“Where Are We?” A Guide to Polk County’s Place in Florida and the USA
By Scott Fields
I.
Lesson Summary
Summary
Polk County sits in almost the exact middle of the Florida peninsula, and contains the fourth-largest
land area of any county in the state. It is slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. However,
because its largest city, Lakeland, is only the 21st-highest populated municipality in Florida, Polk County’s
communities are hardly ever represented on maps of Florida and the United States. The purpose of this
lesson is to enable students to become more familiar with their own county and its surrounding areas by
using maps showing Florida’s place in the United States, and Polk County’s place in Florida.
Objectives
Students will:
1.) use basic map skills to answer discussion questions about three maps (the US, Florida, and
Polk County);
2.) approximate distance using provided map scales;
3.) become more familiar with major urban centers of the United States and Florida;
4.) become more familiar with communities in Polk county and the surrounding areas.
U.S. History Event or Era
This lesson is designed to show the absolute location of Polk County in relation to other Florida counties
in the 21st century, as well as the absolute location of several Polk County communities.
Grade Level
This lesson is designed for elementary use (grades 3-5); it can also be implemented in middle school.
Materials
Rulers (to measure scale), colored pencils, calculators (if needed), one copy of each map (“Polk County,”
“Florida,” and the “United States”) and “Polk County Community Populations-2000 Census” for each
student (or each pair), and one copy of the map study questions for each map.
Lesson Time
This lesson can be completed in an hour-and-a-half over two days. Another option is to only cover the
information on each topic for each day’s social studies lesson.
II.
Lesson Procedures
Procedures
1.) Preview: Place students in mixed-ability pairs, or have them work independently. Pass out to each pair (or
individual student) a political map of the world and ask students to locate the United States, then outline it in
blue (or some other color). Then, have pairs find Florida and shade it in. To finish the Preview, tell students
that in this lesson, they will not only learn of the locations of a few major cities in the United States and
Florida, they will also learn about the absolute location of their own community.
2.) While students are still in pairs, pass out one ruler, a set of colored pencils, a calculator, and one copy of the
following: “United States Map;” “Florida Map;” and discussion questions for both to each pair.
3.) Have pairs work together to answer the discussion questions on the United States map. You may need to
adjust the lesson accordingly to make it more appropriate for a certain grade level. For instance, if your
students are studying the addition and subtraction of large numbers, you may not want them to use
calculators for this lesson. Also, some questions may be too advanced for younger students. Use your
judgment. You may even need to give students a mini-lesson on using a map scale.
4.) Have students bring their completed “United States Map” discussion questions to you so that you may check
their answers for accuracy. Perhaps give a reward for the first three or so pairs that finish the “United States
Map.” After this map’s completion, individual pairs may then begin to work on their Florida map if time allows.
After completing the Florida map, allow pairs to begin working on the Polk County map and discussion
questions. If needed, you may want to make a transparency of the Polk County map and show students the
different symbols on the Map Key and what they represent. (NOTE: you may want to take a black permanent
marker and trace over the outline of Polk County for younger students, while taking care not to trace over
place names or important physical landmarks)
5.) Instruct pairs to answer the discussion questions for the Polk County map and the discussion questions on
the major communities of Polk County (“Polk County Community Populations-2000 Census”).
6.) To increase interest in students, you may want to have your students view these activities as an information
“treasure hunt.” Offer prizes or rewards for not only successful pairs, but also as a class (for instance, if 75%
or more of the pairs successfully complete the activity, then….). This will lead to greater teamwork, a sense
of cooperation in your classroom among different pairs, and a higher retention rate.
III.
Activities
Questions for United States Map
1. What is the northernmost city on this map? The southernmost?
Northernmost
Southernmost
2. Two separate countries border the United States to the north and the south. Name them.
South
North
3. Three large bodies of water form natural boundaries of the United States to the east, west, and south. Name
them.
East
West
South
4. If Seattle and Portland are in the northwest corner of the United States, and Boston, New York City, and
Philadelphia are in the northeast corner, what corner is Florida in?
5. Approximately how many miles separate Boston from Florida? Los Angeles from Florida? Seattle from
Florida?
Boston from Florida
Los Angeles from Florida
6. Which two large bodies of water touch Florida’s shores?
Seattle from Florida
Questions for Florida Map
1. Which statement most accurately reflects Polk County’s location in Florida?
a. Polk County borders the Gulf of Mexico.
b. Polk County borders the Atlantic Ocean.
c. Polk County is in North Florida.
d. Polk County is in Central Florida.
e. Polk County is in South Florida.
2. Which Florida city shown on this map is an island?
3. Which of Florida’s four main interstate highways serves Florida’s East Coast?
a. Interstate 4
b. Interstate 10
c. Interstate 75
d. Interstate 95
4. Which of Florida’s interstate highways would someone use if they were driving from Tampa to Orlando?
a. Interstate 4
b. Interstate 10
c. Interstate 75
d. Interstate 95
5. Approximately how many miles would a car travel if driving on Interstate 10 from Pensacola to Jacksonville?
6. According to this map, which two Florida cities are NOT within 30 miles of the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of
Mexico?
a. Pensacola and Tallahassee
b. Jacksonville and St. Augustine
c. Gainesville and Ocala
d. Miami and Ft. Lauderdale
7. Which city is closest to Polk County?
a. West Palm Beach
b. Titusville
c. Ocala
d. Ft. Myers
Questions for United States Map (Answer Key)
1. What is the northernmost city on this map? The southernmost?
Northernmost- Seattle
Southernmost- Houston
2. Two separate countries border the United States to the north and the south. Name them.
South
North
Canada
Mexico
3. Three large bodies of water form natural boundaries of the United States to the east, west, and south. Name
them.
East
West
South
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Mexico
4. If Seattle and Portland are in the northwest corner of the United States, and Boston, New York City, and
Philadelphia are in the northeast corner, what corner is Florida in? Southeast
5. Approximately how many miles separate Boston from Florida? Los Angeles from Florida? Seattle from
Florida? Approx.1200 miles; approx. 2000 miles; approx. 2500-2700 miles; be generous and allow for at
least 200 miles either way, depending on what point in Florida your students measured to.
6. Which two large bodies of water touch Florida’s shores?
Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
Questions for Florida Map
1. Which statement most accurately reflects Polk County’s location in Florida?
a. Polk County borders the Gulf of Mexico.
b. Polk County borders the Atlantic Ocean.
c. Polk County is in North Florida.
d. Polk County is in Central Florida.
e. Polk County is in South Florida.
2. Which Florida city shown on this map is an island?
Key West
3. Which of Florida’s four main interstate highways serves Florida’s East Coast?
a. Interstate 4
b. Interstate 10
c. Interstate 75
d. Interstate 95
4. Which of Florida’s interstate highways would someone use if they were driving from Tampa to Orlando?
a. Interstate 4
b. Interstate 10
c. Interstate 75
d. Interstate 95
5. Approximately how many miles would a car travel if driving on Interstate 10 from Pensacola to Jacksonville?
Approx. 300 miles
6. According to this map, which two Florida cities are NOT within 30 miles of the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of
Mexico?
a. Pensacola and Tallahassee
b. Jacksonville and St. Augustine
c. Gainesville and Ocala
d. Miami and Ft. Lauderdale
7. Which city is closest to Polk County?
a. West Palm Beach
b. Titusville
c. Ocala
d. Ft. Myers
Questions for Polk County Map
1. There are _____ different counties that border Polk County? Name four.
a)
c)
b)
d)
2. What is the name of the interstate highway that runs through northern Polk County? What two large cities
does this highway connect?
3. Name two communities in northern Polk County. Name two communities in southern Polk County.
Southern
Northern
a)
a)
b)
b)
4. What three lakes form part of the boundary between Polk County and Osceola County?
5. What six Polk County communities does a car traveling on Highway 98 pass through?
6. On its way to Kissimmee, Highway 17 meanders through seven Polk County communities. Name four of
them.
7. What large world-famous vacation resort can be found just northeast of Polk County?
8. Your teacher needs to drive from Lake Wales to Haines City. What road should your teacher use, and about
how many miles will your teacher need to drive?
9. This river forms part of the northern boundary of Polk County. What is it?
10. What toll highway forms a loop around Lakeland? What purpose does this highway serve for someone living
in Auburndale?
11. This city is the capital of Polk County, and is also where three major highways meet. What is this capital city?
12. Polk County has the fourth-largest land area of all Florida counties behind Palm Beach, Collier, and Dade
Counties. Approximately how many miles is it from Polk County’s northernmost point to its southern
boundary? How many miles would one travel from Polk County’s extreme southeastern point to southwestern
edge?
North to South
Miles
SE to SW
Miles
Community
Polk County Community Populations-2000 Census
Population Points of Interest/Interesting Facts
Detroit Tigers spring training; FL Southern College; Polk Museum of Art;
Sun n’ Fun Fly-In; Polk Community College/University of South Florida
Cleveland Indians spring training; Water Ski Hall of Fame; Cypress Gardens;
Winter Haven
26,487
Polk Community College
Seat of county government; Polk Historical Museum
Bartow
15,340
“The Heart of Florida;” once called “Clay Cut,” it was renamed for a railroad
Haines City
13,174
official who had a station built after the town was named for him
Baynard House Museum
Auburndale
11,032
Bok Tower Gardens; Warner Southern College; highest point in Central
Lake Wales
10,194
Florida
1st American settlement in Polk County; may have been explored by a party
Fort Meade
5,691
of Spaniards led by Hernando de Soto in the 1500s
Important to timber and citrus industry in the late 1800s, early 1900s
Wahneta
4,731
Named after an early settler to the area, Alfred Parslow
Lake Alfred
3,890
Possibly named after Catherine Prine, an early settler
Kathleen
3,280
“Phosphate Capital of the World”; Mulberry Phosphate Museum
Mulberry
3,230
Home of Ben Hill Griffin Enterprises; was named “Lakemont” for eight years
Frostproof
2,975
after the freeze of 1895 destroyed much of its citrus industry
Named after town in Scotland
Dundee
2,912
Named after an early settler had pine trees planted on the northwest shore
Eagle Lake
2,496
of the lake, creating an ideal eagle habitat
Formerly named “Haskell,” but name was changed in order to make
Highland City
2,051
settlement of area more desirable
Waverly Growers’ Association (citrus production); named after town in New
Waverly
1,927
York
Important former base for turpentine and timber industries
Davenport
1,924
Fantasy of Flight Museum
Polk City
1,516
Important former base for turpentine and timber industries
Loughman
1,385
Webber International University
Babson Park
1,182
Name comes from Spanish language; means “high land”
Alturas
N/A
Homeland Heritage Park; Alafia River Rendezvous
Homeland
N/A
*Polk County’s entire population for the 2000 census was 483,924. This table only accounts for 40% of that
figure.
Lakeland
78,452
1.) On your map of Polk County, circle the name of the community in which you live, or the one you live closest
to, in red pencil or pen.
2.) On your map of Polk County, draw a star over the dot representing Bartow, and color it yellow. This is a
symbol showing that Bartow is the county seat for Polk County; in other words, the “capital” of Polk County.
3.) On your map of Polk County, draw a circle around the name of the most populated community in orange
pencil. Then, underline in orange the names of every Polk County community that have a population of
4,000 and higher.
4.) Which is greater: the population of Lakeland, or the combined populations of the next five largest
communities?
5.) Which is smaller: the population of Fort Meade, or the combined populations of Highland City, Waverly,
Davenport, Polk City, Loughman, and Babson Park?
6.) The combined population for all of the communities listed above totals 193,869; however, the total population
of Polk County for the 2000 census was 483,924. Why are there over 290,000 people unaccounted for?
7.) What Polk County community, found east of the Hwy 17-Hwy 27 intersection, was once named “Clay Cut”?
a. Lake Alfred
b. Haines City
c. Davenport
d. Bartow
8.) In which Polk County community could someone locate the Water Ski Hall of Fame and Cypress Gardens,
Florida’s original theme park?
a. Lakeland
b. Auburndale
c. Highland City
d. Winter Haven
9.) Polk County communities have always been important to the citrus, timber, and phosphate industries. Name
the six communities that the chart mentions as having importance to these industries.
10.) Four Polk County communities include major colleges or universities. Name the communities that support
higher education in Polk County.
11.) From the top of Bok Tower, one can look in all directions and see more of Central Florida than anywhere
else in the state. In what Polk County community can someone visit Bok Tower?
a. Lake Wales
b. Lake Alfred
c. Lakeland
d. Eagle Lake
12.) Polk County’s earliest American settlement, and a possible site of exploration by Hernando de Soto in the
1500s, is:
a. Bartow
b. Fort Meade
c. Auburndale
d. Lake Wales
Questions for Polk County Map (Answer Key)
1. How many counties border Polk County? Name four.
10; any four out of Pasco, Sumter, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Okeechobee, Highlands, Hardee, Manatee, or
Hillsborough Counties.
2. What is the name of the interstate highway that runs through northern Polk County? What two large cities
does this highway connect? Interstate 4; Tampa and Orlando
3. Name two communities in northern Polk County. Name two communities in southern Polk County.
Southern
Northern
(answers may vary)
(answers may vary)
4. What three lakes form part of the boundary between Polk County and Osceola County?
Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee
5. What six Polk County communities will a car traveling on Highway 98 pass through?
Fort Meade, Homeland, Bartow, Highland City, Lakeland, and Kathleen
6. On its way to Kissimmee, Highway 17 meanders through seven Polk County communities. Name four of
them.
Any four out of Bartow, Eagle Lake, Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Davenport, and Loughman
7. What large world-famous vacation resort can be found just northeast of Polk County?
Walt Disney World
8. Your teacher needs to drive from Lake Wales to Haines City. What road should your teacher use, and about
how many miles will your teacher need to drive, according to the map scale?
Hwy 27; approx. 15 miles
9. This river forms part of the northern boundary of Polk County. What is it?
Withlacoochee River
10. What toll highway forms a loop around Lakeland? What purpose does this highway serve for someone living
in Auburndale?
Polk County Parkway; makes access to Interstate 4 easier for those living south of the interstate (or
similar response)
11. This city is the capital of Polk County, and is also where three major highways meet. What is this capital city?
Bartow
12. Polk County has the fourth-largest land area of all Florida counties behind Palm Beach, Collier, and Dade
Counties. Approximately how many miles is it from Polk County’s northernmost point to its southern
boundary, using the map scale? How many miles would one travel from Polk County’s extreme southeastern
point to southwestern edge?
SE to SW
North to South
40
Miles (approx.)
40
Miles (approx.)
Polk County Community Populations-2000 Census (Answer Key)
Community
Population Points of Interest/Interesting Facts
Detroit Tigers spring training; FL Southern College; Polk Museum of Art;
Sun n’ Fun Fly-In; Polk Community College/University of South Florida
Cleveland Indians spring training; Water Ski Hall of Fame; Cypress Gardens;
Winter Haven
26,487
Polk Community College
Seat of county government; Polk Historical Museum
Bartow
15,340
“The Heart of Florida;” once called “Clay Cut,” it was renamed for a railroad
Haines City
13,174
official who had a station built after the town was named for him
Baynard House Museum
Auburndale
11,032
Bok Tower Gardens; Warner Southern College; highest point in Central
Lake Wales
10,194
Florida
1st American settlement in Polk County; may have been explored by a party
Fort Meade
5,691
of Spaniards led by Hernando de Soto in the 1500s
Important to timber and citrus industry in the late 1800s, early 1900s
Wahneta
4,731
Named after an early settler to the area, Alfred Parslow
Lake Alfred
3,890
Possibly named after Catherine Prine, an early settler
Kathleen
3,280
“Phosphate Capital of the World”; Mulberry Phosphate Museum
Mulberry
3,230
Home of Ben Hill Griffin Enterprises; was named “Lakemont” for eight years
Frostproof
2,975
after the freeze of 1895 destroyed much of its citrus industry
Named after town in Scotland
Dundee
2,912
Named after an early settler had pine trees planted on the northwest shore
Eagle Lake
2,496
of the lake, creating an ideal eagle habitat
Formerly named “Haskell,” but name was changed in order to make
Highland City
2,051
settlement of area more desirable
Waverly Growers’ Association (citrus production); named after town in New
Waverly
1,927
York
Important former base for turpentine and timber industries
Davenport
1,924
Fantasy of Flight Museum
Polk City
1,516
Important former base for turpentine and timber industries
Loughman
1,385
Webber International University
Babson Park
1,182
Name comes from Spanish language; means “high land”
Alturas
N/A
Homeland Heritage Park; Alafia River Rendezvous
Homeland
N/A
*Polk County’s entire population for the 2000 census was 483,924. This table only accounts for 40% of that
figure.
Lakeland
78,452
1.) On your map of Polk County, circle the name of the community in which you live, or the one you live closest
to, in red pencil or pen.
2.) On your map of Polk County, draw a star over the dot representing Bartow, and color it yellow. This is a
symbol showing that Bartow is the county seat for Polk County; in other words, the “capital” of Polk County.
3.) On your map of Polk County, draw a circle around the name of the most populated community in orange
pencil. Then, underline in orange the names of every Polk County community that have a population of
4,000 and higher.
4.) Which is greater: the population of Lakeland, or the combined populations of the next five largest
communities? Lakeland
5.) Which is smaller: the population of Fort Meade, or the combined populations of Highland City, Waverly,
Davenport, Polk City, Loughman, and Babson Park? The combined populations
6.) The combined population for all of the communities listed above totals 193,869; however, the total population
of Polk County for the 2000 census was 483,924. Why are there over 290,000 people unaccounted for?
Many Polk County residents live in areas outside incorporated communities, or similar answer.
7.) What Polk County community, found east of the Hwy 17-Hwy 27 intersection, was once named “Clay Cut”?
a. Lake Alfred
b. Haines City
c. Davenport
d. Bartow
8.) In which Polk County community could someone locate the Water Ski Hall of Fame and Cypress Gardens,
Florida’s original theme park?
a. Lakeland
b. Auburndale
c. Highland City
d. Winter Haven
9.) Polk County communities have always been important to the citrus, timber, and phosphate industries. Name
the six communities that the chart mentions as having importance to these industries.
Wahneta, Mulberry, Frostproof, Waverly, Davenport, Loughman
10.) Four Polk County communities include major colleges or universities. Name the communities that support
higher education in Polk County. Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Babson Park
11.) From the top of Bok Tower, one can look in all directions and see more of Central Florida than anywhere else
in the state. In what Polk County community can someone visit Bok Tower?
a. Lake Wales
b. Lake Alfred
c. Lakeland
d. Eagle Lake
12.) Polk County’s earliest American settlement, and a possible site of exploration by Hernando de Soto in the
1500s, is:
a. Bartow
b. Fort Meade
c. Auburndale
d. Lake Wales
Florida Map
Polk County Map
IV.
Assessment
1. Which statement most accurately reflects Polk County’s location in Florida?
a. Polk County borders the Gulf of Mexico.
b. Polk County borders the Atlantic Ocean.
c. Polk County is in North Florida.
d. Polk County is in Central Florida.
e. Polk County is in South Florida.
2. What is the name of the interstate highway that runs through northern Polk County? What two large cities
does this highway connect?
3. Which statements below about Polk County are accurate?
a. Only three other counties border Polk County.
b. Interstate 4, which connects Tampa to Orlando, passes through northern Polk County.
c. The Walt Disney World Resort area is not geographically close to Polk County.
d. Polk County has one of Florida’s largest land areas.
4. Polk County’s capital city is:
a. Bartow
b. Lakeland
c. Haines City
d. Frostproof
5. Florida is in the _____________________ corner of the United States.
a. sorthwest
b. sortheast
c. southwest
d. southeast
6. Which city is geographically closer to Florida: Atlanta or San Francisco?
7. Which two large bodies of water that border the United States touch Florida’s shores? (choose two of the
following four choices)
a. The Great Lakes
b. The Atlantic Ocean
c. The Pacific Ocean
d. The Gulf of Mexico
8. Which of the following choices contains ONLY communities of Polk County?
a. Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta
b. Bartow, Winter Haven, Davenport, Fort Meade
c. Pensacola, Naples, West Palm Beach, Titusville
9. True or false. New York City is in Florida.
10. Which distance is greater: Tampa to Boston, Massachusetts, or Orlando to Lakeland?
V.
Resources
http://www.aaafloridadirectories.com/Polk.htm -AAA Road Map of Polk County
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/state/64501.htm -Outline map of Florida
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/countout/counties.htm -Outline maps of Polk County
http://www.theoleyschool.com/worksheets/usoutlinemap.jpg -Outline map of the United States
http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=8857 -population figures and other information for Polk
Co.
Brown, Jr., Canter. In the Midst of All That Makes Life Worth Living: Polk County, Florida, to 1940. Polk County
Historical Association: Bartow, FL (2001).
AAA Road Map of Florida