[beckycat]

Try, Lake Mary, FL. I moved here from PA 9 years ago. The schools are A rated and we have all the convenience you'd want. Parks, shopping, dinning, movies, mall, and more. Lake Mary was rated #4 in the US to live and #1 in the south. You're only about 20 minutes north of Orlando, 40 minutes from Disney and the beach.

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by Carbondated

If you're looking at North Port, the city of Sarasota is about a 35-45 minute drive (without traffic). You are also about 20 minutes from the beaches, and an hour and a half from Tampa/St. Pete.

Check out the suburbs of Tampa, Lakeland included.

Yup, that's correct. It really depends on how close you want to be to the "city" and what you're reasons are for wanting to be close. I'm not sure if you're going to find one city/town that has all of your needs. It might be Lakeland but I'm not real familiar with Lakeland. The best judge of that town would be Gypsychic.

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

The poster stated that she wants to be close to a city. Lakeland is over an hour from the nearest city. Lakeland is a very desolate place far from everything. Places that I would suggest in my metro area are Lake Mary and Oviedo, both have excellent schools and you will still have access to a large metro area.

What is your definition of a city?

Lakeland has a population of close to 100,000 people (it will be over that mark by the 2010 census).

It is defined by the United States Census Bureau as one of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the nation:
Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has it's own public transit:
Citrus Connection

Amtrak station:
Amtrak - Stations - Lakeland - To/From Points North, FL (LAK)

It's own major hospital:
Lakeland Regional Medical Center - Improving Lives Through Exceptional Health Care

It's own police department with well over 230+ officers
demographics (this is 2 years outdated so the numbers will have gone up).

It's own fire department with 150+ employees:
About the Lakeland Fire Department

It has a handful of colleges, plus not listed below is the fact that USF will break ground on a campus in North lakeland this fall which will hold 16000+ students.
Lakeland Colleges

It's own convention center:
The Lakeland Center

It's own major newspaper:
theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL

It's own Public library:
http://www.lakelandgov.net/library/statistics.html

It's own regional airport:
Airport Home Page

It's own ball field, home to the Detroit Tigers Spring Training:
Joker Marchant Stadium

It's own public golf course:
Cleveland Heights Golf Course

It's own mall:
Lakeland Square

It generates it's OWN electricity:
Lakeland Electric

It's own museum:
Polk Museum of Art :: More Than An Art Museum

It's own theatre for performing arts:
Polk Theatre Web Site

It's own symphony:
Imperial Symphony Orchestra

And a nice looking skyline to boot:



I can go on but I hope the OP and other people will get the jist.

The bottom line is that Lakeland is a self contained city.

It happens to be located in the middle of 2 larger cities being Tampa and Orlando.

[markhunt]

Oh, and yes Lake Mary and Oviedo have some of the better schools in Florida. Not taking away from that. But the same quality of education can be found in Lakeland as well. The difference is that in Lakeland you will have more defined areas of good and bad schools, where in Oviedo pretty much all of the schools are good.

Although I have heard that you have to be careful in Lake Mary now too, as far as choosing the right school areas. Also if you happen to be in one of these "Cluster", zones you will need to choose wisely and hope to get in the school you chose. (Someone more familiar with Lake Mary may want to clarify though).

I would also recomend (if you decide on Seminole county), Winter Springs. In fact I would say Winter Springs over Lake Mary (my personal preference).

Somtihng to note as well, these towns in Seminole County are more expensive and much more traffic and congestion. I still say your hard earned dollar will go MUCH farther in Lakeland.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by markhunt

What is your definition of a city?

Lakeland has a population of close to 100,000 people (it will be over that mark by the 2010 census).

It is defined by the United States Census Bureau as one of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the nation:
Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has it's own public transit:
Citrus Connection

Amtrak station:
Amtrak - Stations - Lakeland - To/From Points North, FL (LAK)

It's own major hospital:
Lakeland Regional Medical Center - Improving Lives Through Exceptional Health Care

It's own police department with well over 230+ officers
demographics (this is 2 years outdated so the numbers will have gone up).

It's own fire department with 150+ employees:
About the Lakeland Fire Department

It has a handful of colleges, plus not listed below is the fact that USF will break ground on a campus in North lakeland this fall which will hold 16000+ students.
Lakeland Colleges

It's own convention center:
The Lakeland Center

It's own major newspaper:
theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL

It's own Public library:
http://www.lakelandgov.net/library/statistics.html

It's own regional airport:
Airport Home Page

It's own ball field, home to the Detroit Tigers Spring Training:
Joker Marchant Stadium

It's own public golf course:
Cleveland Heights Golf Course

It's own mall:
Lakeland Square

It generates it's OWN electricity:
Lakeland Electric

It's own museum:
Polk Museum of Art :: More Than An Art Museum

It's own theatre for performing arts:
Polk Theatre Web Site

It's own symphony:
Imperial Symphony Orchestra

And a nice looking skyline to boot:



I can go on but I hope the OP and other people will get the jist.

The bottom line is that Lakeland is a self contained city.

It happens to be located in the middle of 2 larger cities being Tampa and Orlando.

Thanks, Mark, for posting that comprehensive listing! I don't know how anyone could not call Lakeland a "city" because it certainly is, and it is growing by leaps and bounds, too. And when you add in Auburdale and Winter Haven, which many consider part of the area, it is really quite large with a lot to offer. I hope your post has educated a few people who didn't know much about the area.

ETA: Tried to give you rep points, but says I've given you too much already!

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by markhunt

What is your definition of a city?

Lakeland has a population of close to 100,000 people (it will be over that mark by the 2010 census).

It is defined by the United States Census Bureau as one of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the nation:
Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has it's own public transit:
Citrus Connection

Amtrak station:
Amtrak - Stations - Lakeland - To/From Points North, FL (LAK)

It's own major hospital:
Lakeland Regional Medical Center - Improving Lives Through Exceptional Health Care

It's own police department with well over 230+ officers
demographics (this is 2 years outdated so the numbers will have gone up).

It's own fire department with 150+ employees:
About the Lakeland Fire Department

It has a handful of colleges, plus not listed below is the fact that USF will break ground on a campus in North lakeland this fall which will hold 16000+ students.
Lakeland Colleges

It's own convention center:
The Lakeland Center

It's own major newspaper:
theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL

It's own Public library:
http://www.lakelandgov.net/library/statistics.html

It's own regional airport:
Airport Home Page

It's own ball field, home to the Detroit Tigers Spring Training:
Joker Marchant Stadium

It's own public golf course:
Cleveland Heights Golf Course

It's own mall:
Lakeland Square

It generates it's OWN electricity:
Lakeland Electric

It's own museum:
Polk Museum of Art :: More Than An Art Museum

It's own theatre for performing arts:
Polk Theatre Web Site

It's own symphony:
Imperial Symphony Orchestra

And a nice looking skyline to boot:



I can go on but I hope the OP and other people will get the jist.

The bottom line is that Lakeland is a self contained city.

It happens to be located in the middle of 2 larger cities being Tampa and Orlando.

Honestly, you have to be kidding me, the skyline of Lakeland is absolutely laughable. It is nothing more than a overgrown town in the middle of two major Florida cities in Polk county of all places and far from everything. It has limited employment opportunities and entertainment options. I would never recommend Lakeland to an out of state person (especially with the employment situation in Florida) unless they were retired or happened to get hired at one of the few employment opportunities that are to be had in Lakeland.

Skyline of Orlando:


Skyline of Tampa:

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

Honestly, you have to be kidding me, the skyline of Lakeland is absolutely laughable. It is nothing more than a overgrown town in the middle of two major Florida cities in Polk county of all places and far from everything. It has limited employment opportunities and entertainment options. I would never recommend Lakeland to an out of state person (especially with the employment situation in Florida) unless they were retired or happened to get hired at one of the few employment opportunities that are to be had in Lakeland.

Skyline of Orlando:


Skyline of Tampa:

Next to my hometown skyline Tampa and Orlando are laughable. Doesn't mean I would want to live in NYC anymore. Just like I would not want to live in Orlando. How many single moms with children or even families with children go to downtown Orlando as there destination for a fun filled family day anyway? I know many who go to downtown Lakeland for that reason. What is in downtown Orlando besides bars and tatoo parlors anyway? And the crime is almost double that of Lakeland. I will say that Tampa has it over Orlando for sure though. JMHO. How many murders so far in O-town this year?

Yes Tampa and Orlando have better employment options. I myself work in Orlando and commute daily (35 minutes each way). I do this because I don't want my family living in Orlando with all of the sprawl, crime, congestion, and overwhelming hispanic presence (my personal preference), to name a few. I would rather be in a more country setting. I would bet a lot of people in Lakeland commute to to Tampa or Orlando as well for these same reasons. And a 35 minute drive to work is close enough to that place for me. I am still 25 minutes to the attractions. Plenty close for me.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by markhunt

Next to my hometown skyline Tampa and Orlando are laughable. Doesn't mean I would want to live in NYC anymore. Just like I would not want to live in Orlando. How many single moms with children or even families with children go to downtown Orlando as there destination for a fun filled family day anyway? I know many who go to downtown Lakeland for that reason. What is in downtown Orlando besides bars and tatoo parlors anyway? And the crime is almost double that of Lakeland. I will say that Tampa has it over Orlando for sure though. JMHO. How many murders so far in O-town this year?

Yes Tampa and Orlando have better employment options. I myself work in Orlando and commute daily (35 minutes each way). I do this because I don't want my family living in Orlando with all of the sprawl, crime, congestion, and overwhelming hispanic presence (my personal preference), to name a few. I would rather be in a more country setting. I would bet a lot of people in Lakeland commute to to Tampa or Orlando as well for these same reasons. And a 35 minute drive to work is close enough to that place for me. I am still 25 minutes to the attractions. Plenty close for me.

Why is New York being brought up in a conversation about Florida and Lakeland. And Im sorry that us hispanics intimidate you so much. You must of not left the house when you lived in NYC (If you really ever did), you sound more like an upstater. I dont like Tampa or Orlando in my opinion, but I rather live in either than live in desolate place like Polk County. Do you fly a plane to make it to Lakeland from Orlando in 35 min,lol?

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by markhunt

Oh, and yes Lake Mary and Oviedo have some of the better schools in Florida. Not taking away from that. But the same quality of education can be found in Lakeland as well. The difference is that in Lakeland you will have more defined areas of good and bad schools, where in Oviedo pretty much all of the schools are good.

Although I have heard that you have to be careful in Lake Mary now too, as far as choosing the right school areas. Also if you happen to be in one of these "Cluster", zones you will need to choose wisely and hope to get in the school you chose. (Someone more familiar with Lake Mary may want to clarify though).

I would also recomend (if you decide on Seminole county), Winter Springs. In fact I would say Winter Springs over Lake Mary (my personal preference).

Somtihng to note as well, these towns in Seminole County are more expensive and much more traffic and congestion. I still say your hard earned dollar will go MUCH farther in Lakeland.

Just make sure you are in the northwest cluster for elementary and you'll be fine. For middle, Greenwood Lakes and Markham Middle. High school, Lake Mary.

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

Why is New York being brought up in a conversation about Florida and Lakeland. And Im sorry that us hispanics intimidate you so much. You must of not left the house when you lived in NYC (If you really ever did), you sound more like an upstater. I dont like Tampa or Orlando in my opinion, but I rather live in either than live in desolate place like Polk County. Do you fly a plane to make it to Lakeland from Orlando in 35 min,lol?

Ahhhhhhhhh......... nuff said.

Enjoy Orlando.