Highlands County was created in 1921 from a portion of the original DeSoto County and was named because of the county’s high terrain. Highlands County residents love the area for the slower pace of life it offers as compared to much of the rest of the State of Florida. The city of Sebring serves as the county seat and is home to Florida’s first state park, Highlands Hammock State Park, and one of the oldest continuously running automobile race tracks in the United States, the Sebring International Raceway, which has hosted the 12 Hours of Sebring Motorsports Endurance Race every year since 1952. Sebring is also known for its historical downtown district which was built around a circle and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Highlands County is the perfect home for lovers of the arts, nature, history, and race cars.
Home Buyer Information
- Highlands County consists of 7 cities
- The Average Home Listing Price in Highlands County is $164,000
- The Average Home Listing Price Per Square Foot in Highlands County is $109
- The Average Home Selling Price in Highlands County is $135,000
- The Average Home / Apartment Rental Price in Highlands County is $1,000 per month
- The Median Household Income in Highlands County is $35,865 per year
Community Information
- The Highlands News Sun and The Daily Ridge – everything you need to know about the local Highlands County area news https://www.yoursun.com/sebring/ and http://www.dailyridge.com/en/category/highlands-county-news/
- Highlands County Community Information – https://www.hcbcc.net/
- Sebring Regional Airport – https://sebring-airport.com/
- Highlands County Property Appraiser – https://www.hcpao.org/
- Highlands County Clerk of Courts – https://www.hcclerk.org/
- Highlands County Tax Collector – https://www.hctaxcollector.com/
Local School Information
The School Board of Highlands County is committed to achieving their mission of making every school a place where “we will prepare our students to be college and career ready, empower our students to achieve personal excellence, and foster responsible citizens” by remaining focused on their vision “leading together to achieve excellence” every day. Serving more than 12,374 students in their 24 public schools and 686 students in their 9 private schools.
- Highlands County Public Schools – https://www.highlands.k12.fl.us
- Highlands County Private Schools – http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/private-schools/parent-info.stml
- Highlands County Charter Schools – http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/charter-schools/charter-school-faqs.stml
- Information About Florida’s School Choice Program – floridaschoolchoice.org
- School Reviews and Information – greatschools.org/florida or www.privateschoolreview.com/florida/highlands-county
- South Florida State College Avon Park – https://www.southflorida.edu/
Crime Data
- Highlands County Crime Statistics – https://www.bestplaces.net/crime/county/florida/highlands
- Highlands County Interactive Crime Map – https://spotcrime.com/fl/highlands+county
- Highlands County Sheriff’s Office – https://www.highlandssheriff.org/
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement – fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/County-Profiles/Highlands.aspx
- Sexual Offenders and Predators Information – https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/neighborhoodSearch.jsf
Utilities Contact Information
- City of Sebring Utilities (Water) – 863-471-5112 or https://www.mysebring.com/185/Utilities
- City of Avon Park Water Department – 863-452-4433 or https://www.avonpark.cc/
- Town of Lake Placid (Water) – 863-699-3747 or https://www.lakeplacidfl.net/
- Progress / Duke Energy – 800-700-8744 or https://www.duke-energy.com/home
- Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc. – 863-946-6200 or https://www.gladesec.com
- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) – 888-488-7703 or https://poweringflorida.com
- Sebring Gas System – 863-385-0194 or https://www.sebringgas.com
- TECO Peoples Gas – 877-832-6747 or https://www.peoplesgas.com/
- Coker Fuel – 863-385-0194 or https://www.cokerfuel.com/
- Comcast Cable, Internet, and Telephone Services – 800-266-2278 or https://www.xfinity.com/
- CenturyLink Cable, Internet, and Telephone Services – 866-304-6820 or https://www.centurylink.com/
Shopping
- Lakeshore Mall – 863-471-9500 or https://www.lakeshoremall.com/
- Sebring Downtown Mall & Marketplace – 863-471-3532 or https://www.sebringdowntownmall.com
Things To Do
- Highlands Hammock State Park – 863-386-6094 or https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/highlands-hammock-state-park
- Lake June In Winter Scrub State Park – 863-386-6094 or https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-june-winter-scrub-preserve-state-park
- Airboat Wildlife Adventures – 863-655-4737 or airboatwildlifeadventures.com/
- Sebring International Raceway – 863-655-1442 or https://www.sebringraceway.com/
- Lake Istokpoga – https://visitsebring.com/partners/lake-istokpoga-istokpoga-park-boat-ramp-lake-istokpoga-park/
- Lost Mines of Atlantis – 863-781-1758 or lostminesofatlantis.net
- Lake Jackson & City Pier Beach – 863-471-5100 or https://visitsebring.com/partners/lake-jackson-city-pier-beach-3/
- Highlands Little Theatre – 863-382-2525 or highlandslittletheatre.org/
- Highlands Museum of the Arts – 863-385-5312 or https://www.highlandsartleague.org/about/mota/
- Sebring Downtown Historic District – 863-471-5104 or http://downtownsebring.org/information/
- Military Sea Services Museum – 863-385-0992 or https://www.milseasvcmuseum.org/
- Children’s Museum of The Highlands – 863-451-5385 or https://childrensmuseumhighlands.com/
- Hidden Creek Farms Petting Zoo and Pony Parties – 863-443-7624 or myponyparties.weebly.com
- American Clown School & Museum – 863-465-2920 or http://www.tobysclownfoundation.org/
- The Peter Powell Roberts Museum of Art and Cultural Center – 863-453-4531 or http://www.peterpowellroberts.org/Museum.html
- Alan Jay Wildstein Center for Performing Arts – 863-784-7178 or https://www.sfscarts.org/
- Avon Park Depot Museum – 863-453-3525 or http://www.avonparkhistoricalsociety.com/