Editing Fort Meade, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = City of Fort Meade
|name                     = Fort Meade, Florida
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
|motto                    = "Historic Fort City"
|image_skyline            = ChristChurch.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Christ Church built in 1889.
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|image_seal               = Seal of Fort Meade, Florida.png
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|image_map                = Polk_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fort_Meade_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States of America]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Florida]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Polk County, Florida|Polk]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Commission-Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = James Watts
|leader_title1            = [[Vice Mayor]]
|leader_name1             = Robert Elliott
|leader_title2            = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
|leader_name2             = James Possum Schaill<br>and Petrina McCutchen
|leader_title3            = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name3             = Jan Bagnall
|leader_title4            = [[City Clerk]]
|leader_name4             = Melissa Cannon 
|established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
|established_date         = 1849
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date3        = 1885<ref>{{cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR|url=http://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/CMRI/2016citiesbyincorporationb682b2c41a9e6c4e8be5ff0000e8da5f.pdf?sfvrsn=0|publisher=Florida League of Cities|accessdate=December 25, 2023}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 22.15
|area_land_km2            = 21.20
|area_water_km2           = 0.95
|area_total_sq_mi         = 8.55
|area_land_sq_mi          = 8.18
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.37
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 5100
|population_density_km2   = 240.62
|population_density_sq_mi = 623.17
|population_metro         = 584,383
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<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|27|45|52|N|81|48|21|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 144
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 33841
|area_code                = [[Area code 863|863]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-24100<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403641<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403641}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cityoffortmeade.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
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|population_est           = 
}}

'''Fort Meade''' is a city in [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]], [[Florida]], United States. {{As of|2020}}, the population recorded by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] is 5,100. It is part of the [[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]]&ndash;[[Winter Haven, Florida|Winter Haven]] [[Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

The city was named for [[George Meade]], at the time an Army lieutenant serving in Florida following the [[Second Seminole War]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19600814&id=W38wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6912,1492998&hl=en | title=First Polk Settlers Had to Build Towns, Then Name Them | work=[[Lakeland Ledger]] | date=14 August 1960 | access-date=22 April 2015 | author=Whitehead, Bill | pages=7–A}}</ref> Fort Meade is home to [[Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School]], several historic buildings, and [[Streamsong]] resort. The area is popular with kayakers and canoers.

==History==

[[Image:Lightsey House.jpg|left|thumb|Lightsey House pictured in a 1907 postcard]]

Fort Meade is the oldest city in Polk County, dating its origins to 1849, when it was established along a new military road from [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] ([[Fort Brooke]]) to [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]] following the Second Seminole War. The town and road were originally sited by then-lieutenant [[George Meade]] of the [[Corps of Topographical Engineers]], whose commander named it for him.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Brown |first= Canter Jr. |date= 1991 |title= Moving a military road |url= http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-2.pdf |magazine= South Florida History Magazine |issue= 2 |pages= 8–11 |via= [[HistoryMiami]] |quote= [[David E. Twiggs|Twiggs]] ... caused the post to be named Fort Meade. |access-date= November 18, 2017 |archive-date= March 13, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044853/http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-2.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> Around the start of the [[American Civil War]] a mounted volunteer company nicknamed the "Hickory Boys" was formed at the fort.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Canter Jr. |title=Florida's Peace River Frontier |date=1991 |publisher=University of Central Florida Press |location=Orlando |isbn=0813010373 |page=142}}</ref> The 1880s business district was located on old Wire Street (now Broadway), which was a casualty of four devastating fires. There are over 150 buildings which are designated as landmarks.<ref name="Historical Highlights">{{cite web
| url = http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/sept94.pdf
| page = 7
| title = Historical Highlights
| work= Polk County Historical Quarterly
| volume= 21
| issue= 2
| date = September 1994
| access-date = 2010-10-01
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120305111039/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/sept94.pdf
| archive-date = 2012-03-05
| url-status = dead
| publisher = Polk County Historical Association
}}</ref> In the 1890s, the [[Fort Meade Street Railway]] operated a horse-drawn service in the town.

The earliest known burial is John I. Hooker (1821–1862), located in the town's Evergreen Cemetery. Fort Meade's [[Christ Church (Fort Meade, Florida)|Christ Church (Episcopal)]] located at 1 North Cleveland Avenue, was built in 1889. It is a [[Vernacular architecture|frame vernacular]] with [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] elements and was designed by architect J. H. Weddell. Located within the [[Fort Meade Historic District|historic district]], the church was used for the [[HBO]] motion picture ''[[Judgment (film)|Judgment]]'', featuring [[Blythe Danner]], [[Keith Carradine]] and [[Jack Warden]] (1990).
 
Future Confederate General [[Stonewall Jackson]] was stationed at the fort in 1851.<ref>{{cite book |author-link= S. C. Gwynne |last= Gwynne |first= S. C. |title= Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson |location= New York |publisher= Scriber |date= 2014 |pages= 110–8 }}</ref> The town was burned by Union forces in 1864<ref name="Map of Civil War, Polk County">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june03.pdf 
 |page=12 
 |title=Map of Civil War, Polk County
 |work= Polk County Historical Quarterly
 |volume= 30
 |issue= 1 
 |date= June 2003
 |access-date= 26 September 2010 
 |publisher=Polk County Historical Association 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402101638/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/pdf/june03.pdf 
 |archive-date= 2 April 2012
}}</ref>  and all of the original structures were destroyed, except the second fort which was dismantled in the 1890s. Fort Meade has over 300 homes on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and a handful that date to the late 1800s.

===Historic homes and buildings===

* [[Old Fort Meade School House|Old Fort Meade School House Museum]], c. 1885
* [[Rev. Wm James Reid House]], c. 1900
* [[W.O. Williams/R.C. McClellan House]], c. 1898

==Geography and climate==
Fort Meade is located 20 miles southwest of [[Legoland Florida|Legoland]] in Winter Haven. Fort Meade is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the [[Atlantic coastal plain]], with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.<ref name="Florida's Geological History">{{cite web
| url = http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw208
| title = Florida's Geological History
| access-date = 2010-10-14
| publisher = University of Florida
}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|13.0|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|12.9|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.1|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (1.00%) is water.

Fort Meade is located in the [[humid subtropical climate]] zone, as designated by ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfa'').<ref name="Koppen">{{cite web
 |url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/ 
 |title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated 
 |date=2008-11-06 
 |access-date=2010-09-10 
 |publisher=University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906034159/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/ 
 |archive-date=2010-09-06 
}}</ref>

==Economy==
Economic growth has been evident in Fort Meade. [[The Mosaic Company|Mosaic Corporation]] developed a world class 10,000 acre golf and spa resort named Streamsong nearby. [[Legoland Florida]] opened on October 15, 2011, and is having an economic impact on Fort Meade and the surrounding areas. Many of the historic homes are being purchased and restored despite a depressed Florida real estate market.<ref name="Streamsong Mosaic">{{cite web
| url = http://www.streamsongresort.com/
| page = 6
| title = Streamsong Resort
| year = 2011
| access-date = 2011-07-11
| publisher = Streamsong Resort
}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 105
|1890= 267
|1900= 261
|1910= 1165
|1920= 2029
|1930= 1981
|1940= 1992
|1950= 2803
|1960= 4014
|1970= 4374
|1980= 5546
|1990= 4976
|2000= 5691
|2010= 5626
|2020= 5100
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Fort Meade racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fort Meade city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+Meade+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fort Meade city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+Meade+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|3,047
|2,640
|54.16%
|51.76%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,004
|881
|17.85%
|17.27%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|14
|4
|0.25%
|0.08%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|19
|14
|0.34%
|0.27%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|0
|2
|0.00%
|0.04%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|20
|11
|0.36%
|0.22%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|54
|134
|0.96%
|2.63%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,468
|1,414
|26.09%
|27.73%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''5,626'''
|'''5,100'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 5,100 people, 2,164 households, and 1,302 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Fort Meade city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+Meade+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 5,626 people, 2,199 households, and 1,659 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Fort Meade city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+Meade+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 5,691 people, 2,068 households, and 1,528 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|441.2|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. There were 2,625 housing units at an average density of {{convert|203.5|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|units|units|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the city was 67.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 21.84% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.40% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 9.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.86% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 17.17% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,068 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.16.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $32,984, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $30,617 versus $21,813 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,499. About 15.0% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Designated a Blueway community==
As of July 20, 2011, Fort Meade officially became only the second city in all of Florida to be designated as a "Blueway" community by the Florida Paddlers Association. Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area is a popular launching and pick-up site for kayak and canoe enthusiasts and is the site for the annual Peace River Paddle hosted by Florida Paddlers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fortmeadeleader.com/sunnews/fortmeade/fortmeadeeditorial/2673488-522/sunnewspapersbluewaydesignationcouldleadtothegreen.html.csp?print=true |title=Blueway designation could lead to the green - Fortmeadeleader.com  |work=Fort Meade Leader|access-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

==Media==
{{See also|Media in Tampa Bay}}
Fort Meade is part of the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]/[[Saint Petersburg, Florida|St. Pete]] television market, the 13th largest in the country, and part of the local [[Lakeland – Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|Lakeland/Winter Haven]] radio market, which is the 94th largest in the country.<ref name="Top Nielsen Markets">{{cite web
| url = http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/10/nielsen-local-television-market-universe-estimates/5037
| title = Top Nielsen Markets
| access-date = 19 October 2010
| publisher = TV By the Numbers
| archive-date = April 1, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120401072025/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/09/10/nielsen-local-television-market-universe-estimates/5037/
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name="Arbitron Markets">{{cite web
| url = http://www.arbitron.com/home/mm001050.asp
| title = Arbitron Markets
| access-date = 19 October 2010
| publisher = Arbitron
}}</ref>

==Library==
The Fort Meade Public Library is a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://librarytechnology.org/library/16299|title=Fort Meade Public Library &ndash; Polk County Library Cooperative|website=librarytechnology.org}}</ref> The library is located at 75 East Broadway Fort Meade, Florida 33841. The library aims to host educational opportunities and encourage literacy in the community of Fort Meade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityoffortmeade.com/departments/library.php|title=Fort Meade|website=www.cityoffortmeade.com}}</ref>

===History===
The Fort Meade Public Library was founded in 1934 by the Fort Meade's Woman Club.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0000186/00001|title=Fort Meade Public Library, part of the Polk County Library Cooperative|website=digital.lib.usf.edu}}</ref> Although there was not enough space to house a library at the Woman's Clubhouse, Mr. Ben Johnson, a real estate broker offered a vacant room at 212 West Broadway free of charge for the library. Club members solicited others in the community to donate books and magazines and club members donated their own materials.<ref name="auto"/> The library was run by club member volunteers and was open only a few days out of the week. After several years, the library outgrew its space and moved to a room on the second floor of city hall. Mrs. T.K. White managed the library and kept it open 15 hours a week but after a few years, the library once again needed to move. The Woman's Club received permission to use the abandoned Chamber of Commerce building on 75 East Broadway for the public library.<ref name="auto"/> After failed efforts to receive state funding for the library Mr. Grady Courtney, city manager called a meeting for the city to take over the responsibility of the library. The vote was unanimous in favor of the public library and on May 1, 1965, Mrs. Codey Shirley took over management of the library, implementing the Dewey Decimal System.<ref name="auto"/> The library at this time had 4,000 resources and received a 200 book donation from Bartow Public Library. A new library building was completed in 1976. The Fort Meade Public Library is the first library to become a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative.<ref name="auto"/>

==Points of interest==
*[[Patterson Park (Fort Meade, Florida)|Patterson Park]]

==Transportation==

Major highways in Fort Meade:
* [[U.S. Route 17 in Florida|US 17]] – North–south highway on the middle of town. North of town it leads to Bartow. Southbound leads to [[Wauchula, Florida|Wauchula]].
* [[U.S. Route 98 in Florida|US 98]] – Co-signed with US 17 on the north side of town, US 98 turns eastbound at East Broadway Avenue and leads to [[Frostproof, Florida|Frostproof]] and [[U.S. Route 27 in Florida|US 27]].

== Notable people ==
* [[Jason Baker]] (born 1978), Florida State Contemporary Fiddle Champion, 2003
* [[Melony Bell]], (born 1961), politician 
* [[Francis A. Hendry]] (1883–1917), Florida early settler, politician<ref name="Brown">{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Canter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsHe06QFsq8C&q=george+w.+hendry+fort+meade&pg=PA17 |title=Fort Meade, 1849–1900 |date=1995 |publisher=[[University of Alabama Press]] |isbn=978-0-8173-0763-9 |location= |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[George W. Hendry]] (1838–1914), Florida early settler, land developer, farmer<ref name="Obit">{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1914 |title=Captain G. W. Hendry Dead at Fort Meade |pages=12 |work=[[The Tampa Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-obituary-for-g-w-cap/134307725/ |issn=1042-3761 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> 
* [[Onterio McCalebb]] (born 1989), former American football player for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
* [[Andrew McCutchen]] (born 1986), [[MLB]] [[outfielder]], born and raised in Fort Meade<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mccutan01.shtml |title=Andrew McCutchen Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com  |work=baseball-reference.com  |access-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Dan White (actor)|Dan White]] (1908–1980), Award-winning American Actor, well known for appearing in [[Western film]]s and TV shows

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |last= Brown |first= Canter Jr. |date= 1991 |title= Moving a military road |url= http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-2.pdf |work= South Florida History Magazine |issue= 2 |pages= 8–11 |via= [[HistoryMiami]] |access-date= November 18, 2017 |archive-date= March 13, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044853/http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-2.pdf |url-status= dead }}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Fort Meade|Fort Meade, Florida}}
* {{official website|http://www.cityoffortmeade.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216004446/http://www.fortmeadechamber.com/ Fort Meade Chamber Of Commerce]

{{Polk County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Fort Meade, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Polk County, Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1849]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]