Okeechobee

Although sparsely populated, the county is growing. Also worth noting--nearly 2 million people inhabit the counties that adjoin Okeechobee County. Most of Florida's major metropolitan areas are less than two hours away by car. Palm Beach is an hour away; Fort Lauderdale and Orlando an hour and a half; so is; Tampa and Miami two hours away, in opposite directions, of course.

Home Sweet Home

Location is one of the most important influences upon the price of real estate everywhere, and this axiom is also important in determining the pricing of Okeechobee County property, says the Okeechobee County Board of Realtors. Affordability is also an important characteristic of this housing market. Prevatt notes that a three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,500-square foot, single-family home sells here for a median price of about $59,000. Homes for sale in her area are primarily single-family and range from $26,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bath, 800-square-foot home to $299,000 for a six-bedroom, seven-bath, 6,600-square-foot residence located on 113 acres.

Vital Stats

Population: 31,158
Median age: 38.7
New citizens: 580 yearly
New job creation: N/A
Unemployment rate: 9.7 percent in August, 1999
Cost of living: 95.21 Florida Price Level Index (weighted state average=100)
Per capita income: $15,864
Median household effective buying income: 24,231

Rain & Shine

It rains between 48 and 50 inches most years. The climate is warm and sunny almost all the time, however, because summer is the rainy season. Showers arrive late in the afternoon, when the rain's cooling quality is greatly appreciated. In January, the average temperature is 63 degrees Fahrenheit; in August, the average temperature is 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

Job Market

Dairy farms, citrus groves and vegetable crops dominate this county's agricultural endeavors. Okeechobee County is the state's leading milk producer, in fact. Commercial and pleasure fishing, fish camps, recreational vehicle parks and tour operators (swamp tours by airboat, for example) provide jobs as well. The major employer, however, is the Okeechobee County School District, which employs 834 people. Service and retail jobs increase when the population does. Major private employers include Raulerson Hospital (365); Walpole Inc. (300); Larson Dairy Inc. (225); Wal-Mart (184); McArthur Farms Inc. (160); Publix Super Markets (155); Winn-Dixie Stores (150); Okeechobee Health Care Facility (140); U-Save Supermarket (125); Barnett Bank (93); and McDonald's (70).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

You'll need a car; lots of locals think you'd do well to have a boat, too. The lake is placid and fairly shallow, so just about any vessel from a canoe to a luxury cruiser will allow you to enjoy its benefits. With highways, there's no real problem. Although there's no interstate, the roads are serviceable. The Florida Turnpike, a toll road, cuts through the county's northeastern corner on its way from Wildwood to Miami. The county's mainstay and workhorse road, U.S. Highway 441, travels north/south through the entire county. U.S. Highway 98 runs through the county's southwestern quadrant from northwest to southeast. Southern Okeechobee County is accessible via State Road 70, which travels east/west across the southern part of the county. At mid-county, S.R. 68 runs east/west. S.R. 710 runs southeasterly from Okeechobee to the Palm Beach area. You can drive all the way around the lake, although if you do so you'll leave Okeechobee County. For the east side follow U.S. Highways 98 and 441, together here; for the western route, take S.R. 78.

Greyhound Bus Lines serves the county. CSX railroad and several trucking firms carry milk, fruit, vegetables, beef cattle and miscellaneous products to market. Amtrak stops twice a day in the town of Okeechobee. Ports aren't far, but they aren't exactly convenient either. The 25-foot-deep Port of Fort Pierce is situated about 35 miles from Okeechobee, the county seat and only incorporated town. Most private planes and some small commercial ones can manage with Okeechobee County's 5,000-foot asphalt runway, but for major commercial jets that connect to hub cities, try the Palm Beach International Airport, less than an hour away.

Great Outdoors

Enjoy the peace and tranquility of this place by allowing your boat to simply float on the big lake. Sit a spell. Relax. Nature is soothing in this section of the state, although things can change rapidly if a thunderstorm sweeps in. Otherwise it's big enough to enjoy in solitude if you wish. Lake Okeechobee is the second largest freshwater lake in the United States and the largest with no natural outlet. It's comparatively shallow. At some spots you can see waterfowl and shore birds wading about a mile out. The average depth is 14 deep; the deepest section is about twice that, but overall it's extremely shallow for so large a lake. (Part of Lake Michigan in the Great Lakes, for example, is deeper than 900 feet.) The long Kissimmee River empties into the big lake. Experience the river and wetlands ecosystem by taking an airboat ride on this important waterway and the swamp land at the lake's northwestern edge. The nearby Taylor Creek section is also popular with fishermen, bird watchers and nature lovers of all categories.

Another good way to enjoy nature's bounty in this area is to visit Okee-Tantie Park at the mouth of the Kissimmee River. if you're so inclined. It's a smart way for newcomers to get a quick feel for the land and water around these parts. Another fun thing to do: take a boat trip across southern Florida on the Okeechobee Waterway. It runs from the Gulf of Mexico via the Caloosahatchee River through Lake Okeechobee and on to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lucie Canal.

Good Sports

One popular activity is hiking or biking along the levee around the lake. The 110-mile pathway atop the 35-foot high dike is known as the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. But boating, fishing and waterskiing are the county's favorite sporting activities. In fact, about 5,000 citizens own boats. Billed as the Speckled Perch Capital of the World, the county's fishermen and women also catch largemouth black bass, bream and catfish in large numbers. Fishing is good year-round. It's the big draw for those snowbirds who visit here. November until January brings hunting season--and the flight of migrating ducks across the lake. Professional guides for hunting and fishing are available. Four golf courses (two at country clubs; two at campgrounds or RV resorts), some tennis courts and three or four swimming pools keep other sports lovers occupied.

Hot Times in the City

Lots of folks here play bingo. Never on Sunday, but every other night residents and visitors can find at least two places in the county to play their favorite game. One popular bingo parlor is at the Brighton Seminole Reservation, 24 miles from the county seat. Card games and volunteering for community activities provide other activity options. Two plays a year are produced by the Okeechobee Community Theatre, so budding thespians and folks who enjoy sewing costumes or building sets can use their talents.

Many people join the Okeechobee County Historical Society. Its two-acre site showcases an old schoolhouse and a museum that focuses on historic events and artifacts. Also worth a look is the Freedman-Raulerson House.

Shop 'til You Drop

With so many populous areas close at hand, shopping isn't a problem, either, although it may require something of a road trip--depending upon what you want to purchase. For a big mall not far away, consider the massive Palm Beach Mall. For outlet-style shopping, try Factory Stores at Palm Beach. If your budget and sense of style can manage it, sample some high-end shopping--or simply browse--on Palm Beach's famous Worth Avenue or its Esplanade.

There are several places to shop in the county, of course. Downtown Okeechobee is one of the most scenic. Shops line both sides of Flagler Park. And a big shopping center is located on U.S. 141 south of town.

Nightlife

The locals like Okeechobee's laid-back, rural lifestyle. If you must stay out late--not smart if you're fishing the next morning--try dinner at The Angus or the live entertainment in Club Angus at the same Okeechobee location. Many fish camps and marinas serve food--some of the fresh seafood is definitely worth trying. For fish, froglegs and gator, consider Lightsay's Restaurant in Okee-Tantie Recreation Park on the Kissimmee River. If you're determined to do it up first-class in the culinary department and price category, drive to Charley's Crab in Palm Beach or La Vieille Maison in Boca Raton for a meal to remember.

College Scene

Indian River Community College, based in Fort Pierce, operates a branch in Okeechobee. Students who matriculate in any part of this two-year, coed state system of junior colleges can take basic courses equivalent to those they might take at a four-year school--or they can enroll for career and/or vocational classes. Florida Atlantic University, a four-year state-supported coed school with about 17,500 students, is located in Boca Raton and is convenient for Okeechobee residents. Lynn University, a private, four-year school, is also in Boca Raton.

Just for Seniors

The Lottie Raulerson Senior Citizen Center in the town of Okeechobee serves its residents and those in rural areas nearby. If you visit, you'll find out about numerous services available at the center or by appointment elsewhere in the county.

Call 941/763-9444 for the Elder Helpline in Okeechobee County. An Information and Referral (I&R) specialist can answer questions for seniors and their families and also refer them to service providers in the county, whether public or private.