DeSoto County is named for Hernando DeSoto, who was a Spanish explorer.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Hardee County
E – Highlands County
S – Charlotte County
W – Sarasota County and Manatee County
Created: May 19, 1887 
County Seat:
Pine Level 1887 – 1888
Arcadia 1888 – present
County Courthouse – Arcadia
Location: 115 East Oak Street / Brevard Avenue
Built: 1912 – 1913
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Bonfoey and Elliot of Tampa
Contractor: Read-Paker Construction Company
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick, concrete and stone structure. The building is located on the spacious landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Arcadia. The building has a large portico on the south front supported by four large columns which rise to a pediment at the roof line. The roof line has a decorative cornice along the top of the second story with a brick wall rising on the third story. The roof line is flat. The large windows on the first story are arched. In the interior is a central rotunda and marble wainscoting in the hallways and stairs. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the east side of the second story and has a high ceiling and large chandeliers. There is a small courtroom on the third story. The building houses the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit and County Court. The building was restored by Stewart Construction after the 2004 hurricane.
See: The 12th Judicial District includes Manatee County and Sarasota County.
See: The county is located in the Second Judicial District of the Court of Appeal – Second Judicial District located in Lakeland and Tampa.
History: The county was created in 1887 and Pine Level was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story brick and wood structure built in 1866 when it served as the courthouse for Manatee County. The county seat was moved to Arcadia in 1888 where the second courthouse, a two story wood frame structure was designed by Dr. Edwin Green and built by Peyton Reed in 1888 at a cost of $6,000. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1905. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1913 at a cost of $120,000.
County Administration Building – Arcadia
Location: 201 East Oak Street / Volusia Avemue
Built: 1993 – 1994
Style: Modern
Architect: Barger + Dean Architects
Contractor: Anddras Engineering and Contracting
Description: The building faces south and is red colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on spacious landscaped grounds on the east side of the courthouse. in the center of Arcadia.
County Courthouse – Arcadia
County Circuit Court small courtroom
County Administration Building – Arcadia
Photos taken 2009, 2019 and 2023