1952 Map of Babson Park

About this map

The central Florida citrus belt is defined here by a chain of namesake lakes and the rail lines that served them during the early 1950s. The massive Lake Crooked dominates the center of the sheet, surrounded by communities like Babson Park, Hillcrest Heights, and Highland Park. These settlements were deeply connected to the citrus industry and transportation, evidenced by the presence of the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line railroads. To the south, the city of Frostproof sits between Lake Clinch and Reedy Lake, a layout shaped by the surrounding water and the reach of the Peace Creek Drainage Canal. Local genealogy and community markers include Bethel Ch near Lake Ida, providing specific points of interest for those tracing the social fabric of Polk County during this period of mid-century development.