Big Cypress Indian Reservation
Reservation
Location of Big Cypress Indian Reservation in red.
Location of Big Cypress Indian Reservation in red.
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyHendry County, Broward County
Government
 • Governing bodySeminole Tribe of Florida
Area
 • Total81.972 sq mi (212.306 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total591
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
WebsiteSeminole Tribe of Florida: Big Cypress

The Big Cypress Indian Reservation is one of the six reservations of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is located in southeastern Hendry County and northwestern Broward County, in southern Florida, United States. Its location is on the Atlantic coastal plain. This reservation lies south of Lake Okeechobee and just north of Alligator Alley. It is governed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida's Tribal Council, and is the largest of the five Seminole reservations in the state. Facilities on the reservation include the tribal museum and a major entertainment and rodeo complex.

The land area is 81.972 sq mi (212.306 km²), including the 12th-largest cattle operation in the country.[1] A resident population of 591 persons was reported in the 2010 census. The reservation is also called "Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation" or "Big Cypress Reservation". It lies adjacent to the north side of the largest section of the Miccosukee Indian Reservation in western Broward County.

Climate

Climate data for Big Cypress, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32) 		93
(34) 		95
(35) 		99
(37) 		97
(36) 		99
(37) 		99
(37) 		99
(37) 		97
(36) 		97
(36) 		93
(34) 		89
(32) 		99
(37)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 84.8
(29.3) 		87.6
(30.9) 		89.7
(32.1) 		93.7
(34.3) 		95.3
(35.2) 		97.1
(36.2) 		96.7
(35.9) 		96.9
(36.1) 		95.1
(35.1) 		92.3
(33.5) 		88.1
(31.2) 		85.7
(29.8) 		97.8
(36.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 74.5
(23.6) 		77.8
(25.4) 		80.9
(27.2) 		85.4
(29.7) 		89.1
(31.7) 		91.2
(32.9) 		92.3
(33.5) 		92.0
(33.3) 		90.0
(32.2) 		86.2
(30.1) 		80.6
(27.0) 		76.7
(24.8) 		84.7
(29.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 63.3
(17.4) 		66.1
(18.9) 		68.8
(20.4) 		73.0
(22.8) 		77.5
(25.3) 		81.3
(27.4) 		82.6
(28.1) 		82.9
(28.3) 		81.4
(27.4) 		77.1
(25.1) 		70.5
(21.4) 		66.1
(18.9) 		74.2
(23.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 52.0
(11.1) 		54.5
(12.5) 		56.7
(13.7) 		60.5
(15.8) 		65.9
(18.8) 		71.3
(21.8) 		72.9
(22.7) 		73.8
(23.2) 		72.8
(22.7) 		67.9
(19.9) 		60.5
(15.8) 		55.4
(13.0) 		63.7
(17.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 35.0
(1.7) 		38.3
(3.5) 		41.2
(5.1) 		48.6
(9.2) 		56.8
(13.8) 		66.9
(19.4) 		69.5
(20.8) 		71.1
(21.7) 		69.3
(20.7) 		56.3
(13.5) 		45.1
(7.3) 		41.8
(5.4) 		32.9
(0.5)
Record low °F (°C) 27
(−3) 		31
(−1) 		34
(1) 		42
(6) 		50
(10) 		57
(14) 		65
(18) 		69
(21) 		63
(17) 		44
(7) 		38
(3) 		27
(−3) 		27
(−3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.63
(67) 		2.32
(59) 		2.82
(72) 		2.88
(73) 		5.09
(129) 		10.09
(256) 		8.79
(223) 		9.08
(231) 		6.73
(171) 		3.56
(90) 		2.08
(53) 		1.90
(48) 		57.97
(1,472)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 5.5 6.0 5.4 5.6 9.1 17.3 17.4 18.6 16.5 9.4 6.1 7.0 123.9
Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[2][3]

Tourism and entertainment

Seminole patchwork shawl made by Susie Cypress from Big Cypress Indian Reservation, ca. 1980s

The tribe owns two tourist attractions here: Billie Swamp Safari, and Big Cypress National Preserve.

The American rock band Phish held their millennium concert at the reservation from December 30, 1999, to January 1, 2000. With 85,000 people in attendance, it was the earliest and largest sold-out millennium concert. Phish performed three sets of music on the 30th, an afternoon set on the 31st, and an unprecedented "Midnight To Dawn" set, which ran from 11:50pm until sunrise on January 1, 2000.

The entertainment complex is surrounded by 350 acres for outdoor events, in addition to a newly renovated rodeo arena with seating for 3,000 people. Stables have stalls for 86 horses.

The tribe constructed the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum, which opened in 1997. In 2005 it was the first tribal museum to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM), and is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.

Education

The tribal school, affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education, is the Ahfachkee School.[4]

For residents of Hendry County, the local school district is Hendry County School District.[5]

For residents of Broward County, the local school district is Broward County School District.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ "Red Barn, Glades County, Florida" Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, accessed 26 December 2011
  2. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Ahfachkee Day School". Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved 2021-08-05. 30290 Josie Billie Hwy PMB 1005, Clewiston, FL, 33440
  5. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hendry County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2023-07-01. BIG CYPRESS RESVN - Only one school district is listed for this county.
  6. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Broward County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2023-07-01. BIG CYPRESS RESVN - Only one school district is listed for this county.

References

26°17′39″N 80°58′09″W / 26.29417°N 80.96917°W / 26.29417; -80.96917

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