BARTOW, a city in the lake region of Florida, U.S.A., 45m. east of Tampa, on the ridge running through the State from north to south; the county seat of Polk county. It is served by the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line railways. The population in 1925 (State census) was 4,593; 5,269 U.S. census. Bartow is surrounded by extensive orange, grapefruit and banana groves, immense phosphate mines, and irrigated farms, and has a variety of manufacturing industries. There are two large and beautiful lakes (Hancock and Polk) near by.