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Hardee County
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County Seat: Wauchula
Nearest MSA: Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA
Largest Cities:1 Wauchula
2 Bowling Green
3 Zolfo Springs
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................252
Orlando...................................70
Tampa...................................48
Jacksonville...................................192
Miami...................................162
Atlanta...................................455
Chicago...................................1041
Dallas...................................966
New York...................................1012
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
Hardee
1980:20,357
1990:19,499
2008:28,888
2015(p):28,300
2030(p):29,600
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,328,340
20,955,900
25,340,700
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:7349
July:9372
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................112
(2007)
In-Migration996
Out-Migration1,125
Net-Migration -129
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force12,059
Labor Force % of County Population41.7
Number in County Unemployed779
Unemployment Rate6.5%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataHardeeFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment8,1627,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining25.5%1.2%
Construction3.1%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities13.9%20.5%
Manufacturing3.2%4.7%
Information0.9%2.0%
Other Services1.6%3.2%
Public administration11.5%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality4.9%11.9%
Education & Health Services15.3%19.4%
Professional & Business Services2.9%14.4%
Financial Activities3.7%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$28,430
Construction$28,232
Education & Health Services$27,753
Financial Activities$35,571
Information$48,979
Leisure & Hospitality$12,904
Manufacturing$26,015
Natural Resources & Mining$18,744
Other Services$16,922
Professional & Business Services$25,826
Public administration$35,530
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$29,002
UnclassifiedN/D
HardeeFlorida
2005$18,894$34,709
2006$19,830$37,099
2007$20,388$38,417
Major Private Sector Employers

Florida Institute for Neurological Rehabilitation
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 550

WalMart
Business Line: Retail
Number of Employees..................................................... 288

C.F. Industries
Business Line: Phosphate
Number of Employees..................................................... 175

Peace River Electric Cooperative
Business Line: Electric Service
Number of Employees..................................................... 137

Wauchula State Bank
Business Line: Banking
Number of Employees..................................................... 121

Florida Hospital Heartland Division
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 111

Mosaic
Business Line: Phosphate
Number of Employees..................................................... 65

Old Castle Mulch
Business Line: Manufacturing
Number of Employees..................................................... 60

Pacer Marine
Business Line: Manufacturing
Number of Employees..................................................... 60

First National Bank
Business Line: Banking
Number of Employees..................................................... 38
Federal Interstates
Federal HighwaysUS-17
State HighwaysSR-62, SR-64 and 64A, SR-66
RailroadsCSX
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)7001
General Aviation AirportsWauchula Municipal Airport

Local Deep Water PortManatee County Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port25
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government7.7926
Schools7.5640
Special0.8727
Total16.2293
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-2501
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • TECO
  • Peace River Electric
  • Seminole Electric
  • Wauchula City Electric
  • Vandolah Power Station

    • Natural Gas Companies:
  • Coker Fuel
  • Florida Natural Gas
  • Suburban Propane

    • Telephone Companies:
  • AT&T
  • Embarq

    • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • City of Bowling Green
  • City of Wauchula
  • Town of Zolfo Springs
  • Hardee County Utility Department


    • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres1,000
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel200

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres200
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel160

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools    		TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:41592,577
    Secondary:21262,437
    Totals:62855,014

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • University of South Florida
  • Florida Southern College
  • Warner Southern College
  • Webber International University

    • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • South Florida Community College

    • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • South Florida Community College

    • Other Schools:
  • Faith Evangelist Christian School
  • Pioneer Career Academy
  • Maranatha Baptist

    • Local Radio Stations:
  • WZZS
  • WAUC







    • Local Television Stations:









    Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • Herald Advocate
    		•

    Number of Banks:4

    Number of Savings and Loans:0

    Number of Credit Unions:1
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total90.77
    Food100.38
    Housing82.38
    Medical Care93.48
    Personal Goods and Services 93.78
    Transportation98.83
    Medical Services:
  • Eye Clinic
  • Florida Hospital
  • Florida Institute for Neurological Rehabilitation
  • Hardee Health Department
  • Walk-In Clinics

    • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Florida Cracker Trail
  • Hardee Lake Park
  • One 9-hole & two 18-hole golf courses
  • Payne Creek Historical State Park
  • Peace River Activities
  • Pioneer Park
  • Solomons Castle

    • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Main Street
  • Payne Creek Historical State Park
  • Pioneer Museum

    • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • County Fair
  • Grillin' & Chillin'
  • Heartland Chorale
  • Nature Fest
  • Pioneer Park Days
  • The Cracker Heritage Festival
  • The Story of Jesus

    • 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