Editing DeSoto County, Florida

{{Short description|County in Florida, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = DeSoto County
 | state               = Florida
 | seal                 = Seal of DeSoto County, Florida.png
 | seal size            = 100px
 | founded year         = 1887
 | founded date         = May 19
 | seat wl             = Arcadia
 | largest city wl     = Arcadia
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 639
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 637
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.4
 | area percentage      = 0.4%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 33976
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 35979 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = www.desotobocc.com
 | ex image             = Arcadia Hist Dist crths06.jpg
 | ex image cap         = DeSoto County Courthouse
 | district             = 18th
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Hernando de Soto]] }}
[[Image:Desoto Courthouse.jpg|thumb|right|235px|[[DeSoto County Courthouse (Florida)|DeSoto County Courthouse]]]]

'''DeSoto County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[Florida Heartland]] region of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 33,976.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12027.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 12, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607003612/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12027.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Arcadia, Florida|Arcadia]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> DeSoto County comprises the Arcadia, Florida [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is included in the [[North Port, Florida|North Port]]-[[Bradenton, Florida]] [[Sarasota metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, what is now DeSoto County was within the territory of the Native American [[Calusa]] tribe.

In 1513, Ponce De Leon sailed into present-day Charlotte Harbor near the mouth of the Peace River to put in for repairs and maintenance on his ships. While there the Spanish encountered Calusa and soon after an argument broke out and several died on both sides. Then the Spanish kidnapped several Calusa and departed Charlotte Harbor and sailed S.W. away from the west coast of Florida. This occurred within the original boundaries of DeSoto County.

In 1521, Ponce De Leon attempted to establish a colony at or near Charlotte Harbor but again was turned away by the Calusa who wounded him. Shortly after, he died and was buried in Puerto Rico.

In 1528 the Spanish Conquistadors Panfilo De Narvaez and Cabeza De Vaca came to present-day Arcadia where they captured several Calusa Indians who told them of great quantities of gold located to the north and offered to guide them there.

In 1539 the Spanish Explorer Hernando DeSoto, for whom the county is named, anchored in Charlotte Harbor and set about to explore the region with mixed results. Eventually, he made his way up the coast to present-day Manatee County and went inland from there.

While Florida was claimed by Spain the moment it was discovered, the territory of La Florida was not formalized until 1565 with the founding of St. Augustine. At that point, what is now DeSoto County became part of La Florida. In 1763, the region became part of East Florida under British Rule. In 1783, East Florida was returned to Spain at which point today's DeSoto county was once again Spanish territory. In 1821 it became U.S. Territory.

In 1841 Camp Ogden, later Fort Ogden was built as a staging area for the U.S. Army during the 2nd Seminole War, in the southwestern part of present-day DeSoto County.

In 1870, the Joshua Creek Church and neighboring cemetery was founded.

In the 1870s John W. Whidden, a Confederate veteran and former Manatee county clerk, settled along the Joshua Creek where he founded a cattle ranch raising thousands of head of cattle. Also in the 1870s, Union veteran Robert C. Hendry took up cattle ranching on the Joshua Creek in the now-defunct settlement of Davidson.

In 1876 the Fort Ogden Post Office was founded and remains the oldest post office in the county.

DeSoto County was created in 1887 from [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]]. It was named for [[Spain|Spanish]] [[List of explorers|explorer]] [[Hernando de Soto (explorer)|Hernando de Soto]], whose name was also honored in [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando County]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Publications of the Florida Historical Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA31|year=1908|publisher=Florida Historical Society|page=31}}</ref>

DeSoto County originally included several other present-day counties until 1921, when the Florida legislature created the following new counties: [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte]], [[Glades County, Florida|Glades]], [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee]], and [[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands]].<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 5, 2023}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], DeSoto County operated the Carlstrom Field Air Base, which provided training for both American and British pilots. Twenty-three British pilots were killed while training at the base and are honored at DeSoto County's Oak Ridge Cemetery, which is located in the town of Arcadia. In 1945, the base turned out its last cadets and was decommissioned. The base was then sold to the State of Florida for one dollar and later converted into a mental health facility known as G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital. The hospital has since been converted into a facility for juvenile offenders. The facility was closed and is now up for sale.

On August 13, 2004, [[Hurricane Charley]] passed directly through DeSoto County. [[Hurricane]]-force winds persisted for an hour, damaging most of the structures in the county and causing some to be completely destroyed.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|639|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|637|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.4|sqmi}} (0.4%) 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> The highest elevation in DeSoto County is 96 feet and is located right on the border between DeSoto County and Highlands County and is about three miles south of the border with Hardee County. The lowest elevation in DeSoto County is sea level and is located in the Peace River near its mouth.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Hardee County, Florida]] - north
* [[Highlands County, Florida]] - east
* [[Glades County, Florida]] - southeast
* [[Charlotte County, Florida]] - south
* [[Sarasota County, Florida]] - west
* [[Manatee County, Florida]] - northwest

=== Lakes ===
The largest body of water in DeSoto County not including the Peace River is a man made reservoir located within the RV Griffin Reserve and is not open to the public.
The largest natural lake in DeSoto County is Sour Orange lake and is located at 27°07'23.2"N 81°39'07.0"W
Lake Operation is located at 27°06'56.0"N 81°39'43.0"W
Split Lake is located at 27°10'33.5"N 81°37'18.7"W
Besides the Peace River, and the three above bodies of water, there are few other natural bodies of water of note, mostly small ponds and most are not named. There are about as many man made retention ponds in DeSoto County.

=== Rivers ===
* [[Peace River (Florida)|Peace River]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 4944
|1900= 8047
|1910= 14200
|1920= 25434
|1930= 7745
|1940= 7792
|1950= 9242
|1960= 11683
|1970= 13060
|1980= 19039
|1990= 23865
|2000= 32209
|2010= 34862
|estyear=2023
|estimate=35979
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|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 13, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 13, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</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 13, 2014}}</ref><br />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 13, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name="QF" />
|2020=33976}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''DeSoto County racial composition as of 2020'''<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|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 can be of any race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/en.html|title=Census.gov|website=Census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12027&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12027&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|19,549
|18,624
|56.08%
|54.82%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|4,338
|4,203
|12.44%
|12.37%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|62
|80
|0.18%
|0.24%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|169
|189
|0.48%
|0.56%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|4
|8
|0.01%
|0.02%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|29
|80
|0.08%
|0.24%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|286
|781
|0.82%
|2.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|10,425
|10,011
|29.9%
|29.46%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''34,862'''
|'''33,976'''
|
|
|}
[[File:2023_Racial_Demographics_in_DeSoto_County_by_Census_tract.svg|thumb|A map of racial demographics in DeSoto County by Census tract{{Collapsible list
| title = Legend|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

'''Non-Hispanic White'''
{{legend|#f1b4b2|40–50%}}
{{legend|#ed8783|50–60%}}
{{legend|#e55651|60–70%}}
{{legend|#b00600|80–90%}}
{{legend|#850400|>90%}}

'''Hispanic'''
{{legend|#81d0d0|50–60%}}

{{col-end}}
}}]]
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 33,976 people, 12,421 households, and 8,306 families residing in the county.

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 32,209 people, 10,746 households, and 7,672 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|50|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 13,608 housing units at an average density of {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.33% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 12.72% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.59% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 10.49% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.43% from two or more races. 24.90% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.
2005 estimates showed the population as being 56.3% non-Hispanic white, 31.4% Latino, 11.8% African-American and 2.9% Native American. (Source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607003612/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12027.html WebCite query result]

In 2000 there were 10,746 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,714, and the median income for a family was $34,726. Males had a median income of $22,572 versus $20,004 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,000. About 14.20% of families and 23.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==

DeSoto is a heavily [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county. It has not been won by a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential candidate since 1976. In 2024, Republican [[Donald Trump]] carried the county with the highest percentage since [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]'s 1972 landslide, mirroring the Republican trends seen across the rest of the state of Florida since 2020.

===Voter registration===
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in DeSoto County.
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | DeSoto County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of March 31, 2022:<ref>{{cite web|date=April 20, 2022|title=Sarasota County, FL : Supervisor of Elections|url=https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reports/voter-registration-by-county-and-party/|access-date=April 20, 2022|website=Sarasota County, FL : Supervisor of Elections|agency=SOE Software Corporation}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Political Party
! Total Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 7,317
| align = center | 40.72%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 6,144
| align = center | 34.19%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| No Party Affiliation
| align = center | 4,337
| align = center | 24.14%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Minor Parties 
| align = center | 170
| align = center | 0.95%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 17,968
! align = center | 100%
|}

===Statewide elections===
{{PresHead|place=DeSoto County, Florida|whig=no|source1=<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 14, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,888|3,525|112|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,313|4,259|104|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,778|3,781|344|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,587|4,174|126|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,632|4,383|149|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,524|3,913|73|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,256|3,321|235|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,275|3,222|995|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,070|2,646|1,713|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,243|2,181|40|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,822|2,304|3|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,356|2,713|216|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,000|2,715|107|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,958|852|3|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,103|937|2,054|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,986|1,777|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,687|1,680|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,234|1,315|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,256|1,792|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|569|1,157|356|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|543|1,722|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|526|1,888|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|560|1,594|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|506|1,624|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,382|748|28|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|230|641|44|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,077|2,496|271|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|385|1,755|436|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|110|847|302|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|244|992|201|Florida}}
{{PresFoot|1904|Democratic|188|721|107|Florida}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ Previous gubernatorial elections results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2022|2022]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''76.28%''' ''6,637''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|23.25% ''2,023''
|align="center" |0.47% ''41''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2018|2018]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''63.61%''' ''5,663''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|34.36% ''3,059''
|align="center" |2.03% ''180''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2014|2014]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''49.00%''' ''3,681''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.85% ''3,294''
|align="center" |7.15% ''537''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2010|2010]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''53.10%''' ''3,667''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.80% ''2,887''
|align="center" |5.10% ''352''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2006|2006]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''57.41%''' ''3,785''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.48% ''2,603''
|align="center" |3.11% ''205''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2002|2002]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.47%''' ''3,951''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|44.28% ''3,212''
|align="center" |1.25% ''91''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 1998|1998]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''61.67%''' ''3,711''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.15% ''2,296''
|align="center" |0.18% ''11 ''      
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 1994|1994]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.40%''' ''3,407''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|45.60% ''2,856''
|align="center" |     
|}
{{clear}}

==Library==
DeSoto County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative which serves DeSoto County and some of the surrounding counties, including [[Glades County, Florida|Glades]], [[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands]], [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee]], and [[Okeechobee County, Florida|Okeechobee]]. The seven-branch library system has one branch in Arcadia.

==Local media==

===Newspaper===
The Charlotte Sun produces a section dedicated to Desoto County called [http://www.yoursun.net/csp/mediapool/sites/SunNews/DeSoto/index.csp The Arcadian]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310094803/http://yoursun.net/csp/mediapool/sites/SunNews/DeSoto/index.csp |date=March 10, 2015 }} Locally, the section is offered as a standalone for residential delivery.

===Television===
Desoto County is part of the [[Template:Ft. Myers TV|Fort Myers/Naples]] [[Designated market area|DMA]]. Almost all stations from [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]] and [[Naples, Florida|Naples]] are receivable within the county, as well as some stations from the [[Template:Tampa Bay TV|Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota]] [[Designated market area|DMA]]. There was formerly a low-power television station, [[WALM-LD]] on channel 34; however, the station's license was cancelled by the FCC on September 21, 2020.

===Radio===
DeSoto County has two radio stations licensed to locations within the county:

* [[WCXS]] (1480 AM Classic Country)
* [[WZSP]] (105.3 FM La Zeta - Mexican)

==Communities==
[[File:Hernando de Soto 1881.jpg|thumb|Spanish explorer [[Hernando de Soto]]]]

===City===
* [[Arcadia, Florida|Arcadia]]

===Census-designated place===
* [[Southeast Arcadia, Florida|Southeast Arcadia]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Brownville, Florida|Brownville]]
* [[Fort Ogden, Florida|Fort Ogden]]
* [[Hidden Acres, DeSoto County, Florida|Hidden Acres]]
* [[Hull, Florida|Hull]]
* [[Lake Suzy, Florida|Lake Suzy]]
* [[Nocatee, DeSoto County, Florida|Nocatee]]

===Ghost town===
* [[Liverpool, Florida|Liverpool]]
* [[Pine Level, DeSoto County, Florida|Pine Level]]

==Transportation==

===Airports===
[[Arcadia Municipal Airport]] is the only public-use airport in DeSoto County.

===Major highways===
{{See also|List of county roads in DeSoto County, Florida}}
* [[Image:I-75.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 75 in Florida|Interstate 75]] runs only a short section in the very southwestern tip of the county and has no major junctions within the county.
* [[Image:US 17.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 17 in Florida|U.S. Route 17]] <!--is the main accessible south-to-north road within the county. It enters Southfort from Charlotte County,  and runs southwest to northeast through Fort Ogden, Nocatee, and Arcadia, where it becomes a one-way pair along Brevard Boulevard (northbound) and DeSoto Avenue and Palmetto Street (southbound). The one-way pair ends north of Fiveash Street and the route continues through Cubitis until it finally crosses the DeSoto-Hardee County Line in Buchanan.-->
* [[Image:Florida 31.svg|25px]] [[Florida State Road 31|State Road 31]]
* [[Image:Florida 70.svg|25px]] [[Florida State Road 70|State Road 70]]
* [[Image:Florida 72.svg|25px]] [[Florida State Road 72|State Road 72]]

==See also==
* [[Florida Heartland]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in DeSoto County, Florida]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

===Government links/Constitutional offices===
<div class="plainlinks">
* [http://www.desotobocc.com/ DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners] official website
* [http://www.votedesoto.com/ DeSoto County Supervisor of Elections]
* [http://www.desotopa.com/ DeSoto County Property Appraiser]
* [http://www.desotosheriff.com/ DeSoto County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.desotocountytaxcollector.com/ DeSoto County Tax Collector]
* [http://www.teamdesoto.com/ DeSoto County Economic Development Office]
</div>

====Special districts====
<div class="plainlinks">
* [http://www.desotoschools.com/ DeSoto County Public Schools]
* [http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us Southwest Florida Water Management District]
* [http://www.myhlc.org Heartland Library Cooperative]
</div>

====Judicial branch====
<div class="plainlinks">
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041211095736/http://sao.co.sarasota.fl.us/  Office of the State Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida] serving DeSoto, [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee]], and [[Sarasota County|Sarasota]] counties
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041202232053/http://12circuit.state.fl.us/  Circuit and County Court for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida]
</div>

===Tourism links===
<div class="plainlinks">
* [http://www.desotocountychamber.com/ DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.visitdesoto.com/ DeSoto County Tourism Development Council]
</div>

===Media===
<div class="plainlinks">
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081210201229/http://www.wfln1480.com/  WFLM-AM (1480 WFLN Newsradio)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070404040540/http://www.bull.fm/  WZZS-FM (106.9 The Bull)]
* [http://www.lazeta.fm WZSP-FM (105.3 La Zeta)]
* [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00054175 ''DeSoto County News''] and [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00079901 ''The Arcadian''] historical newspapers for DeSoto County are openly accessible in the [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/fdnl1 Florida Digital Newspaper Library]
</div>

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = DeSoto County, Florida
|North     = [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands County]]
|Southeast = [[Glades County, Florida|Glades County]]
|South     = [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]]
|Northwest = [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]]
}}
{{DeSoto County, Florida}}
{{Geography of Florida}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|27.19|-81.81|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-FL_source:UScensus1990}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desoto County, Florida}}
[[Category:DeSoto County, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]
[[Category:Florida counties]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Florida]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Florida]]