Highland City, Florida
Highland City is a community of 13,276 people in Polk County, Florida.
Why visit Highland City
Townapedia lists 2 parks and trails, 12 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Florida Polytechnic University, Circle B Bar Reserve and Sanlan Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 50°F.
Weather in Highland City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Highland City
Highland City is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, Highland City had a population of 12,355. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Highland City, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
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Florida Polytechnic University
School · 2.5 mi
Public university in Lakeland, Florida, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes12
Gator's Dockside
Restaurant · Bar And Grill, Wings · 0.6 mi
Family-friendly sports-bar chain offering American fare, including signature grilled chicken wings.
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 0.8 mi
4660 CR 540A, Lakeland
Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger
4220 Clubhouse Road
Mo-Th 05:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-24:00; Su 05:00-22:00
Panda Express
Fast food · Chinese · 0.4 mi
5270 Bartow Road (US Highway 98 South), Lakeland
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.7 mi
5090 Dave Robbins Way, Lakeland
Mo-Th 07:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-03:00; Su 07:00-02:00
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 0.8 mi
Fast food restaurant
5030 Dave Robbins Wy, Lakeland
Where to stay1
History
The modern-day area of Highland City was the site of the United States Army's Fort Fraser, established in 1837 during its war with the Seminole Indians. Zachary Taylor, former U.S. President, commanded the fort for a short period. Fort Fraser was abandoned shortly after its construction.
In 1885, the Pemberton Ferry Branch of the South Florida Railroad was completed between Lakeland and Bartow. The area now known as Highland City was the only stop between the two larger cities. The stop, and eventual village, was named for the Haskell brothers, who were early investors in the South Florida Railroad. E. B. Haskell was a newspaper publisher from Boston, Massachusetts and his brother Dr. C. C. Haskell, of Maitland, Florida, was an original stakeholder in the South Florida Railroad. In addition to the town of Haskell, the South Florida Railroad's #6 locomotive was named the E. B. Haskell.
The Haskell freight depot was built by the railroad company along the roadway that would later become U.S. Highway 98. (In 1958, the depot was demolished due to its proximity to the roadway, and was replaced by a new freight building). The first postmaster (and also the first freight agent of the depot) in Haskell, Thomas A. Goode, was appointed on February 9, 1887.
From the History section of Highland City, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries34
Carlton Palmore Elementary School
School · 4.9 mi
3725 Clevelnd Hts Blvd, Lakeland
George W. Jenkins Senior High
School · 2.5 mi
6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland
Healthcare2
Map of Highland City
59 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F | 50°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 76°F | 52°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 80°F | 56°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 84°F | 61°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 89°F | 66°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 71°F | 8.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 7.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 7.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 72°F | 7.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 85°F | 66°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 79°F | 58°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 75°F | 53°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bartow 1Se Hcn (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Polk County has had 30 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
- 2023-08-28: Tropical Storm Idalia (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Bartow Executive Airport (BOW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Lakeland Highlands 5 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Bartow 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Medulla 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Lakeland 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Fuller Heights 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Winter Haven 11 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- Auburndale 11 mi northeast, about 18 min by car
- Cypress Gardens 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Plant City 15 mi west, about 24 min by car
- Lake Wales 17 mi east, about 28 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Florida Polytechnic University (25811685378), Gregory Urbano from St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Odontomachus ruginodis casent0104177 dorsal 1, April Nobile, CC BY 4.0
- Odontomachus ruginodis casent0104177 profile 1, April Nobile, CC BY 4.0
- Odontomachus ruginodis casent0104177 head 1, April Nobile, CC BY 4.0
- Odontomachus ruginodis casent0104177 label 1, April Nobile, CC BY 4.0
- Florida bass, Daniel Estabrooks, CC0
- Ardea herodias - Bailey Duncan - 522191685, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pseudemys nelsoni - Bailey Duncan - 522192109, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gallinula galeata - Bailey Duncan - 522193634, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Egretta caerulea - Bailey Duncan - 522196993, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Egretta caerulea - Bailey Duncan - 522193860, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Circle B Gator Protecting It's Nest, Dennis Adair, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Iris hexagona (16827847471), Malcolm Manners from Lakeland FL, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Iris hexagona (16828921605), Malcolm Manners from Lakeland FL, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Apalone ferox - Bailey Duncan - 522194057, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Salvia misella, iNaturalist user: mefisher, CC0
- Papilio polyxenes asterius - Bailey Duncan - 522194304, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Great Blue Heron (16072791010), mbarrison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Egretta thula - Bailey Duncan - 522196592, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Myiarchus crinitus (Great Crested Flycatcher) 35, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) 82, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) 81, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Encyclia tampensis - 5814128358, mmmavocado, CC BY 2.0
- Lythrum alatum - Bailey Duncan - 522196472, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Circle B Bar Reserve Walking Trail June 2024, Trevorrrrvalent, CC BY 4.0
- Lake Hancock Florida West June 2024, Trevorrrrvalent, CC BY 4.0
- Aramus guarauna - Bailey Duncan - 522196341, Bailey Duncan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aramus guarauna (Limpkin) 20, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dendrocygna autumnalis (Black-bellied Whistling Duck) 16, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sturnella magna (Eastern Meadowlark) 05, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Grus canadensis (Sandhill Crane) 30, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aramus guarauna (Limpkin) 17, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aramus guarauna (Limpkin) 16, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aramus guarauna (Limpkin) 21, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aramus guarauna (Limpkin) 19, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) 26, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ardea alba (Great Egret) 47, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
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