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Highlands County
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County Seat: Sebring
Nearest MSA: Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA
Largest Cities:1 Sebring
2 Avon Park
3 Lake Placid
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................271
Orlando...................................69
Tampa...................................72
Jacksonville...................................197
Miami...................................140
Atlanta...................................468
Chicago...................................1056
Dallas...................................987
New York...................................1005
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
Highlands
1980:47,526
1990:68,432
2008:100,011
2015(p):109,400
2030(p):129,800
(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-Migration5,285
Out-Migration3,986
Net-Migration 1,299
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force41,585
Labor Force % of County Population41.6
Number in County Unemployed2,919
Unemployment Rate7.0%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataHighlandsFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment28,9127,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining16.3%1.2%
Construction5.8%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities19.4%20.5%
Manufacturing2.2%4.7%
Information0.8%2.0%
Other Services2.4%3.2%
Public administration6.1%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality9.8%11.9%
Education & Health Services24.5%19.4%
Professional & Business Services9.3%14.4%
Financial Activities3.3%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$27,691
Construction$28,134
Education & Health Services$36,073
Financial Activities$35,041
Information$41,117
Leisure & Hospitality$14,881
Manufacturing$30,727
Natural Resources & Mining$20,608
Other Services$21,889
Professional & Business Services$25,542
Public administration$38,701
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$25,477
UnclassifiedN/D
HighlandsFlorida
2005$23,653$34,709
2006$25,036$37,099
2007$25,717$38,417
Major Private Sector Employers

Florida Hospital Heartland Division
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 1,300

Highlands Regional Medical Center
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 500

Cross Country Automotive Services
Business Line: Roadside Assistance Call Center
Number of Employees..................................................... 500

Wal-Mart Sebring
Business Line: Department Store
Number of Employees..................................................... 450

Medical Data Systems
Business Line: Collection Assistance
Number of Employees..................................................... 387

Delray Plants/Highlands Greenhouse
Business Line: Ornamental Plants
Number of Employees..................................................... 350

Lake Placid Heathcare
Business Line: Assisted Living
Number of Employees..................................................... 290

Alan Jay Network
Business Line: Automobile Dealership
Number of Employees..................................................... 290

Palms of Sebring Assisted Living
Business Line: Assisted Living
Number of Employees..................................................... 264

Lowes
Business Line: Home Improvement Store
Number of Employees..................................................... 125

Federal Interstates1 to 1.5 hours to I-4, I-75, Florida's Turnpike
Federal HighwaysUS-27
State HighwaysSR 66, SR 98
RailroadsCSX, Amtrak
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Orlando International Airport
# Runways790
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)12000
General Aviation AirportsSebring Regional, Avon Park Regional, Lake Placid

Local Deep Water PortPort of Tampa
Miles to Closest Port70
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government7.3544
Schools7.6640
Special0.0000
Total15.0184

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-2801
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Progress Energy
  • Glades Electric Cooperative

  • Natural Gas Companies:
  • Coker Fuel
  • Sebring Gas Systems
  • TECO Peoples Gas Company

  • Telephone Companies:
  • Embarq

  • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • Municipalities


  • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres2,070
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel180

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres812
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel180

    Foreign Trade ZonesYes
    Zone Number(s)215
    Public
    Schools
    TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:93505,996
    Secondary:73706,449
    Totals:1672012,445

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

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Warner Southern College
  • Webber College
  • Florida Southern College

  • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • South Florida Community College

  • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • South Florida Community College
  • Indian River Community College
  • Ridge Technical School

  • Other Schools:
  • none

  • Local Radio Stations:
  • WW07 99.1 FM
  • WWLL 105.7 FM
  • WWTK 730 AM
  • WITS 1340 AM
  • WAYP 1390 AM
  • Local Television Stations:
  • Trianon Broadcast Company








  • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • Lake Placid Journal
  • The News-Sun
  • Highlands Today/Tampa Tribune

  • Number of Banks:36

    Number of Savings and Loans:0

    Number of Credit Unions:3
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total91.02
    Food97.00
    Housing82.00
    Medical Care90.00
    Personal Goods and Services 96.00
    Transportation99.00
    Medical Services:
  • Florida Hospital Heartland
  • Florida Hospital Lake Placid
  • Highlands Regional Medical Center

  • Recreational Opportunities:
  • BMX Track
  • County Parks (18)
  • Golf Courses (15)
  • Highlands Hammock & Lake June Scrub State Parks
  • Lakes (95)
  • Public Boat Landings (43)
  • Tennis Courts (31)

  • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Avon Park Depot Museum
  • Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
  • Lake Placid Historical Museum
  • Military Sea Services Museum
  • Sebring Historical Museum
  • Sebring International Raceway

  • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Arts & Heritage Festival, Sebring, January
  • Avon Park Springtime on the Mall Festival, March
  • Highlands Fine Art Festival, Sebring, November
  • Lake Placid Caladium Festival, August

  • 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