History of Hardee County’s Clerks
Hardee County was created by Governor Cary A. Hardee on the 23rd day of April 1921.
Hardee County is Florida’s 55th county, officially established on April 23, 1921, from a segment of Desoto County. It gained its name from Cary Augustus Hardee, who served his first year as Governor at the time of the county’s creation. The City of Wauchula is the county seat.
Manatee County was organized in 1855. At that time, it was as large as the state of Connecticut and extended 5,000 square miles. It contained what are now Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, Charlotte, and Glades counties. All but Sarasota County was split off on May 9, 1887, when DeSoto County was created. Desoto County was split into DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Charlotte, and Glades counties in 1921.
Honorable George M. Hardee, Hardee County’s first clerk was appointed by Governor Hardee on April 23rd, 1921.
(Florida Session Law Reference: S.1, Ch. 8513, 1921: CGL 59)