WINTER HAVEN

city, Polk County, central Florida, U.S., situated amid a large cluster of small lakes, 14 mi (23 km) east of Lakeland. The first white settlement (1883) on the site was called Harris' Corner (for the F.A.K. Harris Store) but was renamed Winter Haven in 1884. Citrus groves and tomatoes were cultivated, and the settlement developed as a shipping point with railroad connections at Bartow Junction (Lake Alfred). It was incorporated in 1911 and in 1924 amalgamated with nearby Florence Villa to form the City of Winter Haven. Many canning factories and packinghouses process the local citrus crop. Other economic assets are tourism and recreational facilities, largely based on Cypress Gardens (noted for its botanical gardens), Slocum Water Gardens, and the Florida Citrus Showcase. Polk Community College was opened there in 1964. Pop. (1990) city, 24,725; LakelandWinter Haven MSA, 405,382.