In 1821 there were two counties in the state of Florida. What is now DeSoto County was at first part of St. John’s County, which included most of the state lying east and south of the panhandle, with St. Augustine the county seat.  In 1824 a portion of this huge county became Alachua County; Newnansville was its county seat.  From Alachua was carved, ten years later, Hillsborough County with its county seat in Tampa. In 1856 Manatee County  was formed and ten years later Pine Level became its county seat.  This county stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Okeechobee.  DeSoto County was created from Manatee County on May 10, 1887. It contained 3,750 square miles. extended about 30 miles inland from the west coast to Lake Okeechobee, north to Polk County and south to Lee County.  Pine Level was the county seat of DeSoto County for approximately 18 months.  What is now DeSoto County has been part of five counties during its history.

 

Arcadia replaced Pine Level as the county seat in  November, 1888.  The forerunners for the new county seat were Fort Ogden, Brownville, Nocatee, Punta Gorda, Pine Level and Arcadia with Nocatee as the favorite.  Sources reveal there was a yellow fever outbreak that quarantined many communities, so a second vote was postponed.  On August 4, 1888 a second vote was taken and again failed to produce a majority vote.  Finally, on November 6, 1888. a third vote was taken and Arcadia won the county seat by 21 votes. In 1921, DeSoto County was divided into present day DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, Glades and Highlands counties

 

Arcadia was a small settlement located on a bluff overlooking Peace River.  It was first known as Waldron’s Landing, and then as Raulerson’s Landing.  Harris Raulerson used to transport potatoes from this landing, for resale elsewhere, in his side-wheeler steamboat.  Pioneers who brought their potatoes to the spot for sale to Raulerson began to call it Tater Hill Bluff.   James “Boss” Hendry was a lumberman and Baptist preacher.  When he was moving his sawmill by ox-drawn wagons to the area he stayed overnight in the home of  Thomas Albritton, a fellow Baptist at Lily.  Learning that Hendry’s birthday fell on the following day,  Mrs. Albritton and her daughter Arcadia baked a cake for him.  Touched by their kindness, Hendry, who predicted that a town would arise in the bluff’s vicinity, promised to have it named Arcadia.

 

In the late 1870’s, the railroads were completed through DeSoto County and it changed the growth of the county and brought wealth for many.  In 1881, phosphate was discovered on the banks of Peace River that flows through the county.  Mining of this mineral brought much prosperity for many years.  

               

Thanksgiving 1905 was a disastrous day in Arcadia’s history.  A fire of undetermined origin engulfed the business district and destroyed more than 40 buildings.  However, there was no loss of life. 

A new business district soon rose from the ashes.

 

Cattle have played an important part in the settling and economy of DeSoto County from the beginning.  In the early 1890’s the infamous cattle wars started and lasted for several years.  This era was the most turbulent in the county’s history and was almost comparable to the Seminole Indians Wars.  In the 1890’s Arcadia was known as one of the wildest towns in Florida.

 

Located on the fringe of Florida’s citrus belt, DeSoto County has in recent years made great strides in citrus production and processing.  In the beginning, oxcart loads of citrus fruit were hauled to packing houses which dotted the area.  Since the packing houses have all but disappeared, the fruit is now trucked to the processing plants.

               

Soon after the United States entered World War I, two airfields were established near Arcadia.  They were Carlstrom and Dorr Fields, and they were the US Army’s main south eastern aviation training centers.  Dorr Field was discontinued immediately following the war.  Carlstrom continued in operation as a flying school until 1923, when it was moved to Texas.  Prior to the entrance of the United States in World War II, Carlstrom and Dorr Fields were reopened as Army Air Force primary training schools under the Riddle organization.  British Royal Flying Cadets were trained at several flying training centers throughout south Florida.

               

Twenty-three Royal Air Force Cadets, who died during training in south Florida, were laid to rest in the City of Arcadia’s Oak Ridge Cemetery.   They are honored each Memorial Day by services conducted by the Arcadia Rotary Club.

               

The first official Rodeo in Florida is said to have been held in Arcadia, November 1929, sponsored by  the local American Legion Post.  Arcadia’s Rodeo has grown in size, comparable to any in the country.  The Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo is held every March and in the Fall. In July the Arcadia All-Florida Rodeo produces a not to be miss Bull-A-Rama Extravaganza!  It draws more than 10,000 spectators.

               

Today, Arcadia is the “Heart” of the county and a very visible pride in their history can be found virtually everywhere in the city.  Most of the historical buildings you find today were built after 1905 when on Thanksgiving Day a fire destroyed a major portion of the town.  Much like it was over a hundred years ago, DeSoto County’s main source of economy relies on agriculture, citrus groves, phosphate and cattle.  With a future that is sure to be as bright and colorful as its past, DeSoto County will continue to be the hub of Southwest Florida.