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Desoto County
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County Seat: Arcadia
Nearest MSA: Punta Gorda MSA
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.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
Desoto
1980:19,039
1990:23,865
2008:33,991
2015(p):37,500
2030(p):42,100
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,328,340
20,955,900
25,340,700
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:7149
July:9173
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................112
(2007)
In-Migration1,322
Out-Migration1,479
Net-Migration -157
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force15,229
Labor Force % of County Population44.8
Number in County Unemployed999
Unemployment Rate6.6%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataDesotoFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment8,7197,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining16.5%1.2%
Construction5.9%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities24.1%20.5%
Manufacturing4.9%4.7%
Information0.5%2.0%
Other Services1.2%3.2%
Public administration16.7%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality5.9%11.9%
Education & Health Services7.9%19.4%
Professional & Business Services4.4%14.4%
Financial Activities3.6%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
UnclassifiedN/D
DesotoFlorida
2005$18,599$34,709
2006$20,383$37,099
2007$21,100$38,417
Major Private Sector Employers

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 InterstatesI-75
Federal HighwaysUS-17
State HighwaysSR 31, SR-70, SR 72
RailroadsCSX, Seminole Gulf Railway
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:RSW
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)12000
General Aviation AirportsDeSoto County Airport, Punta Gorda Airport

Local Deep Water PortManatee Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port49
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government6.8987
Schools7.1570
Special0.5693
Total14.6250

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-1401
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • FPL
  • PREC (Peace River Electric Cooperative)

  • Natural Gas Companies:
  • Florida Gas Transmission Co.

  • Telephone Companies:
  • AT&T
  • Sprint

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


  • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres113
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel65

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres8
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel8

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools
    TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:31492,518
    Secondary:21142,495
    Totals:52635,013

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

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Florida Gulf Coast University

  • 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:









    Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • DeSoto Sun Herald
  • The Champion

  • Number of Banks:6

    Number of Savings and Loans:0

    Number of Credit Unions:1
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total91.16
    Food100.42
    Housing80.93
    Medical Care107.67
    Personal Goods and Services 97.92
    Transportation96.89
    Medical Services:
  • DeSoto Memorial Hospital

  • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Camping
  • Horseback Riding
  • Peace River Canoeing

  • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Historic Downtown Arcadia
  • Owens School Historical Renovation

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