Avon Park, Florida

The first permanent white settler in Avon Park was Oliver Martin Crosby, a Connecticut native who moved to the area in 1884 to study the wildlife of the Everglades. By 1886, enough people had followed that the town of "Lake Forest" was founded. As president of the Florida Development Company, he recruited settlers to the area, many of whom were from England, including many from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, who gave the town its name.[7]

In 2006, then-mayor Thomas Macklin (Republican) proposed City Ordinance 08-06, which would have blocked the issuance or renewal of city licenses to businesses that hired undocumented aliens, fined any property owner who rented and leased property to undocumented aliens, and established English as the city's official language, banning the use of other languages during the conduct of official business except where specified under state or federal law.[8] The ordinance was defeated by the city council, on a 3–2 vote.[9]

Avon Park is located in northwestern Highlands County at 27°35′40″N 81°30′12″W (27.594418, –81.503437).[10] 27/98 is the main highway through the city, leading north 23 miles (37 km) to Lake Wales and south 10 miles (16 km) to Sebring. Florida State Road 17 (Main Street) leads east through the center of Avon Park, then south 10 miles to the center of Sebring. Florida State Road 64 leads west from Avon Park 19 miles (31 km) to Zolfo Springs.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Avon Park has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which 7.1 square miles (18.5 km²) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), or 12.43%, are water.[5] The city is located in a karst landscape underlain by the limestone Florida Platform, and numerous circular lakes are either within the city limits (Lake Tulane, Lake Verona, and Lake Isis) or border the city (Lake Anoka, Lake Lelia, Lake Glenada, Lake Lotela, Lake Denton, Little Red Water Lake, Pioneer Lake, Lake Brentwood, Lake Byrd, Lake Damon, and Lake Lillian).[11]

Lake Verona is located within the city of Avon Park.

At the 2000 census,[3] there were 8,542 people, 3,218 households and 2,114 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,841.8 inhabitants per square mile (711.1/km²). There were 3,916 housing units at an average density of 844.4 per square mile (326.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.90% White, 29.2% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.35% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.71% of the population.

There were 3,218 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

Age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median household income was $23,576, and the median family income was $27,617. Males had a median income of $21,890 versus $18,678 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,897. About 21.3% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.4% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

At the 2010 census, there where 8,836 people, 3,337 households, and 4,162 housing units in the city. The racial make up of the city was 55.5% white (41.3% non-hispanic white), 28.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.2% of the population. 12.9% of the population was foreign born. The median household income was $28,496, the per capita income was $14,911, and 36.2% of the population lived below the poverty line. 51.8% of the population was female.

Avon Park operates under a council-manager form of government, with a city manager who operates under the direction of an elected four-member council and mayor. The current Mayor is Garrett Anderson, and the City Manager is Mark C. Schrader. The city provides fire protection, utilities, and sanitation service to its residents. The city's police and the county sheriff work jointly to provide law enforcement.

Avon Park Executive Airport is a public-use airport located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the central business district.

• Avon Park Air Force Range
• Avon Park Historic District
• Lake Adelaide

• Red Causey, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Giants
• Dee Gordon, Major League Baseball, Seattle Mariners second baseman
• Nick Gordon, a professional MLB shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization
• Tom Gordon, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Fred L. Lowery, Southern Baptist pastor and author, formerly resided in Avon Park
• Hal McRae, Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame
• Conrad Henry Moehlman, Baptist author and emeritus professor of church history
• Deanie Parrish, aviator
• The father of the perpetrator Melinda Loveless, accused of murdering Shanda Sharer lived there after he divorced

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and warm winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Avon Park has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Avon Park.

• City of Avon Park
• Highlands News-Sun