Bartow, FL

Bartow, FL is the county seat of Polk County.  It was founded in 1851 as Fort Blout but then had the city's name changed to Bartow in honor of Francis S Bartow, the first brigade  commander to die in combat during the American Civil War.  The population of Bartow is 16,960 with a median income of $38,600 and a median age of 37.  The official nickname of the city is the "City of Oaks and Azaleas" due to the oaks and azaleas in the area.  It's early history is the same as Lakelands with the Native Americans and the Spanish.  The 1880s and 1890s was a period of growth for the city of Bartow.  It became incorporated in 1882 and in 1884 the Florida Southern Railroad started a north-south route from northern Florida to southwest Florida with a stop in Bartow.  The current economy in Batow is government, mining, agriculture and tourism.  It also has a lake called Lake Ruth for picnicing.  (I had to include the lake because of it's name).
We went through Bartow on our way to and from Lakeland on Monday.  On our way back to Wauchula we were stopped by a passing Martin Luther King Day parade.  Bartow had a huge parade with local celebrities riding in convertables, dancers all dressed up in costumes, floats sponsored by local businesses, marching bands, clowns, fire engines and police cars.  It was quite a parade.  I have always enjoyed local parades I guess from growing up in a town that held a 4th of July parade and Homecoming parade every year down the Main Street of  town.  When the parade was over we continued on our way "home" and when we got into Wauchula there was another small parade going on.  We stopped and watched it too!
We did eat at one of the local restaurants for lunch on Monday.  We ate at the Breadboard restaurant which features good home cooking and fresh french bread served on a board with every order.  The food was good and the price was right.  Along with your meal and the bread you also get salad bar, soup, dessert and a side.  Let's just say you do not leave hungry and you bring home a doggy bag.
We spent yesterday trying to find a laundermat that was not too crowded.  We first went to the laundry facilities here at Peace River TT but I did not realize that Tuesday is laundry at the campground.  I think everyone staying here was doing laundry.  So we drove down the road to the first laundermat and it was closed.  We continued to the next one and it was packed.  We couldn't even park in their parking lot.  So, we drove to the other end of town, by Walmart, and we found the last laundermat in town and it was empty.
We started the laundry, looked around Walmart to kill time, had lunch at a very crowded Subway, finished the laundry and came "home".   Mission accomplished!  It was a beautiful day so we went for a bike ride!