Polk County, Florida
Polk County, Florida | |
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The Polk County Courthouse in Bartow | |
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Flag Seal Logo | |
Location within the U.S. state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: 27°58′N 81°42′W / 27.96°N 81.7°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| Founded | February 8, 1861 |
| Named after | James K. Polk |
| Seat | Bartow |
| Largest city | Lakeland |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,011 sq mi (5,210 km2) |
| • Land | 1,798 sq mi (4,660 km2) |
| • Water | 213 sq mi (550 km2) 10.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 725,046 |
• Estimate (2023) | 818,330 |
| • Density | 403.3/sq mi (155.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 863 |
| Congressional districts | 11th, 15th, 18th |
| Website | www |
Polk County (/poʊk/) is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. The county population was 725,046 in the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 818,330 in July 2023. Its county seat is Bartow, and its largest city is Lakeland. Polk County comprises the Lakeland–Winter Haven metropolitan statistical area (MSA). This MSA is the 77th-most populous one and the 89th-most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.
The center of Florida's population is located in Polk County, near the city of Lake Wales. Polk County is home to one public university, one state college, and four private universities.