Polk County was created in 1861 from portions of Brevard and Hillsborough counties and named for James Knox Polk, 11th president of the United States.

It is one of Florida’s largest counties geographically and is home to more than 500,000 people and 137 square miles of lakes. The county seat is Bartow, but the largest city is Lakeland, a fitting name for a Polk County town.

Centrally located between Tampa and Orlando, on a visit to Polk County you will find attractions like Cypress Gardens, the Fantasy of Flight museum and the historic Spook Hill.