Arcadia is a city and county seat of DeSoto County, Florida, United States. Its population was 7,637 as of the 2010 census, with an estimated population of 7,722 in 2014. Arcadia’s Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to The Atlas of Florida, “The Rev. James Madison (“Boss”) Hendry (1839–1922) named the town in praise of Arcadia Albritton (1861–1932), a daughter of Thomas H. and Fannie (Waldron) Albritton, pioneer settlers. Arcadia had baked him a cake for his birthday, and he appreciated it for that reason much that he named the city after her.”

In 1886, transportation improved in Arcadia later than the Florida Southern Railway (later the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) was built through Arcadia upon its exaggeration from Bartow to Punta Gorda. The railway caused Arcadia to mount up significantly, which led to it becoming incorporated a year later. A second railroad line, the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway (later the Seaboard Air Line Railroad), was built through Arcadia from 1907 to 1910 on its quirk from Mulberry to Boca Grande. Both lines have before been consolidated into a single descent by CSX later the Seaboard line permanent north of Arcadia and the Atlantic Coast Line unshakable to the south. Arcadia was after that served by the short-lived East and West Coast Railway, which partnered Arcadia subsequent to Bradenton from 1915 to 1934.

During the late 19th century Arcadia was the county seat of what would become many counties. In 1921 legislation enacted called for Arcadia to remain the county chair of DeSoto County and resulted in the instigation of the present-day counties of Charlotte, Hardee, Glades and Highlands. Prior to this breakup, Arcadia’s population had grown considerably, with higher than 1,000 enduring residents and 3,000 sq mi (7,800 km) for ranching.