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LaBelle is the county seat of Hendry County, Florida, set on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in the Florida Heartland, the agricultural interior between Lake Okeechobee and the Gulf coast. It sits roughly 30 miles east of Fort Myers along State Road 80, yet feels a world apart from the coast's development — a small, unhurried city ringed by citrus groves, cattle ranches, and sugar cane fields that have defined the region's economy for more than a century. The city's story begins in the 1880s, when Philadelphia industrialist Hamilton Disston launched a vast Everglades-drainage and reclamation venture, dredging canals along the Caloosahatchee to improve navigation and open the river's fertile banks to settlement. The small river community that took shape was named LaBelle for Laura June Hendry and Carrie Belle Hendry, the daughters of Francis Asbury Hendry, a pioneer cattleman whose vast ranch holdings stretched across the region. When Hendry County was carved from Lee County in 1923, LaBelle became its seat, and the city was chartered in 1925; its courthouse was completed in 1927. Today LaBelle remains the civic and commercial hub of a rural county, and it wears its heritage openly. The annual Swamp Cabbage Festival, held each winter in honor of Florida's state tree, draws visitors for food, music, and local pride, and the city long ago adopted the nickname "the Belle of the Caloosahatchee." Cattle, citrus, and sugar remain economic staples, alongside the services a county seat provides. The Caloosahatchee River, an important link in the Okeechobee Waterway, runs past the city as a tidal waterway, offering boating, fishing, and riverfront parks to residents. Who LaBelle suits: it appeals to those seeking Old Florida character, riverfront living, and a lower-density agricultural setting, with Fort Myers and the Gulf beaches of Southwest Florida within an easy drive.

Population 4,966

County Hendry

Active Listings 1972

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is LaBelle in?

LaBelle is in Hendry County, Florida, in the Florida Heartland region, and it serves as the county seat. The city sits on the Caloosahatchee River about 30 miles east of Fort Myers.

How far is LaBelle from Fort Myers?

LaBelle is about 30 miles east of Fort Myers via State Road 80, roughly a 40-minute drive. State Road 80 also runs east toward Clewiston, and Southwest Florida International Airport at Fort Myers serves commercial flights.

What is LaBelle known for?

LaBelle is known as the Hendry County seat and as the 'Belle of the Caloosahatchee.' The city is surrounded by citrus groves, cattle ranches, and sugar cane fields, and it hosts the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival.

What does the name LaBelle mean?

LaBelle was named for Laura June Hendry and Carrie Belle Hendry, daughters of pioneer cattleman Francis Asbury Hendry. The settlement grew along the Caloosahatchee River during Hamilton Disston's Everglades drainage efforts in the 1880s.

What is the Swamp Cabbage Festival?

The Swamp Cabbage Festival is LaBelle's signature annual event, held each winter in honor of Florida's state tree. It features local food, music, and heritage celebrations, drawing visitors to the city's riverfront setting.

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