Monticello, FL

Monticello is a small town located in Polk County, Florida. The population was 1,827 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lakeland- Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town was founded in 1887 by George and Martha Monticello and named for Monticello, Virginia, the home of Thomas Jefferson. The first settler in Monticello was John H. Wright who arrived in 1886. Wright built a sawmill on the banks of the Withlacoochee River and soon other settlers followed, including James Fenton who opened a general store and post office. In 1888, Wright donated land for a school which was later renamed after George Washington Monticello School after his father-in-law.

In 1907, an electric trolley line connected Monticello with Winter Haven and other nearby towns; this helped spur development as tourists began to visit the area. The town's first hotel—the Monticello Inn—was built in 1912; it burned down in 1923 but was rebuilt that same year as the Hotel Winter Haven (now known as the Holiday Inn). A movie theater opened in 1922; it closed down in 1978 but reopened as an antique mall two years later.

Today, much of Monticello's economy revolves around tourism; visitors can enjoy shopping at local boutiques or take advantage of numerous recreational opportunities such as fishing or hiking trails located throughout the town. In addition to its natural attractions, Monticello is also home to several businesses related to real estate: real estate agents are common sights on Main Street during business hours, while several real estate companies are headquartered within close proximity to one another on Uptown Boulevard (the main commercial district).

Despite recent economic challenges faced by many communities across Florida, Monticello has managed to maintain its status as a desirable place to live and work; according to data from Zillow®, median home values have increased by nearly 20% since 2007 while unemployment rates have remained relatively low (around 4%). This strong economy has led many families—both new arrivals and longtime residents—to invest in property here; according to 2017 Census data, over half of households (54%) own their homes outright while another 17% are homeowners with a mortgage loan that they owe primarily interest payments rather than principal payments (this figure includes both single family homes and condos).

While there are certainly some concerns that need to be addressed if growth is going to continue unabated—namely increasing traffic congestion and limited resources available for public services such as schools or police departments—the overall trend suggests that things are looking good for those living in or considering purchasing property in Monticeello!