Okeechobee, FL

About Okeechobee

• • Singer Mel Tillis, known for his stutter, lived in Okeechobee during his youth.
• • Okeechobee is the 'Speckled Perch Capital of the World,' a fishing designation.
• • The establishment of the Seminole Indian Reservation in 1934 boosted the area.
• • A 1920s land boom saw property prices soar, followed by a devastating bust.
• • The 1926 hurricane devastated the area, leading to major infrastructure changes.
• • Named for Lake Okeechobee, meaning "big water" in Hitchiti, and incorporated in 1915.
• • Home to about 5,800 people, smaller than nearby Clewiston.
• • Sitting at 23 feet, it's slightly higher than the lake's surface.
• • Agriculture, particularly cattle ranching and farming, drives the local economy.
• • Okeechobee feels like a tranquil, rural escape with a strong connection to nature.
• • The Miami Dolphins are the closest NFL team, known for their undefeated 1972 season.
• • Okeechobee High School's Brahman football team has a strong local rivalry with Moore Haven.

Songs About Okeechobee