Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,194 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,802 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The center of population of Florida is located in Lake Wales . Lake Wales is located in central Florida, west of Lake Kissimmee and east of Tampa.