Winter 2024 FCIAAO Newsletter

SPOTLIGHT

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY Okeechobee County was incorporated in 1917 , mak ing i t the 54th county in F lor ida. I t was named for Lake Okeechobee, which was i tsel f named for the Seminole Indian words “okee” (water) and “chobee” (big) . Okeechobee County i s s i tuated in south-cent ral F lor ida and encompasses the nor thern shores of Lake Okeechobee, the largest f reshwater lake in the state. The county ' s landscape i s character i zed by vast expanses of open spaces , including wet lands , prai r ies , and agr icul tural lands . Lake Okeechobee, of ten refer red to as the "Big O, " serves as a focal point for both res idents and v i s i tors , of fer ing a var iety of recreat ional oppor tuni t ies such as f i shing, boat ing, and bi rdwatching. The lake spans 730 square mi les , mak ing i t the second- largest f reshwater lake in the Uni ted States . Okeechobee county i s one of the least populated count ies in F lor ida, wi th a populat ion of approx imately 40,000 res idents . Despi te i ts smal l s i ze, the county holds a s igni f icant place in the state ' s hi story , especial ly as a v i tal t ranspor tat ion hub for ear ly set t lers and t raders . In the ear ly 20th century , many immigrants came to Okeechobee county to work on the mass i ve drainage project under taken by the U. S . Army Corps of Engineers . Thi s project invol ved draining the sur rounding swampland to make i t sui table for agr icul ture,

Outdoor enthus iasts wi l l f ind plenty to explore in Okeechobee County . The lake i tsel f i s a haven for anglers , at t ract ing those in search of bass , crappie, and cat f i sh. The scenic Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trai l , a 1 10-mi le paved pathway , prov ides a picturesque route for hi k ing and bi k ing, of fer ing breathtak ing v iews of the lake and sur rounding landscapes . For those interested in bi rding, the county ' s wet lands and waterways are home to a di verse ar ray of bi rd species , mak ing i t a pr ime locat ion for bi rdwatching. The Okeechobee Bat t lef ield Hi stor ic State Park al lows v i s i tors to step back in t ime and learn about the region ' s hi story , par t icular ly i ts role dur ing the Second Seminole War . Okeechobee County has a st rong agr icul tural her i tage, wi th ranching and farming playing a s igni f icant role in the local economy . The fer t i le soi l sur rounding Lake Okeechobee suppor ts the cul t i vat ion of crops l i ke sugarcane, ci t rus f rui ts , and vegetables . The county hosts var ious events and fest i val s throughout the year , showcas ing i ts cul tural r ichness and f r iendly atmosphere. Whether i t ' s the Okeechobee County Fai r , the Speck led Perch Fest i val , or local rodeos , these events br ing the communi ty together and welcome v i s i tors wi th open arms . leading to the county becoming a s igni f icant agr icul tural hub.

BY THE NUMBERS REAL PROPERTY PARCELS

31,701

TANGIBLE ACCOUNTS

4,425

TOTAL JUST VALUE

$9.79 BILLION

TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE

$3.73 BILLION

TAXABLE VALUE PER PARCEL

$117,761

EMPLOYEES

35

*2023 Prelim Roll

MICKEY BANDI, CFA PROPERTY APPRAISER

10

STAYING APPRA I SED

WINTER 2024