Hardee County, Florida

{{short description|County in Florida, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Hardee County | state = Florida | seal = Seal of Hardee County, Florida.png | seal size = 100px | founded year = 1921 | founded date = April 23 | seat wl = Wauchula | largest city wl = Wauchula | area_total_sq_mi = 638 | area_land_sq_mi = 638 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.6 | area percentage = 0.1% | census yr = 2020 | pop = 25327 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 25932 {{increase}} | density_sq_mi = 43 | web = https://www.hardeecountyfl.gov/ | ex image = Wauchula crths10.jpg | ex image cap = Hardee County Courthouse | district = 18th | time zone = Eastern | named for = Cary A. Hardee }}

'''Hardee County''' is a county located in the Florida Heartland of the Central Florida region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,327.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/14049.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 14, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Its county seat is Wauchula.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Hardee County comprises the Wauchula, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

==History== Hardee County was created by an act of April 23, 1921<ref>{{cite web |title=Act of the Legislature of Florida to Divide the County of DeSoto, and to Create and Establish the Counties of Hardee, Highlands, Glades and Charlotte from Portions of DeSoto County, and Providing for the Organization and Government Thereof, 1921 |url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/350702?id=1 |website=State Library and Archives of Florida |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref> in which the Florida Legislature divided "old DeSoto County" into five parts, forming the Counties of Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Highlands and Glades.<ref name="Historical Sketch of Hardee County">{{cite web |title=Historical Sketch of Hardee County |url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321110?id=3 |website=State Library and Archives of Florida |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref>

The county is named after Cary A. Hardee, the Governor of Florida who served from 1921 to 1925 and who signed the act creating the county.<ref name="Historical Sketch of Hardee County"/>

The settlement of what is now Hardee County, Florida, began with the establishment of the Kennedy–Darling Indian-trading post on Paynes Creek in April 1849. The enterprise came to an end on July 17, 1849, when two of the clerks, George Payne and Dempsey Whidden, were killed by Indians. A third clerk, William McCullough, and his wife Nancy were also wounded, and the post was burned down.<ref name="History">{{cite news |url=https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~crackerbarrel/genealogy/Hardee21.html |title=Hardee County, Florida: A Brief History |access-date=October 9, 2023 |work=The Herald-Advocate |date=January 2, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Executive Document, No. 49, 31st Congress, 1st Session, Washington, May 1850 |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/SERIALSET-00551_00_00-001-0000-0000/summary |website=US Government Publishing Office |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref><ref name="History of Fort Chokonikla">{{cite web |title=History of Fort Chokonikla |url=https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/history-fort-chokonikla |website=Florida State Parks |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref>

Reports of the attack motivated the U.S. Army to establish a chain of fortifications across Florida, and construction began on Fort Chokonikla on October 26, 1849. The fort was subsequently abandoned in July 1850 due to an outbreak of sickness and never reoccupied.<ref name="History" /><ref name="History of Fort Chokonikla"/>

During the Seminole Wars, Fort Green and Fort Hartsuff<ref>{{cite web |title=Site of Fort Hartsuff, Established August 8, 1856 |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=110528 |website=Historical Marker Database |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref> were both garrisoned in the area. Fort Hartstuff would later become the settlement and county seat of Wauchula.

The Florida Southern Railway arrived in 1886 and ushered in a new era of increased settlement for what is now Hardee County, with many new settlers finding employment working with the railroad, tending stores, farming, ranching and teaching.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Plowden |first1=Jean |title=History of Hardee County |journal=City, County, and Regional Histories E-Book Collection |date=1929 |publisher=Florida Advocate |page=22 |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/regional_ebooks/14 |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref>

At the dawn of the 20th century, the county seat Wauchula was incorporated in 1902, and the first bank was opened in 1904.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Plowden |first1=Jean |title=History of Hardee County |journal=City, County, and Regional Histories E-Book Collection |date=1929 |publisher=Florida Advocate |page=25 |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/regional_ebooks/14 |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref>

A community group of activists referred to as "Divisionists" first began lobbying for the creation of new counties with the area of "old DeSoto County" in 1907, and after a 15-year campaign, the Florida Legislature separated Desoto into five parts, creating the 638-square mile Hardee County.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Plowden |first1=Jean |title=History of Hardee County |journal=City, County, and Regional Histories E-Book Collection |date=1929 |publisher=Florida Advocate |page=29 |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/regional_ebooks/14 |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Historical Sketch of Hardee County"/>

On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley went directly through Hardee County. Maximum sustained winds in downtown Wauchula were clocked at {{convert|149|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} with higher gusts. Most buildings in the county sustained damage, and many were totally destroyed.

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|638|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|638|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.6|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

Hardee County is located in a region colloquially referred to as "Bone Valley." The region contains most of North America's phosphate deposits and a large portion of the world's accessible deposits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phosphate Primer |url=https://fipr.floridapoly.edu/about-us/phosphate-primer/other-phosphate-deposits.php |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Florida Polytechnic University}}</ref> CommercialPhosphate mining in the region that is now the county has been ongoing since the late 19th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Florida's Phosphate Mines |url=https://floridadep.gov/water/mining-mitigation/content/phosphate |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Florida Department of Environmental Protection}}</ref>

The Mosaic Company currently operates the only mines in the county with around 10,000 acres near Fort Green and 16,778 acres near Ona, FL.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bouffard |first=Kevin |date=January 7, 2019 |title=Mosaic to open new Hardee mine |work=Herald-Tribune |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2019/01/07/mosaic-to-open-new-hardee-phosphate-mine-by-march/6363803007/ |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref>

There is controversy over the mining practice and the rezoning and conversion of agricultural land into open pit mines. Land is reclaimed after mining and leaves artificially-created lakes and wetlands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beavers |first=Casey |date= |title=An Overview of Phosphate Mining and Reclamation in Florida |url=https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/media/soilsifasufledu/sws-main-site/pdf/technical-papers/Beavers_Casey_No_Embargo.pdf |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=University of Florida Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences}}</ref>

Reclamation standards for phosphate lands include contouring to safe slopes, providing for acceptable water quality and quantity, revegetation, and the return of wetlands to pre-mining type, nature, function and acreage.<ref name=":0" />

Opponents of mining say converting agricultural land to phosphate mining is harmful to the environment, increasing background radiation levels,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roessler |first=C. E. |title=The Effect of Mining and Land Reclamation on the Radiological Characteristics of the Terrestrial Environment of Florida's Phosphate Regions |url=https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/12/618/12618320.pdf |journal=College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida}}</ref> harming water quality and rendering some areas poorly suited for agriculture.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manfuso |first=Jamie |date=September 14, 2002 |title=Hardee changes stance on mining |work=Herald-Tribune |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2002/09/14/hardee-changes-stance-on-mining/28721384007/ |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref>

Supporters of mining say it is critical to America's food supply and economy,<ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Dale |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Speakers debate merits, dangers of phosphate mining |work=Herald-Tribune |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2019/02/11/speakers-debate-merits-dangers-of-phosphate-mining/5900719007/ |access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref> and that reclaimed mine land is better for the environment than agricultural land.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brown |first=M.T. |date=December 1992 |title=Landscape reclamation at a central Florida phosphate mine |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/092585749290014S |journal=Ecological Engineering |volume=1 |issue=4|pages=323–354 |doi=10.1016/0925-8574(92)90014-S |bibcode=1992EcEng...1..323B |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== * Polk County, Florida - north * Highlands County, Florida - east * DeSoto County, Florida - south * Manatee County, Florida - west * Hillsborough County, Florida - northwest

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1930 = 10348 | 1940 = 10158 | 1950 = 10073 | 1960 = 12370 | 1970 = 14889 | 1980 = 19379 | 1990 = 19499 | 2000 = 26938 | 2010 = 27731 | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 14, 2014}}</ref>{{cbignore}} 1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 14, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 14, 2014}}</ref> 1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 14, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF" /> | 2020 = 25327 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 25932 | estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 6, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Hardee County, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1980 U.S. Census - General Population Characteristics - Table 16 Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980 |website=United States Census Bureau|date=1980 |url= https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_flABCs1-02.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1990 U.S. Census - Social and Economic Characteristics - Table 6. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990 |website=United States Census Bureau|date=1980 |url= https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-2/cp-2-11-1.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hardee County, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US12049&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hardee County, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US12049&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hardee County, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US12049&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |14,467 |13,804 |14,704 |13,315 |style='background: #ffffe6; |11,873 |74.65% |70.79% |54.58% |48.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |46.88% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |1,586 |1,008 |2,165 |1,877 |style='background: #ffffe6; |2,111 |8.18% |5.17% |8.04% |6.77% |style='background: #ffffe6; |8.33% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |46 |68 |98 |91 |style='background: #ffffe6; |55 |0.24% |0.35% |0.36% |0.33% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22% |- |Asian alone (NH) |28 |34 |71 |294 |style='background: #ffffe6; |165 |0.14% |0.17% |0.26% |1.06% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.65% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |11 |8 |style='background: #ffffe6; |3 |x |x |0.04% |0.03% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01% |- |Other race alone (NH) |16 |23 |21 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |35 |0.08% |0.12% |0.08% |0.02% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |257 |245 |style='background: #ffffe6; |481 |x |x |0.95% |0.88% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.90% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |3,236 |4,562 |9,611 |11,895 |style='background: #ffffe6; |10,604 |16.70% |23.40% |35.68% |42.89% |style='background: #ffffe6; |41.87% |- |'''Total''' |'''19,379''' |'''19,499''' |'''26,938''' |'''27,731''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''25,327 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |} [[File:2023_Racial_Demographics_in_Hardee_County_by_Census_tract.svg|thumb|A map of racial demographics in Hardee County, Florida by Census tract{{Collapsible list | title = Legend|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

'''Non-Hispanic White''' {{legend|#f1b4b2|40–50%}} {{legend|#ed8783|50–60%}} {{legend|#850400|>90%}}

'''Hispanic''' {{legend|#81d0d0|50–60%}} {{col-end}} }}]]

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,327. The median age was 37.4 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 117.8 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A049&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 58.5% White, 8.6% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 14.2% from some other race, and 17.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 41.9% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A049&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

38.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 61.3% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A049&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 8,059 households in the county, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.5% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 9,820 housing units, of which 17.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.9% were owner-occupied and 31.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.4%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 26,938 people, 8,166 households, and 6,255 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|42|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 9,820 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 70.66% White, 8.33% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.99% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. 35.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to 2005 Census Estimates the county's population was 50.6% non-Hispanic white, 39.8% Latino, 9.0% African-American and 1.3% Native American.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12049.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607003625/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12049.html | archive-date=June 7, 2011 | title=Hardee County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau }}</ref>

In 2000 there were 8,166 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.40% were non-families. 18.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 19.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,183, and the median income for a family was $32,487. Males had a median income of $23,793 versus $18,823 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,445. About 17.00% of families and 24.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over. ==Politics== {{PresHead|place=Hardee County, Florida|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=212|title=Our Campaigns|access-date=June 22, 2025}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|264|795|106|Florida}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,087|826|66|Florida}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|566|2,485|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|844|2,142|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|694|2,559|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|708|2,156|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|689|1,871|297|Florida}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,802|2,069|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,589|1,890|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,960|1,741|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,321|1,908|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,278|703|2,529|Florida}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,563|647|3|Florida}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,189|2,670|248|Florida}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,603|2,599|130|Florida}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,962|1,536|0|Florida}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,640|1,688|108|Florida}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,900|2,018|1,515|Florida}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,928|2,417|861|Florida}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,765|2,342|129|Florida}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,049|2,149|51|Florida}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,763|2,568|111|Florida}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,696|2,463|85|Florida}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,242|2,149|254|Florida}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,122|2,298|82|Florida}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,336|1,751|73|Florida}} {{PresFoot}}

==Libraries== Hardee County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative which serves Hardee County and some of the surrounding counties, including Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, and DeSoto. The seven-branch library system has one branch in Wauchula. Hardee County Public Library and the Heartland Library Cooperative are also members of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Membership – Tampa Bay Library Consortium |url=https://tblc.org/membership-2 |access-date=April 29, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419124451/https://tblc.org/membership-2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Hardee County Public Library was established in the mid-1980s after a group of residents expressed concern that the current small local library was not enough for the growing county. In September 1984 the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Resolution 84-21 that allowed the creation of the Hardee County Public Library. Later in 1997, the Board of County Commissioners signed an inter-local agreement to become a member of the Heartland Library Cooperative. Becoming a member of the Heartland Library Cooperative allows the library more resources and materials for its members. In the summer of 2004, the library building was severely damaged by Hurricane Charley and managed to keep its doors open for a couple of years before ultimately closing in 2006 for much-needed repairs. The library reopened its doors in January 2007. The library went from 5,800 square feet in 1984 to 15,680 square feet in 2007. It circulates an average of 71,251 items per year to 27,652 residents.<ref>''Hardee county public library—Hardee county (Fl) public library''. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2022, from https://librarytechnology.org/library/5233</ref><ref>Lang, P. J. (2009). ''History of the Hardee County Public Library''. https://www.hardeecountyfl.gov/_uploaded_files/library-history.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128044249/https://www.hardeecountyfl.gov/_uploaded_files/library-history.pdf |date=January 28, 2024 }}</ref>

In addition to traditional materials and online resources, the Hardee County Public Library contains archives from the Florida Advocate<ref>{{Cite web |title=About The Florida Advocate |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn96027137/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref> and Herald-Advocate (local newspapers) on microfilm as well as Wauchula City Directories from the 1970s-to 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Resources – Heartland Library Cooperative |url=https://myhlc.org/historical-resources/ |access-date=April 29, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> A library card is free for people who reside in Hardee County and other participating counties in the Heartland Library Cooperative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting & Using a Library Card – Heartland Library Cooperative |url=https://myhlc.org/getting-using-a-library-card/ |access-date=April 29, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Wauchula crths01.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Hardee County Courthouse]]

===Cities=== * Bowling Green * Wauchula

===Town=== * Zolfo Springs

===Census-designated places=== {{div col}} * Fort Green * Fort Green Springs * Gardner * Lemon Grove * Limestone * Ona {{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities=== {{div col}} * Crewsville * Lake Dale * Oak Grove * Popash * Sweetwater Ranch * Village of Charlie Creek{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} {{div col end}}

==Transportation==

===Airports=== * Wauchula Municipal Airport

===Major highways=== {{See also|List of county roads in Hardee County, Florida}} * 25px U.S. Route 17  * 25px State Road 62 * 25px State Road 64 * 25px State Road 66 * 25px State Road 636

==Government and infrastructure== Hardee Correctional Institution is in an unincorporated area in the county.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st12_fl/county/c12049_hardee/DC20BLK_C12049.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Hardee County, FL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|page=1 (PDF p. 2/33)|date=April 13, 2021|access-date=2025-04-10|quote=Hardee Correctional Instn}}</ref>

==Education== The Hardee County School District is the sole school district of the county.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st12_fl/schooldistrict_maps/c12049_hardee/DC20SD_C12049.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hardee County, FL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|date=December 23, 2020|access-date=2025-04-10}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st12_fl/schooldistrict_maps/c12049_hardee/DC20SD_C12049_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Its education system consists of nine schools that serve approximately 5,300 students. The district has five elementary schools, one junior high school, one high school, one alternative school, and one adult/community school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A History of Educational Excellence, Tradition & Pride |url=https://www.hardee.k12.fl.us/page/about-hardee-county |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Hardee County Public Schools}}</ref>

Hardee High School and Hardee Junior High are situated in Wauchula, while the preschools and elementary schools are located in Bowling Green, Hilltop, North Wauchula, Wauchula, and Zolfo Springs.

The District is diverse, with a minority enrollment of 70%, 47.9% of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview of Hardee School District |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/florida/districts/hardee-104714#:~:text=Hardee%20School%20District%20contains%2012%20schools%20and%204%2C939%20students |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=U.S. News World Report}}</ref> The high school graduation rate in the county (91%) is above the state average of 87.3%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hardee County Enrollment vs. Graduation Rate |url=https://data.tallahassee.com/school/adjusted-graduation-rate/hardee/ |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Tallahassee Democrat}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2023 |title=Florida's High School Cohort 2021-22 Graduation Rate |url=https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7584/urlt/GradRates2122.pdf |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Florida Department of Education}}</ref>

South Florida State College is a public college serving Hardee, Highlands and DeSoto Counties. Its Hardee campus is in Bowling Green.

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== <references />

==External links== {{commons category}}

===Government links/constitutional offices=== * [https://www.hardeecountyfl.gov/ Hardee County Board of County Commissioners] official website * [https://www.hardeecountyelections.com/ Hardee County Supervisor of Elections] * [https://www.qpublic.net/hardee Hardee County Property Appraiser] * [https://www.hardeeso.com/ Hardee County Sheriff's Office] * [https://www.hardeecountytaxcollector.com Hardee County Tax Collector]

====Special districts==== * [https://www.hardee.k12.fl.us/ Hardee County Public Schools] * [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us Southwest Florida Water Management District] * [https://www.myhlc.org Heartland Library Cooperative]

====Judicial branch==== * [https://www.hardeeclerk.com/ Hardee County Clerk of Courts] (Official Site) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041204081304/http://www.jud10.org/pd.htm Public Defender, 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida] serving Hardee, Highlands, and Polk counties * [http://www.fpaa.state.fl.us/Circuit/%5C%5Cjud10.flcourts.org/sa.htm Office of the State Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041212092900/http://jud10.org/ Circuit and County Court for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida]

===Museum and library resources=== * [http://myhlc.org/find-a-library/hardee/ ''Heartland Library Cooperative''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125073859/http://myhlc.org/find-a-library/hardee/ |date=January 25, 2014 }}. Hardee County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative * [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028302 ''The Herald-Advocate''], the local newspaper for Hardee County, Florida fully and openly available in the [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/FDNL1 Florida Digital Newspaper Library]

===Other resources=== * [http://www.floridadisaster.org/eoc/eoc_Activations/Charley04/Pictures/Hardee/ Photos of Damage from Hurricane Charley at FloridaDisaster.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007191442/https://www.floridadisaster.org/eoc/eoc_Activations/Charley04/Pictures/Hardee/ |date=October 7, 2023 }}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Hardee County, Florida |North = Polk County |Northeast = |East = Highlands County |Southeast = |South = DeSoto County |Southwest = |West = Manatee County |Northwest = Hillsborough County }} {{Hardee County, Florida}} {{Geography of Florida}}

{{coord|27.49|-81.81|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-FL_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Hardee County, Florida Category:Florida counties Category:1921 establishments in Florida Category:Populated places established in 1921 Category:Micropolitan statistical areas of Florida