Bartow (Florida) Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States
About Bartow (Florida)
While Florida was first obtained by the United States in 1819, the central and southern regions of this new territory remained largely unsettled by Europeans due to already being inhabited by the Seminole tribe, not to mention the heat and the high humidity of the region. Following the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842, small groups of settlers began to trek into the interior of this region and build some of the first permanent settlements in this region, building forts to deter Seminole attacks. In 1851, the first permanent settlers reached this location near the headwaters of the Peace River and established Fort Blount (a quarter-mile west of the 1908 courthouse). The settlement remained small for many years. In 1861, Polk County was separated from Hillsborough County, with Fort Blo
Top Attractions in Bartow (Florida)
Explore the best things to see and do in Bartow (Florida):
- ★Bartow Antique Fair
- ★Bartow Art Guild
- ★Bartow Golf Course
- ★Bartow's First Friday
- ★L.B. Brown House Museum
- ★Mary Holland Skate Park
- ★Polk County Historical Museum
- ★The Museum Room at the Bartow Airport
Where to Eat in Bartow (Florida)
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Broadway Diner
- 🍴Catfish Country
- 🍴Cookie Jar Bakeshop
- 🍴Cool Shop Ice Cream Café
- 🍴Palace Pizza
Where to Stay in Bartow (Florida)
- 🏨Good Life RV Resort
- 🏨Holiday Inn Express
- 🏨Stay Inn and Suites
Bartow (Florida) Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: