Bartow & Southern Polk

The county seat region in central-southern Polk County, anchored by Bartow — a historic city with classic Florida small-town character, oak-lined streets, and the Polk County courthouse complex. Bartow is centrally located between Lakeland and Winter Haven along US-98 and SR-60, making it accessible from all parts of the county. Fort Meade, further south along US-17, is a small city with deep Florida Cracker heritage and affordable housing. Frostproof, at the southern tip of the county along the Lake Wales Ridge, is surrounded by citrus groves and natural areas. This region has a slower pace and more rural character than the metro's urban cores, with lower housing costs and a strong sense of community identity. Citrus Connection provides bus service connecting Bartow to Lakeland and Winter Haven.