There’s just something about being a Lakelander. We represent a community that loves the special + quirky traits of our city, and we share them proudly with friends and family that make a stop in Swan City. So we decided to ask what brought you to town, and of course, you didn’t hesitate to answer.
Here’s what you said:
… because you wanted that degree.
🎓 “Attended Southeastern University, married my college sweetheart and we never left!” – @theactingmom
🎓 “Came here to attend FSC, met my hubby, got married, and never left!” – @realmeteens
🎓 “SEU & the MANY beautiful lakes!” – @7_boyko
🎓 “SEU!” – @naomikenyax
🎓 “College!” – @brennaaileen
🎓 “Florida Southern. GO MOCS.” – @morganswemm
🎓 “Florida Southern.” – @e.fergs
🎓 “Seu!” – @craftysarah
🎓 “Seu!!!” – @julianamvaldes
🎓 “Florida Southern” – @annabel_leon
🎓 “Came here to attend FSC, met my hubby, and never left.” – @realmeteens
... because family is close to the heart.
👪 “Moved to Lakeland from Colombia in 2001. I moved here with my aunt and uncle because I wanted to learn English. I met my husband here. I love how much this little town has grown over the years and I’m excited to continue to see its growth. The best part of Lakeland is the lakes, but my favorite is Lake Hollingsworth.” – @mrs_lui_o
👪 “Family lived in Florida. Lakeland was a small to medium-sized town located between Tampa and Orlando, close enough to enjoy the entertainment when wanted, but not have to deal with the busyness and other negatives of large cities. The transition was easy. People were helpful, mostly trustworthy, professional, competent and seemed to have a higher standard of work ethic.” – Liz G.
👪 “Moved from Jacksonville to be closer to our grandchildren in Tampa. 3.5-hour drive was just too much. Did not want to get too close...and Lakeland was perfect. Been here four years and we are glad we made the move.” – John M.
👪 “Moved here when I was four, left for college, and came back. Love this town!” – @logeyj2789
👪 “Fourteen years ago came to take care of my now 90-year-old mom.” – Diane W.
👪 “Moved to be close to family.” – John L.
👪 “My sister passed away from a battle with cancer. I am here to care for my parents.” – @lakelandpetsitter
👪 “In a word...family. I’ve also watched this tiny city evolve and thrive and it’s simply perfect.” – @_adrienne479
👪 “Family” – @cind_rett
👪 “My grandma made my uncles and aunts promise they would all settle down in the same city.” – @adventures.withabbie
👪 “Born and raised, have never left! And I have raised my own family here too.” – @taylormadefloraldesign
… because I was born in Swan City.
🏥 “My husband and I were both born here (1960 + 1954). My mother moved to Lakeland with her family in 1939.” – Kim W.
🏥 “I was born and raised here. I’ve moved away a few times but I have always come back home!” – @thespringhouse
🏥 “Born and raised here! Then moved away for school and bounced around a little and ended up back here about two years ago. I love what my little hometown is becoming!” – @er___in
🏥 “I was born here!” – @cindydpugh
🏥 “I was born and raised here and love Lakeland.” – @smeens
🏥 “It’s my hometown.” – B. Girl
🏥 “Born here” – @carla_bragg
🏥 “Born and raised here and now raising my family here.” – @mamapuma23
🏥 “My mom gave birth here.” – @cutiefrankieart
… because love was in the air.
💕 “My significant other @ohana_over_everything” – @ohana_se7en
💕 “Moved here for my husband to retire in 1985, we both went to work instead. Loved the small town atmosphere, with bigger cities nearby. Love it still.” – Darlene A.
💕 “Husband...well, boyfriend at the time.” – @raechel6
💕 “My amazing other half.” – @danielcheslo
… because you found your dream job.
👔 “My husband and I moved from Seattle to work for Southeastern University” – @loree.1
👔 “My husband got a job. We were looking in Florida because I grew up in Pasco County and my parents are still there. Lakeland ended up being a good distance from them and the place that offered the job first. We love it!” – @crazyamsy
👔 “I started coming to Lakeland in 1985 for my FLARNG unit, flying UH-1 helicopters out of Lakeland Linder Airport. We stayed at the Holiday Inn South (where Cheddar’s and HI Express are now. Moved to Lakeland in 2001 for my job as an EMS helicopter pilot at Bartow. Loved the quiet of the Southside, but moved to the Northside for the convenience.” – Robert B.
👔 “Four years ago I was working for a home builder and attended the grand opening for a community in North Lakeland. I fell in love with the area, convinced my boyfriend (now husband) for us to buy a home, and here we are.” – Linda O.
👔 “Other than giving me a delightful son, the best thing my ex-husband did for me was drag me unwillingly to Lakeland due to work. It’s home sweet home and I can’t imagine living any place else. Lakeland is a great place to raise a family and being centrally located, enables you to be in a large city or the beach all within an hour or two. Keep growing Lakeland; thirty-one years and counting!!” – Linda H.
👔 “Came as the dentist for the Detroit Tigers spring training in 1973. Still here.” – Eli S.
👔 “My wife and I both got jobs in Lakeland after college. We bought a house here to make our commute shorter, but have grown to love the community. We never miss a first Friday or Saturday market.” – Ryan H.
👔 “Moved here for a job. So far we are liking it. Strangely enough, my husband loves it and he’s from NYC. Close enough to both Tampa and Orlando that we can enjoy both cities.” – Janice B.
👔 “My Dad received a job offer down here so we moved halfway across the country right before I started high school. I loved Lakeland so much and made so many great friends that I stayed to go to Florida Southern and I have started my career here! It is great to have so many great restaurants, coffee shops, and local stores to make a great community!” – Wes R.
👔 “I was transferred from Pepperidge Farm in PA to Lakeland. Now in semi-retirement in a completely different line of work, I would not live anywhere else.” – Linda F.
👔 “Publix brought us to Lakeland 24 years ago!” – Laurie J.
👔 “I moved here with my family so that my husband who worked as a trainer could open up the first Bob Evans restaurant in Florida right here in Lakeland and still live here enjoying all that this town has to offer.” – Cynthia W.B.
👔 “My job! Relocated from CA in 2015.” – @abbot8
👔 “Work at Watson Clinic.” – @nadival
👔 “Husband took a job coaching at FSC. And now we’ve been here almost 10 years.” – @award10007
👔 “My husband got a job at FL Poly!” – @mallary.jade
👔 “Work” – @eilenehz
👔 “Publix job” – @mhood15
… because of the weather, obviously.
☀️ “Well, five years ago we were looking for a place to spend winters so that we could get away from the Eastern Canadian winters. Hello Lakeland – 45 min drive to Disney, one hour to the beach, 30 minutes to watch the Lightning hockey games. Never want to miss hockey just because you’re away from Canada. We love winters in Lakeland.” – The Clarke’s
☀️ “Moved from Oklahoma, looking for beautiful warm weather and a great town to raise our little ones. Fell in love with Lakeland and it’s community. So happy we stayed and called it our home!” – @whimsyandstars
☀️ “1992, Hurricane Andrew hit Miami. So we moved up here. We have a couple of friends that live here and we fell in love with the little town vibe that Lakeland had.” – @nena2066
☀️ “Retired from Maryland and was “tired” of shoveling snow. Lakeland was perfect between Tampa and Orlando and less traffic.” – Neal P.
☀️ “The Weather and Harrison School for the arts.” – @chroniclycurly
... because you know there’s no other city in Fla. like Lakeland.
📍 “More laid-back than Tampa and bought a new house” – @cletus_vandamme74
📍 “I came to Lakeland on spring break in 1965 when I was a senior in high school; I fell in love with the scent of orange blossoms, decided to come here to attend cosmetology school, married a local boy who lived in the middle of orange groves and never left!! I have seen many towns throughout this country; there is no more beautiful town than Lakeland, Florida and no finer people anywhere on the planet!!” – Harriette H.
📍 “I moved to Lakeland after many visits here. It’s more like a giant well-run neighborhood and the largest percentage of people that want to keep it nice compared to the other 12 towns/cities I have lived in.” – Alex B.
📍 “The entrepreneur spirit of the city & the possibility to open a successful business!” – @madisonbrawner
📍 “The food, the people, and the general atmosphere of the place.” – @englishguyash
Other
👏 “Awesome community at Trinity downtown. Hooked in 2001 while in college at FSC, left and returned.” – @jplating302
👏 “Well, it’s a short commute to Tampa from here than it is from Chicago.” – @ijosieloren
👏 “A car” – @dani.daughtry
👏 “Grace City” – @karidrolshagen
👏 “Happy accidents” – @ethansgarbagspam
If you didn’t get a chance to respond, it’s not too late. You can still comment below.
