$229,551Average Value$187Average Price per Sq Ft54Homes For Sale
"A lazy little Southern town"
Fort Meade, Florida, is a historic settlement and the oldest city in Polk County. It’s named after Army Lieutenant George Meade, who settled the area in 1849. Amid the cattle farms and citrus groves, change has come slowly to Fort Meade, but that can be an attraction of its own. “It’s a lazy little Southern town that has been the same for 50 years,” says Realtor Nell Nelson of Florida Land Office LLC. “And some people like that.” Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce Director Russell Hancock adds, “It’s a very rural area with a quiet, small-town atmosphere. It’s a great place to raise a family.
Named after the man who put it on the map, Fort Meade is a historic settlement in Polk County.
Fort Meade’s small downtown district along Broadway Street remains loyal to its historic past.
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A downtown straight from the late 1800s
Fort Meade’s small downtown district along Broadway Street remains reminiscent of the city’s late-1800s heyday. Fort Meade Main Street focuses on preserving the local history while moving forward economically. It was named the 2023 Main Street program of the year by Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd. Small, independent businesses — furniture and antique shops, a tattoo parlor, a gunsmith and others — line a strip near the railroad. Broadway intersects with U.S. Route 17, itself home to several notable businesses. These include Kiki’s Egg House, a popular breakfast stop, and John’s Drive-In, which serves classic American dinner favorites. “We have to go to either Bartow or south to Hardee County for most shopping,” Hancock says. This requires a quick drive up or down Route 17.
Downtown Fort Meade features several independent businesses.
Locals can enjoy some lunch in the sunshine next to the historic train engine.
Kiki’s Egg House is a popular breakfast spot for Fort Meade Locals.
John's Drive-In serves classic American diner fare.
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Canoeing and kayaking on the Peace River
Much of Fort Meade’s growth has come from ecotourism. The Peace River offers an array of water-related activities. As one of the first locales in Florida to be designated a “Blueway” city, Fort Meade has become a haven for canoers, kayakers and paddle boarders. It is also a stop on the 67-mile Peace River Paddling Trail. Patterson Park is another spot for outdoor recreation in Fort Meade. Built around three lakes that were once phosphate mines, the 17-acre park offers a pair of docks for fishing and a paved trail along the water.
The Peace River offers an array of water-related activities such as kayaking and fishing.
Fishing is a popular pastime along the Peace River.
Once an old phosphate mine pit Patterson Park located in Fort Meade offers residents a great place to enjoy nature and fishing off the banks.
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From 55-and-older communities to historic farmhouses
A checkerboard of gridded residential streets surrounds Fort Meade’s two main roadways. Midcentury ranch-style homes are common throughout the city, while large farmhouses on sizeable plots appear occasionally. Two 55-and-over mobile home communities occupy the city’s eastern section: Fort Meade Estates and Oakview Lakes. The latter features a nine-hole golf course and access to a nature trail along Peace River. Mobile homes start at around $20,000 for two-bedroom units needing updates. Turnkey detached houses typically cost between $200,000 and $800,000, depending on square footage, lot size and upkeep.
Fort Meade offers a mixture of home types from all ages of architecture.
Oakview Lakes offers great affordability for its home lease manufactured homes.
New home construction brings a taste of modernness to a historical city.
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Two public schools serving all students
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary School accommodates kindergarten through fifth grade on two campuses. It has nearly 600 total students and a C rating from Niche. About 800 sixth through 12th graders attend Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School, which has a B. Students can develop skills in construction, hospitality, business and other trades in the school’s career academies.
Lewis Elementary School's goal is to provide high-quality education for all students.
Fort Meade Middle Senior High School is a public school located in Fort Meade, FL.
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Community gatherings under the stars
Patterson Park hosts several community events, including a youth fishing tournament in July and a Halloween costume contest. Other holiday events include Fourth of July fireworks and a Christmas parade. Every spring, the Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce hosts Moonlight & Music on Main Street. Several musical acts perform at this free event, including the Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School chorus and band. “It’s just a fun, relaxing family event. We have a few food trucks, and businesses downtown stay open during,” Hancock says.
A straight shot to Lakeland
Route 17 takes drivers about 22 miles north into Lakeland. It also connects to several routes to Tampa, which is about 40 miles east of Fort Meade.
Fort Meade locals often take U.S. 17 to shopping areas in Bartow and Bowling Green.
Written By
John Battiston
Video By
Jarrod Bock
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Brenda J. Quinn,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Fort Meade, FL sell after 106 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Fort Meade, FL over the last 12 months is $239,950, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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