Lakeland FL Moving Companies

Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland, Florida is a city of 93,428 people lying between Orlando and Tampa in the central part of the state. With a favorable climate throughout the year and a policy of land annexation, Lakeland has quickly become the major urban center for the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan area (with a population of 584,383). Those moving to Lakeland will quickly discover many opportunities and attractions in this attractive location.

Economy:
Distribution and manufacturing are two of the biggest industries in Lakeland, with many companies having facilities in the area. The largest employers for the city include Publix Super Markets, GEICO, the Lakeland Regional Medical Center, GC Services, the Watson Clinic and FedEx National LTL. Other major companies have regional distribution centers in the city. Among these are Publix, Saddle Creek Corporation, JC Penney, Home Depot, Coca Cola and Land O’Lakes Purina Feeds. Additionally, 54 companies have located national and regional manufacturing facilities in Lakeland. These include Pepperidge Farm, Pepsi (bottling facilities), Tampa Maid Foods and Ridge Lumber & Treating. It's no wonder Lakeland moving companies are busy bringing in new residents.

History:
Settlement of the Lakeland area began in the 1870s and took off with the arrival of the railroad in 1884. Two years prior to that, Abraham Munn had purchased 80 acres for the town site and started the Lakeland Improvement Company in order to sell city lots and survey roads. The town of Lakeland was officially incorporated on January 1, 1885. Like many other Florida cities, Lakeland prospered with the 1920s land boom and subsequently suffered during the following Depression. Many of the city’s remaining prominent structures date from this period, including the Polk Theatre, the Terrace Hotel, the Promenade of Lake Mirror, the Polk Museum of Art and the New Florida Hotel. Lakeland’s airport was used heavily during World War II, when it became a training site for British and American airmen.

Tourism:
Lakeland’s proximity to Orlando and its tourist attractions (including Universal Studios, Walt Disney World and Busch Gardens) is a major draw for its own tourism industry. There are, however, also many attractions within the city as well. Cultural attractions are particularly important in Lakeland, as represented by the Lakeland Center (with space dedicated to the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, several theater companies and a sports arena) and the Polk Museum of Art (a major center for pre-Columbian art, as well as a venue for traveling exhibits). There are several events held throughout the year. Mayfaire-By-The-Lake is a nationally known art show, the Lake Mirror Classic Car show features vintage vehicles each October and the Sun-n-Fun Fly-In is one of the country’s largest air shows. Lakeland is within an hour of both the Tampa and Orlando airports, and visitors can get around the city on buses from Citrus Connection.

Colleges/Universities:

• Florida Southern College
• Southeastern University
• University of South Florida
• Polk Community College
• Warner Southern College
• Keiser University

Interesting Facts:

• The 1990 Tim Burton film, "Edward Scissorhands," starring Johnny Depp, featured Lakeland’s Southgate Shopping Center.
• The first Red Lobster restaurant was located in Lakeland, but that original site is now closed.
• Frank Lloyd Wright, the celebrated architect, arrived in Lakeland in 1938 at the request of Florida Southern College. He planned to build 18 buildings as part of a “great education temple in Florida.” Over the following 20 years, nine of the planned structures were built and today represent the highest concentration of Wright architecture in any one location.

Helpful Links:

• City of Lakeland
• Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce