Lakeland, Florida, was founded by Abraham Munn, who purchased the land in 1882 and laid out the town's design in 1884. The residents considered several names for the town, including Munnville, Red Bug, and Rome City, but these were ultimately rejected. In the end, they settled on "Lakeland" because of the 13 lakes within the town limits.

The largest city in Polk county, Lakeland blends big city amenities with a small town atmosphere. Money Magazine recently placed Lakeland on its "Best Place to Live in America" list. Lakeland is home to Publix Supermarkets, Florida Southern College (which features the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture at one site), and has hosted spring training for the Detroit Tigers for over 65 years.