Our Towns and Cities

Incorporated

• Clewston
• LaBelle

Unincorporated Areas

• Felda
• Flaghole
• Ladeca Acres
• Banyan Village

Other Notable Areas

These are census designated areas.

• Fort Denaud
• Harlem
• Montura
• Pioneer
• Port LaBelle

Towns in Hendry County

Big Cypress:

The Big Cypress Reservation is located in the southeast corner of Hendry County. This area was originally populated by Calusa Indians, and is now home to some members of the Seminole Tribe.

Clewiston

Clewiston bills itself as "America's Sweetest Town." The area was first used as a campsite by Indians fishing in Lake Okeechobee.

Felda

About 15 miles south of LaBelle, Florida on Hwy 29 is a wide spot in the road called FELDA. This community was first settled in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Fort Denaud

The oldest Europeon settlement in Hendry County. Fort Denaud was established in 1838 during the Seminole Wars.

Courtesy of Jim Pike

Fort Thompson

LaBelle's history begins here, at the old Fort Thompson site, established c.1838 during the 2nd Seminole War.

Harlem

This community southeast of Clewiston was populated by temporary sugarcane harvesters in the 1920s.

LaBelle

LaBelle's name, derived from a father's affection for his daughters, is tied to the town's roots alongside the Caloosahatchee River, reflecting both familial love and the area's natural beauty. This Floridian town, historically connected to the Calusa Indians, Seminoles, and early settlers, began to develop significantly in the 1880s as part of an Everglades reclamation project and Captain Francis A. Hendry's expansive ranch. LaBelle's growth was further marked by its establishment as a settlement named in honor of Hendry's daughters, embedding a personal legacy into its foundation. By 1891, the community had initiated its first educational institution, signifying its evolution into a structured society. The transition from a mere settlement to an official city was greatly influenced by E.E. Goodno and Captain Hendry, with LaBelle becoming the county seat of the newly formed Hendry County in 1923. This period also saw attempts to enhance LaBelle's infrastructure, including a failed effort to attract railroad development through a bond issue, which led to complicated negotiations over the city's boundaries with Glades County. Despite such challenges, LaBelle solidified its identity in the early 20th century, embracing its historical legacy and evolving as a center for those seeking a peaceful life by the river.

Source: Joseph Horne Thomas, MAT

Sears

Sears began 1926 when Standard Lumber Company built a mill in the area about twelve miles south of LaBelle.

Courtesy of Jim Pike

Post Office History

The following list contains the post offices with the years in operation. Source: Postal History