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Living in Lakeland, FL

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Lakeland, FL - Great Neighborhoods 4.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 28, 2010) Lakeland Florida is a city that is filled with quality neighborhoods, culture arts, excellent shopping, dining & community events. It's a great place to visit when you want to be close to everything but away from it all at the same time. Lakeland is centrally located between Tamp ...Read More a (45 mins) and Orlando (1 hour).

I was born and raised in Lakeland, FL nearly 30 years ago. I've lived here my whole life. I've traveled to many other places through the years but there is nowhere else I would rather live. There is so much to do: museums, theatres, the City spends a lot of money on recreatation programs for the children; the humidity tends to be thick, but it's that way no matter where you go in Florida. I've spent a lot of time in Orlando and Tampa too. If you're looking for a sort of "small hometown feel" Lakeland could be the right fit for you. Lakeland has a very warm & welcoming feel to it. I would recommend to anyone that is thinking of making a change in their lives to come to Lakeland for a visit and decide if this city is the right fit for you. Read Less
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Lakeland, FL

Lakeland is found in Polk County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1885 and named for its 38 lakes, the biggest of which is Lake Parker. The most stunning of the lakes is Lake Mirror, which has plenty of flowers and shrubs. Lake Morton, on the other hand, boasts of being home to beautiful, graceful swans. The city is situated quite close to two of Florida’s largest towns, Tampa and Orlando. Residents of Lakeland, therefore, enjoy a small- town living experience with large cities within reach.

Lakeland, like most of Florida, is often hot and humid. The summers can be quite harsh, but the winters are a lot better than in most other parts of the country. Some years it does not even snow, and you do not necessarily have to use the A/C.

The city has a lower cost of living than the national average. It, however, has a higher unemployment rate than the national median, although the difference is almost negligible. The household income is also lower than the national average. Nevertheless, the city is quite lovely, and crime rates are rather low.

The town scores well when it comes to amenities. In terms of education, the city boasts of three leading colleges, the closest of them being Florida Southern College. Frank Lloyd Wright, the renowned architect, designed this college. It boasts the world’s most extensive collection of the architect’s works.

Because of its proximity to Tampa and Orlando, students have the option of studying in these cities. The public schools in the area are also ranked higher than the national average. The public transport system in the city is excellent. Traffic is not an issue in the town, and the average commute time is lower than it is in the larger cities. Lakeland Regional Medical Center, easily one of the best hospitals in the country, also takes care of the residents’ medical needs. It has served the city for over 80 years and continues to provide stellar medical services to date.

The city also has various theaters, the most prominent of them being Polk Theater and Lakeland Community Theater. The Harrison Center is known as a haven for lovers of the visual and performing arts. The Lakeland Center is also a great recreational facility for the whole family. If you love shopping, then you will love living in Lakeland. The downtown area has numerous boutiques that will fulfill your every need. The city also has numerous malls and dollar stores. The Dixieland Historic District is also home to numerous boutiques.

For those who love engaging in outdoor activities, Lakeland may not have a lot to offer. Besides spending time near the lakes and few parks within the town, there is not much else to do. For the most part, Lakeland is a great place to live. There is little traffic, great amenities, and a lot of recreational facilities. The cost of living is also reasonable, and there are plenty of opportunities for growth.

Parks

Horney Park
Simpson Park
Veterans Park
Westside Park
Interlachen park

Entertainment

Lake Mirror Amphitheatre
Lake Mirror Auditorium
Lakeland Community Theatre
Lake Mirror Amphitheatre
Bowling Alley

Food & Drink

Fred's Southern Kitchen
Louis Pappa's
Crisper's
Grillsmith
Shane's BBQ
Drive to Work
81%

5% higher than the US average

Take Public Transit
1%

4% lower than the US average

Walk to Work
2%

1% lower than the US average

Hospitals

Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center

Pharmacies

Walgreens
CVS Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy

Doctors

Cleveland Heights Chiropractic Clinic
Lakeland Dermatology
Watson Clinic South

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