Frostproof, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frostproof, Florida
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Frostproof Middle/Senior High School
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| Motto(s):
"The Friendly City"
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Location in Polk County and the state of Florida
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| Country | United States of America | |
| State | Florida | |
| County | Polk | |
| Settled | 1850-1880s | |
| Incorporated | 1921 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 19.34 sq mi (50.08 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.79 sq mi (27.94 km2) | |
| • Water | 8.55 sq mi (22.14 km2) | |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,877 | |
| • Density | 266.69/sq mi (102.97/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
33843
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| Area code(s) | 863 | |
| FIPS code | 12-24900 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403667 | |
| Website | Frostproof Government Website | |
Frostproof is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is located in the southern part of Polk County, on a landform called the Lake Wales Ridge. Frostproof is part of the larger Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Area. In 2020, about 2,877 people lived there.
Contents
History of Frostproof
The first settlement in the area that is now Frostproof began around 1850. It was set up as a fort and called Fort Clinch. This fort was named after a nearby lake, which was named after a commander from the Seminole War, Duncan Lamont Clinch.
However, this first settlement was left empty after only a few months. By the 1880s, people started to settle permanently in Frostproof. They were attracted by the great hunting for deer and turkey, and excellent fishing.
How Frostproof Got Its Name
The name "Frostproof" was chosen to make people believe that the town never had, and never would have, a frost that could harm the important citrus crops. This was a way to attract new landowners. However, just a couple of years later, a big freeze in 1895 (known as The Great Freeze) destroyed most of the citrus in Frostproof.
Before it was called Frostproof, the town's name was Keystone City. But people often confused it with Keystone Heights, a city in North Florida. So, a new name was needed.
W.H. Overocker applied for the first post office in 1892, using the name Keystone City. Postal officials said no because of Keystone Heights. Joseph Washington Carson suggested "Frostproof" instead. Overocker chose "Lakemont."
Carson offered to take the application to the post office in Fort Meade. On the way, he secretly changed the name from Lakemont to Frostproof. The name was approved, and Overocker was surprised to be named the postmaster of Frostproof! The first post office was on Wall Street and Carson Avenue.
Early Transportation
Frostproof first received train service in 1912 after many delays. Today, the Historic Train Depot in Frostproof no longer has passenger or freight trains. However, you can still visit it for tours.
The Historic Downtown District of Frostproof is located on Wall Street. It runs between Lake Clinch and Lake Reedy.
Geography of Frostproof
Frostproof is uniquely located between two lakes: Lake Clinch and Lake Reedy. The city covers about 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) of land. Frostproof is part of the Central Florida Highlands, which means its land is mostly flat with some gentle rolling hills.
Climate in Frostproof
Frostproof has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. Even though the city is called "Frostproof," it actually experiences freezing temperatures at least one night during 65% of its winters.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,406 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,704 | 21.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,329 | 36.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,664 | 14.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,814 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,995 | 6.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,808 | −6.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,975 | 5.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,992 | 0.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,877 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Changes (2010 and 2020)
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Frostproof, based on the 2010 and 2020 census reports. "NH" means "Non-Hispanic."
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White (NH) | 2,220 | 1,942 | 74.20% | 67.50% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 121 | 149 | 4.04% | 5.18% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 13 | 18 | 0.43% | 0.63% |
| Asian (NH) | 7 | 13 | 0.23% | 0.45% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Some other race (NH) | 0 | 6 | 0.00% | 0.21% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 27 | 106 | 0.90% | 3.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 604 | 642 | 20.19% | 22.31% |
| Total | 2,992 | 2,877 |
In 2020, there were 2,877 people living in Frostproof. These people lived in 1,283 households, with 833 of those being families.
In 2010, there were 2,992 people in the city. They lived in 1,181 households, and 892 of those were families.
Notable People from Frostproof
Some well-known people have connections to Frostproof:
- Adam W. Greenway: He is the president of a seminary (a school for religious studies) in Texas.
- Ben Hill Griffin Jr.: He founded a large citrus company and was a politician. He was even listed among the richest people in America in 1989.
- Alvin Harper: A former professional American football wide receiver in the NFL.
- Travis Henry: A former professional American football running back in the NFL.
- Nickell Robey: A professional American football cornerback who played for the Los Angeles Rams.
Local Businesses and Culture
Frostproof is home to big agricultural businesses like Latt Maxcy Corporation and Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. These companies are part of Florida's Natural, a group that works together to sell citrus products.
The city also has the Historic Ramon Theater, which was built in 1925. It still hosts live music, entertainment, and even murder mystery events. The Historic Atlantic Coast Line Train Depot, built in 1912, has been restored and is a popular local attraction. Art and culture are important parts of life in Frostproof.
Media and News
If you want to know what's happening in Frostproof, you can read the weekly newspaper, the Frostproof News. The most popular daily newspaper in the area is The Ledger, which is based in Lakeland.
While Frostproof doesn't have its own TV stations, you can watch broadcasts from stations in the Tampa Bay and Orlando areas. Most cable and satellite TV services offer these channels. In rural parts of Frostproof, you can even get internet service from Starlink. To find out about local attractions, you can visit the "Visit Frostproof" website.
Transportation Around Frostproof
Getting around Frostproof and to nearby cities is easy with these main roads:
- State Road 17: This road is known as the Scenic Highway. It goes north to Lake Wales.
- US 27: This is a four-lane highway that runs north and south just west of town. It also leads north to Lake Wales and south to Sebring.
- US 98: This road goes west from US 27. It leads to Ft. Meade, and then on to Bartow and Lakeland. Southbound, it shares the same path as US 27.
Education in Frostproof
The public schools in Frostproof are managed by the Polk County School Board. There are three schools in the city:
- Frostproof Middle-Senior High School
- Frostproof Elementary School
- Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School
The high school in Frostproof has a strong sports history. Its football team has won the state championship three times (in 1974, 1992, and 1999). The softball team also won a state championship in 2006.
Images for kids
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Welcome sign for Frostproof, Florida.
See also
In Spanish: Frostproof para niños
