Florida’s Crossroads – Why Mulberry, FL is the New Place to Be

Updated on January 7, 2025: This story was originally published on February 17, 2023, and has been updated with new information.

Welcome to Mulberry, Florida, a quaint Florida town experiencing steady growth and development while still holding on to its small-town charm! With its rich history, central location close to Tampa and Lakeland, affordable cost of living, and attainable new homes near Lakeland, this city is primed for amazing growth in the coming years.

With all the growth, Mulberry officials and residents remain committed to preserving the aspects that make it a great place to call home. The high quality of life offered here will continue with the creation of a centralized downtown area with a variety of dining and entertainment options for residents to enjoy. Add in the new business developments, industrial growth, and new home construction, and Mulberry is – quite literally – prime real estate!

Learn more about Mulberry, Florida, and the exciting growth that’s occurring here!

Where is Mulberry, Florida?

A suburb of Lakeland, Mulberry is located just south of the city of Lakeland, and about 9 miles from downtown Lakeland.

Mulberry is at the crossroads of FL-37, a main north-south route through Lakeland, and State Road 60, a Florida state highway that runs east-west from Clearwater Beach on the Gulf Coast to Vero Beach near the Atlantic Coast. This places Mulberry at the intersection of convenience! Not only is Mulberry near Lakeland, but also only about 20 miles from Brandon, 35 miles from Downtown Tampa, and 55 miles from Florida's Gulf Coast.

And, the drive to all these destinations is easy thanks to major roadways running through, or near, the city. Our new homes for sale in Mulberry are:

• Directly off FL-37
• One mile north of SR-60
• 6 miles from the Polk Parkway
• 12 miles from I-4

History of Mulberry, FL

The city of Mulberry has a rich history, dating back to the late 1800s when phosphate mining began in the area. A railroad ran through the heart of this Central Florida region and it soon became a hub for the phosphate operations, spurring the mining boom town of Mulberry. Officially incorporated in 1901, the city has consistently thrived since that time thanks to strong leadership and steady growth.

Today, Mulberry is known for its beautiful parks, recreational opportunities, and friendly community. The city’s population currently stands at approximately 4,500 residents – an increase of almost 25% over the past 5 years, illustrating the area’s steady and strong growth.

Development in Mulberry, FL

One of the most exciting developments coming to Mulberry is a new food hall, The Depot 303, which is set to open any day now. Paying homage to Mulberry's railroad history and modeled after the success of The Joinery, its sister food hall in Lakeland, this 14,000-square-foot food hall is located in a revitalized downtown area and designed with industrial and railroad-themed elements.

The Depot 303 has space for eight unique food vendors, a bar, a commercial kitchen, and indoor and outdoor seating for more than 250 people. The venue hosted a sneak peek and tree lighting event in December, and we cannot wait for the doors to officially open!

Just one block away, another recent addition to the city that’s already open for enjoyment is the Gem Theater. Renovated in 2021, this space is the ideal venue for live music, film screenings, and performances bringing art and culture to our town! A small sampling of recent events includes movie screenings of The Grinch and The Wild Robot, a Dinner and a Movie showing of Edward Scissorhands, and a film screening and Q&A with actor Jason London. Their 2025 theater season performed by the Missing Piece Company promises unforgettable entertainment with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, The Little Mermaid, and Anything Goes.

Mulberry is also set to see even more growth with the completion of the Municipal Hall Complex, which is slated to open in 2025. The complex will house the city’s administrative offices and provide a modern, centralized location for many of the city’s services, including City Hall, a civic center, a cultural center/museum, and a Polk County sheriff’s substation.

The city also purchased a former bank building in 2024 and turned the space into a community center and creator space, called Studio 37. From sound bath meditation to yoga, art, plant growing, self-defense, and Zumba classes, the Studio strives to enrich the Mulberry community through arts and culture.

All of these venues are located within walking distance of one another, and Mulberry's City Manager foresees a future of this becoming a highly walkable entertainment district, drawing people from Lakeland and beyond into Mulberry.

While many who live in Mulberry commute to nearby cities, Mulberry is home to industries providing job opportunities for residents. Phosphate mining has always been a huge industry in Mulberry, and the Mosaic Company is one of the largest employers in Mulberry, Florida. Other major employers include:

• Tampa Electric Company (TECO), with a state-of-the-art power plant near Mulberry;
• Danielle Fence Manufacturing, which makes industrial, residential, and commercial fencing;
• Mulberry Railcar Repair Company, a professional rail car repair, maintenance, and car cleaning services provider;
• Mine and Mill Industrial Supply Company, one of Florida's top industrial firms.

A small sampling of additional companies calling Mulberry home includes Land O’Lakes, Inc., Fuse Fabrication, EnviroServe, and Riverhawk Industrial Supply.

Cost of Living in Mulberry, FL

According to recent data from BestPlaces.net, the cost of living in Mulberry, Florida is lower than in many other cities in our state. The overall cost of living score in Mulberry is 91.6, which means it's 8.4% cheaper than the national average (which posts a score of 100), 11.2% cheaper than the overall state of Florida cost of living score, and 12.6% more affordable than the nearby city of Tampa.

What makes Mulberry an affordable place to live? Low housing costs are the largest factor, with transportation/commuting expenses and miscellaneous expenses such as dining and entertainment also contributing to its affordability.

New Home Construction in Mulberry, FL

Local businesses and government aren’t the only things growing in Mulberry – New homes are also being built to provide housing for people moving to Central Florida.

Highland Homes builds new construction homes at Bridgeport Lakes in Mulberry, with homes available now in the 3rd phase. Located adjacent to Loyce E. Harpe Park and Se7en Wetlands Park, Bridgeport Lakes is considered by locals to be the “Ultimate Outdoor Community” with access to the outdoor amenities found within these parks, as well as those within the community itself, including open space, wetlands conservation, and sparkling lakes.

With its controlled and well-planned growth, the city of Mulberry, Florida is truly invested in its future. With new businesses, development, and growth in the city, real estate values are expected to increase, making homeownership here a wise investment. Learn more about living in Mulberry by calling or emailing our Mulberry New Home Specialists today!