Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. 6 historic topographic surveys show this location, the earliest from 1952.
“The Highlands County Courthouse is a historic U.S. courthouse in Sebring, Florida. It is located at 430 South Commerce Avenue.”
Wikipedia article Highlands County Courthouse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 17 National Register listings published here for Highlands County · listed in 1989 · category: Building.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
The ground this property stands on, surveyed 36 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 504 fires within 5 miles of Highlands County Courthouse between 1992 and 2020, burning about 5,751 acres in total. 57 started naturally. 77 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 | 84 |
| Debris and open burning | 81 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 77 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 57 |
| Natural | 57 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 49 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 33 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 28 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 19 |
| Smoking | 14 |
| Fireworks | 5 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 1997 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 6 September 2013 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | VALENCIA STREET (28) |
| 5 September 2002 | Debris and open burning | 1.5 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 30 September 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | (HI) PEAT FIRE (1204) |
| 28 September 2015 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | HUMMINGBIRD (28) |
| 28 September 2005 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | HI-LUCAS-1219 |
| 27 September 1996 | Equipment and vehicle use | 2.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 24 September 2016 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | WOODPECKER BLVD (28) |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Highlands County Courthouse: 1 producer, 1 unknown. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Peat, Sand. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha General Services - Alpha Mine | Sand | Unknown | Sand | |
| Tu-Co Peat - Tu-Co Pit | Peat | Producer | Peat |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Sebring, the town this property stands in, in 60 storm reports between 1993 and 2022: 21 hail, 18 thunderstorm wind, 9 lightning, 6 flood. The reports record 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2001 | Lightning | Sebring | 1 hurt | A 40 year old male was shocked and injured by the sideflash of a nearby lightning strike while cleaning the hole of a septic tank on Nautilis Drive in Sebring. The victim was ejected out of the septic tank ground hole and incurred minor injuries. |
| August 1999 | Lightning | Sebring | 1 hurt | Highlands County Emergency Management reported that lightning struck and injured an EMS paramedic working outdoors near Eucalyptus in Sebring. The paramedic was touching the metal door of the ambulance truck when he was struck. |
| September 1998 | Lightning | Sebring | 1 hurt | Lightning struck and injured a female in the process of closing an umbrella before entering a vehicle during a thunderstorm with heavy rain on Crescent Drive in Sebring. The lightning struck and ignited the umbrella while the electrical shock travelled down the left side of the females body. |
| August 1998 | Lightning | Sebring | 1 hurt | The Highlands County EMS reported that a 27 year old male was struck and injured by lightning in Sebring. |
| March 1998 | Flood | Sebring | $850,000 | Heavy rain caused the Arbuckle Creek to rise and wash out a two-lane bridge culvert on Arbuckle Creek Road. Two vehicles that drove over the damaged bridge were washed out into the culvert and destroyed. In Avon Park, nearly two feet of water damaged 30 homes in the Bonnie Brae Mobile Home Park. Water damage also occurred at Aero Interiors and Highlands Aviation at the Avon Park Airport. |
| September 1999 | Flood | Sebring | $250,000 | Heavy rainfall of two to four inches in less than four hours caused localized flooding and ponding of water over already saturated soils of southwest Highlands county. At least 25 homes, many of them mobile, incurred water damage along the U.S. Highway 27 corridor from Venus to Sebring. |
| October 2002 | Lightning | Sebring | $100,000 | Lightning penetrated four different safety devices to destroy an electrical substation. About 2,300 people were without power for up to 20 hours. |
| June 1999 | Tornado (F0) | Sebring | $100,000 | The public observed a short lived tornado sporadically touch down near the intersection of West Josephine Road and Bethea Lane over rural extreme western Highlands county. The tornado removed the roofs of two mobile homes, caused extensive damage to the roof of a commercial building, toppled a few large trees and snapped several branches at a commercial tree farm before it lifted and dissipated. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds removed the roof structure of a fifteen vehicle aluminum carport 25 to 30 feet away from the Highlands Regional Medical Center on U.S. Highway 27. Several large tree limbs were also downed by thunderstorm winds in Sebring. |
| August 1997 | Tornado (F0) | Sebring | $100,000 | A short-lived tornado caused roof damage to seven pre-fabricated homes, downed a handful of trees and a few power lines along U.S. Highway 98 in Lorida. Two of the homes suffered major roof damage while five received minor roof damage. A parked boat and vehicle were also damaged by a 40 foot Formosa tree toppled by the tornado. The tornado tore a flagpole from the ground and ripped off several carports along Bishop Dairy Road before it lifted and dissipated. |
| November 1997 | Flash Flood | Sebring | $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $75,000 | Highlands county emergency management reported that thunderstorm winds caused minor damage to seventeen homes and eight businesses in Sebring. |
| March 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $50,000 | The Highlands County 911 call center reported widespread wind damage throughout the county, with numerous trees and power lines down. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $50,000 | The Glades Electric Cooperative and Skywarn Spotters reported that thunderstorm winds removed the roofs of up three weathered mobile homes, downed several large trees, power lines and toppled a few road and billboard signs along U.S. Highway 98 from Lorida to near Sebring. |
| September 1999 | Flood | Sebring | $50,000 | Four to six inches of rain caused localized flooding of roadways and low-lying areas along the U.S. Highway 27 corridor from Sebring south to Venus. A few vehicles and homes incurred water damage from the floodwaters from Sebring to Venus. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $50,000 | Five homes suffered minor to moderate roof and structural damage, along with major porch damage, on Indian Boulevard on the north side of Lake Charlotte from thunderstorm downburst winds. Thunderstorm winds also damaged trees and potted plants on Orange Blossom Boulevard near State Road 66. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $30,000 | Law enforcement reported minor roof damage to one structure and a downed tree onto another nearby structure. |
| January 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and caused minor structural damage to three homes. |
| August 2006 | Lightning | Sebring | $10,000 | Lightning started a fire at a home on Lakeview Drive but quick acting neighbors kept the home from burning to the ground. A natural gas line in the home was ruptured and was ignited by the strike but neighbors quickly turned off the gas line. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $10,000 | Highlands County Emergency Management reported that thunderstorms winds downed several power lines and large branches three miles west of Sebring. |
| July 1998 | Flood | Sebring | $10,000 | Heavy rain of up to three inches caused localized flooding of roadways and low lying areas along the U.S. Highway 27 corridor between Sebring and Lake Placid. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and power lines in east Sebring. |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew off the roof of a mobile home along U.S. Highway 92 in Lorida. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $5,000 | Reports were received of several trees knocked down and minor damage to a couple docks along Lakeview Drive. Time was estimated by radar. |
| October 2005 | Tornado (F0) | Sebring | $5,000 | A trained spotter reported a tornado that tore the porch of a home and destroyed a shed at Lake Josephine. |
| August 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Sebring | $5,000 | A weak and short-lived tornado, 25-feet wide, briefly touched down four miles northwest of Sebring in the Sebring Estates subdivision and caused minor lawn chair damage. The tornado lifted and moved northeast across U.S. 27 and briefly touched down in the Sebring Ridge subdivision with minor shed damage. The third and final tornado touchdown occurred in the Sebring Ridge Crossing subdivision where two homes received light to moderate roof and garage damage before it lifted. |
| January 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $5,000 | Strong thunderstorm gusts downed trees and power lines. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $4,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed power lines in Sebring. |
| July 1998 | Lightning | Sebring | $3,000 | Lightning struck and damaged the transmitter of station WOCX-TV (Channel 5) in Sebring. |
| August 1998 | Flood | Sebring | $2,000 | Heavy rain caused localized flooding of streets and low lying areas in Sebring. |
| March 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $1,000 | The Highlands County emergency manager reported a downed tree on Lakeview Drive in Sebring. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | $1,000 | A Skywarn Spotter reported that three large, possibly rotted, tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds, estimated at 50 mph, on the 1800 block of Flamingo Drive in Sebring. |
| April 2012 | Hail | Sebring | - | A trained spotter reported penny sized hail near Sebring. |
| May 2011 | Hail | Sebring | - | The Sheriff's Office received numerous reports of dime to quarter sized hail across Sebring. |
| February 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | - | Law enforcement reported a camper had rolled over near the 400 block of Bethea Lane. |
| February 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | - | County officials reported trees and power lines were downed near U.S. Highway 17. |
| February 2007 | Hail | Sebring | - | Penny size hail was reported by the public in Sebring. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Sebring | - | A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of penny to nickel size hail from Sebring to Lake Placid. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Sebring | - | Penny size hail was reported along Highway 27. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Sebring | - | Half dollar size hail was reported at the Highlands Hammock State Park. |
| August 2005 | Heavy Rain | Sebring | - | A trained spotter reported over 6 inches of rain and minor flooding. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sebring | - | Trees and power lines were downed north of Sebring. |
| August 2002 | Lightning | Sebring | - | Lightning started brush fires in Sun 'N Lakes subdivision. Several power transformers and traffic lights were knocked out of service in Sebring. Caused a house fire in Sebring. The house fire started in a line from a propane tank which ignited and melted the aluminum siding of the house. |
| March 2001 | Hail | Sebring | - | Nickel sized hail was reported by a Skywarn Spotter one mile east of Sebring. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Sebring | - | Golfball to nickel sized hail was reported by Skywarn Spotters three miles south of Sebring. |
| June 2000 | Flood | Sebring | - | Skwyarn Spotters reported that between four and five inches of rain in less than two hours caused localized street flooding throughout Sebring of Highlands county. |
| July 2000 | Lightning | Sebring | - | Lightning ignited and burned nearly 124 acres of forest at the Highlands Hammock State Park. |
| June 2000 | Hail | Sebring | - | A Skywarn Spotter reported nickel sized hail at the Highlands Hammock State Park over rural extreme northwest Highlands county. |
| June 1999 | Hail | Sebring | - | The public reported quarter sized hail from Bethea Lane east along West Josephine Road to near Gresham Road over rural southwest Highlands county. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Sebring | - | A Skywarn Spotter and park ranger reported nickel sized hail at the Highlands Hammock State Park. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Sebring | - | A Skywarn Spotter reported quarter to nickel sized hail five miles south of the U.S. Highway 98 and U.S. Highway 27 intersection. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Sebring | - | Skywarn Spotters and the Highlands Today newspaper reported quarter to nickel sized hail from Sebring to Lake Placid. |
| August 1999 | Hail | Sebring | - | Highlands County Emergency Management reported golfball sized hail in Sebring. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Sebring | - | Nickel to dime sized hail was reported at the Lakeshore Mall in Sebring by Emergency Management. |
| March 1998 | Hail | Sebring | - | Golfball sized hail was reported by the Highlands County Emergency Management. |
| August 1997 | Hail | Sebring | - | Dime sized hail was reported along U.S. Highway 98 in Lorida. |
| July 1997 | Hail | Sebring | - | Quarter to dime sized hail fell near U.S. Highway 27 and State Road 66. |
| May 1997 | Hail | Sebring | - | One inch hail was reported along U.S. Highway 98 in Lorida. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Sebring | - | no account filed |
| March 2003 | Hail | Sebring | - | no account filed |
United States Geological Survey topographic sheets whose coverage includes this point. Matched by taking the coordinate the National Park Service records for this property, then testing that coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Seaboard Air Line Depot, Old-Sebring | 0.3 miles | 1990 |
 | Sebring Downtown Historic District | 0.3 miles | 1990 |
 | Edward Hainz House | 0.4 miles | 1989 |
 | Central Station | 0.4 miles | 1989 |
 | H. Orvel Sebring House | 0.4 miles | 1989 |
 | Kenilworth Lodge | 0.5 miles | 2000 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 89001013 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Highlands County | All 17 listed properties in this county. |
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