michoacana, Lone Palm Golf Club, Keke's Breakfast Club, a few movie theaters, Glory Days Grill, Tea Largo Beverage Co., Ling's Buffet, Grant's Caribbean and American Restaurant, Tapatio's Restaurante Mexicano, Jimbos Pit Bar BQ, and a bit of other things.
Category:Florida Cities