[6] Auburndale was founded in 1880 by Frank Fuller, who was seeking refuge from chilly winters in the Northeast United States.

[8] The New England town had been named from the opening line of the poem "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith.

[9] Early on, the city became a chosen destination for a number of America's most prominent artists.

[10] Auburndale is located within the Central Florida Highlands area of the Atlantic coastal plain with a terrain consisting of flatland interspersed with gently rolling hills.

Auburndale is located in the humid subtropical zone, as designated by (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).

[13] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,616 people, 5,141 households, and 3,701 families residing in the city.

[17] As of the 2010 United States census, there were 13,507 people, 4,671 households, and 3,327 families residing in the city.

Two airports serve Auburndale, both of which are located in Winter Haven, east of the city.

The Winter Haven Regional Airport along US 92 and the adjacent Jack Browns Seaplane Base located on the northeast shores of Lake Jessie.

[22] The library offers a number of services to all Polk County Residents, including 24/7 card catalog access.