Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 4,944 | — | |
1900 | 8,047 | 62.8% | |
1910 | 14,200 | 76.5% | |
1920 | 25,434 | 79.1% | |
1930 | 7,745 | −69.5% | |
1940 | 7,792 | 0.6% | |
1950 | 9,242 | 18.6% | |
1960 | 11,683 | 26.4% | |
1970 | 13,060 | 11.8% | |
1980 | 19,039 | 45.8% | |
1990 | 23,865 | 25.3% | |
2000 | 32,209 | 35.0% | |
2010 | 34,862 | 8.2% | |
2020 | 33,976 | −2.5% | |
2023 (est.) | 35,979 | [6] | 5.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2019 [1] |
Race | Pop 2010 [13] | Pop 2020 [14] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White (NH) | 19,549 | 18,624 | 56.08% | 54.82% |
Black or African American (NH) | 4,338 | 4,203 | 12.44% | 12.37% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 62 | 80 | 0.18% | 0.24% |
Asian (NH) | 169 | 189 | 0.48% | 0.56% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 4 | 8 | 0.01% | 0.02% |
Some Other Race (NH) | 29 | 80 | 0.08% | 0.24% |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 286 | 781 | 0.82% | 2.3% |
Hispanic or Latino | 10,425 | 10,011 | 29.9% | 29.46% |
Total | 34,862 | 33,976 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 33,976 people, 12,421 households, and 8,306 families residing in the county.
As of the census [15] of 2000, there were 32,209 people, 10,746 households, and 7,672 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 inhabitants per square mile (19/km2). There were 13,608 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.33% White, 12.72% Black or African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 10.49% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 24.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 2005 estimates showed the population as being 56.3% non-Hispanic white, 31.4% Latino, 11.8% African-American and 2.9% Native American. (Source=WebCite query result
In 2000 there were 10,746 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,714, and the median income for a family was $34,726. Males had a median income of $22,572 versus $20,004 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,000. About 14.20% of families and 23.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in DeSoto County.
DeSoto County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of March 31, 2022: [16] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Political Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
Republican | 7,317 | 40.72% | |||
Democratic | 6,144 | 34.19% | |||
No Party Affiliation | 4,337 | 24.14% | |||
Minor Parties | 170 | 0.95% | |||
Total | 17,968 | 100% |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 8,888 | 70.96% | 3,525 | 28.14% | 112 | 0.89% |
2020 | 8,313 | 65.58% | 4,259 | 33.60% | 104 | 0.82% |
2016 | 6,778 | 62.17% | 3,781 | 34.68% | 344 | 3.16% |
2012 | 5,587 | 56.51% | 4,174 | 42.22% | 126 | 1.27% |
2008 | 5,632 | 55.41% | 4,383 | 43.12% | 149 | 1.47% |
2004 | 5,524 | 58.09% | 3,913 | 41.15% | 73 | 0.77% |
2000 | 4,256 | 54.48% | 3,321 | 42.51% | 235 | 3.01% |
1996 | 3,275 | 43.71% | 3,222 | 43.01% | 995 | 13.28% |
1992 | 3,070 | 41.32% | 2,646 | 35.62% | 1,713 | 23.06% |
1988 | 4,243 | 65.64% | 2,181 | 33.74% | 40 | 0.62% |
1984 | 4,822 | 67.64% | 2,304 | 32.32% | 3 | 0.04% |
1980 | 3,356 | 53.40% | 2,713 | 43.17% | 216 | 3.44% |
1976 | 2,000 | 41.48% | 2,715 | 56.30% | 107 | 2.22% |
1972 | 2,958 | 77.58% | 852 | 22.34% | 3 | 0.08% |
1968 | 1,103 | 26.94% | 937 | 22.89% | 2,054 | 50.17% |
1964 | 1,986 | 52.78% | 1,777 | 47.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,687 | 50.10% | 1,680 | 49.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 1,234 | 48.41% | 1,315 | 51.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 1,256 | 41.21% | 1,792 | 58.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 569 | 27.33% | 1,157 | 55.57% | 356 | 17.10% |
1944 | 543 | 23.97% | 1,722 | 76.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 526 | 21.79% | 1,888 | 78.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 560 | 26.00% | 1,594 | 74.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 506 | 23.76% | 1,624 | 76.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 1,382 | 64.04% | 748 | 34.66% | 28 | 1.30% |
1924 | 230 | 25.14% | 641 | 70.05% | 44 | 4.81% |
1920 | 1,077 | 28.02% | 2,496 | 64.93% | 271 | 7.05% |
1916 | 385 | 14.95% | 1,755 | 68.13% | 436 | 16.93% |
1912 | 110 | 8.74% | 847 | 67.28% | 302 | 23.99% |
1908 | 244 | 16.98% | 992 | 69.03% | 201 | 13.99% |
1904 | 188 | 18.50% | 721 | 70.96% | 107 | 10.53% |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | 76.28%6,637 | 23.25% 2,023 | 0.47% 41 |
2018 | 63.61%5,663 | 34.36% 3,059 | 2.03% 180 |
2014 | 49.00%3,681 | 43.85% 3,294 | 7.15% 537 |
2010 | 53.10%3,667 | 41.80% 2,887 | 5.10% 352 |
2006 | 57.41%3,785 | 39.48% 2,603 | 3.11% 205 |
2002 | 54.47%3,951 | 44.28% 3,212 | 1.25% 91 |
1998 | 61.67%3,711 | 38.15% 2,296 | 0.18% 11 |
1994 | 54.40%3,407 | 45.60% 2,856 |
DeSoto County is part of the Heartland Library Cooperative which serves DeSoto County and some of the surrounding counties, including Glades, Highlands, Hardee, and Okeechobee. The seven-branch library system has one branch in Arcadia.
The Charlotte Sun produces a section dedicated to Desoto County called The Arcadian. Archived March 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Locally, the section is offered as a standalone for residential delivery.
Desoto County is part of the Fort Myers/Naples DMA. Almost all stations from Fort Myers and Naples are receivable within the county, as well as some stations from the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota DMA. There was formerly a low-power television station, WALM-LD on channel 34; however, the station's license was cancelled by the FCC on September 21, 2020.
DeSoto County has two radio stations licensed to locations within the county:
Arcadia Municipal Airport is the only public-use airport in DeSoto County.
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