Lakeland, Florida

It's Time 2 Buy Lakeland! Click here to find out why!Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, located approximately 35 miles east of Tampa and 55 miles southwest of Orlando along Interstate I-4. The city is home to Florida Southern College and Polk Community College. In 1990 Lakeland made its Hollywood debut when the Southgate Shopping Center was featured in the hit movie Edward Scissorhands starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder. The first Red Lobster restaurant was opened here. The Detroit Tigers and Lakeland have had a longer continuous relationship than any other major league baseball team and its spring training home. The Tigers first came to Lakeland for spring training in 1934 and, except for a three year interruption during World War II, have been here ever since. Swans were reported to be on the city's lakes as early as 1923. By 1954 the last of these swans and their descendants had died, having fallen prey to people, pets, dogs, and/or alligators. A Lakeland resident (Mrs. Robert Pickhardt), who had enjoyed the swans and mourned their passing, wrote to Queen Elizabeth of England and inquired about purchasing a pair of swans from the royal flock on the Thames River. A representative of the royal family replied that the Queen would donate a pair of swans to Lakeland if the city would pay the cost of capturing and shipping the swans. The money was raised for shipping the swans, and two white mute swans from England were released on Lake Morton on February 9, 1957. Their descendants continue to grace Lake Morton and other lakes throughout the city. There are 38 named lakes in Lakeland. Contact Tables Generator Contact Tables Photo Collage MySpace Editor Love Layouts