Eagle Lake, Florida

Eagle Lake, Florida
City
City of Eagle Lake
Overlooking Eagle Lake at sunset.
Motto: "Growing With People In Mind"
Location inPolk Countyand the state ofFlorida
Eagle Lake
Coordinates:27°58′34″N81°45′27″W
Country	United States of America
State	Florida
County	Polk
Settled	Circa 1880
Incorporated	1921
Government
• Type	Commission–Manager
•Mayor	Suzy Wilson
•Vice Mayor	Steven Metosh
•Commissioners	Seat 1 - Randy Billings Seat 2 - Suzy Wilson Seat 3 - Steven Metosh Seat 4 - Brandi Freeze Seat 5 - Kristen Pita
•City Manager	Thomas Ernharth
•City Clerk	Dawn Wright
Area
• Total	4.21 sq mi (10.90 km2)
• Land	2.38 sq mi (6.17 km2)
• Water	1.83 sq mi (4.73 km2)
Elevation	171 ft (52 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	3,008
• Density	1,262.27/sq mi (487.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code	33839
Area code	863
FIPS code	12-18875
GNISfeature ID	2403526
Website	http://www.eaglelakefl.gov

Eagle Lakeis a city inPolk County,Florida,United States. It is part of theLakeland–Winter HavenMetropolitan Statistical Area.Most of the town being centered around a subsection ofU.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.

Geography

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

According to theUnited 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 thehumid subtropical climatezone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification:Cfa).

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	600		—
1940	862		43.7%
1950	1,060		23.0%
1960	1,364		28.7%
1970	1,373		0.7%
1980	1,678		22.2%
1990	1,758		4.8%
2000	2,496		42.0%
2010	2,255		−9.7%
2020	3,008		33.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 and 2020 census

Eagle Lake racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White(NH)	1,628	1,663	72.20%	55.29%
Black or African American(NH)	157	424	6.96%	14.10%
Native AmericanorAlaska Native(NH)	10	7	0.44%	0.23%
Asian(NH)	49	51	2.17%	1.70%
Pacific IslanderorNative 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 the2020 United States census,there were 3,008 people, 796 households, and 573 families residing in the city.

As of the2010 United States census,there were 2,255 people, 641 households, and 462 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of thecensusof 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% fromother races,and 2.40% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof 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% weremarried couplesliving 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. Theper capita incomefor the city was $13,249. About 14.6% of families and 17.9% of the population were below thepoverty 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 acommission-managerform of government. The city commission consists of five commissioners, each elected for a two-year term.The mayor and vice-mayor are sitting commissioners whom are elected annually by the commissioners. The city's executive powers rest with the city manager, as contracted by the city commission. The budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year is $2.4 million.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 theSouthwest Florida Water Management Districtwhich regulates and permits the use of water in the region.The city of Eagle Lake also operates the Eagle Lake Public library, which is part of thePolk 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 thePolk County Sheriff's Office.

Fire services

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

Library

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

Transportation

The main highway going through town isU.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 toWinter Havenand southward toBartow.Eagle Lake also intersects withCounty Road 540.This thoroughfare provides access toState Road 570andU.S. 98for travel to nearbyLakeland, FL,and major metropolitan citiesTampaandOrlando. Eagle Lake is also located close toBartow 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 byPolk County Public Schools.

• Eagle Lake Elementary
• Pinewood Elementary
• Lake Region High School

Colleges and universities

• Polk State Collegehas campuses located inLakeland,Winter Haven,andLake Wales.
• Florida Polytechnic Universityis located within about 15 minutes of the city.
• Florida Southern CollegeandSoutheastern Universityare located in Lakeland.
• Warner Universityis located in Lake Wales.
• Webber International Universityis located inBabson Park.

Recreation and leisure

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

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

External links

• City of Eagle Lake WebsiteOfficial City Web Site