kids encyclopedia robot

Glades County, Florida facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Glades County
Glades County Courthouse
Glades County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Glades County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Florida
Founded April 23, 1921
Named for Florida Everglades
Seat Moore Haven
Largest city Moore Haven
Area
 • Total 987 sq mi (2,560 km2)
 • Land 806 sq mi (2,090 km2)
 • Water 181 sq mi (470 km2)  18.3%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 12,126
 • Density 16/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 17th

Glades County is a county located in the Florida Heartland region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, about 12,126 people live here. This makes it the fourth-least populated county in Florida. Its main town, called the county seat, is Moore Haven.

Glades County is part of the Clewiston micropolitan area. This is a smaller city area that also includes Hendry County. These two counties, along with the larger Cape Coral-Fort Myers-Naples area, form a bigger connected region.

Awards and Recognition

Glades County and its communities have received special awards.

Muse: Florida's Outstanding Rural Community

In 2002, the community of Muse won the "Florida's Outstanding Rural Community of the Year" award. Governor Jeb Bush recognized Muse for providing a safe shelter during storms. This helped keep people safe when bad weather hit.

Muse: Firewise Service Award

The community of Muse also received a "10 Year Firewise Service Award." This award was given by the Florida Forest Service. It recognized Muse's hard work in preventing wildfires. The community worked together to clear away plants that could easily catch fire. This helped protect their homes and the area from dangerous wildfires.

History of Glades County

The land that is now Glades County has a long and interesting history.

Early People and New Arrivals

For thousands of years, Indigenous people lived in this area. When Europeans arrived, many native tribes became smaller due to fighting and new diseases. In the 1700s, during Spanish rule, Native American groups like the Creek moved into Florida from Georgia.

Also, Africans and African Americans who escaped slavery found safety here. They created free communities called maroon communities. Some were even given freedom by the Spanish if they helped in their armies. Over time, these different groups came together to form the Seminole nation. Some people of African descent lived near the Seminoles and were known as Black Seminole.

Seminole Wars and County Creation

In the 1800s, there were conflicts called the Seminole Wars. Many Seminole and Black Seminole people were forced to move to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). This happened because more Anglo-American settlers wanted to live in Florida.

Glades County was officially created in 1921. It was formed from parts of Desoto County. The county was named after the Florida Everglades. However, most of Glades County is actually open prairie and pine forests, not swampy Everglades.

Lake Okeechobee and Local Traditions

Glades County is one of five counties around Lake Okeechobee. This large lake is a central part of the region. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail also runs through the area.

Glades County hosts one of Florida's oldest yearly festivals, called Chalo Nitka. This festival celebrates local history and culture. It also highlights the long and friendly relationship between the local Seminole groups and the settlers of Glades County. The Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation is located within the county.

Geography and Climate

Glades County covers a total area of about 987 square miles. About 806 square miles of this is land, and 181 square miles (18.3%) is water.

Fisheating Creek

Fisheating Creek is an important stream that flows into Lake Okeechobee. It is the only natural river that still flows freely into the lake. It is also the second-largest natural water source for the lake.

Nearby Counties

Glades County shares borders with several other counties:

County Climate

Glades County has a warm climate. Here's a quick look at the average temperatures and rainfall:

Climate data for Glades County, Florida (1980-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 73.7
(23.2)
76.3
(24.6)
80.0
(26.7)
84.1
(28.9)
89.3
(31.8)
91.1
(32.8)
91.8
(33.2)
91.8
(33.2)
90.1
(32.3)
86.1
(30.1)
80.2
(26.8)
75.1
(23.9)
84.1
(29.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 47.8
(8.8)
50.9
(10.5)
54.6
(12.6)
58.0
(14.4)
64.6
(18.1)
70.2
(21.2)
71.8
(22.1)
72.4
(22.4)
71.4
(21.9)
65.2
(18.4)
57.3
(14.1)
51.1
(10.6)
61.3
(16.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.9
(48)
2.5
(64)
3.3
(84)
2.3
(58)
3.3
(84)
8.6
(220)
7.7
(200)
7.9
(200)
6.7
(170)
2.7
(69)
2.0
(51)
1.9
(48)
50.8
(1,296)
Source: USA.com


People of Glades County

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 2,762
1940 2,745 −0.6%
1950 2,199 −19.9%
1960 2,950 34.2%
1970 3,669 24.4%
1980 5,992 63.3%
1990 7,591 26.7%
2000 10,576 39.3%
2010 12,884 21.8%
2020 12,126 −5.9%
2023 (est.) 12,786 −0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,126 people living in Glades County. These people lived in 4,859 households, with 3,247 of them being families.

In 2020, the racial makeup of the county was:

In 2000, about 22.1% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 40 years. This means half the people were older than 40 and half were younger.

Education in Glades County

Students in Glades County attend several schools:

Energy and Environment

In 2007, there were plans to build a large coal-fired power plant in Glades County. This plant would have been located near Lake Okeechobee. However, the Florida Public Service Commission decided not to allow it to be built.

The Glades County Commission also approved the building of a 200-acre landfill in 2007. This landfill is located on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee.

Libraries

Glades County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative. This group of libraries serves Glades County and nearby counties like Okeechobee, Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto. The only library branch located in Glades County is the Moore Haven branch.

Communities in Glades County

Glades County has several different types of communities.

Indian Reservation

County Seat

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.

Other Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.

Memorials

The Community Center in Glades County has a special memorial. It honors Jim J. Greer, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He served as the Glades County Tax Collector from 1994 to 2000. The memorial recognizes his excellent service to the communities of Muse and Glades County.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Glades para niños

kids search engine
Glades County, Florida Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.