Old Polk County Courthouse
Posted by: 
sfwife
N 27° 53.791 W 081° 50.595
17R E 417008 N 3086024
Courthouse in Bartow, FL
Waymark Code: WM2E7R
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2007
Views: 25
From the historical marker in front of the 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 government. Several courthouses have existed at this site, built in 1867, 1884 and 1909.”
The building now houses the Polk County Historical Commission.
Street address:
100 E Main St.
Bartow, FL USA
33830
County / Borough / Parish: Polk
Year listed: 1989
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Historic function: Government
Current function: Education, Recreation And Culture
Hours of operation: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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