Known as "The Chain of Lakes City," Winter Haven is widely recognized as the water skiing capital of the world and a boater's paradise. Public boat ramps are scattered along lakeshores, some in conjunction with beaches, fishing piers, recreational facilities and picnic grounds. Lake Shipp Park, an 18-acre county park, has a boat ramp, a swimming beach and picnic tables. Picnic tables and boat ramps draw people to Lake Cannon Park during the summer. Any spot in Winter Haven is within a few steps of a freshwater lake or canal.
While the city is a tourist destination, some 30,000 residents call the community home on a year-round basis. The area has benefited from tourism, the growth of nearby metropolitan areas, economic growth bolstered by ecologically friendly businesses and redevelopment. Thanks to a progressive business climate and central location, Winter Haven has seen steady economic growth and attracted numerous companies including State Farm Insurance, Sherwin Williams, Wal-Mart and Scotty's who all have large distribution centers in the area. Other sectors of our local economy include agriculture, cattle, light industry, health care, retirement and tourism.
Winter Haven has continued a steady, controlled growth that minimizes congestion and allows for a more enjoyable pace of life. The city recently broke ground on a new redevelopment project called "Citi Centre." A major storm-water filtration and ecological park is nearing completion on Lake Howard.
Students in Winter Haven attend the Polk County Public School System. The district is the eighth largest school district in Florida and the 42nd largest in the nation. The school system serves approximately 77,000 students from pre-kindergarten through adult school classes. The system includes high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and 10 "other" schools, which include adult, alternative education, technical and exceptional student education centers. There are also seven charter schools located throughout Polk County.
Polk Community College, a two-year institution, offers complete career programs. Four-year institutions within commuting distance include Florida Southern College, the University of South Florida, Webber College, Warner Southern College, Webster University, the University of Central Florida and the University of Tampa. Two technical schools, Ridge Technical Center and Travis Technical Center, are also nearby.
The Winter Haven area is home to unique and wonderful attractions. Cypress Gardens, America's first theme park, is on the outer edge of the city. The oldest and most beautiful of Florida's attractions, Cypress Gardens boasts more than 200 acres of magnificent botanical gardens with four seasonal floral festivals as well as a holiday and spring light. Five million holiday and spring lights make the light shows the largest outdoor lighting display in the southeast.
The Gardens has the longest running continuous production in the world, having presented more than 75,000 performances of their famous water ski show since 1944.
Cypress Gardens is also home to the "Wings of Wonder" butterfly conservatory; the Birdwalk Aviary; Gator Gulch; scenic boat rides; The FloraDome; Moscow on Ice; and the Southern Breeze paddle wheel boat, offering visitors lake tours and dining. Bok Tower Gardens' majestic carillon tower stands on the highest point in peninsular Florida, 295-foot Iron Mountain. The tower, constructed of pink and gray Georgia marble and coquina stone from St. Augustine, houses 57 bronze bells ranging in weight from 17 pounds to nearly 12 tons.
Winter Haven was incorporated in 1911, and by this time its residents had acquired banks, a band, a newspaper, a movie theater and 15 automobiles. The canals that connect Winter Haven's Chain of Lakes began with the organization of the Twenty Lakes Boat Course Club in 1915.
The Florida Boom of the 1920s brought land speculation and a great influx of newcomers to the area. In 1924, the Florida Citrus Festival was first held to salute this important local agribusiness. In 1936, tourism became an economic mainstay as a man named Dick Pope opened Cypress Gardens - and the eyes of the world - to the beauty of Winter Haven. About that same time a young George Jenkins opened the very first Publix supermarket at Central Avenue and Second Street, N.W. Winter Haven was well on its way to becoming the beautiful, thriving town that it is today.