homeland heritage park

Homeland, Florida is a tiny town very near Bartow, a few miles east of Tampa. It was founded before statehood, which was in 1845. This small place has lovingly saved and restored a historic church, the first schoolhouse, a pioneer homestead, and a few other buildings in a town park. You're invited to stroll through anytime. My grandmother was born in this town, and we're proud the town had the good sense to create the Homeland Heritage Park...it includes her childhood church (The Homeland Methodist Church, built 1887), her first school, and an 1800s pioneer homestead home. The restorations are of Williamsburg quality---quite amazing for such a small place. The area has a famous history, which includes the bloody Seminole Wars, the establishment of Florida's major cattle industry, and then the creation of Florida's citrus kingdom. Homeland is one of the area's earliest settlements. Just a few miles north in Bartow, you'll find the spectacular Polk Co. Historical Museum in the county's Old Court House...well worth a visit! DIRECTIONS TO HOMELAND HERITAGE PARK. : From Hwy. 60 take Hwy. 17 S. towards Ft. Meade, take a right onto Hwy. 640 and turn left on Azalea.