Hendry County Seat on the River
Welcome to LaBelle, the Hendry County seat set along the Caloosahatchee River in southwest Florida, between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.
LaBelle is a small city in southwestern Florida that serves as the county seat of Hendry County, situated along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. Its population was about 4,970 at the 2020 census. The city became the county seat in 1923, and it has since anchored a rural county whose economy is built on agriculture and ranching. LaBelle's setting sits between two defining Florida landscapes: Lake Okeechobee to the east and the wetlands of the northern Everglades to the south. The Caloosahatchee River, which flows through the city on its way from the lake toward the Gulf of Mexico, is central to local identity, providing water access, scenic views, and a focus for community gatherings. The city's main street is shaded by mature oak trees, and its small downtown holds historic buildings that reflect its early 20th-century growth. Agriculture shapes the local economy and way of life. Citrus, sugarcane, and cattle ranching are longstanding industries in Hendry County, and LaBelle functions as the commercial and governmental hub for the surrounding farm and ranch country. The city's signature event, the Swamp Cabbage Festival, is held each February and celebrates the Florida state tree — the sabal, or cabbage palm — with a parade, rodeo, armadillo races, and festivities in Barron Park along the river. For residents, LaBelle offers a genuinely small-town, rural Florida lifestyle. Schools are part of the Hendry County district, everyday services concentrate around the city, and the surrounding region provides fishing, boating, hunting, and access to the Okeechobee and Everglades ecosystems. It appeals to those seeking a quieter, more agricultural pace in the interior of southwest Florida, away from the coastal cities.
LaBelle is in Hendry County, Florida, and serves as the county seat. The city sits along the Caloosahatchee River in the southwestern part of the state, between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.
LaBelle is known as the Hendry County seat, for its oak-shaded main street and small-town character, and for the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival each February, which celebrates Florida's sabal palm with a parade, rodeo, and riverside festivities.
LaBelle is served by the Hendry County School District, which operates public schools across the county. Higher education options such as Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University are available in nearby Fort Myers.
LaBelle lies roughly 30 miles east of Fort Myers via State Road 80, with its airport, health care, and shopping. Lake Okeechobee is a short drive to the east along the same corridor.
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