Lake Placid, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Placid, Florida
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Town
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| Nickname(s):
The Caladium Capital of the World,
Town of Murals |
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Location in Highlands County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County | Highlands | |
| Settled | 1912 | |
| Incorporated (as Lake Stearns) |
1 December 1925 | |
| Incorporated (as Lake Placid) |
6 June 1927 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-council (Strong Mayor) |
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| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.71 sq mi (12.21 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) 1.4% | |
| Highest elevation | 173 ft (53 m) | |
| Lowest elevation | 72 ft (22 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,360 | |
| • Density | 506.22/sq mi (195.47/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
33852, 33862
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| Area code(s) | 863 | |
| FIPS code | 12-38625 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 285272 | |
Lake Placid is a town in Highlands County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 2,223 and in 2018 the estimated population was 2,439. It is part of the Sebring Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The town has two nicknames: "Town of Murals" and "The Caladium Capital of the World". Lake Placid has 47 murals painted on buildings throughout the town, and 98 percent of the world's caladium bulbs come from Lake Placid. There are 14 caladium farms, spanning 1,200 acres, and these plants have been grown in the area since the 1940s. In 2013, Reader's Digest named Lake Placid America's Most Interesting Town.
The town is home to the Lake Placid Tower, a closed concrete block observation tower that is 240 feet (73 m) tall according to early sources or 270 feet (82 m) tall according to late sources. However, government sources exclude a 270-foot height, allowing only a 240-foot height.
History
Lake Placid, which was formerly called Lake Stearns, was chartered on December 1, 1925. Dr. Melvil Dewey, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, and the founder of the Lake Placid Club in Lake Placid, New York, proposed that Lake Stearns change its name to Lake Placid. On April 29, 1927 the Lake Stearns Commissioners accepted Dr. Dewey's proposal to change the town's name from Lake Stearns to Lake Placid. Subsequently, they submitted a request to the Florida State Legislature. On June 6, 1927 the Town of Lake Stearns was chartered as Lake Placid.
Geography
Lake Placid is located at 27°17′47″N 81°21′53″W / 27.29639°N 81.36472°W (27.296252, -81.364817). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.84 square miles (7.4 km2), of which 2.57 square miles (6.7 km2) is land and .27 square miles (0.7 km2) (9.51%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 582 | — | |
| 1940 | 340 | −41.6% | |
| 1950 | 417 | 22.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,007 | 141.5% | |
| 1970 | 656 | −34.9% | |
| 1980 | 963 | 46.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,158 | 20.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,668 | 44.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,223 | 33.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,360 | 6.2% | |
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As of the census of 2010, there were 2,223 people, 841 households, 490 family households, and 1,040 housing units in the town.
The racial makeup of the town was 69.6% White, 7.1% Black and African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 18.9% Some Other Race, and 2.7% from Two or More Races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.1% of the population.
There were 841 households, of which 58.3% were family households – with one or more people related to the householder or related to one of a same-sex couple by birth, marriage or adoption; and 41.7% were nonfamily households – including same-sex couples with no other relatives. Family households included 29.0% with their own children under 18 years, 37.0% were a husband-wife family, 6.4% were a male householder with no wife present, 14.9% were a female householder with no husband present. Nonfamily households consisted of 12.2% males living alone – 5.8% 65 years and older – and 19.7% females living alone – 19.7% 65 years and older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.21. The median age of the population was 34.4 years.
From the 2016 American Community Survey, the population was spread out, with 10% under 5 years old, 15.3% from 5 to 14, 45.2% from 15 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older (significant margins of error causes total to exceed 100%). The sex ratio was 106.3 males per 100 females. The educational attainment of the population who were a high school graduate or higher was 59.2%, while 12.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher. The poverty rate of the population 25 years and older was 61.0% if less than a high school graduate, 52.2% if a high school graduate, 26.8% with some college, and 13.4% with a bachelor's degree or higher. The median earnings of the population 25 years and over during the past 12 months was $14,938, consisting of $10,625 if less than a high school graduate, $15,187 if a high school graduate, $18,988 with some college, and $147,961 with a bachelor's degree. The per capita income was $17,318. 54.7% of all people had incomes below the poverty level. All figures from the survey had significant margins of error.
Notable people
- Louis Uncle Louie Gregory, American TV actor, music producer, entrepreneur and former director, Homeland Security
Images for kids
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Lake Placid Tower
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The Old Lake Placid Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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One of the 47 murals
See also
In Spanish: Lake Placid (Florida) para niños
