Acton

Florida's ghost towns are railroad towns Flagler built, 1920s land-boom subdivisions that busted, and phosphate and turpentine camps.

Acton was a community in Polk County, Florida, United States. The town was situated two miles east of Lakeland, which it preceded. It was a settlement of English people from Great Britain. It was established in 1884 named for Lord Acton. The community began dispersing to Lakeland in 1889 and disappeared after the great freeze of 1894. A historical marker in Interlachen Park commemorates its history. The South Florida Railroad advertised a route through the community. An episcopal church was built in the community and later moved to Lakeland.

The on-the-ground condition of Acton is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Acton is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Acton is roughly 28.0533, -81.9333 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.