Learn More About Haines City, Florida
Haines City, Florida
Located in Central Florida, Haines City is the one of the most populous cities in Polk County. The city of more than 22,000 people is classified into the Lakeland-Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its area is sometimes categorized as part of the Tampa Bay Area despite the fact that the community is significantly nearer to Orlando than Tampa. The city operates a council-manager system of government that sees its five elected city commissioners appoint a manager and other officials in charge of the city’s affairs.
Haines City was established in 1885 after the extension of the South Florida Railroad to the area. It was originally known as Clay Cut. But residents later agreed to change the name to Haines City in honor of Colonel Henry Haines, a senior railroad official, in order to get a railroad station constructed in their community. The Town of Haines City was incorporated on February 23, 1914. It was reincorporated under its present form of government in July 1927.
The city has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, helped by its location in the proximity of Orlando as well as the Walt Disney World Resort. This has seen an expansion in the size of Haines City, with new residential areas springing up near its limits. One of the most sought-after communities by home buyers here is Highland Meadows Phase 2B.
Haines City is positioned within the Highland region of the Atlantic coastal plain in Central Florida. It landscape is therefore characterized by coastal flatlands, from which rises a ridge of gently rolling hills. The city has a humid subtropical climate.
This Polk County community is surrounded by several major highways, including Interstate 4, US 17/62, US 27 and State Road 17. I-4, Central Florida’s principal interstate highway, passes about six miles north of Haines City, leading to Orlando in the east and Lakeland and Tampa to the west. U.S. Route 27 is the area’s major north-south highway, connecting to I-4 and Clermont in the north and extending all the way to Miami in the south. Winter Haven Area Transit and Lynx provides hourly bus services to different areas from the city.
Haines City boasts of numerous schools. These include Alta Vista Elementary School, Bethune Academy Eastside Elementary School, Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology Middle School, Ridge Community High School and Haines City High School. It also plays host to Landmark Christian School and Landmark Baptist College.
This community boasts a wide range of entertainment options. You can treat yourself to an exciting movie at one of several movie theaters around the area including Cobb Grand 10 Cinemas, AMC Downtown Disney 24 and AMC Universal Cineplex. The area has some of the most beautiful and highly challenging golf courses. A popular event in Haines City is the Ironman Triathlon, which was in 2012 moved to the city's Lake Eva Park, few miles away from Orlando Theme Parks. Other local attractions include the family-centered Legoland Florida and Fantasy of Flight, a vintage aircraft museum.
Partly as a result of its proximity to Orlando, Haines City has experienced significant growth over the years. And it looks to attract even more people with great supplies of amenities, strong educational system and convenient access to several major highways among others.
