Okeechobee County Profile

County Seat: Okeechobee
Nearest MSA: Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie
Largest Cities: 1 Okeechobee
Miles* To:
Tallahassee - 305
Orlando - 93
Tampa - 112
Jacksonville - 218
Miami - 111
Atlanta - 499
Chicago - 1081
Dallas - 1031
New York - 1010
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
Okeechobee
1980: 20,264
1990: 29,627
2008: 40,359
2015(p): 41,500
2030(p): 46,200
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,328,340
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 - 127
(2007)
In-Migration 1,800
Out-Migration 1,918
Net-Migration -118
*Estimates based on IRS statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force 18,171
Labor Force % of County Population 45.0
Number in County Unemployed 1,433
Unemployment Rate 7.9%

Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No Data Okeechobee Florida
(2007)
Average Annual Employment 10,809 7,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining 10.5% 1.2%
Construction 8.4% 7.5%
Manufacturing 2.6% 4.9%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 17.8% 20.9%
Information 1.0% 2.0%
Financial Activities 4.0% 6.8%
Professional & Business Services 7.0% 16.6%
Education & Health Services N/D
Leisure & Hospitality 10.2% 11.8%
Other Services 2.4% 3.2%
Public administration 9.2% 5.9%
Unclassified N/D

Average Annual Wage
(2007)
All Industries $29,661
Construction $30,485
Education & Health Services N/D
Financial Activities $35,242
Information $35,285
Leisure & Hospitality $14,830
Manufacturing $32,611
Natural Resources & Mining $26,090
Other Services $27,835
Professional & Business Services $32,883
Public administration $37,075
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $26,024
Unclassified N/D
Okeechobee Florida
2004 $20,412 $32,618
2005 $21,326 $34,798
2006 $22,332 $36,720
Major Private Sector Employers

Columbia Raulerson Hospital
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees - 365

Walpole, Inc.
Business Line: Trucking
Number of Employees - 300

Larson Dairy, Inc.
Business Line: Milk Producer
Number of Employees - 225

McArthur Farms, Inc.
Business Line: Milk Producer
Number of Employees - 160

Okeechobee Healthcare
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees - 140

Bank of America
Business Line: Banking
Number of Employees - 93

Advanced Panch Technologies, Inc.
Business Line: Prefab Buildings
Number of Employees - 70

Federal Interstates I-95
Federal Highways US 98, US 441
State Highways SR 70, SR 710, FL Turnpike
Railroads CSX, Amtrak
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service: Palm Beach International
# Runways 3
Longest Paved Runway(ft.) 7989
General Aviation Airports Okeechobee County

Local Deep Water Port Port of Ft. Pierce, Port of Palm Beach
Miles to Closest Port 35
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government 5.5357
Schools 7.7120
Special 0.2632
Total 13.5109

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option) 1.00
Federal Enterprise Zone No
State Enterprise Zone EZ-4701
STATE
Corporate Income Tax 5.5%
Personal Income Tax 0.0%
Retail Sales Tax 6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Florida Power Corporation
  • Glades Electric Co-Op, Inc.
  • Florida Power & Light

  • Natural Gas Companies:
  • none

  • Telephone Companies:
  • Embarq

  • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • Okeechobee Utility Authority


  • Existing Industrial Zoned Land Yes
    Number of Acres 450
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 350

    Industrial Parks Yes
    Number of Acres 100
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 21

    Foreign Trade Zones No
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools
    Teachers Enroll-ments
    Elementary: 5 193 3,405
    Secondary: 4 151 3,633
    Totals: 9 344 7,038

    Private Schools Available: No
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Indian River State College
  • Florida Atlantic University

  • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • none

  • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Dixon Hendry Center

  • Other Schools:
  • none

  • Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total 91.72
    Food 103.67
    Housing 81.17
    Medical Care 103.63
    Personal Goods and Services 97.61
    Transportation 98.05
    Medical Services:
  • Columbia Raulerson Hospital
  • Okeechobee Health Care

  • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Hunting

  • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • County Courthouse
  • Okeechobee Battlefield

  • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Arts & Crafts Fair
  • County Fair
  • Lighted Christmas Parade
  • Rodeo
  • Speckled Perch Festival
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