Glades County, Florida

Glades County is a county located in the Florida Heartland region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,126, making it the fourth-least populous county in Florida. Its county seat is Moore Haven.

Glades County is in the Clewiston micropolitan area, a Micropolitan statistical area (μSA) which also includes Hendry County. These two counties, along with the Cape Coral-Fort Myers (Lee County) MSA and the Naples-Marco Island (Collier County) MSA, constitute the Cape Coral-Fort Myers-Naples Combined Statistical Area (CSA).

Awards

 * Gov. Jeb Bush acknowledged Muse winning the Florida's Outstanding Rural Community of the Year 2002 award after "providing a safe community shelter to be used during storms."
 * Senior Ranger Danny Callahan, of the Florida Forest Service presented Jimmy Cianfrani and the Muse Community with a "10 Year Firewise Service Award" for "its diligence and commitment to the National Firewise Communities USA program. From the smallest project of cleaning the debris off their roofs to the largest undertaking of clearing flammable vegetation 30 feet away from their houses, the Muse Community’s dedication to reducing wildfire risk is commendable."

History
Indigenous people lived in this area for thousands of years. Due to warfare and exposure to infectious diseases after European contact, native tribes became depopulated. In the eighteenth century, when the area was under Spanish rule, Native American peoples of Creek and other tribes migrated into present-day Florida from Georgia. Africans and African Americans who escaped from slavery and shipwrecks also migrated to the area, where they created maroon communities. Some were given freedom by the Spanish in exchange for serving with their militias. Gradually the Seminole nation formed out of these multi-ethnic people. Some African-descended people set up communities near the Seminole and became known as Black Seminole. In the nineteenth century, most of the Seminole and many blacks were removed to Indian Territory after the Seminole Wars, a result of pressure from increasing Anglo-American settlement.

Glades County was created, in 1921, from Desoto County. It was named for the Florida Everglades, though most of the county is prairie and pinelands.

It is one of five counties surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail.

Glades County sponsors one of Florida's oldest recurring festivals. Chalo Nitka Festival is a celebration of local history and culture, similar to a county fair. The festival also draws attention to the long and friendly relationship between the local Seminole groups and Glades County settlers. Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation is located in the county.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 987 sqmi, of which 806 sqmi is land and 181 sqmi (18.3%) is water.

Fisheating Creek is a stream that flows into Lake Okeechobee in Florida. It is the only remaining free-flowing watercourse feeding into the lake and the second-largest natural source for the lake.

Glades was added to the Clewiston micropolitan area (μSA) in July 2023.

Adjacent counties

 * Highlands County, Florida - north
 * Okeechobee County, Florida - northeast
 * Martin County, Florida - east
 * Palm Beach County, Florida - southeast
 * Hendry County, Florida - south
 * Lee County, Florida - southwest
 * Charlotte County, Florida - west
 * DeSoto County, Florida - northwest

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,126 people, 4,859 households, and 3,247 families residing in the county.

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,576 people, 3,852 households, and 2,765 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 /mi2. There were 5,790 housing units at an average density of 8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 76.99% White, 10.53% Black or African American, 4.93% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.63% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 15.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2005 the population was 67.0% non-Hispanic white, 17.6% Latino, 10.5% African-American and 4.9% Native American.

There were 3,852 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 22.70% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,774, and the median income for a family was $34,223. Males had a median income of $29,196 versus $20,987 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,338. About 10.70% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.20% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

 * Moore Haven Elementary School
 * Moore Haven Middle-High School
 * West Glades School, Muse
 * Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School, Brighton Seminole Reservation

Voter registration
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a majority of registered voters in Glades County.

Energy and environment
Florida Public Service Commission voted unanimously to deny a request by Florida Power and Light to build a huge coal-fired power plant in Glades County, that was to be located several miles to the west of Lake Okeechobee. The Glades County Commission also allowed the construction in 2007 of a 200 acre landfill on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee.

Libraries
Glades County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative which serves Glades County and some of the surrounding counties, including Okeechobee, Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto. The seven-branch library system has one branch in Moore Haven.

Indian reservation

 * Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation

County Seat

 * Moore Haven

Census-designated places

 * Buckhead Ridge
 * Port LaBelle (part)

Other unincorporated communities

 * Lakeport
 * Muse
 * Palmdale

Memorials

 * The Community Center features a veteran memorial to Jim J. Greer at the base of the flagpole. Memorial reads as follows:  In Memory of, SMSGT Jim J. Greer, USAF RET., Glades County Tax Collector, January 1994 to October 2000, For His Outstanding Service, To Muse and Glades County, The Muse Community Association, April 18, 2002. 

Government links/Constitutional offices

 * Glades County Supervisor of Elections info
 * Glades County Tax Collector info
 * Glades County Sheriff's Office Official Website

Special districts

 * Glades County School District
 * Glades Soil and Water Conservation District
 * South Florida Water Management District
 * Heartland Library Cooperative

Judicial branch

 * Glades County Clerk of Courts
 * Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties
 * Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida
 * Circuit and County Court for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida