Lakeland, Florida

==Economy==
[[File:Publix Corporate Headquarters Main Entrance Sign, Lakeland Florida.jpg|thumb|[[Publix]] headquarters]]
Lakeland is the largest city on Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa. Large industries in the Lakeland area are citrus, cattle, and [[phosphate mining]]. In the past few decades, tourism, medicine, insurance, transportation, and music have grown in importance.

Citrus growing dates back to the early settlers who planted trees in the area, in the 1850s. After a series of freezes in counties north of Polk County, the area became the focal point for citrus growing in Florida. Although citrus is no longer the largest industry in the area, it still plays a large part in the economy of Lakeland and Polk County.

Phosphate mining is still important to the economy of Lakeland, although most of the mining now takes place farther south. The [[Bone Valley]] produced 25% of the U.S. phosphate supply.

Lakeland's largest employer is [[Publix Super Markets]].<ref name="Lakeland Demographics Guide 2010">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.lakelandgov.net/home_images/2010%20demograhpic%20atlas%20proof.pdf
 |title       = Lakeland Demographics Guide 2010
 |access-date  = September 18, 2010
 |publisher   = City of Lakeland
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110105010829/http://www.lakelandgov.net/home_images/2010%20demograhpic%20atlas%20proof.pdf
 |archive-date = January 5, 2011
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref> Publix is one of the largest regional grocery chains in the United States with over 1,200 stores across the [[American South]]. Publix employs over 6,500 people in the Lakeland area including headquarter and warehouse employees.

Lakeland is a transportation hub. [[FedEx|FedEx Freight and FedEx Services]] and the Saddle Creek Corporation employ over 600 people in the area.<ref name="Lakeland Demographics Guide 2010"/> Other large employers in the area include [[Amazon.com|Amazon]],<ref name="Amazon opening">{{cite news|last1=Brinkman|first1=Paul|title=Amazon welcomes employees in Lakeland; drones in India?|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/brinkmann-on-business/os-amazon-employees-lakeland-drones-india-20140821-post.html|access-date=November 20, 2016|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> [[GEICO]], [[Rooms To Go]], and Lakeland Regional Health.<ref name="LDC Employer listing">{{cite web|title=LAKELAND, FL AREA TOP 30 MAJOR EMPLOYERS|url=http://www.lakelandedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/top-30.pdf|publisher=Lakeland Development Council|access-date=May 6, 2019}}</ref>