Half of Southeast Arcadia’s homes were built after 1993
More historic than 21% of U.S. towns · #220 of 638 in Florida. What drives it
Most of Southeast Arcadia was built recently: 6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1993. Below: maps from 1957 on and the census since 1990.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Southeast Arcadia is more historic than 21% of U.S. towns, #220 of 638 in Florida. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Southeast Arcadia’s overall grade.
Few Florida towns list much on the Register (a typical Florida town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Southeast Arcadia’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (33% of Florida towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.9 points).
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Southeast Arcadia’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Lazy Bee Mobile Home ParkLindale Mobile Home ParkLittle Gator Park Mobile Home ParkSunrise Mobile Home Park
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The story so far
Southeast Arcadia, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Southeast Arcadia yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Southeast Arcadia is a census-designated place (CDP) in DeSoto County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,299 at the 2020 census, down from 6,554 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Arcadia, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 6,554 to 6,299 (-4%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Southeast Arcadia. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1957Arcadia sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Southeast Arcadia.
People over time
Southeast Arcadia, census by census
Between 4,145 and 6,554 people in every census since 1990.
4 censuses, 1990–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Southeast Arcadia’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
Famous people close to Southeast Arcadia
Nobody well known was born in Southeast Arcadia itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Southeast Arcadia is more historic than 21% of U.S. towns, #220 of 638 in Florida. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Southeast Arcadia?
6% of Southeast Arcadia’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.9 points), against a typical 0.6% for a Florida town; the median home was built in 1993.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
