Editing Hillcrest Heights, Florida

{{Short description| Town in the state of Florida, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Hillcrest Heights, Florida
| other_name                      = 
| native_name                     = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname                        = 
| settlement_type                 = [[Town (Florida)|Town]]
| motto                           = "A Neighborly Florida Town"<ref name="Hillcrest Heights History"/>
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline                   = Hillcrest Heights (FL) Town Hall.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Hillcrest Heights Town Hall on [[Florida State Road 17|Scenic Route 17]]
| image_flag                      = 
| flag_size                       = 
| image_seal                      = HH Logo small low.gif
| seal_size                       = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_size                     = 
| image_blank_emblem              = 
| blank_emblem_type               = 
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| image_map                       = Polk_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Hillcrest_Heights_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250x200px
| map_caption                     = Location in [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| image_dot_map                   = 
| dot_mapsize                     = 
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| dot_x                           = 
| dot_y                           = 
| pushpin_map                     = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position          = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| pushpin_mapsize                 = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|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                 = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Commission]]
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]<ref name=HHInc>{{Cite web|title=MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY: Town of Hillcrest Heights|url=https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research-resources/municipal-directory|website=www.floridaleagueofcities.com}}</ref>
| leader_name                     = Michael "Mike" Bishop
| leader_title1                   = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1                    = Sam Knight
| leader_title2                   = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
| leader_name2                    = Jason Harmeling,<br>Richard "Rick" Lee, and<br>Tom Harmeling
| leader_title3                   = [[City Clerk|Town Clerk]]
| leader_name3                    = Larry Blackwelder
| leader_title4                   = 
| leader_name4                    = 
| established_title               = [[Plat|Founded]]
| established_date                = 1917<ref name=HHEst>{{Cite web|title=Community of Hillcrest Heights was founded during land boom|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2009/04/12/community-hillcrest-heights-was-founded/8045256007/|website=[[The Ledger]]}}</ref><ref name=HHEstToo>{{Cite web|title=The view is fine from Hillcrest Heights|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2008/03/24/mccheadthe-view-is-fine-from-hillcrest-heightsmcchead/26555837007/|website=[[The Ledger]]}}</ref>
| established_title2              = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2               = 1923<ref name=HHInc/><ref name="Guide to Polk, Hillcrest Heights"/><ref name=HilHeiInc>{{Cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO|url=https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0|website=www.flcities.com}}</ref>
| established_title3              = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3               = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| 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                  = 22.53
| area_land_km2                   = 0.41
| area_water_km2                  = 22.11
| area_total_sq_mi                = 8.70
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 0.16
| area_water_sq_mi                = 8.54
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_urban_km2                  = 
| area_urban_sq_mi                = 
| area_metro_km2                  = 
| area_metro_sq_mi                = 
| area_blank1_title               = 
| area_blank1_km2                 = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi               = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_note                 = 
| population_total                = 243
| population_density_km2          = 587.52
| population_density_sq_mi        = 1518.75
| population_metro                = 
| population_density_metro_km2    = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi  = 
| population_urban                = 
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| population_blank1_title         = 
| population_blank1               = 
| population_density_blank1_km2   = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                        = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| coordinates                     = {{coord|27|49|27|N|81|31|59|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name="GR3"/>
| elevation_m                     = 
| elevation_ft                    = 236
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type                = 
| postal_code                     = 
| area_code                       = [[Area code 863|863]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 12-30700<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0284030<ref name="GR3">{{GNIS|284030}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.townofhillcrestheights.com/}}
| footnotes                       = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
}}
'''Hillcrest Heights''' is a town in [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]], [[Florida]], United States. Hillcrest Heights is part of the [[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]]&ndash;[[Winter Haven, Florida|Winter Haven]] [[Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 243 at the 2020 census.

==History==
In 1917, the Lakeside Club was built on the south shore of [[Crooked Lake (Florida)|Crooked Lake]].<ref name="Hillcrest Heights History">{{cite web
 |url=http://townofhillcrestheights.com/History/history.htm 
 |title=History of Hillcrest Heights, FL 
 |date=September 8, 2016
 |access-date=March 27, 2025 
 |publisher=townofhillcrestheights.com 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908080750/http://townofhillcrestheights.com/History/history.htm
 |archive-date=September 8, 2016 
}}</ref><ref name=HHEst/><ref name=HHEstToo/> A year later, this club burnt to the ground and was rebuilt and named the Hillcrest Lodge. This [[Lodging|lodge]] was well known and many celebrities stayed there including [[Bobby Jones (golfer)|Bobby Jones]], [[Babe Ruth]] and [[William Jennings Bryan]].<ref name="Hillcrest Heights History"/><ref name=HHEst/><ref name=HHEstToo/>

In 1923, the '''Town of Hillcrest Heights''' was officially incorporated as a municipality. A year later, the town's  [[dirt road]]s were all paved.<ref name="Hillcrest Heights History"/><ref name=HHEst/><ref name=HHEstToo/><ref name=HHInc/><ref name="Guide to Polk, Hillcrest Heights"/><ref name=HilHeiInc/>

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Hillcrest Heights is located at {{coord|27|49|27|N|81|31|59|W|}}.

Hillcrest Heights is located just south of [[Babson Park, Florida|Babson Park]] and east of [[Crooked Lake (Florida)|Crooked Lake]]. The town is approximately nine miles south of [[Lake Wales, Florida|Lake Wales]] and five miles (8&nbsp;km) north of [[Frostproof, Florida|Frostproof]]. Hillcrest Heights is located within the [[Central Florida]] [[hill|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 = October 14, 2010
| publisher = University of Florida
}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the Town of Hillcrest Heights has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''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=November 6, 2008 
 |access-date=September 10, 2010 
 |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=September 6, 2010 
}}</ref>

==Government==
Hillcrest Heights has a town council made up of five members including a mayor and vice mayor.<ref name="Town Commission">{{cite web
| url = https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2009-04-12.csv
| title = Town Commission
| access-date = September 17, 2010
| publisher = Town of Hillcrest Heights
}}</ref> The town does not have a city manager and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the town. Police services are contracted through the Polk County Sheriffs Office Department.<ref name="Town Commission"/> The town's annual operating budget is less than $100,000.<ref name="Community of Hillcrest Heights was founded during land boom">{{cite web
| url = http://www.newschief.com/article/20090412/NEWS/904129958?p=1&tc=pg
| title = Community of Hillcrest Heights was founded during land boom
| access-date = September 17, 2010
| publisher = News Chief
}}</ref> In the most recent 2009 elections, only the incumbent commissioners qualified and were elected by default.<ref name= "No Election In Small Polk Town">{{cite web
| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20090224/NEWS/902240340
| title = No Election In Small Polk Town
| access-date = September 17, 2010
| publisher = The Ledger
}}</ref>

===Annexations===
Although the town is only {{convert|107|acre|km2}}, the residents and government of Hillcrest Heights have been aggressive in keeping the status quo in the town. Because of encroaching annexations by the City of Frostproof, the town is exploring the possibility of annexing Crooked Lake and nearby shores which would increase the size of the town to {{convert|6.7|mi|km}}.<ref name="City Considers Annexing Lake">{{cite web
| url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20080312/NEWS/803120320
| title = City Considers Annexing Lake
| access-date = September 17, 2010
| publisher = The Ledger
}}</ref> Although the annexation would not increase the population of Hillcrest Heights, it would help stop development of nearby areas. Many residents of adjacent [[census-designated place|census-designated place (CDP)]] of Babson Park, with a population of over 1,000 are also fearful of the Frostproof annexations, and the Babson Park Visioning Group is considering either incorporating the CDP or asking for annexation by Hillcrest Heights.<ref name="City Considers Annexing Lake"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 71
|1940= 96
|1950= 91
|1960= 138
|1970= 154
|1980= 177
|1990= 221
|2000= 266
|2010= 254
|2020= 243
|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=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Hillcrest Heights 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) - Hillcrest Heights town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Hillcrest+Heights+town;+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) - Hillcrest Heights town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Hillcrest+Heights+town;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|231
|199
|90.94%
|81.89%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|7
|5
|2.76%
|2.06%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|1
|0
|0.39%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|0
|1
|0.00%
|0.41%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|0
|6
|0.00%
|2.47%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|15
|32
|5.91%
|13.17%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''254'''
|'''243'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 243 people, 102 households, and 81 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Hillcrest Heights town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Hillcrest+Heights+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 254 people, 103 households, and 93 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Hillcrest Heights town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Hillcrest+Heights+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 266 people, 99 households, and 75 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,640.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 138 housing units at an average density of {{convert|851.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.62% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.88% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.75% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.75% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.88% of the population.

In 2000, there were 99 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $60,556, and the median income for a family was $62,143. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $33,125 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,802.  About 2.9% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under the age of eighteen and 5.7% of those 65 or over.

==Media==
{{See also|Media in Tampa Bay}}
Hillcrest Heights 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 = October 19, 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 = October 19, 2010
| publisher = Arbitron
}}</ref>

==Transportation==
* [[Florida State Road 17|State Road 17]] – The '''Scenic Highway''' going through the center of town, leading northward to [[Highland Park, Florida|Highland Park]] and [[Lake Wales, Florida|Lake Wales]], and southward to [[Frostproof, Florida|Frostproof]].
* [[U.S. Route 27 in Florida|US 27]] – A divided highway six miles (10&nbsp;km) west of town.

==Education==
There are no public schools in Hillcrest Heights, though all of them are served by [[Polk County Public Schools]]. Generally students will attend elementary school at nearby Babson Park Elementary, and then go on to [[Frostproof Middle-Senior High School]] or take advantage of the [[Lake Wales]] [[charter school]] system.<ref name="Guide to Polk, Hillcrest Heights">{{cite web
| url = http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/city/hillcrest_heights/
| title = Guide to Polk, Hillcrest Heights
| access-date = September 17, 2010
| publisher = The Ledger
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120306064252/http://www.ledgerdata.com/guide_to_polk/city/hillcrest_heights/
| archive-date = March 6, 2012
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

[[Warner University]] is a few miles west of town.

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140724082401/http://townofhillcrestheights.com/default.htm Town of Hillcrest Heights (official website)]

{{Polk County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Polk County, Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1923]]
[[Category:Towns in Florida]]