Arcadia, Florida
Arcadia is a city of 7,707 people in DeSoto County, Florida, founded in 1886.
Why visit Arcadia
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Arcadia Historic District, Johnson-Smith House and Arcadia Municipal Golf Course.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 47°F.
Weather in Arcadia
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Arcadia
Arcadia is a city and county seat of DeSoto County, Florida, United States. Arcadia's Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its population was 7,420 as of the 2020 census, down from 7,637 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Arcadia, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Arcadia, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks5
Arcadia Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in Arcadia, Florida
Johnson-Smith House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
House in Arcadia, Florida
Micajah T. Singleton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Florida, United States
Creation Adventures Museum
Museum · 0.9 mi
Creationist museum in Arcadia, Florida, U.S
1220 West Imogene Street, Arcadia
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes6
the Florida Farmhouse
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.4 mi
103 West Oak Street, Arcadia
Su off; Tu-We 07:00-14:00; Th-Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 13:00-17:00
Where to stay3
History
According to The Atlas of Florida, "The Rev. James Madison ("Boss") Hendry (1839–1922) named the town in honor of Arcadia Albritton (1861–1932), a daughter of Thomas H. and Fannie (Waldron) Albritton, pioneer settlers. Arcadia had baked him a cake for his birthday, and he appreciated it so much that he named the city after her."
In 1886, transportation improved in Arcadia when the Florida Southern Railway (later the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) was built through Arcadia on its way from Bartow to Punta Gorda. The railway caused Arcadia to grow significantly, which led to it becoming incorporated a year later. A second railroad line, the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway (later the Seaboard Air Line Railroad), was built through Arcadia from 1907 to 1910 on its way from Mulberry to Boca Grande. Both lines have since been consolidated into a single line by CSX with the Seaboard line surviving north of Arcadia and the Atlantic Coast Line surviving to the south. Arcadia was also served by the short-lived East and West Coast Railway, which connected Arcadia with Bradenton from 1915 to 1934.
From the History section of Arcadia, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship19
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 0.8 mi
East Gibson Street, Arcadia
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Healthcare3
Map of Arcadia
67 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°F | 47°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 76°F | 50°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 80°F | 53°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 84°F | 58°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 89°F | 64°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 69°F | 9.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 91°F | 71°F | 8.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 72°F | 8.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 7.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 86°F | 64°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 80°F | 56°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 75°F | 51°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Arcadia Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
DeSoto County has had 27 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-28: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Zolfo Springs 19 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Port Charlotte 22 mi southwest, about 36 min by car
- North Port 24 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Charlotte Park 25 mi southwest, about 40 min by car
- Punta Gorda 26 mi southwest, about 42 min by car
- Bowling Green 29 mi north, about 46 min by car
- Sebring 31 mi northeast, about 49 min by car
- North Fort Myers 35 mi south, about 56 min by car
- Lakewood Ranch 35 mi northwest, about 57 min by car
- Venice 35 mi west, about 56 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Arcadia Hist Dist downtown Oak Street west01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Desoto Courthouse, Fl295 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.