Things to Do

Perfectly positioned between Tampa and Orlando for quick access to big city amenities, vibrant downtowns and thriving cultural communities; 239 sunny days each year; virtually endless outdoor recreational opportunities and world-class beaches and theme parks including Walt Disney World and Legoland within close proximity.

Arts & Culture

Bartowans love to create, explore and participate in their community. Arts and culture are significant contributors to our hometown feel. We embrace community creativity and encourage our residents to be active partners in enrichment opportunities. Bartow is one of the first cities in Florida to have an interactive walking tour accessed through an online app. You can hear train whistles and horses clopping down the street, while you’re listening to the stories about incredible historic places.

History

The history of Bartow spans over 150 years, although humans have inhabited the area for close to 12,000 years. Established in 1851 by Redding Blount, the city has gone from being a small frontier outpost vulnerable to Seminole Indian attack to being the county seat of Polk County, a county with more than half a million people.

Healthcare

Bartow offers a wide range of medical services complete with a regional medical center, nursing homes and assisted living services. In addition, the Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc. Health and Life Center offers a variety of health and aging services, and is home to several human services agencies. The Polk County Health Department is in Bartow. The county agency directs and coordinates the health and medical response for emergencies, and identifies resources to meet the needs of the community. Public health services, including disease control, food, water, and drug safety, radiological and biological hazard response, and public health information are also provided.

The Great Outdoors

When your annual mean temperature is 72.2 degrees, and the daily range between high and low temperatures averages 20.1 degrees in winter and 19.8 degrees in the summer, you can count on being able to spend lots of time outdoors.

Bartow is a perfect place for a leisurely hike. It’s also the right place for serious nature lovers. At the 460-acre Mosaic Peace River Park, you can take a walk on a wooden boardwalk through century-old cypress trees, majestic oaks and pines. Experience the sites and sounds of nature as you head toward the river bank. Birds and wildlife abound in this pristine setting. This park is also a great place for horseback riding.