Haines City High School

Florida participated in the American Civil War as a member of the Confederate States of America. It had been admitted to the United States as a slave state in 1845. In January 1861, Florida became the third Southern state to secede from the Union after the November 1860 presidential election victory of Abraham Lincoln. It was one of the initial seven slave states which formed the Confederacy on February 8, 1861, in advance of the American Civil War. Florida had by far the smallest population of the Confederate states with about 140,000 residents, nearly half of them enslaved people. As such, Florida sent around 15,000 troops to the Confederate army, the vast majority of which were deployed elsewhere during the war. The state's chief importance was as a source of cattle and other food supplies for the Confederacy, and as an entry and exit location for blockade-runners who used its many bays and small inlets to evade the Union Navy. At the outbreak of war, the Confederate government seized many United States facilities in the state, though the Union retained control of Key West, Fort Jefferson, and Fort Pickens for the duration of the conflict. The Confederate strategy was to defend the vital farms in the interior of Florida at the expense of coastal areas. As the war progressed and southern resources dwindled, forts and towns along the coast were increasingly left undefended, allowing Union forces to occupy them with little or no resistance. Fighting in Florida was largely limited to small skirmishes with the exception of the Battle of Olustee, fought near Lake City in February 1864, when a Confederate army of over 5,000 repelled a Union attempt to disrupt Florida's food-producing region. Wartime conditions made it easier for enslaved people to escape, and many became useful informants to Union commanders. Deserters from both sides took refuge in the Florida wilderness, often attacking Confederate units and looting farms. The war ended in April 1865. By the following month, United States control of Florida had been re-established, slavery had been abolished, and Florida's Confederate governor John Milton had committed suicide by gunshot. Florida was formally readmitted to the United States in 1868.

Haines City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. Its population was 13,174 at the 2000 census and 20,535 at the 2010 census. It is the third most populous city in Polk County. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area, which, in turn, is considered part of the Tampa Bay Area.

The Old Central Grammar School (also known as the Haines City Middle School Annex or Fellowship Dining-Ridge) is a historic school in Haines City, Florida. Built in 1925, it was designed by architect Edward Columbus Hosford in the Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Revival style. On March 17, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. After being used for several years as a community theatre, the building is now part of Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology, a middle school in the Polk County Public Schools district.

The Polk Hotel (also known as the Palm Crest Hotel or the Landmark Baptist College) is a historic hotel in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. It is located at 800–810 Hinson Avenue in Haines City, Florida. On March 17, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The "Old Polk Hotel", as it is widely known among local residents, is now home to Landmark Baptist College, a ministry of Landmark Baptist Church. It is also the home of WLVF Gospel 90.3 FM, a Gospel/Bluegrass FM radio station, also affiliated with Landmark Baptist Church.

The Old Haines City National Guard Armory (also known as the Community Center of Northeast Polk County, Inc.) is a historic site in Haines City, Florida. It is located at 226 South 6th Street. On March 2, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, located at 102 North 9th Street in Haines City, Florida is an historic Carpenter Gothic church. On March 17, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Downtown Haines City Commercial District is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on March 7, 1994) located in Haines City, Florida. The district is bounded by Hinson and Ingraham Avenues, and 4th and 7th Streets. It contains 20 historic buildings.

Lake Hamilton is a town in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,537 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named after the lake itself: Lake Hamilton, which is one of the many lakes in the Chain of Lakes. Also, Middle Lake Hamilton and Little Lake Hamilton are located nearby. From 1964 through the 1970s, Hurricane Aircats, military airboats used by the US Army in Vietnam, were manufactured in Lake Hamilton. The airboats were made by Hurricane Fiberglass Products Company, an airboat and fiberglass manufacturer based in the neighboring town of Auburndale.

Ridge Community High School or RCHS is a public high school located on the Davenport, Florida and Haines City, Florida Line. RCHS was established in 2005 in Polk County. Ridge Community High School is one of many schools with a separate 9th Grade campus with its own front office. The main campus holds students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade with some exceptions. Ridge Community High School sits on 76 acres (310,000 m2) of land. Ridge Community High School is zoned for Davenport and Haines City. Ridge Community High School's rivals include Haines City High School, Lake Wales High School and others in Polk County. The principal of RCHS is Angela Clark. Ridge Community High School is part of the Polk County School Board. RCHS's mascot is the Bolt, and the school motto is Once a Bolt, always a Bolt. RCHS serves grades 9 - 12. RCHS is also referred to as Ridge by fellow students and alumni.

The Davenport Historic District is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on August 15, 1997) located in Davenport, Florida. The district is bounded by Suwannee and Orange Avenues, Palmento Street, and West Boulevard. It contains 28 historic buildings and 1 structure.

Davenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. While the city of Davenport itself is very small, the area north of the city close to Interstate 4 and US 27 is experiencing explosive growth. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,043 at the 2020 census.

Ridge Career Center is on the northeast edge of Winter Haven, Florida. Its street address is 7700 State Road 544, Winter Haven, Florida 33881. However, it is actually a short distance south of Road 544 and it can be reached via Brenton Manor Avenue, where all entrances to the school are located.