[TNRyan23]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

Yeah I'm still kind of debating whether or not to stay in Florida (somewhere else of course) or head back up to PA. I gave up so much in order to move here that it's hard admitting defeat but I think it's time to throw in the towel.

I've been there. I moved back thinking I could make it, fell on my butt, and had to wait like 7 months because I could use my income tax return to head back north.

[AnnieA]

I think what the "natives" most resent is when people come down from "up north" and tell us how wonderful everything was up there and how inbred, ignorant and stupid we southerners are.

It would never enter my mind to go to your area and speak of your home and environs that way and certainly not of the people that lived there. My mother taught me better manners than that. There is "trash" in every place and with the mild climate here, we attract everything and everybody.

I find these comments offensive and in very bad taste. That is why I dont come here as a rule and usually dont comment at all.

Most of the original citizens are leaving in droves and have been for a number of years. They either go back to Alabama and Georgia to live out their years or to North Carolina where they have second homes. They are very resentful of the people who have come into the area and speak ill of the people and the area.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by AnnieA

I think what the "natives" most resent is when people come down from "up north" and tell us how wonderful everything was up there and how inbred, ignorant and stupid we southerners are.

It would never enter my mind to go to your area and speak of your home and environs that way and certainly not of the people that lived there. My mother taught me better manners than that. There is "trash" in every place and with the mild climate here, we attract everything and everybody.

I find these comments offensive and in very bad taste. That is why I dont come here as a rule and usually dont comment at all.

Most of the original citizens are leaving in droves and have been for a number of years. They either go back to Alabama and Georgia to live out their years or to North Carolina where they have second homes. They are very resentful of the people who have come into the area and speak ill of the people and the area.

okay???? So the "Old Lakeland" ways are better ? http://www.lakelandgov.net/library/s...hollis_1d.html.

And it's still very well alive today ...........................
Cuba Journal: INCREDIBLE AND DISGUSTING! The KKK is still active in Florida! .

I have compiled numerous links about Polk County which back up everything I say . I was going to start a thread about all the stuff that happens here but I really have too much info and I wouldn't even know where to begin . I'll just wait until someone tries to discredit me and post them as necessary.

I have nothing against Southerners as my family has deep roots in the South. I only have a problem with backwards racist scum. They are the only ones who should be offended by my posts. Maybe you should re-read my posts.

You should be happy I'm posting the truth ; it might help keep us "ill mannered yankees" from moving to "Paradise" .

[sfcacique]

Owww, seems like if you live in a bad neighborhood, the entire 100,000 people living in Lakeland or Bubbas. Since I lived there three years, my two cents might be appropriate. I've travelled around a lot, and agree that Lakeland has some bad areas. Which are mirrored by every other place I have been in. I moved to Lakeland because I felt the people were all nicer than most every place else. I maintained a 100 mile a day commute because I liked Lakeland. It was the perfect size, people seemed to know you, and you could quickly visit other places because I-4 connected you to I-75 and I-95. I maintain that is one of the best places to live with the same drawbacks of having "ghetto" areas. The Meth area is actually Plant City, 20m down the I-4 corridor.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sfcacique

Owww, seems like if you live in a bad neighborhood, the entire 100,000 people living in Lakeland or Bubbas. Since I lived there three years, my two cents might be appropriate. I've travelled around a lot, and agree that Lakeland has some bad areas. Which are mirrored by every other place I have been in. I moved to Lakeland because I felt the people were all nicer than most every place else. I maintained a 100 mile a day commute because I liked Lakeland. It was the perfect size, people seemed to know you, and you could quickly visit other places because I-4 connected you to I-75 and I-95. I maintain that is one of the best places to live with the same drawbacks of having "ghetto" areas. The Meth area is actually Plant City, 20m down the I-4 corridor.

Thank you for that refreshing and (IMO) accurate post. I concur 100%!

[Joshloly]

I too is planning moving to Lakeland from Jersey this summer. Which area is more peaceful because I have children (girls) anyway.

[ACS228]

When I first posted this question, my husband and I were planning our first trip to Lakeland to consider it for a possible relocation from CT. I was genuinely interested in learning about both the good and bad aspects of the city. I needed to know what the different neighborhoods were since we had to cover so much in so few days. I did drive through all the different areas and learned a lot. I know that we will not be living across from the hospital, that the Lake Hollingsworth area is very nice but the house we can afford there would be too small,that some of the nice subdivisions in South Lakeland are a little "cookie cutter" and that the very north of Lakeland is a bit rural. I have also learned through my research here that we won't buy a house in the Kathleen school dictrict even though some of the new houses are gorgeous and very temptingly priced. I appreciate all the helpful comments posted here. I am sorry that a few chose to respond with comments of "everyone is trash" and "this place is hell". I am sorry if you are miserable in your own personal situation but generalizations like this are not really helpful even to someone looking to know what's bad.
I actually cringe when I see this post is up again. I have even avoided reading this message board since I don't what to see where this has gone. I say if you are unhappy, try to change your situation. That is what we are doing by planning a move to Florida.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by ACS228

I am sorry that a few chose to respond with comments of "everyone is trash" and "this place is hell". I am sorry if you are miserable in your own personal situation but generalizations like this are not really helpful even to someone looking to know what's bad.

Can you provide quotes for that? I have not seen any post like that on this thread. Some of us choose to be honest even though we know people only want to read fluffy Mickey Mouse paradise posts when looking to relocate to Florida. I maintained the fairest balance possible in my posts while still keeping my integrity. Sometimes the truth is harsh and brutal, this is the real world. No place is perfect but a person can do much better than Lakeland. If you don't want to live in South Lakeland than you are probably better off picking another city to move to. Florida is a huge state that has many DIFFERENT areas to choose from. Why just limit yourself to 1 poverty stricken area with unemployment heading towards double digits?

ps- Why start a thread good and bad in Lakeland if you only want the good good good? Thankfully some people read these forums that actually want DIFFERENT opinions. A wealthy person may love Lakeland but a regular working class person may hate it.

So what did YOU think of Lakeland?


sfcacique- please pull up where I stated ALL residents are Bubbas. You can't because that was never stated anywhere. And yes Lakeland still has a major Meth problem along with all the other drugs that are abundant here and wreaking havok on the community.

Do YOU still live in Lakeland? What years did you reside here?

Joshloly- Check out North Auburndale, Polk City or Lake Wales if you want a nice peaceful place to raise a family. Lakeland and Winter Haven are best left to the snowbirds and wealthy imho. Still check these websites so you don't end up with child molester neighbors. Best of luck to you.

National Sex Offender Registry

FDLE Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators

[simarina]

Originally Posted by ACS228

My husband and I will be visiting Lakeland next month to decide if this is where we would like to buy a house. My husband will most likely be working in Tampa so we will be checking out the commute as well. Is there anything good or bad we should check out while we are there? We need to get a feel for the different neighborhoods since most of our initial house hunting will be done long distance. As for the bad, I know a lot of what is considered bad is subjective so we should at least see for ourselves.
Thanks!

florida is the meth capital ... crime is terrible here and drugs

[simarina]

..................................I'm a yankee living in lakeland also ..for years...hate this place

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

We are talking about the same Lakeland Florida right? The Lakeland I live in is filled with homeless people and drug addicts. Take a drive along US-92 (the main west-east route of the city) and you'll see tons of homeless people begging for money right in the median strip and along the sides of the road. They come up to your car while stopped at redlights. Take a cruise down Kentucky Avenue to see the full extent of the problem.

Everywhere you go people come up to you begging for money or cigarettes or rides. I feel bad for them because Lakeland is a poor economic depressed city but most of them are strung out on drugs and could be dangerous. I like to just be able to go to a store without people scoping me out.

Lakeland is also a very transient city and most people who move here don't stay long. Everyone loves a new area when they first move there but after the honeymoon period is over you start seeing things for what they really are. I loved it here at first also. I doubt most of these "Lakeland is Heaven" posters will still be living here in a year .

Gypsychic is very helpful when it comes to the positive points of Lakeland but there is another side to Lakeland. I'm sure plenty of other readers agree with me but they don't want to waste their time posting everything I already did. The tread is called the Good and Bad in Lakeland and unfortunately people are only getting the good.

Snowbird season is also coming up , wall to wall traffic anytime of the day, stores packed from 8am to 8pm, people driving 15 mph in a 55 zone. Accidents and traffic jams everyday. Welcome to paradise.

LOL about the alligator though. There are tons of them here and Gypsychic is right ,they are more afraid of you than you are of them. Nothing to be worried about , I fish beside them all the time and they won't bother you. I saw a little 4 footer in a water ditch along US-92 the other day. The real big gators hang out in Lake Parker,Saddle Creek Park, and Lake Hancock.

I'm glad everyone is happy in Lakeland and I wish you all the best of luck. I plan on moving out of here the first chance I get. Thank God I-95 also goes North. Rather shovel snow off my sidewalk than crazy homeless drug addicts.