Plant City, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plant City, Florida
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| City of Plant City | ||
Plant City's city hall
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| Nickname(s):
"Winter Strawberry Capital of the World"
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| Motto(s):
"Preserving the Past·Embracing the Future"
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Location in Hillsborough County and the U.S. state of Florida
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 Plant City, Florida
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County |  Hillsborough |
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| Settled (Ichepuckesassa) | c. mid-1800s-1859 | |
| Settled (Cork) | c. 1860-January 9, 1885 | |
| Incorporated (Town of Plant City) | January 10, 1885 | |
| Incorporated (City of Plant City) | 1911 | |
| Named for | Henry B. Plant | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 29.12 sq mi (75.43 km2) | |
| • Land | 28.19 sq mi (73.02 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.93 sq mi (2.41 km2) | |
| Elevation | 128 ft (39 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 39,764 | |
| • Density | 1,410.42/sq mi (544.57/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
33563-33567
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| Area code(s) | 813, 656 | |
| FIPS code | 12-57550 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0289021 | |
Plant City is a city in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. It is located between Brandon and Lakeland. The city is part of the Tampa Bay area. In 2020, about 39,764 people lived there.
Many people think Plant City is named after plants grown in nurseries. However, it is actually named after Henry B. Plant. He was a famous railroad builder.
Plant City is known as the "winter strawberry capital of the world." Each year, it hosts the Florida Strawberry Festival. This big event happens in late winter, usually in February or early March. People from all over the world visit the festival.
Contents
History of Plant City
Plant City had different names in the past. In the mid-1800s, it was called Ichepuckesassa. This name came from a Native American village that used to be there.
In 1860, the community was renamed "Cork". This was after the postmaster's hometown in Ireland.
The city finally got the name "Plant City" on January 10, 1885. This was to honor Henry B. Plant and his South Florida Railroad. The railroad helped the city's farming business grow a lot. In 1911, it officially became the "City of Plant City."
From 1988 to 1997, Plant City was the spring training home for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. They played games at Plant City Stadium.
Geography and Location
Plant City is in the northeastern part of Hillsborough County. Its coordinates are about 28.0142 degrees North and 82.1289 degrees West.
Interstate 4 (I-4) goes through the northern part of the city. You can get on I-4 from Exits 17 to 25. I-4 goes east to Lakeland (about 12 miles) and west to Tampa (about 23 miles).
U.S. Route 92 is a main road that runs through the center of Plant City. It goes in a similar direction to I-4. Florida State Road 39 crosses US 92 in the city center. It goes north to Zephyrhills (about 15 miles) and south to Hopewell (about 6 miles).
The United States Census Bureau says Plant City covers about 28.19 square miles of land. About 0.93 square miles is water.
The area around Plant City is part of the Southern Flatwoods. This region is known for its sandy soil. However, the soil in Plant City is more fertile than usual. This is because it has more organic material and scattered phosphate nodules.
Plant City's Climate
Plant City has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers. The winters are warm and drier. It is almost a tropical climate because only January has an average temperature below 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 349 | — | |
| 1900 | 720 | 106.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,481 | 244.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,729 | 50.3% | |
| 1930 | 6,800 | 82.4% | |
| 1940 | 7,491 | 10.2% | |
| 1950 | 9,230 | 23.2% | |
| 1960 | 15,711 | 70.2% | |
| 1970 | 15,451 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 17,064 | 10.4% | |
| 1990 | 22,754 | 33.3% | |
| 2000 | 29,915 | 31.5% | |
| 2010 | 34,721 | 16.1% | |
| 2020 | 39,764 | 14.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The city's population has grown over the years. In 2020, there were 39,764 people living in Plant City. There were 14,223 households and 9,449 families.
In 2010, the population was 34,721. There were 11,992 households and 8,640 families.
Education in Plant City
The Hillsborough County School District runs all the public schools in Plant City.
Public High Schools
- Durant High School (Grades 9–12)
- Plant City High School (Grades 9–12)
- Simmons Exceptional Center (Grades 9–12)
- Strawberry Crest High School (Dover, FL) (Grades 9–12)
Public Middle Schools
- Marshall Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Tomlin Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Turkey Creek Middle School (Grades 6–8)
Public Elementary Schools
- Bryan Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Burney Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Cork Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Knights Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Lincoln Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Springhead Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Stonewall Jackson Elementary (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Trapnell Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Walden Lake Elementary School (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
- Woodrow Wilson Elementary (Kindergarten–5th Grade)
Other Public Schools
- Plant City Adult Learning Lab (for GED Prep)
- Simmons Career Center (Grades 6–12)
- Teen Parent East Program (Kindergarten–12th Grade)
Private Schools
- Autumn Leaf Academy (Pre-Kindergarten)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church Learning Center (Pre-Kindergarten)
- Faith Christian Academy of Plant City (Kindergarten–12th Grade)
- First Presbyterian Learning Center II (Pre-Kindergarten–Kindergarten)
Bruton Memorial Library
The Quintilla Geer Bruton Memorial Library is in Plant City. It was built in 1960. The library is part of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system. In 2014, it had 44,000 members.
The library offers many programs for kids, teens, and adults. You can use computers there or borrow laptops to use inside the library. They also have free access to online databases, tutoring websites, ebooks, and movies. The library hosts book clubs, workshops on gardening, and craft activities.
Economy and Jobs
Wish Farms, the biggest strawberry producer in Florida, has a large presence in Plant City. This shows how important strawberries are to the city's economy.
Transportation in Plant City
Aviation
Plant City Airport is a public airport. It is located about 2 miles southwest of the city center.
Railroad
Plant City Union Depot was a train station that served different railroads. It stopped passenger service in 1971. The station has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.
Today, CSX owns and runs the train tracks. Amtrak's Silver Star train uses these tracks but does not stop at the station. There is a special deck where people can watch CSX freight trains and the Amtrak Silver Star pass by. The closest Amtrak stations are in Tampa or Lakeland.
Major Highways
I-4 (Interstate 4)
US 92
SR 39
SR 39A
SR 553
SR 566
SR 574
Law Enforcement
The Plant City Police Department (PCPD) is in charge of keeping the city safe. Their budget for 2017-2018 was over $10 million.
Parks, Culture, and Attractions
Historic Places to Visit
Several places in Plant City are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. They include:
- Bing Rooming House
- Downtown Plant City Commercial District
- Downtown Plant City Historic Residential District
- Glover School
- Hillsboro State Bank Building
- Historic Turkey Creek High School
- North Plant City Residential District
- Plant City High School
- Plant City Union Depot
- Standard Oil Service Station
Fun Attractions
- Dinosaur World is a popular place to visit.
Parks to Explore
- Alafia River State Park is located nearby.
- Alderman's Ford Regional Park
- Edward Medard Park and Reservoir is a large preserve. It has a 3.25-mile path for horses, fishing, and other trails.
Famous People from Plant City
- Johni Broome, a college basketball player
- Quintilla Geer Bruton, a person who supported libraries and gave money to good causes
- John Keasler, a columnist who wrote many articles for The Miami News
- Parker Messick, a professional baseball player
- Ashley Moody, the 38th Attorney General of Florida
- Clay Roberts, a professional soccer player and coach
- Jeff Scofield, a racing driver
- Tyler Scofield, a racing driver
- Pam Tillis, a country music singer
Sister Cities
Plant City has a special "sister city" agreement with one other city:
– Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada
See also
In Spanish: Plant City para niños
