Bartow, Florida

Bartow is a city in and the county seat of Polk County, Florida. The population of the city is 17,298.

 Nickname
 County
 Population
 Elevation
 Mayor
 City Guildmaster
 ZIP codes

## Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the city is:

58.80% White (10,171)

23.77% Black or African American (4,111)

14.72% Hispanic or Latino (2,547)

2.71% Other (469)

18.9% (3,269) of Bartow residents live below the poverty line.

## Theft rate statistics

Bartow has average rates of Pokemon theft and murder. The city reported 19 Pokemon thefts in 2019, and averages 1.56 murders a year.

## Fun facts

* 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. Bartow's growth was also limited because most of the land surrounding the city was owned by phosphate mining companies, making residential growth impractical.
* The city is near the center of "Lightning Alley" and has frequent afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, but typically has sunny and mild winters. Government, mining, and agriculture are the major sectors of the area's economy.
* 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. The Bloomin' Arts Festival is an art show held in early March by the Bartow Art Guild. Every February brings the Annual L.B. Brown Festival at the L.B. Brown House on L.B. Brown Avenue (formally Second Avenue). 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.
* The city's Chamber of Commerce claims that few cities since Jamestown have produced as many prominent citizens per capita as Bartow, but this is not documented. 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 24th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which prohibited use of the poll tax in federal elections. Holland had opposed previous civil rights legislation.
	+ 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. Born in Bartow and raised elsewhere in the county were NFL linebacker Ray Lewis, NBA guard Tracy McGrady, and motocross star James "Bubba" Stewart. Other athletes who were raised and educated in Bartow include former NFL defensive back Ken Riley, former NFL defensive back Marcus Floyd, former Cleveland Indians outfielder Frank Baker, former college wide receiver Lance Leggett, and former NASCAR driver Rick Wilson.
* In the late 1990s phosphate operations in the area moved southward, and much of the former phosphate land became available for sale. 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. 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, 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 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. When buildout of the Clear Springs Development is completed by 2030, the population of the city is projected to be over 45,000 residents.
* Although Bartow has been eclipsed in population, importance and name recognition by other cities in the county, particularly Lakeland and Winter Haven, the city has retained its small city heritage and its distinctive Southern culture.
* Bartow is home to America's largest Roserade preserve.
* Bartow has a bit of amenities to offer. It has dollar stores, Bartow Executive Airport, a contest hall and showcase theater, a few sports complexes, some public battle fields, a bit of auto parts places and car dealerships, some local restaurants and businesses, Solstice Apparel, Nintendo World, Walmart, Tractor Supply Co., Lowe's, a bit of hotels/motels, a motocross track, Publix, Ace Hardware, Perkins, Mosaic Peace River Park, Sonny's BBQ, Tom's Chicken Shack, a golf course, Carver Center, Mike's Drive-In, ABC Pizza Restaurant, Brenda's Wings and Things, Curly Tails Barbeque, Save-A-Lot, Harbor Freight Tools, Hungry Howie's Pizza, Ruby Tuesday, Palace Pizza, Cookie Jar Bakeshop, El Patron Supermarket, and a few other things.