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Okeechobee County Profile
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County Website : www.hardeebusiness.com
Nearest MSA: Port St. Lucie
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
Largest Cities:1 Okeechobee
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................305
Orlando...................................93
Tampa...................................112
Jacksonville...................................218
Miami...................................111
Atlanta...................................499
Chicago...................................1081
Dallas...................................1031
New York...................................1010
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Okeechobee
1980:20,264
1990:29,627
2009:40,241
2015(p):41,600
2030(p):46,900
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,537,969
19,881,200
23,821,300
Okeechobee Florida
2006$23,239$38,161
2007$23,556$39,036
2008$23,881$39,064
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:7349
July:9372
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................127
(2008)
In-Migration1,707
Out-Migration1,851
Net-Migration -144
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2009)
Labor Force18,251
Labor Force % of County Population45.4
Number in County Unemployed2,196
Unemployment Rate12.0%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataOkeechobeeFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment10,4067,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining11.4%1.2%
Construction8.1%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities20.6%20.5%
Manufacturing2.5%4.7%
Information1.0%2.0%
Other Services2.3%3.2%
Public administration9.5%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality9.7%11.9%
Education & Health Services15.7%19.4%
Professional & Business Services6.9%14.4%
Financial Activities3.1%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$30,293
Construction$29,952
Education & Health Services$34,412
Financial Activities$34,079
Information$37,902
Leisure & Hospitality$14,738
Manufacturing$36,218
Natural Resources & Mining$25,666
Other Services$25,397
Professional & Business Services$35,167
Public administration$36,861
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$27,844
UnclassifiedN/D
Major Private Sector Employers

Columbia Raulerson Hospital
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 365

Walpole, Inc.
Business Line: Trucking
Number of Employees..................................................... 300

Larson Dairy, Inc.
Business Line: Milk Producer
Number of Employees..................................................... 225

McArthur Farms, Inc.
Business Line: Milk Producer
Number of Employees..................................................... 160

Okeechobee Healthcare
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 140

Bank of America
Business Line: Banking
Number of Employees..................................................... 93

Advanced Panch Technologies, Inc.
Business Line: Prefab Buildings
Number of Employees..................................................... 70
Federal InterstatesI-95
Federal HighwaysUS 98, US 441
State HighwaysSR 70, SR 710, FL Turnpike
RailroadsCSX, Amtrak
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Palm Beach International
# Runways3
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)7989
General Aviation AirportsOkeechobee County

Local Deep Water PortPort of Ft. Pierce, Port of Palm Beach
Miles to Closest Port35
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government7.7630
Schools8.0690
Special0.3119
Total16.1439
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-4701
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Florida Power Corporation
  • Glades Electric Co-Op, Inc.
  • Florida Power & Light

    • Natural Gas Companies:
  • none

    • Telephone Companies:
  • Embarq

    • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • Okeechobee Utility Authority


    • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres450
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel350

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres100
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel21

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools    		TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:1511933,405
    Secondary:781513,633
    Totals:2293447,038

    Private Schools Available: No
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Indian River State College
  • Florida Atlantic University

    • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • none

    • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Dixon Hendry Center

    • Other Schools:
  • none

    • Local Radio Stations:
  • WOKC 1570 AM








    • Local Television Stations:
  • none








    • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • Okeechobee News
  • Okeechobee Times
    		•

    Number of Banks:7

    Number of Savings and Loans:2

    Number of Credit Unions:1
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total91.72
    Food103.67
    Housing81.17
    Medical Care103.63
    Personal Goods and Services 97.61
    Transportation98.05
    Medical Services:
  • Columbia Raulerson Hospital
  • Okeechobee Health Care

    • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Hunting

    • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • County Courthouse
  • Okeechobee Battlefield

    • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Arts & Crafts Fair
  • County Fair
  • Lighted Christmas Parade
  • Rodeo
  • Speckled Perch Festival

    • Enterprise Florida, Inc. 800 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100 Orlando, Florida 32803 Phone 407-956-5600 Fax(407)956-5599
    Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.eflorida.com