Frostproof, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frostproof, Florida
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Frostproof Middle/Senior High School
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| Motto(s):
"The Friendly City"
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Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
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| Country | United States of America | |
| State | Florida | |
| County | Polk | |
| Settled | 1850-1880s | |
| Incorporated | 1921 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 19.34 sq mi (50.08 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.79 sq mi (27.94 km2) | |
| • Water | 8.55 sq mi (22.14 km2) | |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,877 | |
| • Density | 266.69/sq mi (102.97/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
33843
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| Area code(s) | 863 | |
| FIPS code | 12-24900 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403667 | |
| Website | Frostproof Government Website | |
Frostproof is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The city is located in southern Polk County on the Lake Wales Ridge. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,877 at the 2020 census.
Contents
History
The settlement in the area now known as Frostproof was established in 1850. This settlement, like many in central Florida at the time, was set up as a fort and was called Fort Clinch. The fort was named after the local Lake Clinch which was, in turn, named after the Seminole War commander Duncan Lamont Clinch.
This settlement was abandoned only months later. By the 1880s, Frostproof began to see its first permanent settlers as homesteaders were attracted to the abundant hunting in the area which included much deer and turkey, as well as ample fishing.
The name was a marketing ploy to convince potential landowners that the town has never had, and never would have, a frost that could destroy the large citrus-driven economy. However, only a couple of years later, a frost during The Great Freeze of 1895 killed most of the citrus in Frostproof. Prior to being named Frostproof, the town was named Keystone City. However, after being confused regularly with Keystone Heights, a city in North Florida, Frostproof was coined.
W.H. Overocker applied for the first post office here in 1892, with a name of Keystone City. Postal authorities disallowed it because there was already a Keystone Heights in Florida. Joseph Washington Carson suggested Frostproof as a substitute, but Overocker instead chose Lakemont. Carson's choice of Frostproof was based on the town's relatively minor damage from the freeze in December 1894, which ruined much of the state's citrus crop.
Carson volunteered to deliver the application to the post office in Fort Meade and on the way changed the name from Lakemont to Frostproof, which was approved. Overocker, to his surprise, was appointed the postmaster of Frostproof. The early post office was located on the corner of Wall Street and Carson Avenue.
After many delays, Frostproof first received rail service in 1912. Frostproof's Historic Train Depot no longer has passenger trains or freight arriving or departing; however, it is open for tours.
The Historic Downtown District runs East and West between Lake Clinch and Lake Reedy on Wall Street.
Geography
Frostproof is located between two lakes: Lake Clinch and Lake Reedy. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), all land. Frostproof is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.
Climate
Frostproof is located in the humid subtropical climate zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). In spite of the city's name, Frostproof experiences at least one night of sub-freezing temperatures during 65% of its winters.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,406 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,704 | 21.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,329 | 36.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,664 | 14.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,814 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,995 | 6.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,808 | −6.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,975 | 5.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,992 | 0.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,877 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 and 2020 census
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,220 | 1,942 | 74.20% | 67.50% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 121 | 149 | 4.04% | 5.18% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 13 | 18 | 0.43% | 0.63% |
| Asian (NH) | 7 | 13 | 0.23% | 0.45% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Some other race (NH) | 0 | 6 | 0.00% | 0.21% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 27 | 106 | 0.90% | 3.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 604 | 642 | 20.19% | 22.31% |
| Total | 2,992 | 2,877 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,877 people, 1,283 households, and 833 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,992 people, 1,181 households, and 892 families residing in the city.
Notable people
- Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas
- Ben Hill Griffin Jr., founder of the citrus empire, politician, and member of the Forbes 400 in 1989
- Alvin Harper, former NFL American football wide receiver
- Travis Henry, former NFL American football running back
- Nickell Robey, NFL American football cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams
Business
Frostproof is home to the Latt Maxcy Corporation and Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., both members of the agricultural cooperative Florida's Natural. Frostproof is also home to the Historic Ramon Theater built in 1925. The theater is still in operation and hosts live music and entertainment as well as murder mystery events. The Historic Atlantic Coast Line Train Depot, built in 1912, has been renovated and is "Polk County's Newest Old Attraction." Art and Culture plays a significant role in Frostproof.
Media
- The city has a weekly newspaper, the Frostproof News.
- The Ledger, based in Lakeland, is the most popular daily newspaper.
- While there are no television stations located in Frostproof, broadcast signals from Tampa Bay and Orlando area television stations are available.
- Most cable and satellite providers offer Tampa Bay and Orlando area stations. Starlink is available in the rural areas of Frostproof.
- Attractions and places of local interest may be found by visiting the “Visit Frostproof” website created by a local tourism ambassador.
Transportation
- State Road 17 – The Scenic Highway, leading north to Lake Wales
- US 27 – A four-lane divided highway running north–south just west of town, also leading northward to Lake Wales, and southward to Sebring.
- US 98 – Running west from US 27, this road leads to Ft. Meade and eventually to Bartow and Lakeland. Southbound, it is co-signed with US 27.
Education
The public schools in Frostproof are operated by the Polk County School Board. There are three schools in Frostproof: Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, Frostproof Elementary School and Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School. The high school in Frostproof has won the state football championship three times—in 1974, 1992, and 1999—and the state softball championship once, in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Frostproof para niños
