Bartow, Florida

About Bartow

Set in the central part of Florida, Bartow is a close-knit town counting 22,084 people who proudly call it home.

Bartow holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 46.48 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 475 residents per square mile.

📰 Bartow News Today

• Moratorium placed on Bartow mental health facility after patient’s death WFLA · Jul 23
• Suspect arrested by Polk County Sheriff’s Office for violent murder in Bartow Polk County Sheriff's Office · Mar 30
• This Quiet Florida Town Is Known As The City Of Oaks And Azaleas Southern Living · Mar 28
• 597 Crown Rose Dr, Bartow, FL 33830 Realtor.com · Aug 6
• Old Bartow Lake Wales Road Scheduled to Close on March 23, 2026 Polk County Government (.gov) · Mar 20

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Bartow Unique

• Part of the fabric of Florida — one of 956 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 22,084.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Bartow

• Krab Kingz Seafood of Bartow
• Palace Pizza — pizza
• Pizza Hut — pizza
• Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
• Waffle House — american
• ABC Pizza
• Beef O'Brady's — american
• Broadway Diner — american
• Curly Tails
• El Ranchito Jalisco

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Luster All African American Heritage Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Bartow

• Fort Blount Park reviews ★
• Nye Jordan Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Bartow

• BARTOW ELEMENTARY ACADEMY
• BARTOW MIDDLE SCHOOL
• BARTOW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
• COMPASS MIDDLE CHARTER SCHOOL
• FLORAL AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• GAUSE ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP
• HOSPITAL HOMEBOUND
• JAMES E. STEPHENS ACADEMY
• JEAN O'DELL LEARNING CENTER
• POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S CENTRAL CENTER
• POLK HALFWAY HOUSE
• SPESSARD L HOLLAND ELEMENTARY
• TRANSITION SCHOOL
• UNION ACADEMY

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Bartow Regional Medical Center ★★★ (3/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Bartow

🏘️ Nearby Communities