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Highlands County Profile
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Primary Economic Development Contact
Nearest MSA: Lakeland-Winter Haven
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
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.
Highlands
1980:47,526
1990:68,432
2010:98,786
2020(p):109,300
2040(p):129,000
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,801,310
21,326,800
26,081,800
Highlands Florida
2007$27,640$39,449
2008$28,075$40,133
2009$28,563$38,965
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:7349
July:9372
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................112
(2010)
In-Migration4,137
Out-Migration3,740
Net-Migration 397
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2010)
Labor Force41,225
Labor Force % of County Population41.7
Number in County Unemployed4,829
Unemployment Rate11.7%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataHighlandsFlorida
(2010)
Average Annual Employment26,3097,109,630
Natural Resources & MiningN/D
Construction3.6%5.0%
Manufacturing2.2%4.3%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities19.0%21.2%
Information0.7%1.9%
Financial Activities3.1%6.6%
Professional & Business Services8.7%14.8%
Education & Health Services19.8%22.0%
Leisure & Hospitality10.0%13.2%
Other Services2.6%3.3%
Public administration6.5%6.6%
Unclassified0.0%0.0%

Average Annual Wage
(2010)
All Industries$29,786
Construction$26,552
Education & Health Services$42,360
Financial Activities$34,886
Information$41,981
Leisure & Hospitality$15,029
Manufacturing$32,493
Natural Resources & MiningN/D
Other Services$18,685
Professional & Business Services$28,715
Public administration$38,897
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$26,902
Unclassified$10,361
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:
Government7.1000
Schools7.8130
Special0.0000
Total14.9130
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
    Totals:2488312,128

    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

    • 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, (2010)
    Florida State Average = 100
    200895.07
    200995.39
    201094.04
    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