Lake Wales, voted "the friendliest small town in Florida", is a recipient of Florida Monthly Magazine's "Best of the Best Awards" - September 2003
Lake Wales, Florida . . .
Not Out of the Way, Just Out of the Ordinary!
Although
the early city planners of Lake Wales, Florida
could not have known the tremendous growth
Florida would see in the 60 years after their
plans were set forth, these forefathers had the
vision to create a design that still works well
today. It all began by choosing the perfect
location. The City of Lake Wales --1.74 square
miles in size with an estimated 14,000
residents-- is established along the state's
geographical ridge, a ridge that boasts the
highest elevation in the peninsula portion of
the state, 298 feet. This advantageous location
gives Lake Wales a climate rich in Florida
sunshine, but without the humidity of the
coastal area. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed
the mid-90's during the summer and seldom fall
below the 60's in winter. Yearly rainfall
averages 53.81 inches, occurring mostly in late
spring and summer. This local atmosphere is
further enhanced by rolling hills, a carpet of
lush green citrus trees, and the inviting waters
of numerous lakes.
Enjoy
an early morning walk on the bike/hike path
around Lake Wailes, visit the lush gardens
surrounding our world-renowned bell tower, enjoy
an outstanding play, or meander through a
lovingly preserved downtown district. During the
season, you might enjoy the annual Art Show by
the lake, experience music by artists from
around the world during the International
Carillon festival, party at the February Mardi
Gras celebration, or attend Lake Wales Little
Theatre productions.
The Lake Wales community works hard to constantly improve and also enjoy the life they have built here on Florida's ridge. Today, as the city continues to celebrate its proud heritage, it also offers an environment with opportunities for business and industry to grow and prosper.
History
People have lived in what is now Polk County and the Lake Wales area for more than 3,000 years. Native Americans hunted and fished along the shores of the region's many lakes, and their arrowheads and other ancient artifacts can still be found today. White settlers began to venture into Polk County from Tampa during the early to mid-1800's, peacefully trading with the native Seminoles.
Founded by the Lake Wales Land Co. in 1911, Lake Wales remained a "frontier" town during its formative years. Despite this rough beginning, the town continued to develop its fledgling citrus industry and tourism also became a mainstay of the local economy. Today, Lake Wales is a favorite with visitors from all parts of the world.
Perhaps one question stands out in any discussion of Lake Wales history: Why is the name of the lake "Lake Wailes" and the town "Lake Wales"? According to local lore, it was a simple matter of perception. Reportedly, one of the town's founders, upon seeing the name Lake Wailes spelled out on the sign at the new railroad depot, thought the spelling was too sad-looking and ordered the "i" to be removed.
Life in Lake Wales
City Government
Lake Wales city government oversees the fire and police departments, public works, recreation, downtown development, a municipal airport, the public library, and the Depot Museum.
A City Manager is responsible for the operation of the city. The City Manager works closely with a five-member City Commission , which includes the Mayor. The latter is elected annually from among the commission members.
Education/Schools/Colleges
The Lake Wales area is served by the following elementary schools: Spook Hill, Polk Avenue, Hillcrest, Janie Howard Wilson, and Babson Park; Middle Schools: Edward W. Bok Academy and McLaughlin Middle School & Fine Arts Academy; Lake Wales High School and Roosevelt Academy. Combined total enrollment is just under 4,200 students, and pupil/teacher ratios are 24/1 for kindergarten, 6/1 for grades 1-3, and 28/1 for grades 4-12. There are two private parochial schools.
A unique, comprehensive K-12 substance abuse curriculum culminates at the high school level in the Peer Facilitating program, and Lake Wales is proud of the fact that three area schools have been nationally recognized as drug-free: Babson Park, Spook Hill, and Roosevelt Academy.
Also located in Lake Wales is The Vanguard School, an independent, internationally recognized boarding school for students with learning disabilities, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and other learning problems. The school is highly acclaimed and has students from 23 countries. Annual enrollment is between 120 and 130 students who are in the 6th through 12th grades. While most students live on campus, the school has a small number of day students who live at home. The Vanguard School is accredited by the, Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
For further information about Lake Wales Area
Public schools, contact the Polk County School
Board Office,
www.polk-fl.net
or for Public-Charter schools, The Lake Wales
Charter School office.
www.lwcharterschools.com
| Warner University, a Christian liberal Arts college, offers over 25 Bachelor of Arts degree majors. There are three Masters programs designed for working professionals: Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts Education, and Master of Science Management. Total enrollment is 1,035. the 380 acre campus is located five miles south of Lake Wales. |
 |
Webber International University, a private,
four-year, independent university founded in
1927, is located on a picturesque 110-acre
campus on the eastern shore of Lake Caloosa in
Babson Park. The university awards the Bachelor
of Science degree and the Associate of Science
degree in Business Administration.
Polk State College's
JD Alexander Center, in historic
downtown
Lake Wales, serves the advanced educational needs of
area residents with courses paralleling those
offered in the state university system.
Other institutions within commuting distance include, the University of South Florida, Florida Southern College, the University of Central Florida and the University of Tampa. Two technical schools, Ridge Technical Center and Travis Technical Center, are also nearby.
Health Care
Lake Wales Medical Center is a licensed 154-bed facility that provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services, including:
|
Housing
Warm,
friendly neighborhoods abound in Lake Wales.
Residential housing is located in many areas
within the city limits and single family
dwellings range from breezy, old-fashioned,
Florida homes to sleek, modern concrete block
structures.
A number of condominium communities have been established in and around Lake Wales.
Both short and long term rental units are available. Whether your preference is a stilt house on Lake Caloosa, a cottage overlooking Lake Pierce, a mobile home in a secluded fish camp, or an apartment in town, you'll find a variety of accommodations in the area.
Mobile homes are also popular in this area. In fact, with just over 51,000 units, Polk County has the second highest number of mobile homes in Florida. Mobile home parks, many of which make space available for recreational vehicles also, frequently offer residents swimming pools, clubhouses, security systems, and other amenities.
Newspapers and local real estate firms are sources of further information on the specific properties available in Lake Wales.
Library
The
Lake Wales Public Library is a modern
facility housing over 88,000 items including
books, DVD and VCR movies, Books on Tape, magazines,
newspapers, microfilm and microfiche, large print books, paperback
exchange, Lake Wales archival and historical
files, sheet music and more.
Shopping
Welcome
to Historic Downtown Lake Wales. Developed
during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920's, this
quaint collection of specialty shops emphasizes highest
quality and attentive personal service. With a
charming atmosphere all their own, this
Main Street District is ready to satisfy the most
discriminating of tastes in a wide variety of
areas.
Eagle Ridge Mall opened in February 1996. This regional mall contains three major department stores, including Sears, J.C. Penny and Dillards, and approximately 880,000 square feet of additional retail space, and is located on Highway 27, just north of Lake Wales.