LaBelle, Florida

Nickname: Motto: Coordinates: 26°45′38″N 81°26′21″W / 26.76056°N 81.43917°W / 26.76056; -81.43917Country United StatesState FloridaCountyHendryIncorporated1925Government • MayorJulie C. Wilkins • CommissionersHugo Vargas,
Jackie Ratica,
Daniel W. Akin, and
Bobbie Spratt • City ClerkJessi ZubatyArea • Total14.59 sq mi (37.78 km²) • Land14.49 sq mi (37.52 km²) • Water0.10 sq mi (0.25 km²)Elevation13 ft (4 m)Population • Total4,966 • Density342.79/sq mi (132.35/km²)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)ZIP codesArea code863FIPS code12-37225^[2]GNIS feature ID0285188^[3]Websitewww.citylabelle.com

LaBelle is a city in and the county seat of Hendry County, Florida, United States.^[4]

It was named for Laura June Hendry and Carrie Belle Hendry, daughters of pioneer cattleman Francis Asbury Hendry.^[5]

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.^[5]

In 1909, Captain Hendry subdivided his land from the Lee County courthouse 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 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.^[8]

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.^[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 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.^[5]

Geography

LaBelle is located in northwestern Hendry County at 26°45′38″N 81°26′21″W / 26.76056°N 81.43917°W / 26.76056; -81.43917 (26.760591, –81.439104),^[9] 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.

Demographics

Historical population

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

LaBelle racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

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 American or Alaska Native (NH)	9	15	0.19%	0.30%
Asian (NH)	28	24	0.60%	0.48%
Pacific Islander or Native 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 the 2020 United States census, there were 4,966 people, 1,484 households, and 1,036 families residing in the city.^[13]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,640 people, 1,679 households, and 1,203 families residing in the city.^[14]

2000 census

As of the census^[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% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of 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. The per capita income for the city was $15,652. About 12.9% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

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.

Swamp Cabbage Festival

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.^{[citation needed]}

List of past grand marshals and festival queens
Year	Grand Marshal[15]	Festival Queen[16]
2020[17]	Rene Pratt
2019[17]	Dr. Kai-Fu Chow
2018[18]	Margaret England	Mahalet Gonzales
2017[19]	Joseph Horn Thomas	Alyssa Johnson
2016[20]	Festival Founders	Kasey Whidden
2015[21][22]	Bill McGill	Abby Arnold
2014[23][24]	Pat Bedingfield	Ashley Curry
2013[25]	Mary Bartoshuk	Kayla Keller
2012[26]	Nikki Yeager	Mallory Allen
2011[27]	Charles Humphries	Olivia Luckey
2010	Paul Puletti[28]	Callie Burley[29]
2009	David Childs[30]	Daphne Glisson[31]
2008	Phil Pelletier	Ashley Pittman
2007	William Maddox	Esophia Higgins
2006	Pat Langford	Maria Pidgen
2005	Martha Raye Humphries	Amanda Pittman
2004	Lucretia Strickland	Ashley Rose
2003	Rep. Joseph Spratt	Miss Ashley Murray
2002	Jack Paul	Miss Catherine Miller
2001	Jack Leicht	Miss Brittany Langford
2000	Tully Dunlap	Miss Amy Burchard
1999	Larry Woosley	Mrs. Melissa Oswald Howell
1998	Henry R. Kirby	Miss Amanda Miller
1997	Joe Risley, Jr.	Miss Inez DeDeugd
1996	Mize Johnson	Miss Jennifer Danforth
1995	Clara Hull	Miss Inez DeDeugd
1994	Dallas Townsend	Miss Sally Chipman
1993	Cecil Akin	Miss Jennifer Danforth
1992	William E. Perry	Miss Lynnette White
1991	Robert L. Yeomans	Miss Kathleen Lillian Whitford
1990	Doris Mattice	Miss Stacee Stinnett Seligman
1989	June Smith	Mrs. Susan Rebecca Brant Hill
1988	Lois Barron	Miss Jennifer Dunaway
1987	L. J. Noble, Jr.	Ms. Mara Woosley
1986	Darryl Harris	Miss Heather Ann Delance Spano
1985	Sherri Creachy	Mrs. Lori Jones Standish
1984	Thomas A. Smith	Mrs. Jerri Lynn Carver Merritt
1983	Ida Lofton Kirkby	Mrs. Leah Ann Langley Williams
1982	Stan Wegscheid	Mrs. Kim Dunaway Kemp
1981	Gary Lucia	Miss Yvonne McGee
1980	Broward Parsons	Mrs. Rena Ireland Dipofi
1979	Bette Foote	Mrs. Cynthia Mott Croley
1978	Blitz Wegman	Mrs. Chris Lehman Robbins
1977	Dr. Elizabeth Brungard	Mrs. Sonia Burchard Curtis
1976	Onley R. Hull	Mrs. Cheryl Wooten Hill
1975	R. E. Burchard	Mrs. Dana Thompson Crawley
1974	Frankye Cobb Thomas	Mrs. Terri Prescott Rhoden
1973	John W. Ash, Sr.	Mrs. Gaye Nobles Murrah
1972	Jack Patton	Mrs. Cindi Bass Sanders
1971	Judge R. M. Harris	Mrs. Sherri Woosley Carpenter
1970	J. R. (Jack) Spratt	Mrs. Laura Miller Nolte
1969	W. R. (Bill) Maddox	Mrs. Judy Burgess Puletti
1968	W. B. Barron	Linda Stilwell Liddiard[32]
1967	Robert E. Byrd

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^[33]

Fictional references

• In Carl Hiaasen's novel Skinny Dip, agribusiness executive "Red" Hammernut has his offices in LaBelle, and owns significant areas of farmland in Hendry County.
• A scene from Just Cause, a 1995 suspense crime thriller film directed by Arne Glimcher and starring Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne, was filmed in Fort Denaud, Florida, just west of LaBelle.

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.^[34]

References

External links

CitiesCDPsIndian reservationUnincorporated
communityFootnotes