Highlands County, Florida


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, consisting of Highlands County. The status of the area was changed to a metropolitan statistical area 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, of which is land and 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 canal.

Adjacent counties

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone 38,89957,59266,81469,80465,51181.85%84.16%76.48%70.66%64.71%
Black or African American alone 6,4986,7217,9258,7509,48413.67%9.82%9.07%8.86%9.37%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 2012143083752910.42%0.31%0.35%0.38%0.29%
Asian alone 1213718811,4021,6020.25%0.54%1.01%1.42%1.58%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx203749xx0.02%0.04%0.05%
Other race alone 41341041003070.09%0.05%0.12%0.10%0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx7721,1613,048xx0.88%1.18%3.01%
Hispanic or Latino 1,7663,50010,54217,15720,9433.72%5.11%12.07%17.37%20.69%
Total47,52668,43287,36698,786101,235 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 101,235, 44,376 households, and 27,169 families residing in the county.
The median age was 54.7 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 35.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 70.7% White, 9.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.6% from some other race, and 10.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 20.7% of the population.
80.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 19.9% lived in rural areas.
Of the 44,376 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.5% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 57,486 housing units, of which 22.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.9% were owner-occupied and 24.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 87,366 people, 37,471 households, and 25,780 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 48,846 housing units at an average density of. 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

Highlands County is governed by five elected County Commissioners and an appointed County Administrator. The administrator has executive powers to implement all decisions, ordinances, motions, and policies/procedures set forth by the Board. The FY 2013-2014 adopted budget of the county is approximately $123 million and the county employees over 350 people in 31 departments of the administration. Other organizations of the county include, the Clerk of Courts with about 75 positions, Sheriff's Office with about 340 positions, County Appraisers Office with about 30 positions, Tax Collectors Office with about 40 positions, and Elections Office with 5 positions. In all there are about 860 positions in Highlands County government.

Law Enforcement

Highlands County Sheriffs Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the non incorporated areas of Highlands County, Paul Blackman is the Sheriff. The City of Sebring and Town of Lake Placid have their own respective police departments. Avon Park Police Department closed its doors in 2015, the Sheriffs Office is now the primary law enforcement agency for the town. All public safety in Highlands County utilize a Motorola P25 Trunked Radio System which was initiated by Polk County. Highlands and Hardee Counties have piggybacked onto the system. To date, Highlands County Law Enforcement is the only law enforcement on the entire system to use 24/7 ADP encryption.

Politics

Highlands County, like the relatively nearby southwest coast, is strongly Republican: the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Harry Truman in 1948. Like North Florida, but unlike the southwest coast, George Wallace was able to outpoll the Democratic Party here in 1968, and only in 1992 and 1996 has the Republican candidate not won an absolute majority since.

Economy

Top employers

The top private employers of Highlands County are as follows:

1. Advent Health Hospital

2. Walmart

3. Agero

4. Highlands Regional Medical Center

5. Delray Plants

6. Palms of Sebring

7. Alan Jay Automotive Network

8. Lake Placid Health Care

9. Positive Medical Transport

10. E-Stone USA

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