Okeechobee, Florida
15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1952 and the latest in 1988. It stands in the Okeechobee census division. It lies in ZIP code area 34972. The Survey maps it on the Okeechobee quadrangle. 5,254 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 26 feet above sea level.
Research this city
Then and now
1952 to 1988The same ground, surveyed 36 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.


On record in Okeechobee
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 3 records
Okeechobee BattlefieldNational Historic Landmark · listed 1966
First Methodist Episcopal Church, Southlisted 2015
Freedman-Raulerson Houselisted 1985
Population over time
2 figuresOkeechobee fell from 5,621 to 5,254 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5,621 | |
| 2020 | 5,254 | -367 (-7%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
7 surveys from 15 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1952 USGS Okeechobee quadrangle1:24000, 4 printings
- 1956 USGS Fort Pierce quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1958 USGS Fort Pierce quadrangle1:250000
- 1959 USGS Fort Pierce quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1981 USGS Fort Pierce quadrangle1:100000
- 1986 USGS Fort Pierce quadrangle1:100000
- 1988 USGS Fort Pierce quadrangle1:250000
Fires near this place
387 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 387 fires within 5 miles of Okeechobee between 1992 and 2020, burning about 765 acres in total. 58 started naturally. 28 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 86 |
| Debris and open burning | 59 |
| Natural | 58 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 56 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 41 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 28 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 25 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 20 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 6 |
| Smoking | 4 |
| Fireworks | 3 |
| Other causes | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 September 2015 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | SMOKE HOUSE (47) |
| 4 September 2002 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 25 September 2000 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 24 September 2009 | Natural | 3.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | (OK) ORLANDO FIRE (710) |
| 24 September 1995 | Railroad operations and maintenance | 15 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 24 September 1992 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 18 September 2003 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | 2003-16-1280 |
| 18 September 2001 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Storms near this place
49 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Okeechobee in 49 storm reports between 1994 and 2023: 22 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail, 4 tornado, 2 flood. The reports record 1 death and 10 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1996 | Tornado (F0) | Okeechobee | 1 killed, $50,000 | no account filed |
| March 1998 | Tornado (F1) | Okeechobee | 10 hurt, $5,400,000 | An F1 tornado touched down along the north shore of Lake Okeechobee near Highway 441. The tornado moved northeast though Okeechobee damaging six businesses and nine homes. Thirteen mobile homes and recreational vehicles were destroyed. About 100 others were damaged. Ten people were injured. Two required hospitalization. |
| August 2012 | Flood | Okeechobee | $150,000 | Persistent heavy rainbands from Tropical Storm Isaac produced widespread urban and lowland flooding across much of the county. Rainfall from the morning of August 26 until the evening of August 27 averaged 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals of 10 to 14 inches, most of which fell from early morning until mid day on August 27. The most significant impacts occurred within the City of Okeechobee and adjacent rural locations, including Taylor Creek. Fourteen homes experienced major damage and another 146 had minor water intrusion (from either leaking roofs and/or high levels of standing water, mainly from over-topping local creek/canals. Several roads were temporarily closed due to standing water. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $50,000 | Thunderstorms winds swept across the town of Okeechobee damaging 3 roofs, many fences and some screen porches. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $40,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged the roof and windows of a house northwest of Okeechobee. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $25,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged the roof of a mobile home and a barn. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $25,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged the roof of a mobile home and a barn. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged carports and blew down large tree limbs. |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged the roof of a dairy building north of Okeechobee. |
| January 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down a few trees and power lines and a satellite dish in Okeechobee. |
| June 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $7,000 | Thunderstorm winds seriously damaged the roof of a home northwest of Okeechobee. A 20 foot light pole was blown down and a window was blown out of a home. |
| April 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $5,000 | Strong thunderstorm winds swept across U.S. Highway 441 just north of the city of Okeechobee blowing down power lines and a few trees. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged awnings and carports on mobile homes in Okeechobee. |
| February 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines in the town of Okeechobee. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | North Okeechobee | $4,000 | Several wooden power poles to the northeast of Okeechobee, near 7200 U.S. Highway 441 North, were tilted by severe thunderstorm winds, with the two poles experiencing broken cross members. While a funnel cloud was reported in the area (see separate event), the wind damage appeared to be due to straight line winds. |
| September 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | $3,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew shingles off a roof and damaged a canvas and pole awning. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | An analysis of radar imagery, photos, and videos as well as a damage assessment conducted by the Okeechobee County Emergency Management indicate that a straight-line wind event caused damage in the City of Okeechobee around 620 pm EDT on Thursday, Jun 15, 2023. Peak winds during the event were estimated between 65 to 75|mph.||Damaging winds began near the intersection of US Hwy 441 and SE 37th Ct where a fast food restaurant drive-thru awning was lifted and bent. A swath of damage continued toward the northeast across US Hwy 441, where a small section of the roof of a grocery store was torn back. Additionally, a mobile home in the nearby community of Heritage Village lost a part of its roof when its porch awning was torn away by the strong winds. Minor damage was reported at the local flea market facility where some of the metal sheathing of the roof, and a small barn, were blown into the adjacent field and across SE 28th St. Several fallen trees and a downed powerline were also confirmed by fire and emergency management officials. |
| September 2022 | Flood | Okeechobee | - | Heavy rain embedded within the outer bands ahead of Hurricane Ian produced widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches across Okeechobee County, resulting in isolated reports of street, urban, and poor drainage flooding. Emergency management officials indicated minimal damage to residential and business structures due to flooding. |
| April 2015 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | Numerous reports via broadcast media and social media of quarter-sized hail in the city of Okeechobee. According to reports, duration of the hail was approximately 10 minutes. |
| June 2012 | Tornado (EF0) | North Okeechobee | - | A brief tornado with estimated winds of 55 to 65 mph, or weak EF-0 strength, touched down in a rural, un-populated area east of U.S. Highway 441 and north of Highway 70, to the northeast of Okeechobee town. The touchdown was confirmed several days after it occurred, when the Florida Forest Service flew along the radar-based track of the storm. Sporadic wind damage was found along the storm track, consisting of isolated debris and vegetation blown-downs. |
| August 2012 | Funnel Cloud | North Okeechobee | - | Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue relayed a public report of a funnel cloud near Okeechobee. |
| April 2011 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | An Okeechobee Sheriff relayed multiple reports of golf ball sized hail near the intersection of highway 78 and 441. |
| April 2011 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | A weather spotter observed observed tennis ball sized hail near the intersection of highway 78 and 441 in Okeechobee. |
| May 2009 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | A public report was received of Nickel size hail in the 7000 block of Highway 78 West. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | A trained spotter observed quarter size hail for about 10 minutes. |
| August 2006 | Tornado (F0) | Okeechobee | - | Both the Okeechobee County Sheriffs office and the St. Lucie County Emergency Management simultaneously reported a small tornado on the ground just west of the Okeechobee - St. Lucie county line. No significant damage was found. |
| June 2004 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | Spotter also reported an estimated wind gust to 60 mph. |
| December 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down a few trees and damaged tin roofs on Highway SR 78 near Okeechobee. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a mobile home in Okeechobee. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees in the Town of Okeechobee. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees in the town of Okeechobee. |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees in the town of Okeechobee. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Numerous trees and a few power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds. A roof was blown off a county work barn. |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Okeechobee | - | Thunderstorm winds uprooted trees and damaged a motor home. |
| June 1994 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | Quarter-size hail fell in the town of Okeechobee. |
| May 2007 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| March 2003 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| April 1999 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| August 1998 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Hail | Okeechobee | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barber Quarters | 0.8 miles | 14 | |
| Cypress Quarters | 1.0 miles | 14 | |
| Whispering Pines | 2.4 miles | 14 | |
| Basswood Estates | 2.8 miles | 14 | |
| Taylor Creek | 2.8 miles | 15 | |
| Sherman | 4.6 miles | 15 | |
| Mildred | 6.1 miles | 13 | |
| Dixie Ranch Acres | 6.9 miles | 13 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Okeechobee | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q587146 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 288073. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.






