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 Old Polk County Courthouse - Bartow, Florida Posted by:  macdonr
N 27° 53.819 W 081° 50.574
17R E 417043 N 3086076
The old Polk County Courthouse, centrally located in Bartow, Florida, served from 1909 to 1987.
Waymark Code: WMPZY
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 09/09/2006
Views: 39
OLD POLK COUNTY
COURTHOUSE
Polk County was established February 8, 1861 formed from eastern
Hillsborough County and western Brevard County and comprised
one of two counties created after the state's secession from the
union. Polk County was named after James Knox Polk the eleventh
president of the United States. Polk served from 1845 to 1849,
and was the first president to hold office after Florida achieved
statehood. The turbulent 1860's saw Polk's seat of government
changed several times. Located first at Mud Lake, the county seat
soon moved to Jefferson, a surveyed town site within the present
day limits of Bartow. Court and County records were maintained
in the home of the county clerk the Reverend Jeremiah Hayman at
Six Mile Creek. In 1867 cattleman Jacob Summerlin donated 120
acres of land at Bartow for a town site and seat of county govern-
ment. Several courthouses have existed at this site, built in 1867,
1884 and 1909.
The old courthouse presently is home to the Polk County Historical Museum and Library. The Museum displays are magnificent, as is this grand old building, and the library is the preeminent source of area genealogical and historial material. The old courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 1989.
Marker Number: F-549
Date: 2005
County: Polk
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: Polk County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State
Website: [Web Link]
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