Desoto County Profile

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County Website :

www.co.desoto.fl.us

Nearest MSA:

Punta Gorda

Time Zone:

Eastern

Local Area Code(s):

863

Largest Cities:

1 Arcadia

Miles* To:
Tallahassee	...................................	267
Orlando	...................................	95
Tampa	...................................	65
Jacksonville	...................................	217
Miami	...................................	146
Atlanta	...................................	475
Chicago	...................................	1064
Dallas	...................................	972
New York	...................................	1034
*Miles are calculated from county seat.

	Desoto
1980:	19,039
1990:	23,865
2009:	35,297
2015(p):	35,800
2030(p):	40,200
(p) Denotes Projected Population

Florida

9,746,961

12,938,071

18,537,969

19,881,200

23,821,300


	Desoto	Florida
2006	$21,529	$38,161
2007	$21,153	$39,036
2008	$21,390	$39,064

Average Temperature

High

Low

January:

July:

Florida Mean Annual Precipitation	...........................	53
Average Annual Rain Days	...........................	112

(2008)
In-Migration	1,241
Out-Migration	1,609
Net-Migration	-368
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data

(2009)
Labor Force	14,970
Labor Force % of County Population	42.4
Number in County Unemployed	1,509
Unemployment Rate	10.1%

Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
for Workforce Innovation.


N/D = No Data	Desoto	Florida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment	8,719	7,945,162

Natural Resources & Mining	16.5%	1.2%
Construction	5.9%	6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	24.1%	20.5%
Manufacturing	4.9%	4.7%
Information	0.5%	2.0%
Other Services	1.2%	3.2%
Public administration	16.7%	5.9%
Unclassified	N/D
Leisure & Hospitality	5.9%	11.9%
Education & Health Services	7.9%	19.4%
Professional & Business Services	4.4%	14.4%
Financial Activities	3.6%	6.6%
Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries	$29,679
Construction	$25,259
Education & Health Services	$34,315
Financial Activities	$33,000
Information	$29,726
Leisure & Hospitality	$14,246
Manufacturing	$43,225
Natural Resources & Mining	$22,203
Other Services	$19,574
Professional & Business Services	$32,760
Public administration	$34,419
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	$27,468
Unclassified	N/D


Major Private Sector Employers

Wal-Mart Distribution Center
Business Line: Distribution/Logistics
Number of Employees..................................................... 502

Wal-Mart
Business Line: Retail
Number of Employees..................................................... 300

DeSoto Medical Hospital
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 290

Peace River Citrus
Business Line: Citrus Juice
Number of Employees..................................................... 140

Bethel Farms
Business Line: Lawn & Gardening Items Production
Number of Employees..................................................... 87

Sorrels Brothers Packing Co., Inc.
Business Line: Citrus Harvetsting & Packing
Number of Employees..................................................... 75

Winslow Lifecraft
Business Line: Manufacturing of Lifecraft
Number of Employees..................................................... 75

First State Bank
Business Line: Banking
Number of Employees..................................................... 58

Sun Bulb Company
Business Line: Wholesale Orchid Nursery
Number of Employees..................................................... 54

Federal Interstates	I-75
Federal Highways	US-17
State Highways	SR 31, SR-70, SR 72
Railroads	CSX, Seminole Gulf Railway

Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:	RSW (Punta Gorda Regional)
# Runways	2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)	12000
General Aviation Airports	DeSoto County Airport, Punta Gorda Airport

Local Deep Water Port	Manatee Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port	49

COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government	6.8987
Schools	7.7670
Special	0.5693
Total	15.2350

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption:	Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)	1.00
Federal Enterprise Zone	No
State Enterprise Zone	EZ-1401

STATE

Corporate Income Tax	5.5%
Personal Income Tax	0.0%
Retail Sales Tax	6.0%


Electric Companies:
	FPL
	PREC (Peace River Electric Cooperative)

Natural Gas Companies:
	Florida Gas Transmission Co.

Telephone Companies:
	Century Link

Water & Sewer Companies:
	Lake Suzy Utilities
	Florida Water
	DeSoto County Water/Wastewater
	City of Arcadia Water/Wastewater


Existing Industrial Zoned Land	Yes
Number of Acres	4,876
Largest Available Contiguous Parcel	672

Industrial Parks	Yes
Number of Acres	8
Largest Available Contiguous Parcel	8

Foreign Trade Zones	No
Zone Number(s)

	Public Schools	Teachers	Enrollments

Elementary:	1	149	2,518
Secondary:	3	114	2,495
Totals:	4	263	5,013

Private Schools Available: No

POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

Colleges/Universities:
	Florida Gulf Coast University
	Edison State College

Junior/Community Colleges:
	South Florida Community College

Vocational/Technical Schools:
	DeSoto County High School

Other Schools:
	DeSoto County Adult Education Program
	DeSoto County Magnet School

Local Radio Stations:

WZZS- 106.9 FM

WFLN- Newsradio 1480 AM

WZSP- 105.3 FM

Local Television Stations:

none listed

Locally Printed Newspapers:

DeSoto Sun Herald


Number of Banks:	6

Number of Savings and Loans:	0

Number of Credit Unions:	2

Cost of Living
Price Level Index, (2007)
Florida State Average = 100
Sample
Total	91.16
Food	100.00
Housing	80.00
Medical Care	107.00
Personal Goods and Services	97.00
Transportation	96.00

Medical Services:
	DeSoto Memorial Hospital

Recreational Opportunities:
	Camping
	Horseback Riding
	Peace River Canoeing
	Turner Agri-Civic Center Events

Historical Points Of Interest:
	Historic Downtown Arcadia
	Owens Historic School

Cultural Events/Festivals:
	Arcadia All Florida Rodeo
	DeSoto County Fair
	Turner Agri-Civic Center
	Watermelon Festival

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