Fort Meade, Florida

Fort Meade, Florida
City
City of Fort Meade
Christ Church built in 1889.
Christ Church built in 1889.
Official seal of Fort Meade, Florida
Seal
Motto: 
"Historic Fort City"
Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°45′52″N 81°48′21″W / 27.76444°N 81.80583°W / 27.76444; -81.80583
CountryUnited States of America
StateFlorida
CountyPolk
Settled1849
Incorporated1885[1]
Government
 • TypeCommission-Manager
 • MayorJames Watts
 • Vice MayorRobert Elliott
 • CommissionersJames Possum Schaill
and Petrina McCutchen
 • City ManagerJan Bagnall
 • City ClerkMelissa Cannon
Area
[2]
 • City
8.55 sq mi (22.15 km2)
 • Land8.18 sq mi (21.20 km2)
 • Water0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
Elevation
[3]
144 ft (44 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
5,100
 • Density623.17/sq mi (240.62/km2)
 • Metro
584,383
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
33841
Area code863
FIPS code12-24100[4]
GNIS feature ID2403641[3]
Websitewww.cityoffortmeade.com

Fort Meade is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. As of 2020, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,100. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The city was named for George Meade, at the time an Army lieutenant serving in Florida following the Second Seminole War.[5] Fort Meade is home to Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School, several historic buildings, and Streamsong resort. The area is popular with kayakers and canoers.

  1. ^ "FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR" (PDF). Florida League of Cities. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fort Meade, Florida
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ Whitehead, Bill (August 14, 1960). "First Polk Settlers Had to Build Towns, Then Name Them". Lakeland Ledger. pp. 7–A. Retrieved April 22, 2015.