Lake Alfred, Florida
Encyclopedia
Lake Alfred is a city in Polk County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,944 http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls. It is part of the Lakeland
–Winter Haven
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
, North Dakota
. They at first named the settlement after their hometown, but the Post Office protested after a series of mix ups with the town of Largo
. The town then became Chubb and later Bartow Junction because it lay at the junction of a road leading south into the county seat Bartow
. Finally, in 1913 it took the name Lake Alfred after Alfred Parslow, an early settler. In 1917, the State of Florida established the first off-campus center for the University of Florida
in Lake Alfred, the Citrus Experiment Station to study ways of improving citrus growing. Today this location is known as the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.
with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.3 km²). 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it (42.84%) is water.
Lake Alfred is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification
: Cfa).
of 2000, there were 3,890 people, 1,511 households, and 1,103 families residing in the city. The population density
was 793.6 inhabitants per square mile (306.5/km²). There were 1,741 housing units at an average density of 355.2 per square mile (137.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.25% White, 17.25% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.72% from other races
, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.89% of the population.
There were 1,511 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,809, and the median income for a family was $42,904. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $20,445 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,008. About 10.7% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
The city is served by buses of Winter Haven Area Transit
.
reached the area in 1883. It had a number of early names, including Fargo, Chubb and Bartow Junction. The name Lake Alfred was adopted in 1913, and was taken from the nearest large lake, named for Alfred Parslow, who came to Florida in 1877 and obtained a charter to build the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad.
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,944 http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls. It is part of the Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
–Winter Haven
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The area known as Lake Alfred was founded by snowbirds escaping the cold of FargoFargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. They at first named the settlement after their hometown, but the Post Office protested after a series of mix ups with the town of Largo
Largo, Florida
Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, USA and is part of the Tampa Bay Area. Centrally located, it is the crossroads of the county. As of the 2000 census, the City had a total population of 69,371. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was...
. The town then became Chubb and later Bartow Junction because it lay at the junction of a road leading south into the county seat Bartow
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
. Finally, in 1913 it took the name Lake Alfred after Alfred Parslow, an early settler. In 1917, the State of Florida established the first off-campus center for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Lake Alfred, the Citrus Experiment Station to study ways of improving citrus growing. Today this location is known as the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.
Geography and climate
Lake Alfred is located at 28°5′37"N 81°43′30"W (28.093664, -81.724998). Lake Alfred is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plainAtlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.3 km²). 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it (42.84%) is water.
Lake Alfred is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
: Cfa).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,890 people, 1,511 households, and 1,103 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 793.6 inhabitants per square mile (306.5/km²). There were 1,741 housing units at an average density of 355.2 per square mile (137.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.25% White, 17.25% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.72% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.89% of the population.
There were 1,511 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,809, and the median income for a family was $42,904. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $20,445 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,008. About 10.7% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
- US 17/92 - Lake Alfred lies near the western end of the concurrency between US 17U.S. Route 17 in FloridaU.S. Route 17 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area....
and US 92U.S. Route 92U.S. Route 92 is a 177 mile intrastate U.S. Route in the U.S. state of Florida. The western terminus is at Alt US 19, SR 595, and SR 687 in downtown St. Petersburg. The eastern terminus is at SR A1A in Daytona Beach. Most of US 92 is designated unsigned State Road 600.-Route description:US 92...
. The concurrency of US 17/92 leads eastward to Haines CityHaines City, FloridaHaines City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 13,174 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population estimated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida is 18,762. Haines City is the third most populous city in Polk County, Florida...
and further toward KissimmeeKissimmee, FloridaKissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
; US 17 leads southward to Winter HavenWinter Haven, FloridaWinter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
; and US 92, westward to AuburndaleAuburndale, FloridaAuburndale is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,032 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 12,381...
and further to LakelandLakeland, FloridaLakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. - CR 557 - Leads northward to I-4Interstate 4Interstate 4 is a intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida . It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small...
and toward Polk CityPolk City, FloridaPolk City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,516 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,515. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...
The city is served by buses of Winter Haven Area Transit
Winter Haven Area Transit
Winter Haven Area Transit is a bus system based in Winter Haven, Florida. The system operates 9 of its own buses, and another 4 buses are provided for WHAT by the Citrus Connection. There are 8 routes serving Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Lake Wales, Frostproof,...
.
History
The city was established soon after the South Florida RailroadSouth Florida Railroad
The South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:...
reached the area in 1883. It had a number of early names, including Fargo, Chubb and Bartow Junction. The name Lake Alfred was adopted in 1913, and was taken from the nearest large lake, named for Alfred Parslow, who came to Florida in 1877 and obtained a charter to build the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad.
External links
- City of Lake Alfred official site