in early 2014, some residents of the bolton community sought annexation with lakeland, partly so the unincorporated area could join a municipal school district. bolton includes barret's chapel elementary school and bolton high school. the vote for annexation went before the lakeland city board on june 12, 2014 and failed. one resident of the community told the board that "10 times more residents have petitioned you "not" to annex than have petitioned you "to" annex."