Winter Haven, Florida

Winter Haven
Intersection viewed diagonally with remodeled building on opposite corner
Central Avenue at the west side of downtown (Central Park is located behind the photo)
Winter Haven in a green serif font on top except for a cursive W, "The Chain of Lakes City" on bottom in an italicized sans serif font
Nickname: 
"The Chain of Lakes City"[1]
Winter Haven is located in Florida
Winter Haven
Winter Haven
Winter Haven is located in the United States
Winter Haven
Winter Haven
Coordinates: 28°01′23″N 81°44′04″W / 28.02306°N 81.73444°W / 28.02306; -81.73444
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyPolk
Platted
(Harris Corners)
1884-1885[2][3]
Incorporated (town)June 22, 1911[2][3]
Incorporated (city)November 27, 1923[3][4]
Government
 • TypeCommission–Manager
 • MayorNathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
 • Mayor Pro TemBrian Yates
 • CommissionersLucretia Tracy Mercer,
Bradley T. Dantzler, and
Clifton E. Dollison
 • City ManagerT. Michael Stavres
 • City ClerkVanessa Castillo
Area
 • City41.52 sq mi (107.53 km2)
 • Land32.84 sq mi (85.05 km2)
 • Water8.68 sq mi (22.47 km2)
Elevation161 ft (49 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City49,219
 • Density1,498.75/sq mi (578.68/km2)
 • Urban
253,251 (US: 161st)[6]
 • Urban density1,774.5/sq mi (685.1/km2)
 • Metro
725,046 (US: 80th)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code863
FIPS code12-78275
GNIS feature ID2405773[7]
Websitewww.mywinterhaven.com

Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is located about 51 miles (82 km) east of Tampa and about 47 miles (76 km) southwest of Orlando, with neighboring Lakeland located to its west. The city's population was 49,219 at the 2020 census, making it the second most populated city in Polk County after Lakeland. It is a principal city of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.[8]

  1. ^ "City of Winter Haven, Florida". City of Winter Haven, Florida. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WHInc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference History-Winter Haven CoC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Winter Haven by Joy Cochran". The Ledger. Retrieved March 22, 2003.
  5. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  7. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Winter Haven, Florida
  8. ^ "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Guidance on the Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Executive Office of the President. July 21, 2023. p. 66. Retrieved July 21, 2023.