Lake Placid, Florida
Encyclopedia
Lake Placid is a town in Highlands County
, Florida
, United States
. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population as 1,878 on 1 July 2007. It is part of the Sebring Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 99,349.
The town has two nicknames—"Town of Murals" and "The Caladium Capital of the World." Lake Placid has more than 40 mural
s painted on buildings throughout the town, and 98 percent of the world's caladium
bulbs come from Lake Placid.
, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, and the founder of the Lake Placid Club
, proposed that Lake Stearns change its name to Lake Placid. On April 29, 1927 the Lake Stearns Commissioners accepted Dr. Dewey's proposal to change the town's name from Lake Stearns to Lake Placid. Subsequently, they submitted a request to the Florida State Legislature. On June 6, 1927 the Town of Lake Stearns was chartered as Lake Placid.
, the town has a total area of 2.84 square miles (7.4 km²). 2.57 square miles (6.7 km²) of it is land and 0.27 square mile (0.6992967897 km²) of it (9.51%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,668 people, 646 households, and 395 families residing in the town. The population density
was 650.2 per square mile (250.6/km²). There were 776 housing units at an average density of 302.5 per square mile (116.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.38% White, 9.95% African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 10.43% from other races
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.46% of the population.
There were 646 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,178, and the median income for a family was $28,194. Males had a median income of $21,629 versus $14,650 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,855. About 22.7% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Lake Placid had a population of 2,223. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 46.1% Hispanic or Latino and of race limited to non-Hispanic person was 44.6% white, 6.7% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 1.2% from two or more races.
, the ABC
affiliate in Orlando
, WINK
, the CBS
affiliate in Fort Myers
/Naples
, WFLA
, the Tampa Bay area
NBC
affiliate, and WTVT
, the Tampa Bay area Fox
affiliate.
. There are no radio stations whose studios or broadcasting towers are located in Lake Placid.
is a daily local supplement to The Tampa Tribune
, which covers newsworthy events in Highlands County.
Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, 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 U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population as 1,878 on 1 July 2007. It is part of the Sebring Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 99,349.
The town has two nicknames—"Town of Murals" and "The Caladium Capital of the World." Lake Placid has more than 40 mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s painted on buildings throughout the town, and 98 percent of the world's caladium
Caladium
Caladium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. They are often known by the common name elephant ear , Heart of Jesus, and Angel Wings...
bulbs come from Lake Placid.
History
Lake Placid, which was formerly called Lake Stearns, was chartered on December 1, 1925. Dr. Melvil DeweyMelvil Dewey
Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey was an American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, and a founder of the Lake Placid Club....
, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, and the founder of the Lake Placid Club
Lake Placid Club
The Lake Placid Club was a social and recreation club founded 1895 in Lake Placid, New York by Melvil Dewey, and intended as a place where educators might find health, strength and inspiration at modest cost...
, proposed that Lake Stearns change its name to Lake Placid. On April 29, 1927 the Lake Stearns Commissioners accepted Dr. Dewey's proposal to change the town's name from Lake Stearns to Lake Placid. Subsequently, they submitted a request to the Florida State Legislature. On June 6, 1927 the Town of Lake Stearns was chartered as Lake Placid.
Geography
Lake Placid is located at 27°17′47"N 81°21′53"W (27.296252, -81.364817). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 2.84 square miles (7.4 km²). 2.57 square miles (6.7 km²) of it is land and 0.27 square mile (0.6992967897 km²) of it (9.51%) is water.
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 1,668 people, 646 households, and 395 families residing in the town. 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 650.2 per square mile (250.6/km²). There were 776 housing units at an average density of 302.5 per square mile (116.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.38% White, 9.95% African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 10.43% 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 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.46% of the population.
There were 646 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,178, and the median income for a family was $28,194. Males had a median income of $21,629 versus $14,650 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 town was $11,855. About 22.7% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Lake Placid had a population of 2,223. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 46.1% Hispanic or Latino and of race limited to non-Hispanic person was 44.6% white, 6.7% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 1.2% from two or more races.
Television
Lake Placid is located in a fringe viewing area; its television stations originate in distant cities. Local television services offer signals from WFTVWFTV
WFTV, channel 9, is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central Florida that is licensed to Orlando. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter between Bithlo and Christmas. Owned by Cox Enterprises, WFTV is sister to Independent WRDQ. The two stations...
, the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, WINK
WINK-TV
WINK-TV, virtual channel 11, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southwest Florida that is licensed to Fort Myers. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 50 from a transmitter north of Fort Myers Shores near the Lee and Charlotte County line in Punta Gorda. The...
, the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate in Fort Myers
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
/Naples
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
, WFLA
WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV, virtual channel 8, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. The station is the flagship station of its owner and operator, Media General. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida. WFLA is the only station in the market to be...
, the Tampa Bay area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate, and WTVT
WTVT
WTVT, channel 13, is a television station in Tampa, Florida. It is an owned and operated station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of the News Corporation...
, the Tampa Bay area Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate.
Radio
Lake Placid is part of the Sebring Radio market, which is ranked as the 288th largest in the United States by ArbitronArbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
. There are no radio stations whose studios or broadcasting towers are located in Lake Placid.
Newspapers
Local print media include the News-Sun, a newspaper published on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and the weekly Lake Placid Journal. Highlands TodayHighlands Today
Highlands Today is a Media General-owned newspaper published in Sebring, Florida. It is associated with The Tampa Tribune; Copies of the Tribune distributed in Highlands County, Florida include the supplement, which focuses on issues relevant to Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid, and other...
is a daily local supplement to The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune
The Tampa Tribune, published in Tampa, Florida, is one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area, second in circulation and readership to the St. Petersburg Times. The paper's tagline is "Life...
, which covers newsworthy events in Highlands County.