From the record
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
47 topographic sheets cover 22 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Albert Carlton Estate | district | 1991 | 91000893 |
| Downtown Wauchula Historic District | district | 2018 | 100002568 |
Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 746 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 39 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.







































The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.
Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 760 of them, burning about 12,634 acres. 61 started naturally and 19 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 195 |
| Debris and open burning | 172 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 168 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 95 |
| Natural | 61 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 19 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 18 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 15 |
| Smoking | 10 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 5 |
| Other causes | 2 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 February 2001 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 600 acres | Florida Forest Service | DAVIS |
| 16 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 600 acres | Florida Forest Service | 25-ONA LISA FIRE-0210 |
| 19 September 2009 | Natural | 600 acres | Florida Forest Service | 53 FORT GREEN MOSAIC |
| 14 February 2009 | Recreation and ceremony | 470 acres | Florida Forest Service | 25-NOT EAST FIRE-0106 |
| 1 April 2001 | Equipment and vehicle use | 450 acres | Florida Forest Service | GET AWAY |
| 16 January 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 300 acres | Florida Forest Service | 25-VAN HALEN FIRE-0021 |
| 23 January 1992 | Equipment and vehicle use | 250 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 24 February 2009 | Debris and open burning | 250 acres | Florida Forest Service | 25-THE QUEST FIRE-#0145 |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 144 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 2 injuries and about $5,336,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 56 |
| Hail | 29 |
| Tornado | 24 |
| Flood | 17 |
| Flash Flood | 7 |
| Lightning | 6 |
| Heavy Rain | 5 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2004 | Lightning | Ft Green | 2 hurt | Two males age 38 and 45 were struck by lightning while working in an open mine along State Road 62. |
| September 2017 | Flood | Torrey | $1,640,000 | Heavy rains from Hurricane Irma caused the Peace River at Zolfo Springs to rise above flood stage on the 12th, with flooding continuing through the 24th. The water level crested at 23.85 feet on the 13th, 1.85 feet above the major flooding threshold. This marks the third highest crest in history for the Peace River at Zolfo Springs.||The waters were reported to have flooded the Little Charlie Creek RV Park near Wauchula. Flood damage to homes was estimated at $1.64 million. |
| September 2001 | Flash Flood | Gardner | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Flash Flood | Bowling Green | $350,000 | Twenty one roads were washed out and State Roads 62, 64, 70, and 72 were closed due to the flooding and flash flooding. Rainfall of 11.78 inches was recorded 4 miles northeast of Myakka Head during the past three days. |
| June 2004 | Tornado (F1) | Ft Green | $310,000 | A tornado caused moderate damage to seven homes, destroyed several buildings at CF Industries, and destroyed part of an orange grove. Much of the damage was near the intersection of State Highway 62 and Baptist Church Road, extending northeast to the intersection of Alderman and County Road 664. |
| December 1997 | Flash Flood | Wauchula | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 1974 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bowling Green | $150,000 | The Hardee County Sheriffs Department reported that thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn, downed several trees and power lines, and caused roof damage to homes from Bowling Green south to Wauchula. In Wauchula, thunderstorm winds blew in a few of the T-hanger doors at the Wauchula Municipal Airport. |
| August 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $100,000 | Hardee County Emergency Management relayed numerous reports of trees and power lines knocked down across Wauchula and Bowling Green from wind damage. The 911 call center received a total of 163 calls within a 3 hour window as a result of the storm. |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $85,000 | Thunderstorm wind gusts downed numerous trees on the south side of Wauchula. One home and one vehicle on the 500 block of South Road were damaged by falling trees. A new pharmacy under construction lost its roof. Debris was scattered in the Knollwood Circle area. |
| December 2009 | Tornado (EF0) | Vandolah | $75,000 | A narrow tornado briefly touched down 6.8 miles west of Wauchula at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation. The tornado flipped a vehicle, blew out windows in multiple vehicles, caused roof damage to two buildings, and downed trees. |
| March 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Wauchula | $75,000 | no account filed |
| June 2012 | Tornado (EF0) | Buchanan | $65,000 | Sporadic damage to orange groves along path. One barn received moderate damage and tractor damage. |
| November 1997 | Flash Flood | Ft Green Spgs | $60,000 | no account filed |
| July 2005 | Tornado (F0) | Wauchula | $50,000 | A tornado in a rain band of Hurricane Dennis destroyed a vacant wood frame home. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Zolfo Spgs | $50,000 | A local utility reported that thunderstorm winds snapped several wooden power poles eight miles east of Zolfo Springs along State Road 66. |
| January 1998 | Flood | Zolfo Spgs | $50,000 | Heavy rainfall caused the Peace River at Zolfo Springs to crest during late January. Floodwaters of the Peace River washed away the river gage and caused damage to a few homes along it's banks. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $50,000 | A roof was torn off an appliance store and numerous trees, power lines and tree limbs were blown down throughout the Wauchula area. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waucula | $50,000 | Winds tore the roof off of an appliance store causing $100,000 damage. Thunderstorm winds also downed a number of trees which did minor damage to the roofs of buildings. |
| January 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $50,000 | Strong thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees, did minor damage to parked aircraft at local airports, and blew a car off the road. |
| July 2000 | Flash Flood | Wauchula | $50,000 | no account filed |
| September 2017 | Tornado (EF1) | Wauchula | $40,000 | Roof damage and downed power poles were found in Wauchula along US Highway 17. An NWS storm survey crew had difficulty differentiating tornado damage from the surrounding hurricane damage, but given that the initial damage report was received well before the tropical storm and hurricane force winds arrived, it was determined that a brief tornado more than likely touched down. Time was estimated from radar. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Zolfo Spgs | $35,000 | Thunderstorms winds ripped the roof off of one mobile home and the debris caused minor damage to nine other homes. . |
| August 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bowling Green | $35,000 | The Hardee county emergency management reported that thunderstorm winds toppled onto its side, and damaged, a large travel trailer at a trailer park along U.S. Highway 17 in Bowling Green. Also, a few large trees and several large branches were downed by thunderstorm winds in the trailer park along U.S. Highway 17 in Bowling Green. |
| July 2003 | Lightning | Zolfo Spgs | $30,000 | Lightning struck a mobile home that was being refurbished near Zolfo Springs. The resulting fire destroyed the home and caused damage to three other mobile homes nearby. |
| November 1997 | Flood | Ona | $30,000 | Heavy rainfall of four to six inches caused localized flooding of roads and low-lying areas across mainly western portions of Hardee county. |
| November 1997 | Flood | Wauchula | $30,000 | no account filed |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula Muni Arpt | $25,000 | Hardee County emergency management reported wind damage on Doss Road. The tin roof was ripped off a pole barn, causing the structure to collapse. Additionally, a large tree was uprooted, a screened in porch was damaged, and three vehicles sustained damage from flying debris. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Green | $25,000 | The Hardee county sheriffs department reported that thunderstorm winds downed several trees on Center Hill Road in Ft. Green. |
| September 2000 | Flash Flood | Wauchula | $25,000 | no account filed |
| September 1980 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 2009 | Lightning | Wauchula Muni Arpt | $23,000 | Lightning struck a mobile home and caused a fire that comsumed most of the structure. |
| April 2022 | Tornado (EF0) | Wauchula | $20,000 | Law enforcement relayed web cam capture of small, short-lived rope tornado. Power lines reported down in the area. |
| May 2019 | Lightning | Wauchula | $20,000 | Lightning struck a tower at a Hardee County facilities complex. The strike caused damage to equipment within the facility. |
| June 2004 | Lightning | Zolfo Spgs | $20,000 | Lightning struck a barn and ignited the contents inside at Popash Road and State Road 64. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Zolfo Spgs | $20,000 | The Peace River Electric Company reported that thunderstorm winds downed several power lines and large trees over rural southwest Hardee county. |
| March 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ona | $15,000 | Hardee County Emergency Management forwarded pictures of numerous large tree branches snapped and fences knocked down near Wauchula. A trampoline was also blown by the wind into a pickup truck, knocking out a side window. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $15,000 | A Skywarn Spotter reported that thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs at the Paynes Creek State Historical Site. |
| July 2021 | Flood | Ona | $10,000 | Florida Highway Patrol reported SR 64 closed in Ona near railroad tracks due to water covering railroad crossing. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $10,000 | A thunderstorm downburst wind produced minor to moderate damage to eight manufactured homes. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $10,000 | Roof damage to three homes with tin roofs and several trees down. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and power lines along U.S. Highway 17 between Wauchula and Bowling Green. |
| January 1998 | Flood | Countywide | $10,000 | no account filed |
| September 1997 | Flood | Wauchula | $10,000 | no account filed |
| February 1998 | Flood | Zolfo Spgs | $7,000 | The Peace River at Zolfo Springs crested its banks and severely damaged the river gage. |
| August 2009 | Lightning | Bowling Green | $5,000 | Lightning struck the Bowling Green Elementary School offices, damaging the phone system and fire alarm circuit boards. |
| May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ft Green Spgs | $5,000 | Skywarn Spotters and local law enforcement reported that thunderstorm winds downed at least four large trees near the intersection of State Road 62 and County Road 663 in Ft. Green Springs. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bowling Green | $5,000 | Skywarn spotters reported that a few large trees, several large limbs and a few power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds in Bowling Green. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew off the porch of a home and damaged an adjacent mobile home on the 700 block of State Road 62. |
| February 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs and power lines along West Orange Street. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and a few power lines which caused minor roof damage to the roofs of homes and sheds throughout Wauchula. |
| April 1993 | Tornado (F0) | Wauchula | $5,000 | Two mobile homes received roof, carport, and outbuilding damage from a brief touchdown of a small tornado. |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $5,000 | Strong thunderstorm winds ripped a section of roof off a restaurant. |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2018 | Hail | Zolfo Springs | $3,000 | Hardee County Emergency Management forwarded pictures of a window on a home that was broken by wind driven hail near Zolfo Springs. |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wauchula | $3,000 | Hardee county emergency management reported that thunderstorm winds, estimated at 45 mph, removed an unanchored, large overhang roof of an open-sided shed. Also, a portion of a poorly anchored, lightweight fiberglass roof cover and building facade of a nearby business, was removed by 45 mph wind. Damage occurred at 125 Earnest Road near U.S. Highway 17, two miles north of Wauchula. |
| June 1971 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| July 1961 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Zolfo Springs | $2,000 | Hardee County Sheriff Office reported downed power lines along State Route 64 near Zolfo Springs. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Zolfo Springs | $2,000 | Amateur radio operator reported tree debris covering State Route 64 near Zolfo Springs. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 26 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 21 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Phosphorus-Phosphates | 22 |
| Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | 4 |
| Uranium, Magnesite, Iron, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | 3 |
| Sand | 3 |
| Aluminum, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Fluorine-Fluorite | 2 |
| Fluorine-Fluorite, Aluminum, Magnesite, Uranium, Iron | 1 |
| Fluorine-Fluorite, Aluminum, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium, Water, Free | 1 |
| Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium, Water, Free | 1 |
| Iron, Uranium, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | 1 |
| Water, Free | 1 |
| Water, Free, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium | 1 |
| Uranium, Iron, Aluminum, Magnesite, Fluorine-Fluorite | 1 |
| Aluminum, Uranium, Magnesite, Iron, Fluorine-Fluorite | 1 |
| Magnesite, Uranium, Iron, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF Hardee Mine | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Aluminum, Uranium, Magnesite, Iron, Fluorine-Fluorite | Unknown | 1975, 1978 | |
| D. E. Carlton | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Uranium | Prospect | Surface | |
| Dot Arcadia - Gardner Mine | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Clay, Sand | Unknown | Sand | |
| Farmland/Ona Area-Small Ownership | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Fluorine-Fluorite, Aluminum, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium, Water, Free | Prospect | 1965 | |
| Fort Green Mine | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Fluorine-Fluorite, Aluminum, Magnesite, Uranium, Iron | Producer | 1920, 1976 | |
| Gardinier South Hardee Deposit | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Iron, Aluminum, Magnesite, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | 1974 | |
| Hardee County Unknown Ownerships | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Water, Free | Occurrence | ||
| Hardee West Prospect | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Magnesite, Uranium, Iron, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | 1975 | |
| Iori/Waters Tract | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium, Water, Free | Prospect | 1961 | |
| Mobil Area | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Water, Free, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium | Prospect | ||
| Olliff Option | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Iron, Uranium, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | Chemical Sediment, Marine | |
| Waters Tract | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Water, Free | Producer | 1964 | |
| Freeport Area Small Ownerships | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Aluminum, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | Surface | |
| Horse Creek | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Aluminum, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | 1965 | |
| B. H. Griffin | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Magnesite, Iron, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | Surface | |
| D.A.B. Constructor, Inc. - Milligan Mine | Sand | Unknown | Sand | |
| Dot Arcadia - Sr 62 Mine | Sand | Unknown | Sand | |
| Mississippi Chemical Corp - Hardee | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Magnesite, Iron, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | 1967 | |
| Peace River Conservancy - Kings Hwy Pit. | Sand | Producer | ||
| Zolfo / Rhone-Poulenc Chemicals | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Magnesite, Iron, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | Chemical Sediment, Marine | |
| Acrefoot Johnson | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | Surface | |
| Farmland Hardee Mine | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | 1955 | |
| Sharp Property | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | ||
| Zolfo Springs Area Small Ownerships | Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite | Prospect | Surface | |
| C.F. Industries - South Pasture | Phosphorus-Phosphates | Producer | Collophane | |
| Imc Agrico - Ft. Green | Phosphorus-Phosphates | Producer | Collophane |
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
Bowling Green census division · 33834 · On Little Payne Creek · Bowling Green quadrangle
15 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Wauchula census division · 33873 · On Little Charlie Creek · Wauchula quadrangle
15 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Bowling Green census division · 33834 · On Gum Swamp Branch · Fort Green quadrangle
14 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Wauchula census division · 33834 · On Shirttail Branch · Fort Green quadrangle
14 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Zolfo Springs census division · 33890 · On Charlie Creek · Gardner quadrangle
13 sheets, 1956 to 1988
Zolfo Springs census division · 33873 · Griffins Corner quadrangle
15 sheets, 1956 to 1988
Zolfo Springs census division · 33890 · Griffins Corner quadrangle
15 sheets, 1956 to 1988
Zolfo Springs census division · 33890 · On Mercer Branch · Sweetwater quadrangle
13 sheets, 1956 to 1988
Bowling Green census division · 33834 · On Little Payne Creek · Wauchula quadrangle
15 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Wauchula census division · 33873 · On Max Branch · Wauchula quadrangle
15 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Wauchula census division · 33873 · On Little Charlie Creek · Wauchula quadrangle
15 sheets, 1955 to 1988
Zolfo Springs census division · 33890 · On Hickory Branch · Zolfo Springs quadrangle
13 sheets, 1956 to 1988