Highlands County, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Highlands County
U.S. county
Highlands County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	April 23, 1921
Named for	county's terrain
Seat	Sebring
Largest city	Sebring
Area
• Total	1,106 sq mi (2,860 km2)
• Land	1,017 sq mi (2,630 km2)
• Water	89 sq mi (230 km2)  8.1%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	101,235
• Density	101/sq mi (39/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	18th

Highlands County is a county located in the Florida Heartland region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 101,235. Its county seat is Sebring.

Highlands County comprises the Sebring, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The SMA was first defined in 2003 as the Sebring, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), consisting of Highlands County. The status of the area was changed to a metropolitan statisitical area (MSA) in 2013. The MSA was renamed the Sebring-Avon Park, Florida MSA in 2018. The name reverted to Sebring, Florida MSA in 2023.

History

Highlands County was created in 1921 along with Charlotte, Glades, and Hardee, when they were separated from DeSoto County. It was named for the terrain of the county. It boasted the fifth-oldest population in America in 2012.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,106 square miles (2,860 km²), of which 1,017 square miles (2,630 km²) is land and 89 square miles (230 km²) (8.1%) is water. In area, it is the 14th largest county in Florida. Highlands County is bounded on the east by the Kissimmee River. Lake Istokpoga, the largest lake in the county, is connected to the Kissimmee River by two canals; the Istokpoga canal, and the C41 (outflow) canal.

Adjacent counties

• Osceola County, Florida - northeast
• Okeechobee County, Florida - east
• Glades County, Florida - south
• Charlotte County, Florida - southwest
• DeSoto County, Florida - west
• Hardee County, Florida - west
• Polk County, Florida - north

National protected area

• Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 101,235 people, 42,721 households, and 27,169 families residing in the county.

As of 2015, there were 99,491 people and 39,931 households living in the county. The population density was 97.2 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 85.8% White, 10.4% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.6% from two or more races. 18.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 51.3% of the entire population are female. The median household income was $35,560 with 20.1% of the population being below the poverty level from 2009 to 2013. The poverty line for Florida was $11,490 in 2013.

As of the census of 2000, there were 87,366 people, 37,471 households, and 25,780 families living in the county. The population density was 85.00 people per square mile (32.82 people/km²). There were 48,846 housing units at an average density of 47.5 per square mile (18.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.47% White, 9.33% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.14% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 12.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000 there were 37,471 households, out of which 20.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 19.30% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 33.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,160, and the median income for a family was $35,647. Males had a median income of $26,811 versus $20,725 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,222. About 10.20% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Highways

• U.S. Route 27
• State Road 17
• U.S. Route 98
• State Road 64
• State Road 66
• State Road 70
• Sebring Parkway/Panther Parkway

Airports

• Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF)
• Avon Park Executive Airport (KAVO)

Rail

• CSX Transportation (CSXT)
• Amtrak (AMTK)

Economy

Top employers

The top private employers of Highlands County are as follows:
1. Advent Health Hospital (1500)
2. Walmart (796)
3. Agero (600)
4. Highlands Regional Medical Center (413)
5. Delray Plants (350)
6. Palms of Sebring (257)
7. Alan Jay Automotive Network (250)
8. Lake Placid Health Care (210)
9. Positive Medical Transport (150)
10. E-Stone USA (87)

Libraries

Highlands County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative which serve Highlands County and some of the surrounding counties in the Florida Heartland, including Glades, DeSoto, Hardee, and Okeechobee. Based in Sebring, the cooperative has seven branches within the Heartland region, with three of those branches in Highlands County: Avon Park, Lake Placid and Sebring.

Communities

Cities

• Avon Park
• Sebring

Town

• Lake Placid

Unincorporated communities

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Highlands para niños