Eagle Lake, Florida
City
City of Eagle Lake
Overlooking Eagle Lake at sunset.
Overlooking Eagle Lake at sunset.
Motto: 
"Growing With People In Mind"
Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
Eagle Lake is located in Florida
Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake
Coordinates: 27°58′34″N 81°45′27″W / 27.97611°N 81.75750°W / 27.97611; -81.75750
CountryUnited States of America
StateFlorida
CountyPolk
SettledCirca 1880 [1]
Incorporated1921 [2]
Government
 • TypeCommission–Manager
 • MayorCory Coler
 • Vice MayorSuzy Wilson
 • CommissionersRandy Billings,
Scott Clark, and
Steven Metosh
 • City ManagerThomas Ernharth
 • City ClerkDawn Wright
Area
[3]
 • Total4.21 sq mi (10.90 km2)
 • Land2.38 sq mi (6.17 km2)
 • Water1.83 sq mi (4.73 km2)
Elevation
[4]
171 ft (52 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,008
 • Density1,262.27/sq mi (487.43/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
33839
Area code863
FIPS code12-18875[5]
GNIS feature ID2403526[4]
Websitehttp://www.eaglelake-fla.com

Eagle Lake is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the town being centered around a subsection of U.S. Highway 17. The population was 3,008 as of 2020.

History

Eagle Lake began c. 1880 as a settlement when John Bingham purchased 160 acres on a knoll between the areas now known as Eagle Lake, Crystal Lake, and Spirit Lake. He named the lake on which his original cabin was constructed Eagle Lake because of a nesting in a nearby pine tree. About the same time, in 1882, Louisa McLeod purchased 115 acres in the area to the east. As the land was sold, the city began to take shape and was laid out around 1887.

Earlier on, Eagle Lake was known for its local businesses. These included a brickyard, a turpentine mill, and two citrus packing houses that were both lost in the 1940s. During the mid 1950s and into the 1960s, the city was host to a wooden bathing house with dressing rooms, long wooden covered dock, dance hall, picnic facilities, and a diving platform at the Crystal Beach Pavilion on the southwest side of Eagle Lake. During the 1980s, the city adopted the motto "Growing with People in Mind". It continues to be the tenet of the city today.[6]

Geography

Eagle Lake is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain, with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), of which 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (3.50%) is water.

Climate

Eagle Lake is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).[8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930600—
194086243.7%
19501,06023.0%
19601,36428.7%
19701,3730.7%
19801,67822.2%
19901,7584.8%
20002,49642.0%
20102,255−9.7%
20203,00833.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2010 and 2020 census

Eagle Lake racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 1,628 1,663 72.20% 55.29%
Black or African American (NH) 157 424 6.96% 14.10%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 10 7 0.44% 0.23%
Asian (NH) 49 51 2.17% 1.70%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 0 1 0.00% 0.03%
Some other race (NH) 10 28 0.44% 0.93%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) 38 116 1.69% 3.86%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 363 718 16.10% 23.87%
Total 2,255 3,008

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,008 people, 796 households, and 573 families residing in the city.[12]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,255 people, 641 households, and 462 families residing in the city.[13]

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,496 people, 879 households, and 637 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,800.5 inhabitants per square mile (695.2/km2). There were 964 housing units at an average density of 695.4 per square mile (268.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.09% White, 4.73% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 9.86% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.47% of the population.

In 2000, there were 879 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.21.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $35,078. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $19,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,249. About 14.6% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

The City of Eagle Lake has a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of five commissioners, each elected for a two-year term.[14] The mayor and vice-mayor are sitting commissioners whom are elected annually by the commissioners.[15] The city's executive powers rest with the city manager, as contracted by the city commission. The budget for the 2014 fiscal year is $2.1 million.[16] Water and sewer services are provided by the City of Eagle Lake to residents within the incorporated city limits and nearby areas. Eagle Lake is encompassed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District which regulates and permits the use of water in the region.[17] The city of Eagle Lake also operates the Eagle Lake Public library, which is part of the Polk County Library Cooperative.

Law enforcement

After signing a contract with the Polk County Sheriff's office in 2007, the City of Eagle Lake began contracting law enforcement services from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.[18]

Fire services

Fire services for the city are contracted with the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. Eagle Lake is home to Polk County Fire Rescue Station 460 (Rescue 46).[19]

Library

The Eagle Lake Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative.[20] The library is located at 75 North Seventh Street Eagle Lake, Florida 33839. It is a part of the city hall complex.[21]

Transportation

The main highway going through town is U.S. 17. At the southern end of town, the highway divides into two three-three lane one way segments, with the northbound section on 5th Street and the southbound segment on 4th Street. On the north side of town, the two segments converge to become. a six-lane divided highway. US 17 leads northward to Winter Haven and southward to Bartow. Eagle Lake also intersects with County Road 540. This thoroughfare provides access to State Road 570 and U.S. 98 for travel to nearby Lakeland, FL, and major metropolitan cities Tampa and Orlando. Eagle Lake is also located close to Bartow Municipal Airport. This location provides a travel hub for private flights in and out of the Central Florida area.

Education

Public schools

Public schools in Eagle Lake (and all of Polk County) are operated by Polk County Public Schools.

Colleges and universities

Recreation and leisure

The city has a baseball / softball complex that has three 200' fields and one 275' field.[22] Additionally, the City Hall complex hosts basketball, racketball and shuffleboard courts, as well as a skate park and playground for children.

There are also two boat ramps available for access to Lake McLeod and Eagle Lake. At the Eagle Lake ramp, there is also a municipal park that has a pavilion, playground, beach, and restroom facilities.

References

  1. ↑ "History of Eagle Lake - City of Eagle Lake, Florida".
  2. ↑ "Eagle Lake". The Ledger. Ledger Media Group. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  4. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eagle Lake, Florida
  5. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ↑ "The History of Eagle Lake". City of Eagle Lake. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Florida's Geological History". University of Florida. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  8. ↑ "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated". University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Eagle Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Eagle Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Eagle Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Eagle Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "Eagle Lake Government". City of Eagle Lake. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Eagle Lake, FL. Code of Ordinances". City of Eagle Lake. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  16. ↑ "City Commission Agenda 8/5/2013" (PDF). City of Eagle Lake, FL. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Florida Water Management Districts". State of Florida. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Eagle Lake Municipality". Polk County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Fire Rescue Station Locations". Polk County BOCC. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Eagle Lake Public Library -- Polk County Library Cooperative".
  21. ↑ "City Hall".
  22. ↑ "Eagle Lake Sports Complex". Central Florida's Polk County Sports Marketing. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
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