Commonly and erroneously referred to as "Highlands City," the typo has crept up in signage, including even a major train station. This particular typo was highlighted by Lakeland Ledger's eagle eye reporter Courtland Anderson.
Highland City is part of Polk County and is considered to be part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven Metropolitan area. Originally established as the military Fort Fraser in 1837, the fort was eventually abandoned, but the town continued to thrive. However, the town was known as the Haskell community until the community was changed to Highland City in 1925. The community is extremely small, only about 0.8 square miles and less than 3,000 people live in the area according to US Census numbers.
Moving to Highland City
Like most of the Florida area, new residents can expect sunny skies and warm temperatures. However, moving during the height of the summer months may not be advisable, especially for individuals who have a lot of heavy items to move. It's much better to move into the area during the spring time, when it's cooler. The area does have a few moving truck rental options in the area, so new residents won't have to travel far to drop off a moving truck. Additionally, anyone hoping to sign a lease or rental agreement should bring along the proper identification, and a social security card for credit check purposes. Once the lease is signed, do remember to bring a copy when it's time to sign up for utilities. Proof of residence is required before utilities can be turned on at any address.
Highland City Neighborhoods
Highland City has a variety of housing options that will suit just about any taste and income level. There are luxury apartments in Highland City, Florida, as well as other rental properties. It's best to look to the smaller sections of the area to find a studio for rent. However, condo rentals are interspersed throughout.
Fox Tree: This is a smaller neighborhood located just off of Crews Lake Drive in the Highland City area. Over 80 people in Highland City reside on the tiny looped road that is aptly dubbed Fox Tree Lane.
The Strickland area: Located just off Strickland Ave., it is considered to be another small section of Highland City. Strickland Court and Strickland Manor are the two small roads that serve this very small neighborhood. According to the Census, less than 60 residents occupy the tiny area.
Valley View Terrace: This area is served by the winding Big Valley Drive. Housing and rental apartments are located in this area. Valley View Terrace is a bit larger than the Fox Tree and Strickland areas.
The Waterwood area: This is sometimes considered to be part of Bartow, instead of Highland City. This area is slightly larger than the Strickland and Fox Tree. However, this area is smaller than Valley View Terrace. Waterwood offers house rentals and owner-occupied properties as housing options.
Life in Highland City
This small community of Highland City is conveniently located to a major metropolitan area. The area is smaller, and growth is managed. Many area residents live in Highland City, but work in the Winter Haven and Lakeland areas. Highland City is an area that is easily traversed by walking, but public transit options are available.
Since Highland City is such a small geography, there aren't a lot of things to do in the immediate area. In most cases, residents and visitors head over to Lakeland, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. In fact, Highland City is actually considered to be part of Lakeland. There are a variety of restaurant choices of all flavors located in Lakeland. From steak houses to Thai cuisine, there are eateries located nearby to suit every taste imaginable. The majority of these businesses do belong to local residents and you can find most of the chain-type organizations in the larger Lakeland area.
Area residents and visitors can enjoy the Navy's Blue Angels performances in nearby Lakeland. Classic car shows and motorcycle gatherings also draw a huge crowd in this area. More recently, an annual Ice Cream festival has also been held to appeal to residents and visitors of all ages.