Set on a rolling expanse of hills, Haines City offers the comfort and convenience of modern life without the hustle and hassle of a big city. It is truly a "city growing for tomorrow." Haines City has resisted becoming over-crowed. Instead, this close-knit, friendly community has maintained its high quality of life, favorable working conditions, rural ambiance, and almost unlimited outdoor recreation. The Grenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort offers golf, tennis, a fitness center, fishing, swimming, a recreational center, programs for kids and more.
Davenport is located just north of Haines City on Highway 27, minutes south of the Osceola County line. Davenport was developed in the 1920s by Holly Hill. The citrus processing company subdivided former groves into a landscaped community with a Mediterranean theme.
Sixteen lakes in the area offer scenic views and excellent freshwater fishing. Golfers will find eight courses to whet their appetites and many more in surrounding areas. In addition, a wide variety of employment, cultural and educational opportunities are available. Many residents work within the Haines City area; others choose to commute to nearby cities.
Students in the communities 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 Davenport School of the Arts is a private school featuring strong academics with a focus on visual and performing arts. Many objectives in the curriculum are achieved by utilizing computers, the school network, and the Internet.
People have lived in what is now Polk County and the Lake Wales area for more than 3,000 years. Native Americans hunted and fished along the shores of the region's many lakes, and their arrowheads and other ancient artifacts can still be found today. White settlers began to venture into Polk County from Tampa during the early to mid-1800s, peacefully trading with the native Seminoles.