LaBelle, Florida
LaBelle, Florida | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: The Belle of the Caloosahatchee | |
| Motto: "The City Under the Oaks" | |
 Location inHendry Countyand the state ofFlorida | |
| Coordinates:26°45′38″N81°26′21″W/ 26.76056°N 81.43917°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Hendry |
| Incorporated | 1925 |
| Government | |
| •Mayor | Julie C. Wilkins |
| •Commissioners | Hugo Vargas, Jackie Ratica, Daniel W. Akin, and Bobbie Spratt |
| •City Clerk | Jessi Zubaty |
| 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 | 863 |
| FIPS code | 12-37225[2] |
| GNISfeature ID | 0285188[3] |
| Website | www |
LaBelleis a city in and thecounty seatofHendry County, Florida,United States.[4]The population was 4,966 at the2020 census,up from 4,640 at the 2010 census. It is part of theClewiston, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA).
It was named for Laura June Hendry and Carrie Belle Hendry, daughters of pioneer cattlemanFrancis Asbury Hendry.[5]
LaBelle hosts the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival, which is held in honor of theFlorida state treeduring the last full weekend of February.
History
[edit]LaBelle began as a settlement on theCaloosahatchee Riveraround the time ofHamilton Disston's efforts to drain theEvergladeswith the hope of promoting growth. The settlement, which lay on the western edge of CaptainFrancis A. Hendry's largeMonroe Countyproperty, 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.[5]
In 1909, Captain Hendry subdivided his land from theLee Countycourthouse to be sold.[5]The majority landholding stake was bought by Edgar Everett (E. E.) Goodno,[6]which increased LaBelle to almost twenty times its original size.[7]In May 1924,Henry Fordacquired 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.[8]
LaBelle's first church, aMethodistcongregation, was established in 1891 and soon absorbed an older Methodist Church in nearbyFort Denaud.In 1912, LaBelle also had a Baptist church, among other denominations, with mass baptisms in the Caloosahatchee River.[5]
LaBelle became the county seat of Hendry County in 1923.[5]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 inGlades Countyand 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 inMoore Havenwas ignoring them. The vote succeeded and what was previously North LaBelle was united back with the city of LaBelle.[5]
Geography
[edit]LaBelle is located in northwestern Hendry County, on the south side of theCaloosahatchee River.
Florida State Road 80passes through the center of LaBelle, leading east 31 miles (50 km) toClewistonand west 30 miles (48 km) toFort Myers.Florida State Road 29crosses SR 80 in the center of LaBelle and leads northeast 15 miles (24 km) toPalmdaleand south 24 miles (39 km) toImmokalee.
According to theUnited 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
[edit]The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally warm winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, LaBelle has ahumid subtropical climate,bordering on atropical savanna climate,abbreviated "Cfa" / “Aw” on climate maps.[9]
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 377 | — | |
| 1930 | 397 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 837 | 110.8% | |
| 1950 | 945 | 12.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,262 | 33.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,823 | 44.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,287 | 25.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,703 | 18.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,210 | 55.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,640 | 10.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,966 | 7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
2010 and 2020 census
[edit]| Race | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White(NH) | 2,034 | 1,730 | 43.84% | 34.84% |
| Black or African American(NH) | 359 | 328 | 7.74% | 6.60% |
| Native AmericanorAlaska Native(NH) | 9 | 15 | 0.19% | 0.30% |
| Asian(NH) | 28 | 24 | 0.60% | 0.48% |
| Pacific IslanderorNative Hawaiian(NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Some other race(NH) | 7 | 17 | 0.15% | 0.34% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial(NH) | 22 | 71 | 0.47% | 1.43% |
| Hispanic or Latino(any race) | 2,181 | 2,780 | 47.00% | 55.98% |
| Total | 4,640 | 4,966 |
As of the2020 United States census,there were 4,966 people, 1,484 households, and 1,036 families residing in the city.[13]
As of the2010 United States census,there were 4,640 people, 1,679 households, and 1,203 families residing in the city.[14]
2000 census
[edit]As of thecensus[2]of 2000, there were 4,210 people, 1,440 households, and 995 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,214.0 inhabitants per square mile (468.7/km2). There were 1,739 housing units at an average density of 501.4 per square mile (193.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.28%White,11.26%African American,0.62%Native American,0.33%Asian,12.47% fromother races,and 2.04% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 31.35% of the population.
In 2000, there were 1,440 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.26.
In 2000, in the city the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $31,642, and the median income for a family was $39,550. Males had a median income of $26,327 versus $21,979 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $15,652. About 12.9% of families and 18.0% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
[edit]The city of LaBelle holds an annual festival celebrating the state tree, thecabbage 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.[citation needed]
Education
[edit] |
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
[edit]- Bill Gramática,NFLplace kicker
- Martín Gramática,NFL place kicker
- Mary Hayes Davis,publisher ofThe Hendry County News,Secretary of Chamber of Commerce, and owner of LaBelle Theatre during 1920s[15]
In popular culture
[edit]- InCarl Hiaasen's novelSkinny Dip,agribusiness executive "Red" Hammernut has his offices in LaBelle, and owns significant areas of farmland inHendry County.
References
[edit]- ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 31,2021.
- ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"US Board on Geographic Names".United States Geological Survey.October 25, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^abcdef"City of LaBelle History".RetrievedJanuary 11,2017.
- ^Robb, Matthew M. 2014
- ^City of LaBelle website
- ^Smoot, Tom.The Edisons of Fort Myers: Discoveries of the Heart, p. 169.
- ^Climate Summary for LaBelle, Florida
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - LaBelle city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - LaBelle city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: LaBelle city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: LaBelle city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"Mary Hayes Davis Dies at Home Here".News-Press.May 19, 1948.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
External links
[edit]
- City of LaBelle official website
- Caloosa Belle,newspaper that serves LaBelle, available archived in full-text with images inFlorida Digital Newspaper Library
Municipalities and communities ofHendry County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Indian reservation | ||
| Unincorporated community | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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