1952 Map of Lake Wales

About this map

Lake Wales and its surrounding citrus-belt terrain are captured here just after the mid-century, defined by a high concentration of freshwater lakes and the prominent elevation of Iron Mountain. The landmark Bok Tower stands as a focal point overlooking Mountain Lake, while the town center shows established institutional footprints including Roosevelt Sch and Polk Ave Sch. The landscape is crisscrossed by two major rail lines, the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line, which historically served the region's agricultural output. North of the city, the settlement of Waverly and the community of Lake of the Hills sit among dozens of named water bodies like Lake Pierce and Lake Starr. This survey documents a period of Florida's interior development where small-town urban grids were deeply integrated with the natural topography and drainage systems like the Peace Creek Drainage Canal.