Highlands County, Florida: Overview and Facts

• •Highlands County was founded on April 23, 1921, after being separated from DeSoto County.
• •The county seat and largest city is Sebring.
• •The total area is 1,106 square miles, consisting of 1,017 square miles of land and 89 square miles of water.
• •The 2020 census recorded a population of 101,235.
• •The 2025 population estimate is 111,122.
• •The area is part of the Sebring, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
• •The county is located in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during Daylight Saving Time).
• •Highlands County is situated within Florida's 18th congressional district.
• •The county is bordered by seven other Florida counties: Osceola, Okeechobee, Glades, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, and Polk.

This document provides foundational geographic, historical, and demographic data for Highlands County, which is relevant for residents and researchers tracking regional development and administrative status.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.