# Okeechobee County, Florida

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

## History

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

### Historic buildings

Historic buildings in Okeechobee County include:
* First United Methodist Church, 1924
* Freedman-Raulerson House, 1923
* Okeechobee County Courthouse, 1926

## Geography

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

### Adjacent counties

* Indian River County - northeast
* Martin County - east
* St. Lucie County - east
* Glades County - southwest
* Hendry County - southwest via 5 county intersection in middle of Lake Okeechobee
* Highlands County - west
* Palm Beach County- Southeast via 5 county intersection in middle of Lake Okeechobee
* Polk County - northwest
* Osceola County - northwest

## 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

* Okeechobee County Airport

### Major highways

* Florida's Turnpike
* US 98
* US 441
* CR 68
* SR 70
* SR 78
* SR 710

## Demographics

Okeechobee County racial composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 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/km$^2$). There were 15,504 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (8/km$^2$). 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.
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

* Okeechobee

### Census-designated places

* Cypress Quarters
* Taylor Creek

### 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
* Upthegrove Beach
* Whispering Pines

## Politics

Prior to the Civil Rights Act, Okeechobee County followed the Solid South pattern of voting Democratic, making an exception in 1928 amidst Southern skepticism to Democrat Al Smith's Northern Catholicism. The only non-Republicans to carry Okeechobee County at the presidential level after John F. Kennedy in 1960 were Independent segregationist George Wallace of Alabama (which borders Florida) in 1968 as well as Southern Democrats Jimmy Carter of Georgia (another neighboring state of Florida; 1976 and 1980) and Bill Clinton of Arkansas (1992 and 1996).
Today, Okeechobee County — in line with other Florida Heartland counties — is a rock-ribbed Republican stronghold, with the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the county being Clinton in 1996, the last to be competitive in the county being Al Gore in 2000 (who lost the county by less than 5%), the last to win at least 40% of the county vote being John Kerry in 2004, and the last to win so much as 30% of the vote being Barack Obama in 2012.
United States presidential election results for Okeechobee County, Florida :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 12,315 | 76.51% | 3,671 | 22.81% | 110 | 0.68% |
| 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 :
| Political Party | 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 | Total | 22,539 | 100.00% |