ARCADIA FLORIDA
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Arcadia Florida is a town of about 7,000 people located in DeSoto County, Florida.
It is located south of Wauchula at the intersection of US-17 and SR-70.
Some historians say that a Reverend Hendry named the town in honor of Arcadia Albritton, a daughter of pioneer settlers who baked him a birthday cake.
This part of Florida is cattle country, although citrus and watermelons are important also. Cowboys are seen everywhere in Arcadia and the surrounding farms and villages.
These aren't drug store cowboys; they are the real thing.
In the 1880's Arcadia Florida was the county seat of a very large county - DeSoto County - that would be broken into several smaller ones.
These lands in the heart of south central and southwest Florida had some of the most extensive cattle ranching operations in the state.
On Thanksgiving Day 1905 Arcadia was nearly destroyed by a huge fire that burned down most of the business district. Most of the older buildings in town are dated from the years after that event.
In World War One, Arcadia was home to Carlstrom Field.
It was used for pilot training then, and was also activated again for training World War Two pilots.
Arcadia is a Florida Main Street community, and has developed its downtown area into a pleasant location for antique shops, restaurants and mini-parks.
It's cowboy heritage is also evident in the several rodeo events held each year. Nature lovers also enjoy paddling canoes down the Peace River.
CENTRAL WEST FLORIDA THINGS TO DO NEAR ARCADIA
- Central West Florida Art Festivals
Central West Florida Day Trips
Central West Florida Heritage Sites
Central West Florida Museums
Central West Florida Parks
Central West Florida Theater
Central West Florida Tourist Attractions
Central West Florida Wineries
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