Hendry County is a county in Florida, United States, on the northern edge of the Everglades in the Florida Heartland region. It had a population of 39,619 at the 2020 census and covers 1,153 square miles (2,990 km2) of land centred near 26°33′N 81°10′W.
LaBelle is the county seat, and its postal code is 33935. The county has two incorporated cities, five census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone and was named for cattle rancher Francis A. Hendry.
Towns & Villages in Hendry County
Hendry County has two incorporated cities — Clewiston and LaBelle — plus five census-designated places (CDPs) and a scatter of smaller unincorporated communities and mobile-home parks along State Road 80 and the Caloosahatchee River. Florida has no civil townships, so places are grouped only by incorporation status below.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clewiston | City | 7,327 | 33440 |
| LaBelle | City · seat | 4,966 | 33935 |
| Fort Denaud | CDP | — | 33935 |
| Harlem | CDP | — | 33440 |
| Montura | CDP | — | 33440 |
| Pioneer | CDP | — | 33440 |
| Port LaBelle | CDP | — | 33935 |
| Felda | Unincorp. | — | 33930 |
| Denaud | Unincorp. | — | 33935 |
| Hooker Point | Unincorp. | — | 33440 |
| Keri | Unincorp. | — | 33440 |
| Sears | Unincorp. | — | 33440 |
| South Clewiston | Unincorp. | — | 33440 |
| Sugarland | Unincorp. | — | 33440 |
| Whidden Corner | Unincorp. | — | 33440 |
Several entries on older lists of Hendry County places are mobile-home parks rather than distinct settlements (Belchers MH Park, Clewiston Trailer Park, County Line Trailer Park, Everglades MH Park, Fairgrounds MH Park, Foxbriar MH Park, Kellys Trailer Park, Kites Nest MH Park, Marion MH Park, Oaklane MH Park, Royal Palm Trailer Park, Sugarland MH Park, Sugarton, Tropical MH Village, Twin Lakes MH Estates, and Ventura MH Park) — these are neighborhoods within Clewiston or Harlem rather than separate places and are not listed as standalone rows above.
ZIP Codes
- 33440 — Clewiston (also serves Harlem, Montura, Pioneer, Sears, South Clewiston)
- 33935 — LaBelle (also serves Fort Denaud, Port LaBelle, Denaud)
- 33930 — Felda
Most unincorporated communities use the ZIP code of their nearest incorporated city rather than one of their own.
Geography
Hendry County lies on flat Everglades and prairie terrain in south-central Florida, drained by the Caloosahatchee River, which runs through LaBelle on its way to Fort Myers. The county’s northern boundary touches Lake Okeechobee, and much of its southern reach is Big Cypress Indian Reservation land held by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It borders Glades County to the north, Okeechobee County across Lake Okeechobee to the northeast, Palm Beach County to the east, Broward County to the southeast, Collier County to the south, and Lee and Charlotte County to the west.
Demographics
Hendry County had 39,619 residents at the 2020 census, a slight increase from 39,140 in 2010. Clewiston, the largest city, has a 2020 population of 7,327; LaBelle, the county seat, has 4,966. The county is majority Hispanic or Latino, at 55.8% of residents in 2020. Median household income runs well below the Florida median of $73,311, reflecting the county’s agricultural economy. Population density is about 34 people per square mile, among the lowest in south Florida.
Economy & Local Life
Sugarcane farming and processing anchor the county’s economy, centred on U.S. Sugar Corporation’s Clewiston mill, which has operated since the 1920s and remains one of the largest employers in the county. Vegetable and citrus farming, cattle ranching, and Seminole Tribe gaming and agriculture on the Big Cypress Reservation round out the base. Clewiston calls itself “America’s Sweetest Town” for its sugar heritage, and LaBelle hosts the annual Swamp Cabbage Festival, celebrating Florida’s state tree, on the last full weekend of February.
History
Hendry County was created on May 11, 1923, from part of Lee County, and named for Francis A. Hendry, a Confederate veteran and cattle rancher who platted LaBelle around 1889–1890 and named it for his daughters, Laura and Belle. LaBelle incorporated as a city in 1925 and became the county seat. Clewiston was settled in 1920 by John O’Brien and Alonzo Clewis, who built a rail link to Moore Haven, and incorporated in 1925; its sugar industry grew rapidly after U.S. Sugar Corporation established operations there. In 2008 Florida’s state government agreed to purchase large tracts of U.S. Sugar farmland for Everglades restoration, a deal later scaled back that reshaped land use around Clewiston.
Getting There
U.S. Route 27 and State Road 80 are the county’s main highways, linking LaBelle and Clewiston to Fort Myers and the Palm Beach area.
- Fort Myers — 35 miles west
- West Palm Beach — 65 miles east
- Naples — 55 miles southwest
- Sebring — 45 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hendry County, Florida?
It is in south-central Florida, on the north edge of the Everglades, between Fort Myers and the Palm Beach area.
What is the population of Hendry County?
39,619 at the 2020 census.
How big is Hendry County?
1,153 square miles (2,990 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Hendry County?
LaBelle is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hendry County?
Two incorporated cities, Clewiston and LaBelle, plus five census-designated places and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hendry County?
The main ZIP codes are 33440 (Clewiston), 33935 (LaBelle), and 33930 (Felda).
What is Hendry County known for?
Sugarcane farming around Clewiston, “America’s Sweetest Town,” and the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in its southern reach.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.