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With more than 400 buildings and homes on the National Register of Historic Places, DeSoto immerses visitors in turn-of-the-century architectural beauty.
DeSoto County is located in South Central Florida, covering 637 square miles with a population of approximately 36,000. The City of Arcadia, near the center of the County, is the County Seat. Within a fifty-mile radius of Arcadia are several Florida beach communities, including Sarasota, Punta Gorda and Fort Myers. DeSoto County is one of those places where a friendly small-town flavor still thrives. The architecture, businesses and recreation all reflect the County’s history of agriculture.
Due to its geographic proximity to the coast, its quality of life and the availability of land, DeSoto County is being “discovered” by developers and businesses alike. A Walmart distribution center, which employs over 500 people, selected DeSoto County as its new home. In recent years hotels, restaurants, and retail stores have found DeSoto County to be fertile ground for business. The southern part of the County, in particular, is experiencing rapid residential development.
DeSoto County is abundant in the number and quality of recreational options. The Peace River traverses the County and provides many opportunities for camping, fishing, canoeing, rafting, and other water/wilderness activities.
A source of great pride to the community is the Turner Center, a modern 4,000-seat facility that accommodates local and national concerts, craft shows, circuses, sporting events, banquets, receptions, and other types of community-oriented meetings. In addition to the arena, the Turner Center has an exhibit hall and livestock barns. Next to this is the Mosaic Arena, home of the Arcadia All-Champion Rodeo.
DeSoto County is home to a large, modern satellite campus of South Florida State College. Nearby is Florida’s newest four-year university, the state-of-the-art Florida Gulf Coast University. From rodeos, county fairs, festivals, music concerts, livestock shows, canoeing on the Peace River, exploring nature trails, or antiquing in Arcadia’s downtown- DeSoto County offers a fresh wholesome lifestyle quite different from large urban centers.
For more information: VisitDesoto.com
Primary school
Students: 111
Student/Teacher Ratio: 33 to 1
Location: 530 La Solana Avenue Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.4494.9303
Primary school
Students: 883
Student/Teacher Ratio: 16.35 to 1
Location: 851 Hickory Street Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.2736
Primary school
Students: 889
Student/Teacher Ratio: 15.60 to 1
Location: 304 Imogene Street Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.3155
Primary school
Students: 477
Student/Teacher Ratio: 17 to 1
Location: 4846 SW Shores Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.4511
Primary school
Location: First Baptist Church of Arcadia
1006 N Brevard Avenue, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.9684
Email: [email protected]
Primary school
Location: First Baptist Church of Fort Ogden
6831 SW Senate St.
Arcadia, FL 34269
Phone: 863.494.2099
Email: [email protected]
Primary school
Location: 201 N 11th Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.0616
Other contact: FaithCommunityChristianAcademy.com/contact-us#
Primary school
Location: Heritage Baptist Church
27 N Polk Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.6890
Other contact: Facebook.com/hbcdcs
Middle School
Students: 1041
Student/Teacher Ratio: 17.35 to 1
Location: 420 E. Gibson St. Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.4133
Middle School
Location: First Baptist Church of Arcadia
1006 N Brevard Avenue, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.9684
Email: [email protected]
Middle School
Location: First Baptist Church of Fort Ogden
6831 SW Senate St.
Arcadia, FL 34269
Phone: 863.494.2099
Email: [email protected]
Middle School
Location: 201 N 11th Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.0616
Other contact: FaithCommunityChristianAcademy.com/contact-us#
Middle School
Location: Heritage Baptist Church
27 N Polk Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.6890
Other contact: Facebook.com/hbcdcs
Vocational/Trade School
Students: Variable
FTE Teachers: 8.00
Location: 310 W. Whidden Street Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.993.1333
High School
Students: 1175
Student/Teacher Ratio: 17.02 to 1
Location: 1710 E. Gibson Street Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 963.494.3434
High School
Location: First Baptist Church of Arcadia
1006 N Brevard Avenue, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.9684
Email: [email protected]
High School
Location: First Baptist Church of Fort Ogden
6831 SW Senate St.
Arcadia, FL 34269
Phone: 863.494.2099
Email: [email protected]
High School
Location: 201 N 11th Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.0616
Other contact: FaithCommunityChristianAcademy.com/contact-us#
High School
Location: Heritage Baptist Church
27 N Polk Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266
Phone: 863.494.6890
Other contact: Facebook.com/hbcdcs
With high-quality public and private educational options, we’re confident that you’ll find the right educational match for your family.
We value our teachers here in DeSoto County. As of the 2024-25 school year, teacher salaries start at $50,000, beating the state average of $47,500. We also offer competitive raises based on experience and tenure with the district to attract and retain top educators.
DeSoto County students have been honored with $110,000 in scholarship awards this year, showcasing their dedication and hard work. These scholarships empower our students to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.
At 72.6%, our high school graduation rate has shown improvement compared to pre-pandemic levels (2019 and prior). We are continuing to implement policies and incentives to attract high-quality teachers to our district to help our students succeed.
From affordable single-family homes to luxury senior living communities, there are a wide range of housing options for individuals, couples, and families with hopes of relocating. The wealth of natural environments and outdoor recreation make DeSoto County a gorgeous backdrop for people of all walks of life.
While our home values are significantly more affordable than the median across the state of Florida, DeSoto County is also seeing impressive appreciation of our property values. Year-over-year, the median home price in DeSoto went up over 11% – almost double the state-wide increase of 6.87%.
DeSoto Memorial Hospital, an acute care facility with a four-star CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services) rating, has been serving the community for many years. Inpatient and Outpatient services include cardio-pulmonary, gastroenterology, nephrology, orthopedics, radiology, vascular surgery, wound care, and much more.
In addition to the hospital, DeSoto hosts an office of Epiphany Health, a revolutionary direct primary care practice. This groundbreaking healthcare model has received nationwide acclaim. The family doctor and personalized care await you in DeSoto County.
One of the best ways to stay healthy is through regular exercise. Arcadia is fortunate to have several health clubs and gyms. There are both national chains as well as locally owned facilities. The YMCA is providing services here and planning its own club soon. Our many parks provide walking trails that invite leisurely strolls or vigorous runs.
With over a dozen parks to explore, we encourage you to explore outdoors. Brownville Park is a favorite for a mid-day picnic, or Storybook Park is a popular destination for families with young children. Whether you enjoy a brisk jog or a leisurely stroll to soak in the sunshine, we have the perfect park for you.
Since there are recreational activities here for everyone, there are also social opportunities for everyone, too! The Arcadia Municipal Golf Course, for example, is just one destination with meetups of like-minded people. The Arcadia Municipal Golf Course has been a local establishment for close to a century, and a hub for multiple generations.
If your interests run with antiquing, fossil hunting, paddling, or something else — you name it — there’s likely a community for you in DeSoto.
For river adventures, camping or agriculture, there are plenty of options: Peace River Campground, Horse Creek Retreat, Peace River Charters, Canoe Outpost, Fossil Recovery Exploration and Joshua Citrus. DeSoto County’s Morgan Park and Brownville Park are also popular spots for locals and tourists. Both parks are listed on FloridaBirdingTrail.com and provide walking trails and other amenities.
For antiquing in the historic downtown, there are plenty of options such as Treasure Alley; Glass, Antique or Not; Biggar & Biggar; Miss Patty’s Consignment, and more.
The downtown experience doesn’t end with antiquing; however, dining, nightlife and live music, along with boutiques are also available, showcased by the Historic Heard Opera House, Neon Moon Saloon, Cowboy Corner, Honey Belles Boutique & Gifts, Blossom’s Beauty & Boutique, Wheeler’s Cafe, Magnolia Street Seafood and Grill, Broken Spur Diner, and Florida Farmhouse Coffee.
For more information about Downtown Arcadia, got to ArcadiaMainStreet.com or ShopDowntownArcadia.com.
Physical Address:
Economic Development Office
Turner Agri-Civic Center
2250 N.E. Roan Street
Arcadia, FL 34266
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
