Lake Placid, Florida
Lake Placid is a town in Highlands County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Sebring Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,360.
Lake Placid, Florida | |
|---|---|
| Town of Lake Placid | |
|
Logo | |
| Nickname(s): "Caladium Capital of the World" "Town of Murals" | |
Location in Highlands County and the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: 27°17′42.9″N 81°22′21.5″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Highlands |
| Settled | 1912 |
| Incorporated (Town of Lake Stearns) | December 1, 1925 |
| Incorporated (Town of Lake Placid) | June 6, 1927 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | John Holbrook |
| • Vice Mayor | Ray Royce |
| • Councilors | Charlie Wilson, Greg Sapp, and Nell Frewin-Hays |
| • Town Administrator | Kevin McCarthy |
| • Town Clerk | Eva Cooper-Hapeman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.71 sq mi (12.21 km2) |
| • Land | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) 1.4% |
| Highest elevation | 173 ft (53 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 2,360 |
| • Density | 506.22/sq mi (195.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 33852, 33862 |
| Area code | 863 |
| FIPS code | 12-38625 |
| GNIS feature ID | 285272 |
| Website | Town of Lake Placid |
The town has two nicknames: "Town of Murals" and "Caladium Capital of the World". Lake Placid has 47 murals painted on buildings throughout the town, and 98 percent of the world's caladium bulbs come from Lake Placid. There are 14 caladium farms, spanning 1,200 acres, and these plants have been grown in the area since the 1940s. In 2013, Reader's Digest named Lake Placid America's Most Interesting Town.
The town is home to the Lake Placid Tower, a closed concrete block observation tower that is 240 feet (73 m) tall according to early sources or 270 feet (82 m) tall according to late sources. However, government sources exclude a 270-foot height, allowing only a 240-foot height.