UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FLORIDA
DeSoto County

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Arcadia is a city in DeSoto County, Florida, United States. It is the county seat of DeSoto County; it is also DeSoto County's only incorporated community. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city grew to 7,151.

According to the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State of Florida, the Rev. James Hendry named the town in honor of Arcadia Albritton, a daughter of pioneer settlers who baked him a cake for his birthday. He appreciated it so much he named the city after her.

During the late 1800s Arcadia was the county seat of what would become many counties. In 1921 legislation enacted called for Arcadia to remain the county seat of Desoto County and resulted in the creation of present day counties of Charlotte, Hardee, Glades and Highlands. Prior to this break up Arcadia's population had grown considerably with over 1,000 permanent residents and boasted 3,000 square miles for ranching. During Thanksgiving Day in 1905 the town was destroyed by a large-scale fire that originated from a mid-town livery stable. Furthermore the fire was exacerbated because the town did not have a working water system or fire department. The estimated monetary damage was $250,000 but there was no loss of life.

From 1917 to 1922, Arcadia was the home of Carlstrom Field, a grass airfield of the U.S. Army Air Service named for deceased aviation pioneer Victor Carlstrom. Carlstrom Field was used for pilot training both during and after World War I. In May 1941 the site again became an airfield for military primary flight training, operated by the Embry-Riddle Academy. Carlstrom Field, one of several satellite fields in the Fort Myers Area, trained pilots for the Royal Air Force until its closing in 1945.
[Text adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia,_Florida]

Glass no. 2478 shows a view of the Burnt District.