2021 Map of Baird

About this map

Baird and Fort Green anchor this interior Florida landscape at the border of Polk and Hardee Counties. The terrain is defined by a complex network of wetlands and drainage patterns, including Hookers Prairie and the headwaters of Payne Cr. The map reveals a transition between heavy industry and recreation, with massive earthwork formations and settling ponds characteristic of phosphate mining dominating the northern half of the quadrangle. Conversely, the southern portion transitions into protected space near the Hardee Lakes Park Trl. Genealogy researchers will find the Paynes Creek Primitive Cem situated near the banks of Little Payne Creek, a quiet landmark in a landscape of shifting land use. The historical road network, including Old Hwy 37 and Old Brewster Rd, provides a framework for understanding the region's 20th-century development and transport routes.