23 Small Towns in FLORIDA (Charming, Amazing & Historic)
Life is not all about big cities, noisy environments, the everyday hustle and bustle, and the fast life many people live.
Not that some of them love it or, if given a choice, will go for such a life, it is for the opportunities that staying in those cities afford them.
There is proximity to big Fortune 500 companies where they can make a huge career for themselves.
However, beyond this, there is little to nothing else that staying in big cities offers that you will not get in some small towns, and even some of these towns are home to a few Fortune 500 companies as well.
This piece talks about some of the small towns in Florida, United States.
And by the way, you may also want to check out some popular Ghost Towns in Florida.
Small Towns in Polk County, Florida
1. Auburndale
Auburndale is a city in Polk County of Florida, United States, nestled within the Central Florida Highlands and with a population of around 20,000.
The town came into existence in 1885 by the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad, which named the town after Auburn in New York, which was the hometown of one of the directors of the railroad company.
By the early twentieth century, Auburndale had grown rapidly, and it became one of the major hubs for the citrus industry.
Currently, Auburndale is a diverse city with a pretty strong economy, as it is home to a number of businesses, which include manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and so on.
Academically, Auburndale is not found wanting, as it is home to educational institutions like Auburndale High School, Polk State College, etc.
Address: Auburndale, FL 33823, US
2. Davenport
Davenport, a town located in Polk County, Florida, was founded by Colonel William Davenport in 1845 after his service with the US Army in the Seminole wars.
The town was initially named Horse Creek, but it is needless to say that it was renamed Davenport after the founder in 1850.
Davenport has good weather, a warm climate, and a low cost of living, all of which make it an excellent town for older citizens to live in.
In recent times, Davenport is of diverse population and age groups, which has contributed largely to the progressive and thriving atmosphere, with businesses, schools, etc., to call their own.
For tourists and sightseers, Davenport remains a great destination considering the number of attractions in the town, which include the Davenport Sports Complex, Davenport Golf Course, and so on.
Address: Davenport, FL 33836, US
3. Lake Wales
With a population of over 16,000, Lake Wales, a town in Polk County, Florida, is a great destination for families, especially senior citizens.
This town has it all, be it parks, recreational centers, historical landmarks, businesses, schools, healthcare, and so much more.
One of the historical landmarks is the Bok Tower Gardens, which is a vast botanical garden situated right on Iron Mountain, which is the peak of the peninsular.
Another of the landmarks is the Lake Wales Historical Museum in the downtown district of the town, with pieces on the history and past of Lake Wales.
The town is indeed a unique and fantastic place that offers its residents a cool, calm, and slow-paced environment, unlike most metropolitan cities that are all about fast life.
Address: Lake Wales, FL 33853, US
4. Bartow
As the county seat of Polk County, with well over 20,000 people, Bartow is a big deal when it comes to towns in the county.
The town was established or created in 1850 and named Fort Blount until 1861 when it was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow, a Confederate general that lost his life in the civil war.
Bartow is a town, diversified and with rich history, with some historical sites to tell amazing stories.
Some of these historical buildings include the Historic L.B. Brown House and Museum, the Bartow Carnegie Library, the Polk County History Center, the Polk Theater, and so on.
With numerous businesses and industries, Bartow remains a major hub for phosphate mining, agriculture, and citrus production, which has all made it a growing city.
Address: Bartow, FL 33830, US
Also see our article on Abandoned Places in Florida.
Small Towns in Jacksonville, Florida
1. Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach, which is the county seat of Nassau County, Florida, is situated on Amelia Island, on the Atlantic coast, in northeastern Florida, and it is one of the main towns that make up Jacksonville.
The Spanish established Fernandina Beach back in 1768 as a fort slash trading post and was named after Queen Maria Luisa of Parma, who was King Charles III of Spain’s wife.
During the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain took over the city in 1783, holding it until 1784, when it returned to America.
Fernandina Beach is an excellent destination and vacation spot for tourists and visitors, especially with the historic downtown area that has brick streets as well as Victorian mansions.
The town is also home to Fort Clinch State Park, which provides breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Address: Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, US
2. Nocatee
Nocatee, which was established in 1996, is a master-planned town that is located in St. Johns County, Florida, United States, currently with more than 16,000 people in the community.
The town is renowned for its unwavering dedication to environmental conservation and sustainability and boasts several environmentally friendly features, such as LEED-certified structures, solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and so on.
There are several parks and environmental preserves in Nocatee as well, and these give locals a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
A golf course, a fitness facility, a swimming pool, and a community center are also available as attractions that may further encourage outdoor moments among the residents and visitors.
Nocatee is an excellent town for families to live with a selection of housing preferences, such as single-family homes, apartments, and townhomes, all surrounded by restaurants, schools, shops, etc.
Address: Nocatee, FL 32081, US
3. Fleming Island
Fleming Island is a family-friendly community in Clay County, Florida, and even though an unincorporated community, it boasts around 35,000 people, all living together with a sense of community.
The schools in this town are excellent and top-rated, especially its public schools, which include Fleming Island Elementary School, Fleming Island Middle School, and Fleming Island High School.
For extroverts and people that prefer to be outside, the town holds great news with the numerous parks and recreational activities that are available, like a golf course, playgrounds, sports fields, and so on.
Also, like in every civilized community, Fleming Island has numerous businesses and offers various shopping options to residents and visitors.
Generally, the town is a fantastic place to stay and even start a family with the safety, cleanliness, and togetherness it offers.
Address: Fleming Island, FL 32003, US
4. Palm Valley
With just over 20,000 people, as determined by the 2020 census, Palm Valley, a census-designated place (like many others in this piece), is situated in St. Johns County, Florida, between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach.
Palm Valley is a serene, cool, calm, and family-friendly town with a couple of housing options for residents, which could be a single-family home or an apartment.
The town also has various parks, one of which is Palm Valley Park, which has a picnic area, a playground, and walking trails where you can take evening walks.
Other attraction sites in Palm Valley include a golf course, the Palm Valley Golf Club, and so on; these, alongside the great school system, make Palm Valley an excellent place to live and raise a family.
Address: Palm Valley, FL 32004, US
Also see our article on Haunted Houses in Florida.
Small Towns in Lee County, Florida
1. Bonita Springs
Bonita Springs is situated in Florida’s Lee County and spans some parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Estero Bay, with about 55,000 population, according to the 2020 census.
A part of the town is Bonita Beach on Little Hickory Island, an island between the Gulf of Mexico and Estero Bay that can be easily accessed by road.
In Bonita Springs, there are some excellent tourist attraction sites where you can go have a pleasant time with your partners, family, and friends, and they include some amazing beaches, golf courses, and so on.
The town is also blessed with some cultural attractions, which allow for some outdoor dates, like the Bonita Springs Museum of Art, the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and the Bonita Springs Players in the town.
With its booming and strong economy, Bonita Springs is a great place to stay, start a business, and even a family.
Address: Bonita Springs, FL 34110, US
2. Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach is a lovely town in Florida, nestled in the North end of Estero Island in Lee County, and although incorporated in December of 1995, the people living there are well under 10,000.
The town is a tourist-fueled economy, as well as fishing and boating, so naturally, it is an excellent destination for tourists, beachgoers, boaters, fishing enthusiasts, and so on.
With a thriving economy, it is not surprising that businesses are a common thing in the town, with all kinds of restaurants, shops, and hotels here and there.
Fort Myers Beach also has a fantastic educational system with excellent public schools like the two elementary schools, run and managed by the Lee County School District, and a couple of privately-owned schools too.
Address: Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932, US
3. Sanibel
Sanibel is an island in Florida, and the entirety of the town is the island, which is why it is often referred to as Sanibel Island.
Naturally, and as expected, the town is famous for its beaches; after all, it is an island, and these beaches are renowned for the large number of seashells they hold.
Their economy revolves largely around tourism, given the desire of travelers, visitors, etc., that love to have their vacation on this beautiful island to enjoy the restaurants, hotels, and some outdoor activities on the town’s golf courses.
As a marine city, considering its geography, Sanibel has a wildlife refuge called the J. N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which basically protects marine life like dolphins, manatees, turtles, and so on.
Address: Sanibel, FL 33957, US
4. Pineland
Pineland is a town as small as they come in terms of population because it is almost inevitable, with a population of 466 as of the 2020 census, that if you threw a stone, you would hit a relative, colleague, or friend.
The town was established in the earlier part of the 19th century by some people from Georgia that settled there and was initially named the ‘Pineland Settlement.’
Although the town is quite open to tourism, which helps fuel its economy, it is a close-knit community, as one would expect from a town with less than a thousand people.
Notwithstanding the population, Pineland has a number of businesses, like shops, restaurants, service providers, etc., as well as schools and churches.
Pineland is a great town to have a quiet and lovely stay, especially if you do not like the everyday hustle and bustle of the big cities.
Address: Pineland, FL 33922 US
Also see our article on Escape Rooms in Florida.
Small Towns in Miami, Florida
1. Opa-Locka
Opa-Locka is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, which was established in 1925 by Glenn Curtiss, an aviation pioneer who hired an architect to design some buildings in the Moorish Revival Style, with inspiration from the Middle East.
It is not surprising that streets were named after characters from ‘One Thousand and One Nights, the Arabian Nights,’ with street names like Sabur Lane, Sultan Avenue, Perviz Avenue, Sharazad Boulevard, Sinbad Avenue, Sesame Street, and Ali Baba Avenue.
This attracted a whole lot of tourism to Opa-Locka in the 1920s and into the 1930s until, as a result of economy and crime, it suffered a decline in the later years of the 1900s.
However, recently, the town has been injected with new life, and with new attractions like the Opa-locka Historic District, etc., Opa-Locka is gradually reliving its days of glory.
Address: Opa-Locka, FL 33013, US
2. Surfside
Surfside is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, established in 1935 by some developers who believed if something of the sort was not done, their land would be annexed by Miami Beach City.
To show how accurate this piece of history is, Surfside was incorporated with a population of 35 people, but it rapidly grew in popularity, and fifteen to twenty years down the line, it was a booming beach community.
Currently, Surfside is a unique and lovely town that welcomes visitors and tourists with a lot on offer, be it art galleries, restaurants, parks, and recreational spots like the Surfside Tennis Center, the Surfside Community Center, etc.
There is also the famous Surfside Beach, which is number one on the tourist attractions list, and it is common among tourists for surfing, sunbathing, and swimming.
Address: Surfside, FL 33154, US
3. Coral Gables
Coral Gables, a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, owes its development to George Merrick, who in 1925 envisioned a ‘city beautiful’ with inspiration drawn from the Mediterranean Revival architecture.
The town is a gigantic work of art, and its beauty is undeniable, with streets lined with flowering shrubs, palm trees, and buildings adorned with stained glass, terracotta tiles, and wrought iron.
With different attraction sites like its historic architecture, and its fabulous parks and gardens, Coral Gables remains an excellent tourist destination.
Coral Gables is also home to several notable landmarks, such as the Biltmore Hotel, the Venetian Pool, the Lowe Art Museum, and so much more.
Perhaps, the stand-out feature of the town that has aided in giving the town its thriving and robust economy is the several Fortune 500 companies that have their bases there.
Address: Coral Gables, FL 33124, US
4. Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a town in Florida, and with a population of 82,890 as of the 2020 census, it is the second most populous town in Miami-Dade County.
With a bit of history starting from 1915 when John S. Collins and Carl Fisher brought about the town’s creation and development, Miami Beach, which was founded to be a winter destination for wealthy Americans, speedily grew in popularity.
By the 1930s, it had become a famous destination for actresses and other stars, and almost a century later, Miami Beach is still a top destination for Hollywood celebrities and a tourist destination.
It is a town where you could go to have fun and a wonderful vacation with attractions like art galleries, museums, restaurants, etc., and it is a great destination for businessmen as some corporate headquarters are located there.
Address: Miami Beach, FL 33109, US
Also see our article on Bridges in Florida.
Small Towns in Orlando, Florida
1. Mount Dora
Mount Dora was founded in 1880 by the owner of Plant System Railroad, Henry A. Plant, getting the town’s name from his daughter, Dora.
By the early twentieth century, the town had grown rapidly and had become a choice resort destination for wealthy people all over the country.
Much like every other town, Mount Dora, too, had its downtime in history when things declined, and the economy and business were not as good as usual.
However, in recent times, the town, with its lovely small-town charm and a population of about 15,000, is home to many antique shops, restaurants, stores, and so much more.
It is once again a great destination for tourists, who have a fantastic time with visits to the attractions on offer, like the Mount Dora Lighthouse, the Historical Museum, the Art League, and so on.
Address: Mount Dora, FL 32756, US
2. Sanford
Sanford is a town in the United States of America that doubles as the county seat of Seminole County in Central Florida, with a population of over 60,000, as determined by the 2020 census.
it is a waterfront city, which is based on its location being situated very close to Lake Monroe in Orlando, Florida.
The first settlers in the region that is now known today as Sanford was the Native Americans, centuries before the town was created in the eighteenth century, when the Seminoles arrived, to be as it now is.
Currently, the town is a place most tourists want to visit, especially the downtown area with antique shops, lovely restaurants, incredible boutiques, and, to cap it all, the amazing Lake Monroe with breathtaking views.
Address: Sanford, FL 32746, US
3. Winter Garden
The town, Winter Garden, was founded in 1885, but then, it was a citrus-growing community to help boost the economy and was not incorporated until decades later, in 1925, and a century later, Winter Garden stands with around 50,000 in population.
Winter Garden has several historical landmarks and buildings, like the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, etc., which contributes to the reason the town remains a popular tourist destination.
In the town also, you will see numerous parks and recreational spots, like the West Orange Trail, where you can go on relaxing evening strolls, the Winter Garden Farmers Market, and so much more.
So, if you are interested in history or nature and prefer to enjoy them in a lovely environment, Winter Garden is a top destination for you.
Address: Winter Garden, FL 34778, US
4. Winter Park
Obviously, because of their name and proximity to each other, Winter Park and Winter Garden people often misplace them for each other.
While they are both lovely towns in Florida, United States, with similar names, their history and features are as different from each other as any other unique town.
Winter Park was originally created as a resort community in the late 1800s and early 1900s by business magnates to serve as a getaway destination to relax or, if need be, consult their business with cool and refreshed heads.
Well, the town still serves largely as a top destination for tourists and visitors alike, where they come to unwind, relax and enjoy their vacations.
And with the museums, the lovely Florida weather, great restaurants, boutiques, and so much more, Winter Park does not disappoint.
Address: Winter Park, FL 32789, US
5. Celebration
No, do not be shocked or surprised; it is not a joke, neither is it a typographical error; the name of the town is indeed Celebration.
This lovely small town was built by Disney in the 1990s to bring back the look and feel of traditional American towns of days past.
Celebration has that small-town vibe and sweetness that kind of welcomes you with open arms and wraps you up in a lovely big tight hug.
Although the idea behind the building of this town is the old American type of town, there are modern facilities, of course, restaurants, shops, and resorts that accommodate tourists, travelers, and visitors.
If you ever find your way to the town, there are lots of things you can do, like take a walk or stroll on the Celebration Nature Trails, check out the golf club, and so much more.
Address: Celebration, FL 34747, US
Also see our article on Lakes in Florida.
Small Towns in Tampa, Florida
1. Tarpon Springs
The town is famously known for the Greek heritage it possesses, which is mainly due to the large concentration of Greek Americans in the United States; in fact, it is the largest.
This Greek heritage, which makes Tarpon Springs a town rich with Greek culture, is one of the primary reasons why the town features on the list of numerous tourist destinations.
When considered alongside the incredibly good weather, the warm and humid climate, and the attraction sites, like the sponge docks, you begin to wonder why the town is not more popular than it already is.
So, naturally, the town is home to several shops, churches, and Greek restaurants that serve unique cuisines, so if you are in Florida but crave some Athens delicacy, find your way to Tarpon Springs.
Address: Tarpon Springs, FL 34688, US
2. Safety Harbor
Safety Harbor is a town located on the west shore of Tampa Bay, Florida, which was founded in 1823 and incorporated almost a century later, in 1917.
The town is famous for its natural springs, which were said to have had healing capabilities at some point in time.
It is also not without history, and at the top of the town’s historical journey would be the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, which is a hotel that was built about a century ago, in 1925.
This, coupled with the various restaurants, shops, and galleries in the downtown area, make Safety Harbor a great destination for tourists.
Safety Harbor also has many parks and outdoor venues you can visit for recreational purposes, like the golf course, the skate park, etc.
Address: Safety Harbor, FL 33761, US
If you liked this article, you may also like to read about the Grandest Castles, Playgrounds, and Aquariums in Florida.
Looking beyond Florida? Check out our article on the best Small Towns in Illinois and New York.