Lake Wales, Florida

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Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,194 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,802 ^[1]. The center of population of Florida is located in Lake Wales [2]. Lake Wales is located in central Florida, west of Lake Kissimmee and east of Tampa. The Shrine of Ste Anne des Lacs is nearby. Among the attractions in Lake Wales are Bok Tower Gardens, Chalet Suzanne, and Spook Hill, an optical illusion which makes a car in neutral appear as if it is traveling uphill (gravity hill). A commercial historic district in the heart of the old town contains important examples of architecture from the period of the Great Florida Land Boom of the early 20th century. The district's tallest building, the Hotel Grand, is boarded up and at risk of demolition.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Schools
- 3.1 Future Plans
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Lake Wales is located at 27°54′17″N, 81°35′3″W (27.904707, -81.584031)^GR1. The town lies almost in the exact centre of the Florida peninsula. In 2004 the eyes of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne all passed over the town, the first known instance of a city being struck multiple times in a single season. Virtually all physical damage has been restored.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.3 km² (14.0 mi²). 34.6 km² (13.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.7 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (4.71%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 10,194 people, 4,044 households, and 2,563 families residing in the city. The population density was 294.8/km² (763.9/mi²). There were 4,598 housing units at an average density of 133.0/km² (344.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.49% White, 34.59% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.62% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.95% of the population.

There were 4,044 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,884, and the median income for a family was $33,029. Males had a median income of $27,809 versus $20,568 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,106. About 16.9% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.2% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Schools

Lake Wales is home to nine schools, five of which are charter, three of which are traditional public schools and two private schools. Dale R Fair Babson Park Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, Lake Wales High School and Polk Avenue Elementary were converted to charter status in the Fall of 2004.McLaughlin Middle School, Roosevelt Academy Of Leadership And Applied Technology School, and Spookhill Elementary School are still traditional public schools. Lake Wales Lutheran Schools and The Vanguard School are private.

Lake Wales is hoping that the new charter initiative has several advantages: 1) educational innovation, 2) student choices, 3) school achievement, 4) local governance, 5) discipline, 6) teacher advantages, and 7) funding advantages.

The district is home to 4, 675 students: 56.56% White, 31.38% Black, .3% Asians, 11.66% Hispanic and .11% Native America.

Lake Wales is also home to two colleges, Warner Southern College and Weber International University.

[edit] Future Plans

Lake Wales High School (LWHS) plans to return the teaching of French and offer more college level courses. School officials plan to collaborate with Polk Community College, the University of Central Florida and Lake Wales Hospital to bring a higher level of learning to the students. Since the charter LWHS has gone from one reading teacher to four reading teachers. They are in the process of adding an introduction to the engineering program with the collaboration of specialized professors from the University of Central Florida. And they are looking into the addition of German classes, upon student’s approval. LWHS is hoping to raise 1 million dollars for renovations. By using fundraising and community support the school is hoping to not only remodel the academic structure but also transform the scenery.

To compensate for the lack of grades sixth through eight in the charter system at the present time, Hillcrest Elementary and Babson Park Elementary have requested to have sixth grade added to their curriculum. In the two consecutive years Babson Park hopes to include seventh and eighth grade.

In the Fall of 2006, Lake Wales charter schools plan to open Bok Academy. An academy that will be digital aged focused and hopes of entailing the International Baccalaureate program and Advanced Placement classes. Although the main focus of the school will be laptops and the most up to date research, officials do not plan to abandon traditional reading and historical education.