center of DeSoto County at 27°13'N 81°52'W (27.2176, –81.8599). The Peace River flows past the west side of the city on its way southwest to tidewater at Punta Gorda. Most of Arcadia is more than above sea level and portions of Arcadia near the center of the city are as high as above sea level, giving Arcadia one of the highest elevations for a city in Florida. U.S. Route 17 passes through the center of Arcadia, leading north to Bartow and southwest to its terminus at Punta Gorda. Florida State Road 70 crosses US 17 in the center of Arcadia and leads east to Okeechobee and west-northwest to South Bradenton. Via SR 72, which splits from SR 70 just west of Arcadia, it is west to South Sarasota. According to the United States Census Bureau, Arcadia has a total area of , of which , or 0.15%, is covered by water. Demographics As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 7,420 people and 2,953 households. About 5.1% of the population were under 5 years old, 26.2% were under 18, and 13.7% were 65 and over; 49.9% of the population were female. About 70.9% of the population were White, 19.5% were Black or African American, 0.3% were Asian, 6.2% were two or more races, and 34.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In total, 256 veterans were living in the city and 14.7% of the population were foreign-born. About 69.5% of the households had a computer and 58.0% had a broadband internet subscription. Around 80.9% of the population 25 and older were high-school graduates and 15.2% of that same population had a bachelor's degree or higher. Around7.4% of the population under 65 had a disability and 17.3% of that same population did not have health insurance. The median household income was $34,003 and the per capita income was $18,376; 30.2% of the population lived below the poverty threshold. Government The City of Arcadia was created by an act of the Florida Legislature in 1886. Currently, the city is governed by a council/manager form of government, with five council members elected at large to four-year terms of office, who in turn appoint a city manager to run the daily operation of the city. The council annually chooses a mayor and deputy mayor, who serve in the capacity of chairman of meetings and at ceremonial functions. Also elected by