Okeechobee County, Florida

Okeechobee County, Florida
Okeechobee County 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 , of which is land and (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
Highlands County - west
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
Demographics
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 . 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.
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
Voter registration
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a majority of registered voters in Okeechobee County.
See also
Florida Heartland
National Register of Historic Places listings in Okeechobee County, Florida
Treasure Coast
External links
Governmental
Board of County Commissioners
Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners
Constitutional Officers
Okeechobee County Clerk
Okeechobee County Supervisor of Elections
Okeechobee County Property Appraiser
Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office
Okeechobee County Tax Collector
School district
School Board of Okeechobee County
Countywide District
Okeechobee Soil and Water Conservation District
Multi-county Districts
Indian River Community College
South Florida Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District
Heartland Library Cooperative
Tampa Bay Library Consortium
Judicial
Okeechobee County Clerk of Courts
Public Defender, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida
State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Circuit and County Courts for the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Non-governmental
Okeechobee Official Discussion Forum
D.R. Wilson Land Company
Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council
Okeechobee County Guide
Okeechobee News local newspaper for Okeechobee County, Florida fully and openly available in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library
References
Florida counties
Florida placenames of Native American origin
1917 establishments in Florida
Populated places established in 1917
Micropolitan areas of Florida