Desoto County Profile

County Seat: Arcadia
Nearest MSA: Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice
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
2007: 34,675
2015(p): 37,500
2030(p): 42,100
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,251,243
20,955,900
25,340,700
Average Temperature High Low
January: 71 49
July: 91 73
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation ........................... 53
Average Annual Rain Days ........................... 112
(2006)
In-Migration 1,412
Out-Migration 1,444
Net-Migration -32
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2007)
Labor Force 14,046
Labor Force % of County Population 40.5
Number in County Unemployed 706
Unemployment Rate 5.0%
N/D = No Data Desoto Florida
(2006)
Average Annual Employment 13,340 7,952,023
Natural Resources & Mining N/D
Construction 3.5% 8.0%
Manufacturing 2.9% 5.1%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 15.3% 20.8%
Information 0.6% 2.1%
Financial Activities 2.4% 6.9%
Professional & Business Services 2.8% 17.0%
Education & Health Services N/D
Leisure & Hospitality 3.5% 11.4%
Other Services 1.0% 3.1%
Public administration 11.3% 5.8%
Unclassified 0.1% 0.1%

Average Annual Wage
(2006)
All Industries $27,991
Construction $28,318
Education & Health Services N/D
Financial Activities $29,733
Information $25,861
Leisure & Hospitality $13,081
Manufacturing $38,007
Natural Resources & Mining N/D
Other Services $19,806
Professional & Business Services $27,463
Public administration $33,398
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $27,170
Unclassified $26,982
Desoto Florida
2004 $17,544 $32,618
2005 $18,531 $34,798
2006 $20,052 $36,720
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 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
# 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 7.1570
Special 0.5693
Total 14.6250

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:
  • AT&T
  • Sprint

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


  • Exisiting Industrial Zoned Land Yes
    Number of Acres 113
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 65

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

    Foreign Trade Zones No
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools
    Teachers Enrollments
    Elementary: 3 149 2,518
    Secondary: 2 114 2,495
    Totals: 5 263 5,013

    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

  • Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total 91.16
    Food 100.42
    Housing 80.93
    Medical Care 107.67
    Personal Goods and Services 97.92
    Transportation 96.89
    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
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