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52-569: The Caloosahatchee Bridge is a bridge located in Fort Myers, Florida . It carries U.S. Highway 41 (US 41, locally known as Cleveland Avenue) over the Caloosahatchee River , which is where its name comes from. The bridge has four lanes and is 55 feet (17 m) tall. The Caloosahatchee Bridge was built in 1962 but it did not open for traffic until 1964. The bridge's opening was delayed due to difficult negotiations with landowners at

104-503: A water supply for urban and agricultural uses, have substantially altered the hydrology of the river. As a result, both the magnitude and timing of water delivery to the estuary have been substantially altered. Recent programs by the state government have attempted to establish minimum flow levels in the river, in part to help restore the water supply to the Everglades. A federal wildlife refuge for manatees has been established at

156-425: A drop in elevation of about 10 feet (3.0 m). Lake Hicpochee, about 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) in area, was only 3 miles (4.8 km) from Lake Okeechobee, but there was no connection between the two lakes before the late 19th century. Water flowed from Lake Hicpochee westward into Lettuce Lake and then Bonnet Lake. When the water was high, the two lakes merged. From Bonnet Lake, water flowed into Lake Flirt, which

208-596: A four-year term. Council members must continue to reside in that particular ward. Policing of Fort Myers is performed by the Fort Myers Police Department . See: Lee County School District for other public schools in the area. Institutions of higher learning in the city include: Library Services include: The City of Palms Classic is an annual high school basketball tournament held in Fort Myers since 1973. By 2015, 120 players that had participated in

260-534: A national reputation. Despite an initial offer by Edison to light the town, on New Year's Day in 1898 Fort Myers was first electrified by the Seminole Canning Company, a local company that canned and preserved fruit. In 1898, the Royal Palm Hotel was constructed. This luxury hotel attracted tourists and established Fort Myers nationally as a winter resort destination. On May 10, 1904, access to

312-604: A result of his years of service delivering mail and supplies to the Union Army at the fort during the Seminole Indian Wars and Civil War. When the U.S. government abandoned the fort following the Civil War, Gonzalez sailed from Key West to found the community. Three weeks later, Joseph Vivas and his wife, Christianna Stirrup Vivas, arrived with Gonzalez's wife, Evalina, and daughter Mary. Gonzalez settled his family near

364-481: Is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km ) (21.25%) is water. Fort Myers has a tropical monsoon climate ( Am ). The temperature rarely rises to 100 °F (38 °C) or lowers to the freezing mark. Rainfall averages just over 57 inches per year, strongly concentrated during the rainy season (June to September) with its frequent showers and thunderstorms; on average, these four months deliver 67 percent of annual rainfall. From October to May, average monthly rainfall

416-614: Is less than 3.5 inches. In years with drier than average conditions from winter into mid-spring, drought can develop, and brush fires can be a significant threat. Reflecting the June to September wet season, Fort Myers has 89 days annually in which a thunderstorm is close enough for thunder to be heard, the most in the nation. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 64.7 °F (18.2 °C) in January to 83.4 °F (28.6 °C) in August, with

468-699: The Caloosahatchee River , the IMAG History & Science Center , Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium , and other historical sites are among the attractions. According to some historians, the Calusa capital was located near Fort Myers. Following European contact, Spain had colonial influence in Florida, succeeded by Great Britain and lastly the United States. During the Second Seminole War , between 1835 and 1842,

520-533: The Edison Bridge , named for Edison, the city's population steadily grew. The bridge was opened on February 11, 1931, the 84th birthday of its namesake. Edison dedicated the bridge, and was the first to drive across it. In the decade following the bridge's construction, the city had a real estate boom. Several new residential subdivisions were built beyond downtown, including Dean Park, Edison Park, and Seminole Park. Edison Park, located across McGregor Boulevard from

572-614: The Edison and Ford Winter Estates . Fort Myers suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022. The approximate coordinates for the City of Fort Myers is located at 26°37′N 81°50′W  /  26.617°N 81.833°W  / 26.617; -81.833 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 40.4 square miles (105 km ), of which 31.8 square miles (82 km )

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624-652: The Thomas Edison National Historical Park ). Through Edison's efforts, the royal palms lining Riverside Avenue (now McGregor Boulevard) were imported and planted. They inspired Fort Myers' nickname as "City of Palms". After testing around 17,000 plant samples, Edison eventually discovered a source in the goldenrod plant ( Solidago leavenworthii ). The rubber project was transferred to the United States Department of Agriculture five years later. In 1916, automobile magnate Ford purchased

676-475: The US ;41 Business . The south side of the bridge passes over Centennial Park, as well as First Street, the main road through downtown Fort Myers. A loop ramp connects the southbound lanes of the bridge to First Street. Directly south of the bridge is US 41's intersection with McGregor Boulevard , SR 80 , and SR 82 . Each of these highways terminate at this intersection. A two-lane overpass constructed with

728-404: The 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment had been transferred to Louisiana, Companies D and I of the 2nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment were transferred from Key West to Fort Myers, and remained at the fort until it was abandoned. Company G of the regiment had also been sent to Fort Myers by early May. Solomon argues that Brevet Brigadier General Daniel Phineas Woodbury , commandant of

780-588: The Arcade Theater was constructed in Downtown Fort Myers. Originally a vaudeville house, Edison viewed films here for the first time with friends Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone . With the growth of the film industry, the Arcade Theatre was converted into a full movie house. A wall divided the stage in order to form two screening rooms. Changes in moviegoing habits since the late 20th century have led to

832-600: The Caloosahatchee Bridge crosses this intersection, which is historically known as the Five Points interchange, since it is a five-way interchange. The overpass originally carried both northbound and southbound traffic from the bridge, but was changed to have both lanes carry northbound traffic in the early 1990s. In March 2024, the Florida Department of Transportation began a project to add a pedestrian pathway to

884-516: The Caloosahatchee River in 1850. Major David E. Twiggs , then stationed at Fort Brooke (present day-Tampa), gave orders for two companies of artillery to "select a suitable place for the establishment of a post and immediately throw up such light works as may secure [their] stores, and remove from the Indians any temptation to which [their] isolated position may give rise." The new Fort Myers

936-713: The Caloosahatchee Valley. He planned to dredge and drain the Everglades for development. Diston connected Lake Okeechobee with the Caloosahatchee River; this allowed steamboats to run from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Okeechobee and up the Kissimmee River . On August 12, 1885, the small town of Fort Myers—all 349 residents—was incorporated. At that time, it was the second-largest town on Florida's Gulf Coast south of Cedar Key . In 1885, inventor Thomas Alva Edison

988-534: The Cape Coral–Fort Myers metropolitan statistical area , which encompasses Lee County and has a population of 834,573 as of 2023. Fort Myers is a gateway to the Southwest Florida region and a major tourist destination within the state. The winter estates of Thomas Edison ("Seminole Lodge") and Henry Ford ("The Mangoes") are major attractions. The city takes its name from a local former fort that

1040-582: The Confederate Army from Florida every week. As 1864 progressed, Union troops and sympathizers began driving cattle to Punta Rassa to supply Union ships on blockade duty and Union-held Key West, reducing the supply of cattle available to Confederate forces. The increased shipping from Punta Rassa led the Union Army to build a barracks and a wharf there. By one Confederate estimate, the Union shipped 4,500 head of cattle from Punta Rassa. The Battle of Fort Myers

1092-615: The District of Key West and the Tortugas, intended that action to be an irritant to the Confederacy. The presence of the black soldiers, who made up the majority of troops used in raids into Confederate territory, played on Confederate fears of armed blacks. It was reported that Woodbury took pleasure in placing a "prickly pear cactus under the Confederate saddle". By the spring of 1864, Fort Myers

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1144-526: The Edison and Ford properties, includes a number of Fort Myers' most stately homes. The population of Fort Myers City had been 575 citizens in 1890. By 1930, it had climbed to 9,082. In 1947, Mina Edison deeded Seminole Lodge to the city of Fort Myers, in memory of her late husband and for the enjoyment of the public. By 1988, the adjacent Henry Ford winter estate was purchased by the city and opened for public tours in 1990. The combined properties today are known as

1196-654: The Fort Myers area was greatly improved with the opening of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad , connecting Punta Gorda to Fort Myers. This route provided Lee County both passenger and freight railroad service. The arrival of the railroad, however, also led to greater segregation in Fort Myers. With the railroad came the need for more unskilled labor and the arrival of a more uneducated workforce, compared to many African Americans who had already resided in town, some of whom had been tradespersons, vendors, and landowners. These more middle-class black citizens, as well as

1248-624: The U.S. Army operated Fort Dulaney at Punta Rassa , at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River . When a hurricane destroyed Fort Dulaney in October 1841, army operations were moved up the Caloosahatchee River to a site named Fort Harvie. Fort Harvie was abandoned in 1842, as the Second Seminole War wound down. After a white trader was killed by Seminoles on the Peace River in 1849, the Army returned to

1300-586: The US, as of 2020. The population of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers-Naples, FL Combined Statistical Area in 2020 was 1,188,319, and it was the 47th highest populated combined statistical area (CSA) in the US, as of 2020. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 86,395 people, 31,598 households, and 18,313 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 62,298 people, 24,352 households, and 14,192 families residing in

1352-673: The United States. He sought one that would contain enough latex to support his research endeavor. In 1927, the three men contributed $ 25,000 each, and created the Edison Botanic Research Corporation in an attempt to find a solution to this problem. In 1928, the Edison Botanic Research Corporation laboratory was constructed. It was in Fort Myers that Edison conducted the majority of his research and planted exotic plants and trees. He sent results and sample rubber residues to West Orange, New Jersey , for further work at his large Thomas A. Edison "Invention Factory" (now preserved in

1404-451: The abandoned Fort Myers, where he began the area's first trading post. He traded tobacco, beads, and gunpowder, and sold otter, bobcat, and gator hide to the neighboring Seminole. A small community began to form around the trading post. In the late 19th century, northerners began to travel to Florida in the winter. Some saw development opportunities. In 1881, the wealthy industrialist Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , came to

1456-491: The annual mean being 75.4 °F (24.1 °C). Records range from 24 °F (−4 °C) on December 29, 1894 up to 103 °F (39 °C) on June 16–17, 1981. Fort Myers is one of two cities that make up the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area of Lee County . The 2020 population for the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in 2020 was 760,822, and it was the 73rd highest populated MSA in

1508-496: The bridge. FDOT is installing an 8 ft (2.4 m) long side bridge in the center with a single median barrier and restriping the lanes. Originally, FDOT closed a single lane in each direction to allow for construction and the continuation of traffic, a process which would cause the project to take a year to finish. In May, FDOT altered its plans in order to speed up the project and closed the bridge starting on May 31 to traffic, with exception only for emergency evacuations, bringing

1560-485: The city. Fort Myers has a council–manager government in which the city council consists of a mayor and six council members. The city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local ordinances, voting appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. The mayor is elected by registered voters city-wide. The mayor of Fort Myers is Kevin B. Anderson. Council members are elected by registered voters in their ward and represent that particular ward for

1612-506: The entrance to Charlotte Harbor , in December 1863. It was intended as a place from which to recruit Union sympathizers and Confederate deserters and conscription-evaders and to raid into the interior and interfere with Confederate efforts to round up cattle for supply to the Confederate Army. After some probes along the Peace and Myakka rivers, which had mixed results, operations were moved to

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1664-405: The expected completion date to August 11, 2024. As part of the adoption of HB 7149 in the 2014 Florida Senate session (Chapter 2014-228), the bridge, effective July 1, 2014, received the honorary designation of Henry Ford Bridge . However, per the adopted bill, the designation does not change its official name (Caloosahatchee Bridge) and the local government is not required to change signage to

1716-633: The gulf, passing Fort Myers and Cape Coral . It enters the Gulf of Mexico 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Fort Myers in San Carlos Bay , protected by Sanibel Island . The 5 mi (8 km) C-43 Caloosahatchee Canal connecting Lake Hicpochee to Lake Okeechobee allows continuous navigation from the Caloosahatchee to the Okeechobee Waterway system; oxbow lakes mark isolated stretches of

1768-575: The home next to Edison's from Robert Smith of New York. Ford named his estate "the Mangoes". Ford's craftsman-style "bungalow" was built in 1911 by Smith. Ford, Firestone, and Edison were leaders in American industry and part of an exclusive group titled "the Millionaires' Club". The three men have been memorialized in statues in downtown Fort Myers' Centennial Park. In 1924, with the beginning of construction of

1820-453: The honorary designation. The City of Fort Myers opted to not rename the bridge. Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Florida , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population was 86,395; it was estimated to have grown to 95,949 in 2022, making it the 25th-most populous city in Florida. Together with the larger and more residential city of Cape Coral , it anchors

1872-411: The mainland. Troops from the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Regiment of Florida Rangers, later reorganized as the 2nd Florida Cavalry Regiment , left Key West, Florida for Fort Myers early in January 1864. The Union soldiers reached Fort Myers quickly enough to capture three Confederate sympathizers before they could act on orders to burn the fort to keep it out of Union hands. Beyond

1924-570: The members of the regiment stationed at Fort Myers were never mounted. Escaped slaves that came to the fort were recruited into the 2nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment . The Union achieved control of the full length of the Mississippi River after the fall of Vicksburg in July 1863. The Confederate Army then became dependent on Florida for most of its supply of beef. By the end of 1863 between 1,000 and 2,000 head of cattle were being shipped to

1976-519: The new African-American laborers, were increasingly pressured to move to the segregated area that would become known as Safety Hill. This area of town, as can be seen by contemporary photographs, had a lower quality of houses and street surfaces. The area, now known as Dunbar, is still highly segregated from the rest of Fort Myers. In 1907, the Seminole tribes' Federal Agency headquarters was relocated to Fort Myers. It remained there until 1913. In 1908,

2028-513: The original waterway. In 2013, heavy rains in southern Florida resulted in high runoff into Lake Okeechobee; rising lake levels forced the United States Army Corps of Engineers to release large volumes of polluted water from the lake through the St. Lucie River estuary to the east and the Caloosahatchee River estuary to the west. Thus, the normal mix of fresh and salt water in those estuaries

2080-412: The principal cause for occupying the fort of providing support for Union sympathizers and local residents disaffected with Confederate taxation and conscription, the fort provided access to the large cattle herds in southern Florida, support for the blockade of the southwest Florida coast being conducted by the U.S. Navy, and a haven for any escaped slaves in the area. In April 1864, after the troops from

2132-627: The renovation of the theater for use again in live performance. It is now host to the Florida Repertory Theatre, a performing arts hall. During World War I, Edison became concerned about America's reliance on foreign supplies of rubber. He partnered with tire producer Harvey Firestone (of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company ) and Henry Ford (of the Ford Motor Company ) to try to find a rubber tree or plant that could grow quickly in

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2184-402: The south side over land needed to connect the bridge to Cleveland Avenue. The opening of the bridge changed the routing of US 41 to bypass downtown Fort Myers. Originally, US 41 went through downtown Fort Myers via Carson Street and First Street, and crossed the Caloosahatchee River on the Edison Bridge , which at the time was a two-lane drawbridge. The old route was then designated as

2236-921: The tournament had been named McDonald's All-Americans and 94 had been drafted into the NBA . The Florida Eels is a Tier III junior hockey program in the USPHL with two teams; one in the Premier Division and one in the Elite Division. Both teams have performed well in their regular season and playoffs, advancing to Nationals on multiple occasions. The Fort Myers Skatium is their home rink. Caloosahatchee River The river issues from Lake Hicpochee, in southeastern Glades County , approximately 10 mi (16 km) west of Clewiston . It flows west-southwest past LaBelle , where it becomes tidal, forming an estuary along its lower 25 mi (40 km). It broadens as it nears

2288-403: The upper reaches of the Caloosahatchee River. Various state and federal projects have widened and deepened the river since then. The conversion of the Caloosahatchee River into a canal drained Lake Flirt and the wetlands descending from Lake Hicpochee. Since the late 19th century, dredging and channelization of the river, as well as the artificial connection to Lake Okeechobee and its use as

2340-453: Was about 1,000 acres (400 ha) in area and 5 miles (8.0 km) long. All of the lakes were surrounded by extensive wetlands. In 1881, Hamilton Disston , as part of a scheme to drain large areas of wetlands in the interior of Florida, had a canal dredged from Lake Okeechobee to Lake Hicpochee and through the lakes and wetlands to the west. His company removed the rock ledge that formed the falls and rapids below Lake Flirt and straightened

2392-664: Was built during the Seminole Wars . The fort in turn took its name from Colonel Abraham Myers in 1850; Myers served in the United States Army, mostly the Quartermaster Department, in various posts from 1833 to 1861 and was the quartermaster general of the Confederate States Army from 1861 to 1864. Fort Myers has substantial African American and Latin American populations. Centennial Park downtown along

2444-575: Was built on the burned ruins of Fort Harvie. The fort was named for Brevet Colonel Abraham Charles Myers , quartermaster for the Army's Department of Florida and future son-in-law of Major Twiggs. It covered about 139 acres (56 ha), and soon had 57 buildings, including a two-story blockhouse that was pictured in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper , and a 1,000-foot-long (300 m) wharf at which ships could dock. Irvin Solomon notes that Fort Myers

2496-424: Was cruising Florida's west coast and stopped to visit Fort Myers. He soon bought 13 acres along the Caloosahatchee River in town. There he built his home "Seminole Lodge", as a winter retreat. It included a laboratory for his continuing work. After the lodge was completed in 1886, Edison and his wife, Mina, spent many winters in Fort Myers. Edison also enjoyed local recreational fishing, for which Fort Myers had gained

2548-577: Was described "as 'one of the finest and largest' forts of the Seminole Wars". It was abandoned in 1858, at the end of the Third Seminole War . During the American Civil War , Confederate blockade runners and cattle ranchers were based in Fort Myers. These settlers prospered through trading with the Seminole and Union soldiers. The United States Army set up a camp on Useppa Island , near

2600-615: Was fought on February 20, 1865, in Lee County, Florida , during the last months of the American Civil War. This small engagement is known as the "southernmost land battle of the Civil War." However, see Battle of Palmito Ranch . The Fort Myers community was founded after the American Civil War by Captain Manuel A. Gonzalez on February 21, 1866. Captain Gonzalez was familiar with the area as

2652-442: Was protected by a 500-foot-long (150 m) breastwork , 7 feet (2.1 m) high and 15 feet (4.6 m) wide, extending in an arc around the land side of the fort. The Seminole War-era blockhouse had been repaired and another two-story blockhouse built. The fort was soon harboring more than 400 civilians and Confederate army deserters. Many of the white men enlisted in the 2nd Florida Union Cavalry . Although designated as cavalry,

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2704-407: Was replaced by a flood of polluted fresh water resulting in ecological damage. Until late in the 19th century, the Caloosahatchee River was fed by a series of lakes starting from Lake Hicpochee, and including Lettuce Lake, Bonnet Lake and Flirt Lake. A waterfall and set of rapids at the lower end of Flirt Lake marked the beginning of the river. The rapids were close to 1 mile (1.6 km) long, with

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