Bartow

Understand

History

While Florida was first obtained by the United States in 1819, the central and southern regions of this new territory remained largely unsettled by Europeans due to already being inhabited by the Seminole tribe, not to mention the heat and the high humidity of the region. Following the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842, small groups of settlers began to trek into the interior of this region and build some of the first permanent settlements in this region, building forts to deter Seminole attacks. In 1851, the first permanent settlers reached this location near the headwaters of the Peace River and established Fort Blount (a quarter-mile west of the 1908 courthouse). The settlement remained small for many years. In 1861, Polk County was separated from Hillsborough County, with Fort Blout being chosen as the county seat.

The Civil War halted development, but in 1867 county commissioners renamed Fort Blount after Francis Bartow—the first Confederate officer to die in the war. A few years later, land donations from the cattle baron and largest landowner in the region, Jacob Summerlin, allowed the Polk County government and the city of Bartow to develop: 40 acres for the county government, 20 acres for a school, and 20 acres each for two churches. In 1887, the first brick schoolhouse south of Jacksonville was built and named "Summerlin Institute".

Climate

Get in

By car

The only feasible way to enter Bartow is by car. Bartow is located at the confluence of US 17, US 98, and SR 60.

By bus

Bus service is available from Lakeland or Winter Haven by the Citrus Connection bus service.

By plane

Get around

By car

By bus

By taxi

Go next

• Winter Haven
• Lakeland