Frequently Asked Questions About Lakeland

When was Lakeland founded?
The City of Lakeland was incorporated on January 1, 1885. Abraham Munn of Louisville, Kentucky had purchased 80 acres of land in what now constitutes downtown Lakeland in 1882. In 1884, he organized the Lakeland Improvement Company to lay out streets and sell lots.

What is the current population of Lakeland?
With a current estimated population of 100,492 City Limits (2014), Lakeland is the principal city in Polk County. Greater Lakeland’s population is approximately 268,525. This includes the unincorporated areas.

How many lakes are there in Lakeland?
There are 16 names “natural” lakes in Lakeland. There are several other bodies of water that are not natural lakes, but abandoned phosphate mine pits that have filled with water. Lake Parker, covering 2,185 acres, is the largest. Lake Horney at just under 8 acres, is the smallest.

When did the Detroit Tigers begin holding spring training in Lakeland?
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. The team played its spring training games at Henley Field until 1966, when Joker Marchant Stadium opened.

Where did the swans come from?
Swans were reported to be on the city’s lakes as early as 1923. Most likely, those early swans had been purchased as pets by lake front residents, who later released them on the lakes. 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 Queen Elizabeth of England and inquired about purchasing 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.