LaBelle, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids LaBelle, Florida
City
Old Hendry County Courthouse
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Belle of the Caloosahatchee
Motto(s):  "The City Under the Oaks"
Location in Hendry County and the state of Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hendry
Incorporated	1925
Area
• Total	14.59 sq mi (37.78 km2)
• Land	14.49 sq mi (37.52 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,966
• Density	342.79/sq mi (132.35/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	33935, 33975
Area code(s)	863
FIPS code	12-37225
GNIS feature ID	0285188

LaBelle is a city in and the county seat of Hendry County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2020 census, up from 4,640 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Clewiston, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA).

It was named for Laura June Hendry and Carrie Belle Hendry, daughters of pioneer cattleman Francis Asbury Hendry.

LaBelle hosts the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival, which is held in honor of the Florida state tree during the last full weekend of February.

History

LaBelle began as a settlement on the Caloosahatchee River around the time of Hamilton Disston's efforts to drain the Everglades with the hope of promoting growth. The settlement, which lay on the western edge of Captain Francis A. Hendry's large Monroe County property, was initially populated with cattle drovers and trappers.

By 1891, LaBelle had constructed its first school on the ground of what would become the white-columned LaBelle School, built in 1915. By 1921, LaBelle school was one of 18 accredited schools in Florida. The campus is now Edward A. Upthegrove Elementary School, named after one of LaBelle's original two families.

In 1909, Captain Hendry subdivided his land from the Lee County courthouse to be sold. The majority landholding stake was bought by Edgar Everett (E. E.) Goodno, which increased LaBelle to almost twenty times its original size. In May 1924, Henry Ford acquired 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) in LaBelle from E. E. Goodno. Ford had made a loan of $166,986.46 to Goodno in 1922, securing the loan with Goodno's property. Two years later, Ford cancelled Goodno's debt and mortgage, gave him $63,000, and took the 7,000 acre deed from Goodno. Goodno stayed to manage the property, raising Poll Angus cattle, Brahman cattle, and Angora goats.

LaBelle's first church, a Methodist congregation, was established in 1891 and soon absorbed an older Methodist Church in nearby Fort Denaud. In 1912, LaBelle also had a Baptist church, among other denominations, with mass baptisms in the Caloosahatchee River.

LaBelle became the county seat of Hendry County in 1923. In 1925, the Florida Legislature chartered the City of LaBelle, which replaced the Town of LaBelle. D. A. Mitchell was named the first mayor.

In 1929, with part of LaBelle residing in Glades County and the majority in Hendry, the government of Glades County proposed resolving a bond dispute with the Hendry County government by surrendering all parts of LaBelle in Glades County. In an approved public referendum, the proposal was put forth and the portion of LaBelle in Glades was surrendered. Eight years later, the surrendered part of North LaBelle voted to annex itself back into Hendry County, as residents felt that the Glades County government in Moore Haven was ignoring them. The vote succeeded and what was previously North LaBelle was united back with the city of LaBelle.

Geography

LaBelle is located in northwestern Hendry County, on the south side of the Caloosahatchee River.

Florida State Road 80 passes through the center of LaBelle, leading east 31 miles (50 km) to Clewiston and west 30 miles (48 km) to Fort Myers. Florida State Road 29 crosses SR 80 in the center of LaBelle and leads northeast 15 miles (24 km) to Palmdale and south 24 miles (39 km) to Immokalee.

According to the United States Census Bureau, LaBelle has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.4 km²), of which 15.5 square miles (40.2 km²) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²), or 0.60%, are water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally warm winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, LaBelle has a humid subtropical climate, bordering on a tropical savanna climate, abbreviated "Cfa"/“Aw” on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 and 2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,966 people, 1,484 households, and 1,036 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,640 people, 1,679 households, and 1,203 families residing in the city.

Arts and culture

The city of LaBelle holds an annual festival celebrating the state tree, the cabbage palm. The festival includes activities throughout the town including a 5K walk/run, beauty pageant and rodeo among others, with the peak of celebration at LaBelle's Barron Park.

Education

LaBelle's education system is made up of four elementary schools (LaBelle Elementary, Country Oaks Elementary, Edward A. Upthegrove Elementary, and West Glades Elementary), one middle school (LaBelle Middle) and one high school (LaBelle High School). There also is a private school named International Christian Academy of Labelle.

Notable people

• Bill Gramática, NFL place kicker
• Martín Gramática, NFL place kicker
• Mary Hayes Davis, publisher of The Hendry County News, Secretary of Chamber of Commerce, and owner of LaBelle Theatre during 1920s

See also

In Spanish: LaBelle (Florida) para niños