We used science and data to determine which Sunshine State cities are real redneck heaven.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don’t freak out.


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Is there anything really wrong with being called a Florida redneck? Most rednecks would say, “I don’t care what you call me, as long as you call me for supper.”

Wait. What is a redneck anyways? Well, according to the official bible of literature, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a redneck is:

“A white person who lives in a small town or in the country especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive”

Plus, we thought why not add in a few stereotypes? Cause, you know, rednecks live in mobile home parks and they like to hunt, drink, smoke and shoot things. And shop at Bass Pro Shops, Walmart and Winn-Dixie.

Using that criteria, it’s not hard to scrape the internet, run some scientific data on where rednecks might live in Florida, and then put out a list.

Because, the data never lies, does it?

After analyzing all 206 cities in the Sunshine State with cities under 25,000 people, we came up with this list as The Most Redneck Cities in Florida:

Okeechobee (Photos) Clewiston (Photos) Arcadia (Photos) Starke Inverness Quincy (Photos) Brooksville (Photos) Perry (Photos) Westville Mascotte (Photos)

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.

Swipe left for slideshow. Article continues below.

What redneck criteria did we use?

In order to rank the most redneck cities in Florida, we had to determine what criteria makes a redneck.

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using Yelp and the Walmart store locator, this is the criteria we used:

The dictionary definition categories

Small towns

Least amount of high school graduates

Lives in the south

And the stereotypical categories

Number of dive bars per city

Number of mobile home parks per capita

Number of tobacco stores per city

Number of guns and ammo stores per city

Walmarts, Bass Pro Shops and Piggly Wigglys nearby

Note: For the sake of getting reliable numbers, we counted places within a city’s border, as well as within a short driving distance.

If you’d like to see the complete list of cities, from most to least redneck, we put in a list of the top 150 cities in a chart at the bottom. Hope you’re on there if you want to be.


1. Okeechobee

Looking out to inlet heading to Lake Okeechobee. Source: Google Maps

Population: 5,613

Gun stores per capita: 1st

Fishing shops per capita: 4th

Mobile home parks per capita: 2nd in the state

High school graduation rate: 73%

Congratulations, Okeechobee. You have the official bragging rights as being named the most redneck city in the entire state of Florida. You may now brag to your friends and share this endlessly on your Facebook walls.

Lets see why. When it comes to number of gun stores and fishing stores, you’re right up there. There are plenty of opportunities to hunt and fish in this part of the state. Of course, you’ve got Lake Okeechobee, which is the largest lake in Florida, and the second largest body of fresh water in the contiguous United States.

That’s redneck heaven.

Plus, there are a ton of mobile home parks and RV parks in the area. We counted 11 on the map.

What’s interesting about Okeechobee is the high school graduation rate of its residents is actually one of the highest on this list. So, Okeechobee, you have a lot of really smart rednecks.

Forums are packed with comments saying Okeechobee has a small town feel with friendly people, and the police are the ‘good ole boys club.’

Is there any debate?

2. Clewiston

Right on the edge of Clewiston, FL. Source: Google Maps

Population: 7,119

High school graduation rate: 69%

Mobile home parks per capita: 11th highest

Bars per capita: 2nd in Florida

Clewiston is on the southern banks of Lake Okeechobee. Here, you have one of the highest concentrations of bars and places to drink in the state. Locals can pile into Everglades Lounge & Grill or Tiki Bar and Grill after trolling out on the lake, lying about how big the catfish was that they ‘let get away’ that day.

Plus, there are a lot of other smaller ponds and lakes in the area, which may or may not be private. Since when did a ‘No Fishing’ sign stop a redneck?

In addition, you have a Walmart in town. Cheap bait and ammo!

3. Arcadia

Slim’s BBQ, Arcadia, FL. Google Maps

Population: 7,616

High school graduation rate: 72%

Gun stores per capita: 4th in Florida

Fishing shops per capita: 26th in the state

Mobile home parks per capita: 13th in the state

This is sure taking away the stereotype that most of the rednecks are in the panhandle. Arcadia, located on Route 17 directly west of Lake Okeechobee, is far away from any large city, which means its isolation allows the rednecks here to thrive in solitude.

Locals have the Peace River, which is rich in shrimp, crabs and fish. Nothing like throwing back a cold one while dipping your chicken strings off the dock, right outside your back door.

Of course, you’ve got your Walmart in town, and a Bass Pro Shops is only an hour drive away, meaning you can fire up the truck and get your gear on every weekend.

4. Starke

Bradford Guns and Pawn, Starke, FL. Google Maps

Population: 5,453

Gun stores per capita: 4th in Florida

Fishing gear per capita: 4th in the state

Tobacco stores per capita: 18th

Starke is fishing heaven for rednecks, and there are a lot of fishing stores and places to buy ammo in the area to prove it. You’ve got Lake Sampson, Kingsley Lake, and Hampton Lake all within a short drive. Lake Sampson has some of the best sunshine bass in the region.

In addition, The Herald Tribune said Bradford is the 10th best county in the state for hunting.

5. Inverness

One of many waterways in Inverness, FL. Google Maps

Population: 7,230

Mobile home parks per capita: 4th in Florida

Bars per capita in the region: 4th in the state

Guns and ammo stores in the area: 8th in Florida

Fishing stores per capita: 3rd in the state

Inverness sure does have a lot of mobile home parks and fishing. Plus, it’s 91% white. Can you say redneck any more than that?

Located along Route 41 halfway between Gainesville and Tampa, there’s a ton of rednecky stuff to do here. You’re right in the middle between the endless fishing opportunities of the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes, otherwise known as the Cove of the Withlacoochee. It’s an entire wetlands area where you can get your fan boats out to get after more than 20 largemouth bass per acre.

Plus, you’re right next to the Citrus Wildlife Management Area, which has great deer, turkey, gray squirrel, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, bobcat, wild hog and otter hunting available.

Why would you ever need to leave here?

6. Quincy

Piggly Wiggly in Quincy, FL. Google Maps

Population: 7,230

Guns stores per capita: 11th in Florida

Bars per capita and nearby: 4th most in the state

Tobacco shops per capita: 6th most

Fishing stores per capita:3rd most

Finally, we get up into the panhandle, where most of the stereotypical rednecks live. Quincy is located along Route 90, 45 minutes west of Tallahassee.

While there are a ton of smaller ponds and lakes here, Quincy has the benefit of being nearby Lake Talquin and several other wildlife management areas such as Joe Budd and the Apalachicola National Forest, where you know the huntin’ is damn good.

Plus, you got yourselves a Walmart, a Piggly Wiggly and a Winn-Dixie, plenty of bars and places to get your chew, and a Dollar General. So the Misses can get her shopping on, too.

You’ve got the Redneck Riviera on the coast. Sounds like Quincy should be the capital of the Redneck Triangle, in the middle of the panhandle.

7. Brooksville

R Place, Brooksville, FL. Google Maps

Population: 7,728

Bars per capita and the area: 10th most in Florida

Gun stores per capita: 5th in Florida

Tobacco stores per capita: 6th in the state

Mobile home parks: 2nd most in the state

Brooksville is another city located along Route 41, meaning this region is a great place for rednecks to call home. And some smart ones at that: The high school graduation rate is higher here than any other city on this list.

No one said rednecks were not smart. The dictionary definition says they mostly work blue collar jobs, but lets be real, a lot of rednecks went to college and have great jobs. They enjoy shooting things and blowing stuff up. Is that juvenile?

Here in Brooksville, you’re centrally located to some great fishing spots and just outside of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Area, which has some great wild hog-dog hunting opportunities. Nothing like chasing down some wild pigs with Spot after work.

8. Perry

Doc’s Smoke Shop, Perry, FL. Google Maps

Population: 7,046

Gun stores per capita: 4th in Florida

Fishing stores per capita: 6th in the state

Perry is in the southern end of the panhandle, a short drive down Route 27 from Tallahassee. Taylor County, where Perry is located, has some great saltwater fishing opportunities, as well as hundreds of inland lakes and streams nearby.

According to the Urban Dictionary, the four top keywords that are associated with Perry are ‘fishing’, ‘hicktown,’ ‘hunting,’ and ‘redneck.’ And, according to one City-Data commenter, Perry is, “Infamous to us as the place that sells fishing licenses and welding ‘hats’ at the gas station. And the KFC advertises catfish.”

Go forth and prosper in Perry, young rednecks.

9. Westville

Thirsty Turtle Bar, near Westville, FL. Google Maps

Population: 6,604

Bars per capita: 9th in Florida

Fishing stores per capita: 13th in state

Tobacco stores per person: 3rd

Mobile home parks per capita: 5th

Westville is a tiny place on the panhandle, along I-10, just south of Hardwood Lake. They have the 13th most fishing/bait shops per capita in the state, and the 3rd most tobacco shops in Florida. Plus, there are plenty of mobile home parks in the area.

So you know there’s plenty of rednecks here.

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Lake Apopka, near Mascotte, FL. Google Maps

Population: 5,155

High school graduation rate: 68%

Gun stores per capita: 21st most in Florida

Smoke shops per person: 17th in the state

Mascotte is the total example of what a redneck town is. Blue collar workers, 70% white, small town with lots of fishing and hunting nearby, and plenty of places to buy guns, chew and ammo.

Located along Route 50 east of Lake Apopka, you’ve got endless fishing in the lowland waterways right inside of town. There’s nothing like sitting on your back porch with a Budweiser, listening to the Florida-Florida State game on the radio with your feet in the water.

There You Have It

According to the official dictionary definition of a redneck, and based on stereotypes that the internet says are true, using science to determine the most redneck cities in a state can’t be too far off. If you’re analyzing smaller towns in Florida with blue collar workers, where people have lots of options for drinking, smoking, hunting and Walmarting, this is an accurate list.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least redneck cities in Florida, according to science (Populations of 5,000 to 25,000 only).

Navarre Beach Crescent Beach Palm Beach Shores Bay Hill Pelican Bay

We also did a story on the 10 most white trash cities in Florida. Click here to read it.

City Population Rank Okeechobee 5613 1 Clewiston 7119 2 Arcadia 7616 3 Starke 5453 4 Inverness 7230 5 Quincy 8046 6 Brooksville 7728 7 Perry 7046 8 Key West 25000 9 Mascotte 5155 10 Indiantown 6604 11 Naples Manor 5469 12 Naranja 7887 13 Southeast Arcadia 7774 14 Mascotte 5155 15 Westgate 7835 16 West Samoset 5819 17 Paisley 865 18 Callahan 1175 19 Ferndale 191 20 Branford 1022 21 Altoona 181 22 Cottondale 873 23 Floridatown 267 24 Wimauma 5641 25 Masaryktown 1113 26 Seville 149 27 Caryville 408 28 Kenwood Estates 971 29 Center Hill 1190 30 Waldo 1198 31 Marathon 8405 32 Limestone 312 33 East Williston 592 34 Cloud Lake 85 35 Broadview Park 6830 36 Pine Lakes 696 37 Greenville 729 38 Lecanto 5586 39 Lake Kathryn 860 40 South Apopka 5497 41 Willow Oak 5131 42 Berrydale 352 43 Fanning Springs 953 44 Bristol 997 45 Fort Pierce North 6824 46 Paradise Heights 702 47 Bay Lake 10 48 Jay 449 49 Live Oak 6918 50 Page Park 824 51 West Miami 6089 52 Andrews 1242 53 Jacob City 576 54 Avon Park 8862 55 Noma 270 56 Inwood 6142 57 Dixonville 234 58 Minneola 9634 59 Lawtey 1120 60 Cocoa West 5358 61 Memphis 9164 62 Pine Level 228 63 Esto 376 64 Bell 502 65 Combee Settlement 5921 66 Fellsmere 5233 67 Pahokee 5859 68 Alford 488 69 Lake Mack-Forest Hills 915 70 Schall Circle 1241 71 Otter Creek 235 72 Marianna 7939 73 Lisbon 189 74 Westville 366 75 Worthington Springs 671 76 Layton 172 77 Wausau 414 78 Reddick 541 79 Raiford 163 80 Seffner 7463 81 Goulds 9802 82 Pomona Park 773 83 Homeland 342 84 Fort Meade 5725 85 Mims 6982 86 Orlovista 7509 87 Welaka 712 88 Harlem Heights 1205 89 Horseshoe Beach 170 90 Sky Lake 6251 91 Fort Green Springs 468 92 Fort Pierce South 5599 93 Pembroke Park 6122 94 Gun Club Estates 848 95 Steinhatchee 935 96 Fidelis 97 97 Hosford 566 98 Milton 9008 99 groveland 9012 100

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