Southwest Florida Southwest Florida Southwest Florida is the region along the southwest Gulf coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is known for its sugar white sand beaches, lush tropical landscape, and winter resort economy. Definitions of the region vary, though its boundaries are generally considered to put it south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee, and mostly north of the Everglades and to include Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. For some purposes, the inland counties of DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry, and the thinly populated mainland section of Monroe County, south of Collier, are also
Okeechobee County, Florida Okeechobee County, Florida Okeechobee County () is a county located in the state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,996. The county seat is Okeechobee. Okeechobee County comprises the Okeechobee, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, FL Combined Statistical Area. Okeechobee County was incorporated in 1917. It was named for Lake Okeechobee, which was itself named for the Hitchiti words "oka" (water) and "chobi" (big). Historic buildings in Okeechobee County include: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land