The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Lakeland, Florida, United States.
19th century
1884 South Florida Railroad begins operating Freedmen establish St. John's Baptist Church in what would come to be called the Moorehead community south of Lake WireKimberly C. Moore, "Confederate vets, former slaves form Lakeland’s history", The Ledger, 09 May 2018; accessed 27 June 2018 Town platted on land of Abraham Munn 1885 – Town of Lakeland incorporated on January 1, 1885. Kentucky businessman, Abraham Munn, who had purchased 80 acres of land in what is now downtown Lakeland in 1882 and platted the land for the town the previous year. He donated the land and money to build the first railroad depot in Lakeland which helped boost transportation and enterprise 1891 – Electric lighting introduced 1894 Acton becomes part of Lakeland "Freeze damages citrus crops" 1900 – Population: 1,180
20th century 1904 – Fire 1905 – Population: 3,299 1910 – Munn Park and the Confederate monument were dedicated 1911 – Lakeland Evening Telegram newspaper begins publication 1912 – Auditorium built 1913 – City Hall built 1915 – Lakeland Morning Star newspaper begins publication 1916 – Morrell Memorial Hospital opens 1921 – William Bowles was the last of 20 African-American men lynched in the county since Reconstruction; he had allegedly insulted a white womanKimberly C. Moore, "Lynchings, Klan activity part of Polk’s history", The Ledger, 07 May 2018 1922 – Florida Southern College relocates to Lakeland 1924 – Lakeland Terrace Hotel in business 1925 – Henley Field Ball Park opens 1928 – Lakeland Theatre in business – The first high school is opened for Mooreland black students 1930 – Population: 18,554 1933 – Junior Welfare League of Lakeland formed 1935 – Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God established 1936 – WLAK radio begins broadcasting 1937 – Roxy Theatre in business (approximate date) 1941 – Lakeland Ledger newspaper begins publication 1949 – WONN radio begins broadcasting 1953 – Filmland Drive-In cinema in business 1957 – WWAB radio begins broadcasting 1960 – Lakeland Indians baseball team formed 1966 – Joker Marchant Stadium opens 1967 – Much of the Moorehead community is displaced as city uses eminent domain to buy property for civic center and later Veterans Memorial Park 1977 – "It snows in Lakeland" 1980 – Population: 47,406 1988 – Lakeland Square Mall in business 1990 – Population: 70,576 1993 George Jenkins High School opens International Sport Aviation Museum established 1998 – Lakeland.net website online (approximate date)
21st century 2004 – August: Hurricane Charley occurs 2005 – Lakeside Village shopping center in business 2009 – Gow Fields was elected as Lakeland's first African-American mayor 2010 – Population: 97,422 2014 – Florida Polytechnic University opens 2020 – Population: 112,641 2021 – September: A shooting and subsequent shootout occurs in Lakeland, killing four people and injuring a fifth, and resulting in the arrest of a suspect 2022 – Opening of Bonnet Springs Park
See also Lakeland history List of mayors of Lakeland, Florida Polk County history National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Florida Timelines of other cities in the Central Florida area of Florida: Clearwater, Largo, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tampa
References
Bibliography
External links
Items related to Lakeland, Florida, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)