Okeechobee County Tourism Demographic Information

Okeechobee County, consisting of 774 square miles of land, is centrally located from the east and west coasts of Florida on the north shore of famous Lake Okeechobee and bordered on the west by the Kissimmee River.

AREA INFORMATION
Population: 2003 - 37,236 year round
Additional 12,000 - 15,000
in winter tourist season (Nov. - April)

LABOR FORCE
Labor Force: 15,335
% of County Population 41.2
Number in County Unemployed 829
Unemployment Rate 5.0%

EDUCATION
Public Schools: 5 Elementary, 4 Secondary
Junior / Community College:
Indian River Community College
Vocational / Technical Schools:
Dixon Hendry Center

TRANSPORATION
Federal Interstates - I-95
Federal Highways - US 98, US 441
State Highways - SR70, SR710, FL Turnpike
Railroads - CSX, Amtrak

Nearest Airport with scheduled
 commercial airline services:
Palm Beach International Airport

Local General Aviation Airport:
Okeechobee Airport

Local Deep Water Ports:
Port of Ft. Pierce, Port of Palm Beach

MEDICAL SERVICES
Raulerson Hospital
Okeechobee Health Care

GENERAL TOURISM INFORMATION

Local Waterways: Lake Okeechobee: 730 Square Miles - Average Depth 10'
Kissimmee River and Taylor Creek
Boat Ramps: Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina & Scott Driver Ramp, Hwy. 78 W.
Lock 7 Ramp, Intersection of Hwy. 441 & 78 W in Jaycee Park
Taylor Creek Lock, Nubbins Slough, Henry Creek Lock, J&S Fish Camp
Mileage to Major Florida Cities:
East Coast: Jacksonville - 240, West Palm Beach - 61, Miami - 126, Key West - 268
West Coast: Ft. Myers - 95, St. Petersburg - 142, Tampa - 132
North: Tallahassee - 357      Central: Orlando 105

Average Temperature: Summer (April - Sept.) High 89 Low 67
Winter (Oct.- March) High 78 Low 55

RV/Camping Facilities: 33 (3,367 Sites)     Hotel/Motel/Cabins: 13 (268)
Bait & Tackle Shops: 6     Restaurants: 57    Churches: 62

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Fishing, Boating, Airboating, Biking, Hiking, Hunting, Bird Watching, 
Camping, Golfing, Clay Shooting
HISTORICAL & RECREATIONAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Battle of Okeechobee, Okeechobee County Courthouse, Old Jail, 
Okeechobee City Hall, Okeechobee Freshman Campus Historical Mural
Okeechobee Historical Society Museum & Schoolhouse, Veteran's Memorial Park
Fishing Pier at Lock 7, Skate Park Downtown Okeechobee.