In the year ending July 15, 2002, the airport had 49,368 aircraft operations, average 135 per day: 100% general aviation and <1% military.

Williams spearheaded the city's initial land acquisition for what would become the Bartow Municipal Airport.

In 1945–1950 a fixed-base operator (FBO) ran the airfield and flight line, while the large complex of support buildings that had been built by the Federal Government was used by industry and for storage.

From 1960 through 1967 the City of Bartow again managed the airport and the aviation facilities were again leased to a fixed-base operator.

In 1964 the City requested authority from the Federal Aviation Administration to convert a large building area into an industrial park.