Mulberry, FL Real Estate

With a population of just over 3,200 residents, Mulberry, Florida is a charming small town that is perfectly located approximately 30 miles from Tampa driving west on State Road 60. Tampa is famous for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team and has the seventh largest port in the United States. Mulberry is just minutes from lovely Lakeland, Florida where the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture is located at prestigious Florida Southern College. Mulberry is sited just over one hour from Orlando that is known for its incredible theme parks including Sea World, Disney World, and Universal Studios.

The first settlers of Mulberry arrived in the late 1840s, but for many years this district had no name. By the 1880s, trains would unload passengers and mail at the mulberry tree beside the railroad tracks. This became such a popular stop that the railroad built a station next to the tree and named it Mulberry. In 1886, phosphate ore was discovered along the Peace River creating a new industry in Mulberry that sustains until this day.

Phosphate mining and processing is Florida’s third largest industry and Mulberry is the phosphate capital of the world. Mulberry’s phosphate mines supply 80% of the United States and a third of the world with this necessary fertilizer ingredient. Mulberry’s other big businesses include Master Containers, Inc., a foam cup and container plant; Badcock Home Furniture’s main office for 356 stores throughout the south.

Many recreational opportunities are available to residents and tourists of Mulberry. Young and old will enjoy learning about the history of phosphate at the Mulberry Phosphate Museum. Carter Road Park is a local favorite offering soccer, baseball, softball, and football leagues. Carter Road Park has relaxing places to fish and an intensive off-road bike trail. Mulberry has several parks located throughout the town that offer playgrounds and ball fields. Golfers will enjoy the many golf courses located in and near this picturesque town.

Mulberry is part of the Polk County Public School System. Public schools in Mulberry include Kingsford Elementary, Purcell Elementary, Mulberry Middle, and Mulberry High School. Mulberry also has a private school, Mulberry Christian Academy.

Home styles in Mulberry include traditional, Florida-style, and manufactured homes. The median price of a home for sale in Mulberry is $167,900.