Lakeland, Florida – A Brief History
Lakeland was first settled in the 1870s, developed as the railroad reached the area in 1884, and was incorporated January 1, 1885. The town was founded by Abraham Munn (a resident of Louisville, Kentucky), who purchased 80 acres of land in what is now downtown Lakeland in 1882 and platted the land for the town in 1884.
Lakeland is also home to the largest on-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Lakeland is home of baseball’s Detroit Tigers. Their annual spring training and spring training home games are held at Lakeland’s Joker Marchant Stadium. In 1990, the hit movie Edward Scissorhands starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder where the Southgate Shopping Center was featured.
Lakeland and its surrounding area provide a wealth of shopping and dining opportunities. The City’s historic and revitalized Downtown features a popular antiques district, Munn Park and Lake Mirror Park with Hollis Garden. These landmarks are joined by a thriving assortment of shops, museums, art galleries, restaurants, delis and cafes. The Downtown district boasts nearly 90 specialty shops, antique shops and dining establishments.
According to CNN’s Business 2.0 Magazine in its November 2006 issue, Lakeland is ranked at #4 for affordability on where to buy now.