Okeechobee County
County
County of Okeechobee
The Okeechobee County Judicial Center, in Okeechobee
The Okeechobee County Judicial Center, in Okeechobee
Official seal of Okeechobee County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Okeechobee County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°23′N 80°53′W / 27.39°N 80.89°W / 27.39; -80.89
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedMay 8, 1917
Named forLake Okeechobee
SeatOkeechobee
Largest cityOkeechobee
Area
 • Total892 sq mi (2,310 km2)
 • Land769 sq mi (1,990 km2)
 • Water123 sq mi (320 km2)  13.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total39,644
 • Density52/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
34972, 34973, 34974
Area code863
Congressional district17th
Websitewww.co.okeechobee.fl.us

Okeechobee County (US: /oʊkiˈtʃoʊbi/[1]) is a county located in the Florida Heartland region of the state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,644.[2] The county seat is Okeechobee.[3]

History

The Okeechobee County Courthouse, constructed in 1926, is located in the county seat, Okeechobee.
The Old Okeechobee High School, now the Freshman Campus, built 1925

Okeechobee County was incorporated in 1917. It was named for Lake Okeechobee, which was itself named for the Seminole Indian[4] words okee (water) and chobee (big).

Historic buildings

Historic buildings in Okeechobee County include:

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 892 square miles (2,310 km2), of which 769 square miles (1,990 km2) is land and 123 square miles (320 km2) (13.8%) is water.[5]

Okeechobee County comprises the Okeechobee, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), which is included in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL Combined Statistical Area. The μSA was first designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in 2003.[6][7]


Adjacent counties

Points of interest

The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, part of the Florida National Scenic Trail, runs along the Herbert Hoover Dike around the Lake.

Transportation

Airports

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19202,132—
19304,12993.7%
19403,000−27.3%
19503,45415.1%
19606,42486.0%
197011,23374.9%
198020,26480.4%
199029,62746.2%
200035,91021.2%
201039,99611.4%
202039,644−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[2]
Okeechobee County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 26,258 24,671 65.65% 62.23%
Black or African American (NH) 3,117 3,318 7.79% 8.37%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 287 263 0.72% 0.66%
Asian (NH) 345 332 0.86% 0.84%
Pacific Islander (NH) 25 14 0.06% 0.04%
Some Other Race (NH) 28 146 0.07% 0.37%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 375 1,043 0.94% 2.63%
Hispanic or Latino 9,561 9,857 23.9% 24.86%
Total 39,996 39,644

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 39,644 people, 14,601 households, and 9,837 families residing in the county.

As of the census of 2010, there were 39,996 people, 13,857 households, and 9,016 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 inhabitants per square mile (18/km2). There were 15,504 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.9% White, 8.6% Black or African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.2% from two or more races. 24.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2005 68.5% of the county population was White non-Hispanic, 21.6% of the population was Latino, 8.0% was African-American and both Native Americans and Asians constituted 0.9% of the population.[16]

In 2000 there were 12,593 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county in 2000 the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.20 males.

In 2010 the median income for a household in the county was $36,929, and the median income for a family was $35,163. Males had a median income of $25,574 versus $20,160 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,553. About 11.80% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Libraries

Okeechobee County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative which serves Okeechobee County and some of the surrounding counties, including Glades, Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto. The seven-branch library system has one branch in the city of Okeechobee and is also affiliated with Indian River State College through its Dixon Hendry campus.

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

  • Ancient Oaks
  • Barber Quarters
  • Basinger
  • Basswood Estates
  • Country Hills Estates
  • Deans Court
  • Dixie Ranch Acres
  • Duberry Gardens
  • Echo Estates
  • Everglades
  • Fort Drum
  • Four Seasons
  • Hilolo
  • Mildred
  • Oak Park
  • Okeechobee Little Farms
  • Quail Acres
  • Rookerville
  • Sherman
  • Taylor Creek Isle
  • Treasure Island
  • Viking Estates[17][18]
  • Upthegrove Beach
  • Whispering Pines

Politics

United States presidential election results for Okeechobee County, Florida[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 11,470 71.76% 4,390 27.46% 124 0.78%
2016 9,356 67.99% 3,959 28.77% 446 3.24%
2012 7,328 59.25% 4,856 39.27% 183 1.48%
2008 7,561 58.89% 5,108 39.79% 170 1.32%
2004 6,978 57.24% 5,153 42.27% 59 0.48%
2000 5,057 51.32% 4,589 46.57% 208 2.11%
1996 3,418 34.38% 4,826 48.55% 1,697 17.07%
1992 3,298 35.20% 3,418 36.48% 2,654 28.32%
1988 4,736 60.79% 3,007 38.60% 48 0.62%
1984 4,449 66.65% 2,226 33.35% 0 0.00%
1980 2,783 44.81% 3,228 51.98% 199 3.20%
1976 1,598 33.12% 3,184 65.99% 43 0.89%
1972 2,581 80.58% 621 19.39% 1 0.03%
1968 862 28.66% 542 18.02% 1,604 53.32%
1964 1,316 56.43% 1,016 43.57% 0 0.00%
1960 631 35.93% 1,125 64.07% 0 0.00%
1956 575 40.78% 835 59.22% 0 0.00%
1952 539 37.96% 881 62.04% 0 0.00%
1948 179 17.08% 784 74.81% 85 8.11%
1944 119 13.65% 753 86.35% 0 0.00%
1940 122 12.92% 822 87.08% 0 0.00%
1936 186 22.12% 655 77.88% 0 0.00%
1932 90 10.09% 802 89.91% 0 0.00%
1928 657 68.87% 287 30.08% 10 1.05%
1924 57 20.96% 182 66.91% 33 12.13%
1920 58 15.93% 237 65.11% 69 18.96%

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a majority of registered voters in Okeechobee County.

Okeechobee County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of July 31, 2022[20]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 11,423 50.68%
Democratic 6,211 27.55%
No party affiliation 4,550 20.19%
Minor parties 355 1.58%
Total 22,539 100.00%

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Okeechobee County, Florida.

Governmental

Non-governmental

References

  1. ↑ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[12][13]
  1. ↑ "Okeechobee". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Harper, Debra Kay. English/Seminole Vocabulary (PDF). p. 47. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Guidance on the Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Executive Office of the President. July 21, 2023. p. 138. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Metro Area History 1950–2020". U.S. Census Bureau. March 2020. Row 3661. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ https://www.census.gov/
  13. ↑ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  16. ↑ Okeechobee County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ "Southeast District | Florida Department of Environmental Protection".
  18. ↑ "Coming Soon". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  19. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Voter Registration - By County and Party". www.dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

27°23′N 80°53′W / 27.39°N 80.89°W / 27.39; -80.89

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