Hardee County Profile

County Seat: Wauchula Nearest MSA: Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice 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. Time Zone: Eastern Local Area Code(s): 863
Hardee 1980: 20,357 1990: 19,499 2007: 28,830 2015(p): 28,300 2030(p): 29,600 (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: 73 49 July: 93 72 Florida Mean Annual Precipitation ........ 53 Average Annual Rain Days ........ 112 (2006) In-Migration 1,119 Out-Migration 1,118 Net-Migration 1 *Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data

(2007) Labor Force 12,071 Labor Force % of County Population 41.9 Number in County Unemployed 534 Unemployment Rate 4.4% N/D = No Data Hardee Florida (2006) Average Annual Employment 11,537 7,952,023 Natural Resources & Mining N/D Construction 2.5% 8.0% Manufacturing 1.9% 5.1% Trade, Transportation and Utilities 8.7% 20.8% Information 0.6% 2.1% Financial Activities 2.5% 6.9% Professional & Business Services 6.5% 17.0% Education & Health Services 9.9% 18.4% Leisure & Hospitality N/D Other Services 1.3% 3.1% Public administration 4.1% 5.8% Unclassified 0.0% 0.1% Average Annual Wage (2006) All Industries $26,632 Construction $27,212 Education & Health Services $27,749 Financial Activities $33,404 Information $38,658 Leisure & Hospitality N/D Manufacturing $27,363 Natural Resources & Mining N/D Other Services $16,921 Professional & Business Services $18,375 Public administration $33,532 Trade, Transportation and Utilities $26,594 Unclassified $21,554 Hardee Florida 2004 $17,968 $32,618 2005 $18,908 $34,798 2006 $19,545 $36,720 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 Co-op Business Line: Electric Service Number of Employees - 137 Wauchula State Bank Business Line: Banking Number of Employees - 121 Florida Heartland Hospital Business Line: Healthcare Number of Employees. - 111 Mosaic Business Line: Phosphate Number of Employees - 65 Southeastern Modular Business Line: Construction Number of Employees - 40 English Chevrolet Business Line: Dealership Number of Employees - 38 First National Bank Business Line: Banking Number of Employees - 38

Federal Interstates Federal Highways US-17 State Highways SR-62, SR-64 and 64A, SR-66 Railroads CSX Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service: Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport # Runways 2 Longest Paved Runway(ft.) 7001 General Aviation Airports Hardee County Municipal Airport Local Deep Water Port Manatee County Port Authority Miles to Closest Port 25

COUNTY Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates: Government 7.7926 Schools 7.5640 Special 0.8727 Total 16.2293 Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes Retail Sales Tax (Local Option) 1.00 Federal Enterprise Zone No State Enterprise Zone EZ-2501 STATE Corporate Income Tax 5.5% Personal Income Tax 0.0% Retail Sales Tax 6.0%

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 Exisiting Industrial Zoned Land Yes Number of Acres 1,000 Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 200 Industrial Parks Yes Number of Acres 200 Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 160 Foreign Trade Zones No Zone Number(s) Public Schools Teachers Enrollments Elementary: 4 159 2,577 Secondary: 2 126 2,437 Totals: 6 285 5,014 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

Cost of Living Price Level Index, (2007) Florida State Average = 100 Sample Total 90.77 Food 100.38 Housing 82.38 Medical Care 93.48 Personal Goods and Services 93.78 Transportation 98.83 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

Content Courtesy of: &