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Highlands County Florida Profile

By
Real Estate Agent with Advantage Realty 863-840-1420 SL3030767
County Seat: Sebring
Nearest MSA: Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA
Largest Cities: 1 Sebring
2 Avon Park
3 Lake Placid
Miles* To:
Tallahassee ................................... 271
Orlando ................................... 69
Tampa ................................... 72
Jacksonville ................................... 197
Miami ................................... 140
Atlanta ................................... 468
Chicago ................................... 1056
Dallas ................................... 987
New York ................................... 1005
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 863
  Highlands
1980: 47,526
1990: 68,432
2008: 100,011
2015(p): 109,400
2030(p): 129,800
(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 ........................... 112
(2007)
In-Migration 5,285
Out-Migration 3,986
Net-Migration 1,299
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force 41,585
Labor Force % of County Population 41.6
Number in County Unemployed 2,919
Unemployment Rate 7.0%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency 
 
N/D = No Data Highlands Florida
(2007)
Average Annual Employment 28,528 7,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining N/D
Construction 7.2% 7.5%
Manufacturing 3.3% 4.9%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 19.4% 20.9%
Information 0.8% 2.0%
Financial Activities 3.4% 6.8%
Professional & Business Services 10.5% 16.6%
Education & Health Services 16.6% 18.9%
Leisure & Hospitality 9.5% 11.8%
Other Services 2.4% 3.2%
Public administration 6.0% 5.9%
Unclassified 0.0% 0.1%

Average Annual Wage
(2007)
All Industries $28,315
Construction $27,779
Education & Health Services $36,228
Financial Activities $33,773
Information $39,892
Leisure & Hospitality $14,987
Manufacturing $39,177
Natural Resources & Mining N/D
Other Services $22,824
Professional & Business Services $24,738
Public administration $38,267
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $25,781
Unclassified $13,494
  Highlands Florida
2005 $23,653 $34,709
2006 $25,036 $37,099
2007 $25,717 $38,417
Major Private Sector Employers

Florida Hospital Heartland Division
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 1,200

Wal-Mart
Business Line: Department Store
Number of Employees..................................................... 560

Highlands Regional Medical Center
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 450

Cross Country Automotive Services
Business Line: Roadside Assistance Call Center
Number of Employees..................................................... 375

Palms of Sebring
Business Line: Assisted Living Facility
Number of Employees..................................................... 278

Highlands Greenhouses
Business Line: Ornamental Plants
Number of Employees..................................................... 266

Lake Placid Heath Care Cente
Business Line: Nursing Home
Number of Employees..................................................... 205

Alan Jay Automotive
Business Line: Automobile Dealership
Number of Employees..................................................... 200

Home Depot
Business Line: Home Improvement Supplies
Number of Employees..................................................... 160

Georgia Pacific
Business Line: Corrugated Boxes
Number of Employees..................................................... 140

Federal Interstates 1 to 1.5 hours to I-4, I-75, Florida's Turnpike
Federal Highways US-27
State Highways SR 66, SR 98
Railroads CSX
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service: Orlando International Airport (80 miles)
# Runways 790
Longest Paved Runway(ft.) 12000
General Aviation Airports Sebring Regional, Avon Park Executive, Placid Lakes

Local Deep Water Port  
Miles to Closest Port 70
<!-- <tr> <td>Local Communications Service Tax</td> <td align="right">2.4</td> -->
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:  
Government 7.3544
Schools 7.6640
Special 0.0000
Total 15.0184

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option) 1.00
Federal Enterprise Zone No
State Enterprise Zone EZ-2801
STATE
<!-- <tr> <td>Intangible Tax (per $1,000)</td> <td align="right">$.50</td> </tr> -->
Corporate Income Tax 5.5%
Personal Income Tax 0.0%
Retail Sales Tax 6.0%
Electric Companies:
 
  • Progress Energy
  •  
  • Glades Electric Cooperative
  •  
    Natural Gas Companies:
     
  • Coker Fuel
  •  
  • Sebring Gas Systems
  •  
  • TECO Peoples Gas Company
  •  
    Telephone Companies:
     
  • Sprint
  •  
    Water & Sewer Companies:
     
  • Municipalities
  •  

    Existing Industrial Zoned Land Yes
    Number of Acres 2,070
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 180

    Industrial Parks Yes
    Number of Acres 812
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 180

    Foreign Trade Zones Yes
    Zone Number(s) 215
      Public
    Schools
    Teachers Enrollments
    Elementary: 9 350 5,996
    Secondary: 7 370 6,449
    Totals: 16 720 12,445

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
     
  • Warner Southern College
  •  
  • Webber College
  •  
  • Florida Southern College
  •  
    Junior/Community Colleges:
     
  • South Florida Community College
  •  
  • Indian River Community College
  •  
    Vocational/Technical Schools:
     
  • South Florida Community College
  •  
  • Indian River Community College
  •  
    Other Schools:
     
  • none
  •  
    Local Radio Stations:
  • WWOJ - FM
  • WWTK - AM
  • WZSP - FM
  • WAVP - AM
  • WITS-AM
  • WZZS-FM
  • Local Television Stations:
  • Trianon Broadcast Company








  • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • Lake Placid Journal
  • The News-Sun
  • Highlands Today

  • Number of Banks: 30

    Number of Savings and Loans: 0

    Number of Credit Unions: 2
    <!-- <tr> <td align="center" colspan="2">(Population Weighted Category Indices)</td> </tr> -->
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total 91.02
    Food 97.68
    Housing 82.80
    Medical Care 90.76
    Personal Goods and Services 96.81
    Transportation 99.76
    Medical Services:
     
  • Florida Hospital Heartland
  •  
  • Florida Hospital Lake Placid
  •  
  • Highlands Regional Medical Center
  •  
    Recreational Opportunities:
     
  • BMX Track
  •  
  • County Parks (18)
  •  
  • Golf Courses (15)
  •  
  • Highlands Hammock & Lake June Scrub State Parks
  •  
  • Lakes (95)
  •  
  • Public Boat Landings (43)
  •  
  • Tennis Courts (31)
  •  
    Historical Points Of Interest:
     
  • Avon Park Depot Museum
  •  
  • Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
  •  
  • Lake Placid Historical Museum
  •  
  • Military Sea Services Museum
  •  
  • Sebring Historical Museum
  •  
  • Sebring International Raceway
  •  
    Cultural Events/Festivals:
     
  • Avon Park Springtime on the Mall Festival, March
  •  
  • Highlands Fine Art Festival, Sebring, November
  •  
  • Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Country Fair, February
  •  
  • Lake Placid Caladium Festival, August
  •  
  • Roaring Twenties Arts & Crafts, Sebring, February
  •  

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