Glad to Leave Lakeland - 10/13/2021

I used to live in Lakeland, It is hot, humid, crowded and getting more crowded, Most of the people are rude and unfriendly. I was born in the area and visit sometimes to see relatives. It's invaded in the winter by winter visitors when the weather is halfway decent, Crime is high and safety is questionable. The only pluses in my opinion are the mild winters and a few nice relatives and church people and some lakes.

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love it - 1/31/2021

been there a few times i love it and i a m planning to ove this year

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Tiresome - 5/14/2018

Perhas if one is from this area, it is different I don't know. It is so dull and seems comfortable being so. There isn't much of a variety of people here, which I don't get It is basically a bedroom community of Tampa and Orlando. Yet people wise the variety isn't there. Poor whites and blacks. Hispanic and retirees from the midwest. In all fairness there are higher income types here also. The income disparity and class divide is very noticeable. I find it very impersonal here, which I find a serious problem in Fla. I'm not comfortable with the lack of genuinely nice people here. Whether its the high poverty levels. or how insular many seem here I simply am not comfortable with this type of population. I am always having to say hello, to people that rarely exchange a kind word. Not a neighborly community. One must drive everywhere. Few selection of quality grocers. Everything is the expensive almighty Publix. Mediocre Medical choices. Mainly I miss a good conversation with someone that can have one. The education seems to be very subpar. My house is up for sale, after 3 years in Lakeland. I have no desire to see this state again.

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It is what you make of it - 9/22/2017

I moved to the area 36 plus years ago. I attended public school and my sisters attended private school. I worked for a local company for 24 years, I'm married and I own a home. The people who live on my street are from the north-east and the mid-west, and others like my wife were born here. We work locally, our children attend school in the community, we shop locally, attend church in our community, and we are involved politically. My home has never been robbed, or my vehicle stollen. The Sheriff keeps our community safe, and help is a 911 call away. Pay around this area might not be the best, but it's not expensive to live here. The grocery stores are clean, the people are polite; if you get a flat tire, someone will always offer to help, and the people remember you in the businesses you frequent. Lakeland is a good place to live, raise a family.

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Lakeland is beautiful - 4/9/2016

As a native Lakelander, I have watched my hometown grow over the years to close to 100,000. Our hometown is blessed with many beautiful parks and lakes, and is centrally located between Tampa and Orlando. The Munn Park area hosts a Saturday Farmer's market, and on First Fridays, the area shops there stay open later. Lake Hollingsworth, which is close to 3 miles around, is popular for walking, jogging, and bicycling. Lakeland is home to Florida Southern University, Southeastern University, Florida Polytechnic University, and Polk State College. We are less than 30 minutes from Disney World, less than an hour from Clearwater beaches and a little over an hour to Cape Canaveral. Lakeland is also the winter residence for the Detroit Tigers. Locals love the big small town that we are! Come visit and check us out!

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Is It Safe? - 11/4/2014

People make Lakeland and most of Florida for that matter, out to be a war zone. Where is it safe to live?

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Buy a Home in lake land fl - 5/1/2014

My husband and I are thinking about moving to lake land fl my question is how is lake land to live at this time. I will appreciate all the advise and the best school for elementary.thanks

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The undesirable life style - 3/19/2013

Lakeland, FL is like living in another country all together. The closest thing I've come to it is old Russia under communist reign. The people here are very poorly educated. Even those with four year degrees, who seem to think that makes them very educated, haven't a clue. The lack of social graces, compassion, kindness, and the ability to relate to other human beings can certainly change the views of those who truly believe in evolution. An example a man and a child were shot at a local flea market what did people do? They walked right over top of them and continued shopping. This is common behavior and normal for them! The majority love their tattos, drugs and drinking and partying and have no vision or plans for the future. Other than who or what they will be having sex with that night. They do not care who you are and they do not want anything to do with you unless your going to give them something for "free". The area is in a state of despair. The people here think they should be paid to sit on their butts because they are them but do not think they should have to pay you! Four degrees and 15 years of experience in one field and they will only give you $8 an hour! No kidding. They seem to believe that they have a right to everything that is not theres. We are on a street that has the lowest crime rate in Lakeland, which doesn't say much and have been robbed four times. The quality of life..well there just isn't any. People here are so full of themselves and hostile that it will rob you of any hope of life, dreams, desires and any type of real future. The longer you stay the worse it gets. This place will suck the life out of you and then laugh and pat its self on the back. Where in the world do these people come from? The locals blame the snowbirds but they behave the same way. The locals say its because it's a melting pot well I got news for you so is most of America and people do not behave this way in NC, SC, GA, or TN..hell not even AL. So it is simply a lame excuse. Do not bring your children here! This is the worse place for children. The schools are awful and the future of your child will be robbed. Horrible place.

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I want to move to lakeland - 11/4/2012

i want to know more about lakeland living..

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Updating the Population Count - 5/31/2012

According to the 2012 estimated Census by the Census Bureau, Lakeland has a population of 97,422 and since there are 244,000 with a Lakeland postal address, This should be considered.

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Review and Question. - 1/7/2010

I enjoyed the review of living in Lakeland for 17 years. Unfortunately I could not read the end of it, as it seems to have run out of space. I would like to have read the remainder of it. I have visited Lakeland and do enjoy it for its location and cost of living. I also like the fact it feels like an actual community with a downtown, with the lakes and walking areas. It is not overwhelming in population and traffic jams. I toy with the idea of retiring there. I have some concerns about the area though. My biggest concern is that it may not be welcoming to all. There are some strong overtones in the culture I have noticed when visiting, that it is a very conservative culture based region. I don't mind the culture or the conservative views. I do however mind if I am not welcomed there, and then made to feel I have no right to notice it or its effects. I have found no other community in Fla like Lakeland for its small city feel that seems very self contained with shopping, Medical and close proximity to other large metro's. Unfortunately though my concerns seem to be more than just concerns, I feel there is something to them based on both instincts and observations. I wonder has anyone else observed or felt Lakeland is very nice, but may be difficult for some people from elsewhere.

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Very family-oriented & family friendly - 5/5/2009

Great place to raise a young family. Plenty of free and inexpensive things to do every week/end. Just gets a little hot sometimes.

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State of the economy - 6/13/2008

The economy is bad every where but here is worse than a lot of areas. The real estate market has died there are know jobs and the ones that are out there do not pay anything. Women are grossly underpaid. Polk county is still a good old boy area and that makes if hard for a single mother.

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Not the ideal place to live - 6/1/2008

Lakeland is perfect if you want to live a secluded life around a lot of shallow, uneducated people who move there just to be able to afford a second story house. There is barely anything to do and if you move there especially with kids, there is no doubt that they will resort to drugs and drinking out of boredom. Sure, there are movies to go to, but be ready to drive 30 or more minutes to any entertainment center. The roads are long, everything is spaced apart and every other area is a ghetto. Of course, the city tries to mask this with the development communities and whatnot.

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Job market is not great right now - 10/16/2007

If you are in construction, Lakeland isn't the place to be. This town has grown so much since I moved here in 1989. Florida is ok if you enjoy extremely long hot hot summers, hurricanes and high home owners insurance rates. UGH... just looking for some relief

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Simply Charming in excellent location - 9/24/2007

Lakeland is downright charming. It has grown a lot over the last decade, but the city management has done an excellent job of keeping up with the roads, and infrestructure. The businesses are booming and keeping up with the demand for dining services and entertainment. The only down side to Lakeland is the lack of education. Polk County has low education per capita. Lakeland is growing, and their best schools are on the south side, if you're looking to move here. Located 30 minutes from Tampa and about 45 from Orlando, Lakeland is the home of many executive commuters; which I believe is where a lot of the educated and wealth comes into Lakeland.

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It's Hot - 4/18/2007

If your from the North the heat can be unbearable. It can be difficult to breathe at times. But you can't beat the year round golf!

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Lakeland FL - after 17 years - 1/15/2007

The quality of life in Lakeland, Florida is a based on my experiences living in several U.S. cities. As an adult, I have lived in, Suburban Philadelphia, Newport News, VA, Shreveport, LA and Suburban Boston. We moved to Lakeland, FL after living most of our lives in suburban Philadelphia. The first few years here we experienced a sleepy small Florida city midway between Orlando and Tampa. Traveling around the city was very easy. One could travel from one end of the city to other in 20 minutes time. In the early 90’s when we arrived, the city was in very poor condition many of the downtown buildings were boarded and there were only a few surviving businesses. Eventually these businesses two department stores moved to the north side of Lakeland to the new mall. The downtown area was very bad, no commerce, no life. It was a decaying city shell. Over time a Downtown Development Authority was formed, and the authority took on the task of revitalizing the downtown area. I’m not certain when the authority started this task but they have done a miraculous job. The downtown area is very attractive, clean, and growing more and more vibrant each year. The downtown area is home to many businesses ranging from unique retail businesses to large corporations like Publix corporate offices and Watson Transportation Corporate offices. The downtown area boasts many restaurants, antique stores and boutiques. Downtown Lakeland is now sprouting fashionable “high rise” residence buildings, and town homes to attract permanent downtown residents. The residences are being completed by way of renovating historic buildings into attractive period piece buildings. I say “high rise” because the tallest buildings downtown are the turn of the century hotels. The metamorphosis of the city over the past seventeen years is remarkable. Downtown Lakeland is turning into central Florida gem. On the other hand, the area around Lakeland has grown dramatically too and unfortunately the planning that has made the downtown area appealing has not taken root in the surrounding Polk County area. The developers have scalped the earth of vegetation. Citrus trees and long standing native Florida scrub have been replaced by boxy mass produced houses, miles and miles of cookie cutter houses. Many of the people in the surrounding Lakeland area commute to Tampa or Orlando, and the roads are continually clogged with automobiles. To travel 6 miles to work from home takes 30 minutes. Most of the

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True Best Deal - 12/29/2006

One of the best Towns in Florida, great central location and lowest cost of living including home ownership, GET in NOW while interest rates are LOW, ITS a Buyer's MARKET I've been in Florida 20 yrs and in Lakeland only 1.5 yrs, take my word this is a great location to start a family or bring up a family & retire, you can catch a game or play golf or boating in our many Lakes, or take the kids to our great parks, also plenty of Churches or Air shows and local Celebrations in our Lakeside parks or just go home and enjoy a few Drinks with your Honey and then start thinking of that honeydo list.

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Ok in winter, too hot in summer - 12/29/2006

We moved to Lakeland over 3 yrs. ago from Mich. Winters are nice , but summers are brutal, its alright if you like really hot humid weather.

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