Winter Haven

The story in Winter Haven's 100th and 101st years of existence as city was economic development: Legoland Florida opened and brought 1,000 jobs, The Landings development got underway -- at the Orange Dome's expense -- and work began around the soon-to-be-built CSX rail terminal.

City commissioners and area-business owners worked to find a way to best leverage the three big projects and to increase growth throughout the entire city; they formed the Winter Haven Economic Development Council, the downtown parking garage project got started to add much-needed parking relief to downtown businesses while city officials and public-facilities stakeholders worked to find new homes for Theatre Winter Haven ,and the Rowdy Gaines Pool and accompanying recreation center to make way for The Landings shopping center.

Incorporated: Nov. 27, 1923

Size: 39.7 square miles, of which 8.2 square miles is water surface.

Population: 34,691

Website: www.mywinterhaven.com

Government: The City Commission has five members. The city manager is appointed. The commissioners choose a mayor and mayor pro-tem from among themselves to serve one-year terms. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms on a rotating basis. The mayor is paid $14,561 per year, and commissioners are paid $11,705 per year. Commission meetings are at 7:30 p.m. and Commission workshops are at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Commissioners also hold bimonthly Wednesday morning workshops which are scheduled on a per-meeting basis.

City Commission: Mayor J.P. Powell, 863-291-8504; Mayor Pro-Tem Nat Birdsong, 863-299-3263; Jamie Beckett, 863-299-9012; Steven Hunnicutt, 863-326-9783; and Pete Chichetto, 863-207-1903.

Budget: $78.8 million

Property tax rate: $5.79 per $1,000 of taxable value.

City Manager: Dale Smith, 863-291-5600; email: dsmith@mywinterhaven.com

City Hall: 451 Third St. N.W. 863-291-5600; Planning Department: 863-291-5600; Human Resources: 863-291-5650

Police Department: 863-291-5858, www.winterhavenpd.com

Fire Department: 863-291-5677, whfd.mywinterhaven.com

Sewer and Water: 863-291-5678; after hours, 863-291-5767

Electric Service: Tampa Electric Co., 863-299-0800, www.tampaelectric.com

Garbage Pickup: 863-291-5757; Street Cleanup Services: 863-291-5852

Code Enforcement and Occupational Licenses: 863-291-5697; Building Permits and Business Tax Receipts: 863-291-5695

Cemeteries: Lakeside, 863-291-5762; Rolling Hills, 863-291-5761

Leisure Services: 863-291-5656

Airport: Winter Haven Municipal Airport, 2073 U.S. 92., 863-293-2501, 298-4551, whma.mywinterhaven.com

Busses: Winter Haven Area Transit, 863-688-7433; Greyhound Bus Lines.

Winter Haven Public Library: 325 Ave. A N.W., 863-291-5880, http://whpl.mywinterhaven.com/

Recreation: Chain of Lakes Complex, 863-291-5656; Winter Haven Recreational and Cultural Center, 863-291-5675; Ridge Art, 863-291-5661; Senior Adult Center, 863-291-5870; Tennis Center, 863-291-5690; and Willowbrook Golf Course, 863-291-5897, 5899. The city has two swimming pools at the Chain of Lakes Complex and the Northeast Recreational and Cultural Center. City parks include Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Rotary Park, Sportsman Park, Lake Martha Park and Inman Park. Nature parks: South Lake Howard, Lake Hartridge and Lake Maude. Boat ramps are offered on many lof the llakes throughout the city.

Public Schools: Winter Haven High, Lake Region High, Chain of Lakes Collegiate High, Ridge Career Center; Jewett Academy, Denison Middle and Westwood Middle; Jewett School of the Arts; and Brigham Academy, Chain of Lakes Elementary, Elbert Elementary, Garden Grove Elementary, Garner Elementary, Inwood Elementary, Lake Shipp Elementary, Snively Elementary and Wahneta Elementary schools.

Chamber of Commerce: 401 Ave. B N.W. Phone, 863-293-2138. Fax, 863-297-5818. email, chamber1@winterhavenfl.com