Haines City, Florida
Encyclopedia
Haines City is a city in Polk County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 13,174 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population estimated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida
is 18,762. Haines City is the third most populous city in Polk County, Florida. It is part of the Lakeland
–Winter Haven
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The city was plat
ted in 1885, shortly after the South Florida Railroad
reached the area. The city was first known as Clay Cut, but there was no railroad station. It is said that the inhabitants persuaded the railroad company to build a station by agreeing to rename their city Haines City, to honor a senior railroad official, Colonel Henry Haines.
The early settlers planted citrus
groves, and citrus growing and processing became the main industry of the city.
From 1974 to 1986 Circus World, a theme park created by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was open just north of Haines City. After Circus World shut down, Boardwalk and Baseball
opened on the same site. It featured carnival games and theme park styled rides like the Grand Rapids Flume. It closed in 1990, and the site has been redeveloped as a residential and shopping complex named Posner Park
.
In recent years Haines City has seen explosive growth, largely because of its easy access to Orlando
and Walt Disney World Resort
. New residential areas have been developed on the edges of the city. On high ground in the north of the city, Southern Dunes, a golf and country club with both vacation homes and residential homes, was developed between 1995 and 2005.
In 2004, unusually in a city so far inland, parts of Haines City experienced three hurricanes. Hurricane Charley
passed through the city in August. Hurricane Frances
came right on the heels of Charley but mostly just dumped a lot of rain. Hurricane Jeanne
soon followed packing a punch not quite as strong as Charley but longer lasting. The city has since recovered.
Four years after Charley, Haines City got struck again this time by a weaker storm named Tropical Storm Fay
. This storm caused little damage, but schools closed on the second day of the school year (Tuesday, August 19) due to it; the original plan had been to close schools Tuesday and Wednesday, but the lack of danger it showed on Tuesday caused the change in agenda.
in Winter Haven
. Legoland's expected tourist influx is leading Haines City to search for ways to advertise and bring more people to the historic downtown area, specifically motorists coming down U.S. 27 from Interstate 4.
, with a terrain consisting of a low ridge of gently rolling hills rising from the coastal flatlands.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 19.8 square miles (51.3 km²). Of that, 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), 7.27% of the total, is water.
Haines City is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification
: Cfa).
of 2000, there were 13,174 people, 4,749 households, and 3,409 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,588.7 inhabitants per square mile (613.6/km²). There were 6,283 housing units at an average density of 757.7 per square mile (292.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.87% White, 31.86% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 10.42% from other races
, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.33% of the population.
There were 4,749 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,636, and the median income for a family was $30,678. Males had a median income of $21,806 versus $19,279 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,818. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Haines City had a population of 20,535. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 31.8% non-Hispanic white, 27.5% black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian Indian, 1.0% other Asian, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 2.7% reporting two or more races and 38.9% Hispanic or Latino. 23.5% of the population was Mexican while 9.5% of the population was Puerto Rican.
The streets are laid out in a rough grid plan
, with streets running north-south and numbered from 1st Street to 30th Street, and named avenues running west-east.
The only public transportation in Haines City is an hourly bus service to Lake Alfred and Winter Haven by Winter Haven Area Transit
. The Polk Transit Authority is planning new transportation links to the Lynx
public transit system in the Orlando area.
Middle School, Haines City High School
, Ridge Community High School
,Shelley S. Boone Middle School and Bethune Academy .
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 13,174 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population estimated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
is 18,762. Haines City is the third most populous city in Polk County, Florida. It is part of the Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
–Winter Haven
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1885, shortly after the South Florida Railroad
South Florida Railroad
The South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:...
reached the area. The city was first known as Clay Cut, but there was no railroad station. It is said that the inhabitants persuaded the railroad company to build a station by agreeing to rename their city Haines City, to honor a senior railroad official, Colonel Henry Haines.
The early settlers planted citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
groves, and citrus growing and processing became the main industry of the city.
From 1974 to 1986 Circus World, a theme park created by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was open just north of Haines City. After Circus World shut down, Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball was a theme park built near Haines City, Florida, United States, on the east corner of the intersection of US 27 and Interstate 4. It replaced Circus World at the same location, and was owned by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich...
opened on the same site. It featured carnival games and theme park styled rides like the Grand Rapids Flume. It closed in 1990, and the site has been redeveloped as a residential and shopping complex named Posner Park
Posner Park
Posner Park is a $500 million dollar mixed-use development in Polk County, Florida. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 4 and US Highway 27, about 6 miles north of Haines City...
.
In recent years Haines City has seen explosive growth, largely because of its easy access to Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
and Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
. New residential areas have been developed on the edges of the city. On high ground in the north of the city, Southern Dunes, a golf and country club with both vacation homes and residential homes, was developed between 1995 and 2005.
In 2004, unusually in a city so far inland, parts of Haines City experienced three hurricanes. Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
passed through the city in August. Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossing the open Atlantic during mid to late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands affected Puerto...
came right on the heels of Charley but mostly just dumped a lot of rain. Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne was the deadliest hurricane in the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the tenth named storm, the seventh hurricane, and the fifth major hurricane of the season, as well as the third hurricane and fourth named storm of the season to make landfall in Florida...
soon followed packing a punch not quite as strong as Charley but longer lasting. The city has since recovered.
Four years after Charley, Haines City got struck again this time by a weaker storm named Tropical Storm Fay
Tropical Storm Fay (2008)
Tropical Storm Fay was a tropical storm and the sixth named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Fay formed from a vigorous tropical wave on August 15 over the Dominican Republic...
. This storm caused little damage, but schools closed on the second day of the school year (Tuesday, August 19) due to it; the original plan had been to close schools Tuesday and Wednesday, but the lack of danger it showed on Tuesday caused the change in agenda.
Park renovations
A new park on Lake Eva, replacing a previous park on the site, was completed in 2009. The city has also built a new park, called "8-Acre Park", and auditorium in the Oakland area, on the northern side of the city.Brush Fire
Haines City was the site of a 350 acres (1.4 km²) brush fire on March 25, 2009. It was a scare to the residents of dozens of houses in a housing complex named Randa Ridge.Legoland
Haines City is responding to the arrival of Legoland FloridaLegoland Florida
Legoland Florida is a theme park in Winter Haven, Florida. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses of the former Cypress Gardens amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland park.-Announcement:A press release...
in Winter Haven
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
. Legoland's expected tourist influx is leading Haines City to search for ways to advertise and bring more people to the historic downtown area, specifically motorists coming down U.S. 27 from Interstate 4.
Geography and climate
Haines City is located at 28°6′42"N 81°37′43"W (28.111751, -81.628650). Haines City is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plainAtlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
, with a terrain consisting of a low ridge of gently rolling hills rising from the coastal flatlands.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 19.8 square miles (51.3 km²). Of that, 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), 7.27% of the total, is water.
Haines City is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
: Cfa).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,174 people, 4,749 households, and 3,409 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,588.7 inhabitants per square mile (613.6/km²). There were 6,283 housing units at an average density of 757.7 per square mile (292.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.87% White, 31.86% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 10.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.33% of the population.
There were 4,749 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,636, and the median income for a family was $30,678. Males had a median income of $21,806 versus $19,279 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,818. About 14.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Haines City had a population of 20,535. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 31.8% non-Hispanic white, 27.5% black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian Indian, 1.0% other Asian, 0.2% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 2.7% reporting two or more races and 38.9% Hispanic or Latino. 23.5% of the population was Mexican while 9.5% of the population was Puerto Rican.
Transportation
The major highways in the Haines City area are:- Interstate 4Interstate 4Interstate 4 is a intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida . It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small...
- Six miles north of town on US 27 lies Interstate 4, the main interstate highway in central Florida. It leads westward to LakelandLakeland, FloridaLakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
and Tampa, and eastward toward Orlando. - US 17/92 - US 17/92 enters the city from Lake AlfredLake Alfred, FloridaLake Alfred is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,944 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in the west, bisecting the downtown as Hinson Avenue until turning north on 17th Street and exiting towards DavenportDavenport, FloridaDavenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,994. While the city of Davenport itself is very small, the area north of the city close to Interstate 4 and US 27 is...
. - US 27U.S. Route 27U.S. Route 27 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana...
- The main north-south highway in the area, US 27 leads northward to I-4 and further to ClermontClermont, FloridaClermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States, west of Orlando. The population was 13,100 in 2008. The city is essentially residential in character and its economy is centered in retail trade, lodging, and food and beverage establishments, which are tourism oriented. The historic...
. It leads southward to Lake WalesLake Wales, FloridaLake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,194 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,802 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, SebringSebring, FloridaSebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
and eventually Miami. - State Road 17Florida State Road 17State Road 17 , also formerly known as Alternate U.S. 27, is a north–south state road in the U.S. state of Florida. It is split into two sections...
- Called 10th Street in Haines City, this old Scenic Highway leads through hills in eastern Polk County and providing a scenic route southward to Lake HamiltonLake Hamilton, FloridaLake Hamilton is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,304 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,406...
, DundeeDundee, FloridaDundee is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,912 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,008...
, and Lake Wales, and on to Sebring. - State Road 544Florida State Road 544State Road 544 is a west-east state road in the U.S. state of Florida. It runs 11.7 miles from Auburndale to Haines City.-Route Description:...
- This road, also a scenic drive, connects SR 17 and US 27 in southern Haines City, and continues westward from there as Lucerne Park Road on its way to Winter HavenWinter Haven, FloridaWinter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
.
The streets are laid out in a rough grid plan
Grid plan
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid...
, with streets running north-south and numbered from 1st Street to 30th Street, and named avenues running west-east.
The only public transportation in Haines City is an hourly bus service to Lake Alfred and Winter Haven by Winter Haven Area Transit
Winter Haven Area Transit
Winter Haven Area Transit is a bus system based in Winter Haven, Florida. The system operates 9 of its own buses, and another 4 buses are provided for WHAT by the Citrus Connection. There are 8 routes serving Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Lake Wales, Frostproof,...
. The Polk Transit Authority is planning new transportation links to the Lynx
Lynx (transportation)
LYNX is a bus system run by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, serving the Orlando, Florida region. Bus routes are referred to as Links. Standard adult one-way fare is $2 with free single transfers valid for 90 minutes...
public transit system in the Orlando area.
Notable schools
Haines City has many schools including Landmark Baptist College, Landmark Christian School, Daniel Jenkins Academy of TechnologyDaniel Jenkins Academy of Technology
Daniel Jenkins Academy or DJA is the first technology public high school in Haines City, Florida. The school is a 6-8th, formerly 6-12th, grade school in Haines City, Florida, which offers many programs and computer-based classes. The school's principal is Eileen Killebrew and its assistant...
Middle School, Haines City High School
Haines City High School
For other uses of the acronym HCHS, see HCHS .Haines City High School is a public high school in Haines City, Florida. The school has existed in three separate locations.-Overview:...
, Ridge Community High School
Ridge Community High School
Ridge Community High School or RCHS is a new public high school located on the Davenport, Florida and Haines City, Florida Line. RCHS was established in 2005 and continues to be one of the top public high schools in Polk County. It currently serves 2,020 students and has 106 teachers on campus....
,Shelley S. Boone Middle School and Bethune Academy .
External links
- City of Haines City Official Site
- Florida Backroads Travel