Florida

Highlands

101,235
2020 population
1930
first census record
10
census records

About Highlands

Highlands, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1930, when it recorded a population of 9,192. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 101,235.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Okeechobee — Second Day (December 28 1837), Battle of Locha-Hatchee / Hatchee-Lustee Creek, Battle of Lake Istokpoga 1856, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020101,235
201098,786
200087,366
199068,432
198047,526
197029,507
196021,338
195013,636
19409,246
19309,192
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Highlands

Military engagements that took place in Highlands, Florida.

Battle of Okeechobee — Second Day (December 28 1837)
1837
Battle of Locha-Hatchee / Hatchee-Lustee Creek
1838
Battle of Lake Istokpoga 1856
1856
Third Seminole War — Battle at Fisheating Creek (1856)
1856

Historic places in Highlands

National Register of Historic Places listings in Highlands, Florida.

Vinson, Paul L., House
Sebring
Central Station
Sebring
Lake Placid A. C. L. Railroad Depot, Old
Lake Placid
Hainz, Edward, House
Sebring
Archbold Biological Station at Red Hill
Venus
Santa Rosa Hotel
Sebring
Seaboard Air Line Depot, Old-Sebring
Sebring
Pinecrest Hotel, Old
Avon Park
Highlands Hammock State Park and Florida Botanical Gardens and Arboretum
Sebring
Sebring Downtown Historic District
Sebring
Harder Hall
Sebring
Kenilworth Lodge
Sebring
Browse all Floridahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

SarasotaSeminoleSt. JohnsSt. LucieSumterSuwanneeTaylorUnionVolusiaWakullaWaltonWashingtonAlachuaBakerBayBradfordBrevardBrowardCalhounCharlotte
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Everything a full report reveals about Highlands County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Highlands County, Florida. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Highlands

When does Highlands first appear in the US census?
Highlands, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1930, with a recorded population of 9,192.
What is the population of Highlands?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Highlands had a recorded population of 101,235.
Were any battles fought in Highlands?
4 documented military engagements took place in Highlands, including Battle of Okeechobee — Second Day (December 28 1837), Battle of Locha-Hatchee / Hatchee-Lustee Creek, Battle of Lake Istokpoga 1856.
How many historic places are in Highlands?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Highlands, Florida.
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