Lake Wales, Florida


Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 16,361 at the 2020 census.

History

Early history

A survey by W. A. Williams and J. Jackson, deputy surveyors of the State of Florida was made of the region around present-day Lake Wales. The area was considered to be uninhabitable by early settlers. By 1879, the land around the present city was surveyed again by Sidney Irving Wailes, an agent for the Florida Land and Improvement Co., who changed the name of a lake, then known as Watts Lake, to Lake Wailes.
In 1902, G. V. Tillman scouted the region of Lake Wales and saw the potential for turpentine, citrus, and other industries. He developed the idea to settle the area around Lake Wailes.

Settlement

The city of Lake Wales was established near the lake in 1911–1912, planned by the Lake Wales Land Company. The spelling Wales was used for the city, although the lake is still generally spelled Lake Wailes. Allen Carleton Nydegger, a civil engineer, was contracted by the Lake Wales Land Company to plot out the community of Lake Wales. He and his crew camped on the shores of Crystal Lake and spent months plotting out the new community.
The City of Lake Wales was officially incorporated as a town in May 1917.

Florida Land Boom

In 1925, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad built a new line from Haines City joining lines to Everglades City. A depot was opened on this line at Lake Wales in 1928.

21st century

In 2004, Lake Wales endured the effects of three hurricanes which came through the area: Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne. The three hurricanes brought hurricane-force winds to the Lake Wales area within a space of 44 days. In 2017, Hurricane Irma brought more hurricane-force winds to Lake Wales.

Geography

The town lies near the geographical center of the Florida peninsula. Lake Wales is located on the Lake Wales Ridge, a sandy upland area running roughly parallel to both coasts in the center of the peninsula. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Lake Wales is located in Central Florida, west of Lake Kissimmee and east of Tampa.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Lake Wales has a humid subtropical climate, bordering on a tropical monsoon and dry-winter tropical savanna climate because of its hot days and warm nights, even in "winter". January is the only month of the year that has an average daily mean temperature below. The town is in hardiness zone 9b. In 2004, the eyes of Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, and Hurricane Jeanne all passed near the town. Virtually all physical damage has been restored.

Wildlife and environmental lands

is a preserve located behind Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School. Grassy Lake is primarily made up of Lake Wales Ridge scrub land.

Government and politics

Municipal government

Lake Wales is governed by a five-person city commission under the Commission-Manager form of government. The day-to-day operations of the city are run by a professional city manager who is appointed by the elected city commission.

Elected officials and elections

City Commission
There are five commission members, of which four are city commissioners and one mayor. The legislative power of the city is vested in the city commission and it determines policies to be implemented by the City Manager.
The city commission is responsible for adopting ordinances, adopting an annual budget, developing an overall vision for the city, zoning changes, comprehensive plan amendments, certain types of development, redevelopment, franchises for provision of public services, bid awards, water and sewer rate changes, and changes in tax rate. The commission is also responsible for appointing the City Manager, the City Clerk, and the City Attorney.
SeatOffice HolderIn Office Since
1 / At-LargeJack Hilligoss2022
2Daniel Williams2021
3Keith Thompson2023
4Carol Gillespie2024
5Robin Gibson2016
Mayor
The mayor is presiding officer of the city commission and has a voice and a vote in its proceedings but no veto power. The current mayor is Jack Hilligoss, who took office in May 2022.
Elections and terms of office
Lake Wales municipal elections are nonpartisan.
Each member of the commission is elected to serve a 3-year term. The five commission members are elected at large, of which four commission members must reside and be nominated in the district represented by the seat to which they are elected. The mayor and can reside in any district of the city.
The commission shall elect from among its members a deputy mayor who shall act as mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor, and if a vacancy occurs, shall become mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Law enforcement

In 2016, a Lake Wales police officer, Travis Worley, was accused by a whistleblower on the Lake Wales police force of calling a black suspect a "nigger". The department suspended Worley for one day, but denied that he had used a racial slur. In 2019, he was named Lake Wales’ Officer of the Year. The whistleblower said she was subsequently targeted for punishment by the Lake Wales police department and ultimately resigned. Worley has subsequently been accused on at least two occasions of using the N-word, including once in front of students at the local high school.

Demographics

RacePop 2010Pop 2020% 2010% 2020
White 7,8207,75054.97%47.37%
Black or African American 3,7843,91826.60%23.95%
Native American or Alaska Native 46320.32%0.20%
Asian 1171670.82%1.02%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian 350.02%0.03%
Some other race 29560.20%0.34%
Two or more races/Multiracial 2045171.43%3.16%
Hispanic or Latino 2,2223,91615.62%23.93%
Total14,22516,361

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,361 people, 6,363 households, and 4,015 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,225 people, 5,710 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city.

Local attractions

Bus service is provided to Winter Haven and Frostproof by Winter Haven Area Transit.
Lake Wales Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located west of the central business district of the city of Lake Wales in Polk County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned.
Chalet Suzanne Air Strip This single grass strip four miles north of downtown serves light aircraft arriving at the Chalet Suzanne Inn and Restaurant, a local landmark.

Media

Lake Wales is part of the Tampa/St. Pete television market, the 13th largest in the country and part of the local Lakeland/Winter Haven radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country.