85-539: Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population was 19,115, down from 19,539 at the 2010 census. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island metropolitan area , which had a population of about 375,752 as of 2020. The city is known mostly for its high-priced homes, white-sand beaches, and numerous golf courses. Naples is the self-titled "Golf Capital of
170-822: A 2014 data). 2005 Hurricane Wilma (Category 5) – Wilma reached maximum wind strength of 185 miles per hour (298 km/h), but its winds were 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) when it made landfall near Cape Romano (below Naples, just beyond the southwestern tip of Marco Island and northwest of the Ten Thousand Islands in Collier County). Wilma caused 87 deaths and $ 22.4 billion in damage. 2017 Hurricane Irma (Category 5) – Irma had maximum wind strength of 180 miles per hour (290 km/h), but when it made landfall near Marco Island, its winds were 115 miles per hour (185 km/h). As Irma hit Florida, tropical-storm-force winds extended out to 400 miles (640 km) from
255-561: A Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h). Power was lost to much of the Naples area including Pelican Bay and Bay Colony for several days, but repairs allowed power to be turned back on, beginning on October 1, 2022. Ian caused 149 deaths in the state of Florida and an estimated $ 989 million in damages to the city of Naples and approximately $ 2.2 billion in damages to buildings in Collier County. According to
340-596: 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
425-425: A household in the city is $ 65,641, and the median income for a family is $ 83,831. Males have a median income of $ 50,092 versus $ 30,948 for females. The per capita income for the city is $ 61,141. 5.9% of the population and 3.1% of families are below the poverty line . Out of the total population, 15.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. The economy of Naples
510-665: A locally traveling exhibit. The last LPGA golf tournament played each year, the CME Group Tour Championship , has been held in Naples since 2012 . Since 2013 , it has been played at the Gold Course of the Tiburón Golf Club . It claims the largest purse and the largest winner's share of any women's golf tournament, presently at $ 5,000,000 and $ 1,500,000 respectively. The purse and winner's share increase in 2022 , to $ 7,000,000 and $ 2,000,000 respectively. Pickleball
595-621: 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 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
680-534: 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
765-604: 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
850-567: A state-mandated city master plan renamed the area the Aqualane Shores Neighborhood and extended its boundary west to the Gulf of Mexico, east to the Bay of Naples, and the area from 14th Avenue S all the way south to Jamaica Channel. The numerous canals and waterfront homes add a distinctive feature to the south portion of Naples and provide access to the Gulf of Mexico for many homeowners. Naples
935-772: 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 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
SECTION 10
#17328545913621020-590: A whole county named after me." According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,305 square miles (5,970 km ), of which 307 square miles (800 km ) (13.3%) are covered by water. It is the largest county in Florida by land area and fourth-largest by total area. Virtually the entire southeastern portion of the county lies within the Big Cypress National Preserve . The northernmost portion of Everglades National Park extends into
1105-400: A young adult novel by Carl Hiaasen is set in Naples. Collier County, Florida Collier County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida . As of the 2020 census , its population was 375,752; an increase of 16.9% since the 2010 United States Census. Its county seat is East Naples , where the county offices were moved from Everglades City in 1962. Collier County comprises
1190-444: Is Anhinga Channel, then Bittern Channel is south of 15th Avenue S, Crane Channel is south of 16th Avenue S, Duck Channel is south of 17th Avenue S, and Egret Channel is north of 21st Avenue S. From the channels there are coves named Flamingo, Gull, Heron, and Ibis, as well as the original Aqua Cove. These initial channels, canals, and coves were dredged and bulldozed from the mangrove swamps. Where shallow rock precluded digging,
1275-637: Is Southwest Florida International Airport . The region is served by the NCH Healthcare System , which currently has 716 beds between two hospitals, and Physician's Regional Healthcare System, which has two hospitals that contain 201 beds and is owned by the Health Management Associates, headquartered in Pelican Bay . In addition to the two hospitals, the company operates six clinics in Naples. Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida (HCN)
1360-430: Is $ 141,245 As of the 2010 United States census , there were 19,537 people, 9,991 households, and 6,041 families residing in the city. In 2010, the largest self-identified ancestry and ethnic groups in Naples were German-American 20.0%, English-American 19.2%, Irish-American 17.8%, and Italian-American 9.2%. As of the census of 2000 , there are 20,981 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in
1445-439: Is also home to major private employers such as Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates and technology company NewsBank . In 2009, Naples was placed 10th in a report by U.S. News & World Report titled "10 Pricey Cities That Pay Off." The report ranked cities by its "amenity value", a measurement based on the amount of satisfaction an asset brings to its owner. In 2012, a report by Kiplinger ranked Naples with
1530-476: Is an increasingly popular sport in Naples. Because of this, many parks have added pickleball courts. Naples is home to the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships , which have been held annually since 2016. Naples has two semi-pro soccer teams, Naples United FC , which was founded in 2017 and competes in the National Premier Soccer League and Naples City FC, which was founded in 2020 and competes in
1615-531: Is based largely on tourism and was historically based on real estate development and agriculture. Due to its proximity to the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands , Naples is also popular among ecotourists . Companies based in Naples include Beasley Broadcast Group and ASG Technologies in addition to numerous small businesses. Due to the wealth present in Collier County, Naples is also home to many small non-profit organizations. The surrounding Naples metro area
1700-631: Is home to The Naples Players , Naples Shakespeare Festival (and sister company Marco Island Shakespeare Festival), Opera Naples, the equity theatre company Theatre Zone , and Gulfshore Playhouse. The Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum are located at Artis—Naples, which also serves as the educational campus for the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Youth Chorus, Youth Jazz Orchestra and Youth Symphony. The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida educates about 155,000 students each year both in its facility and with
1785-481: 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
SECTION 20
#17328545913621870-614: 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
1955-593: Is located in southwest Florida on U.S. Highway 41 between Miami to the east and Fort Myers to the north. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 16.4 square miles (42.5 km), of which 12.3 square miles (31.9 km) is land and 4.1 square miles (10.7 km), or 25.09%, is water. National Weather Service records that date back to 1851, indicate 74 tropical storms have passed within 85 nautical miles (157 km; 98 mi) of Naples, or once every 2.2 years (as of
2040-467: Is now Collier County more than 2000 years ago. The Calusa people had an extensive presence in the area when Europeans arrived. The county was created in 1923 from Lee County . It was named for Barron Collier , a New York City advertising mogul and real estate developer who had moved to Southwest Florida and established himself as a prominent landowner. He agreed to build the Tamiami Trail for what
2125-446: Is the dry season, when sunshine, dry weather, and milder temperatures with daily highs around 74 F. Naples is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 19,115 people, 10,453 households, and 6,193 families residing in the city. Median household income (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022 $ 135,657. The Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022
2210-593: The 1929 Stock market crash , the Great Depression , and World War II. During the war the U.S. Army Air Forces built a small airfield and used it for training purposes; it is now the Naples Municipal Airport . After a hurricane in 1945, a fill was required to repair the damage. A local dredging company, Wyatt Brothers, created a lake north of 16th Avenue S, between Gordon Drive and Gulf Shore Boulevard. In 1949, Reginald Wyatt II asked Mr. Rust to sell him
2295-510: The 2020 United States census , 375,752 people, 140,578 households, and 97,279 families resided in the county. The county's public schools are operated by the District School Board of Collier County . The Collier County Public Library system consists of 10 locations serving the entire county. All locations offer public internet stations, printing, photocopying, free Wi-Fi, and 24/7 drop boxes for book and video returns. According to
2380-546: 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 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
2465-615: The Collier Area Transit . The service runs seven days a week and end times depend on the route. Highways that pass through Naples are I-75 and US-41 . The city is served by the Naples Airport , and although it doesn't have any scheduled commercial service, it is one of the busiest municipal airports in the United States. The closest airport with regular-scheduled commercial service for both domestic and international destinations
2550-533: 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
2635-545: 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 )
Naples, Florida - Misplaced Pages Continue
2720-469: The Köppen climate classification , Naples has a tropical savanna climate or Aw . Naples is normally frost-free and the growing season is 365 days. Like much of central and south Florida there are two basic seasons in Naples; From May through October there is a hot and wet season in Naples, when hot temperatures (average high temperature is 92 F) and frequent thundershowers are common. From November through April,
2805-633: The Naples – Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) , which, along with the Cape Coral-Fort Myers (Lee County) MSA and the Clewiston ( Hendry County , Glades County ) Micropolitan Statistical Area ( μSA ), is included in the Cape Coral - Fort Myers -Naples Combined Statistical Area (CSA) . Archaeology at Platt Island in the Big Cypress National Preserve shows humans settled in what
2890-494: The Peace and Myakka rivers, which had mixed results, operations were moved to 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
2975-652: 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
3060-688: The United Premier Soccer League . Starting from the 2025 season, Naples will also have a professional club, FC Naples in the USL League One . Naples is also the home of swamp buggy races, held three times each year at the Florida Sports Park. The swamp buggy was invented in Naples. The beach on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles (16 km) long and is known for its cleanliness and pristine white sand. In 2005, Naples
3145-426: The 102,973 households, 22.7% had children under 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were not families. About 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.79. The county's population distribution
3230-507: The 296 acres (120 ha) from Jamaica Channel to today's 14th Avenue S. The Jamaica Channel was widened, one canal was dredged, and 14th Avenue S was created. That same year, Naples officially became a city. Today, the Wyatt family is credited with the construction of Naples' first beach. Additional channels were eventually added to the south of 14th Avenue S and are named alphabetically for local water birds. The first channel south of 14th Avenue S
3315-588: 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
3400-642: 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 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
3485-614: 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
Naples, Florida - Misplaced Pages Continue
3570-582: 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
3655-615: 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
3740-526: 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
3825-654: 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
3910-463: The Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a majority of registered voters in Collier County. It is also one of the handful of counties where independents outnumber Democrats among registrants. The county is part of a long-established Republican stronghold in southwestern coastal Florida; the last Democrat to win the county was Adlai Stevenson II in 1952 . The last Democratic governor to carry
3995-525: The Seminole and Union soldiers. The United States Army set up a camp on Useppa Island , near 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
4080-586: 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
4165-673: 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
4250-540: The World", as it has the second most holes per capita out of all communities, and the most holes of any city in Florida. The city is also known for being appealing to retirees, who make up a large percentage of the population. Before the period of European colonization , the indigenous Calusa lived in Florida (including the region of present-day Naples) for thousands of years, from Charlotte Harbor to Cape Sable . In 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León explored
4335-451: 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
SECTION 50
#17328545913624420-428: 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
4505-454: The area. In April 1864, after the troops from 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
4590-479: The bay as "surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy ". By the summer of 1888, Naples had a population of about 80 people, and the first hotel opened in 1889. Major development was anticipated after Collier County was established in 1923, the completion of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad extension in 1927, and the completion of the Tamiami Trail linking Naples to Miami in 1928, but did not begin until after
4675-405: The beginning of 2016 netted over one ton of captured snakes, including a Florida record for largest male Burmese python , measuring 16 ft and weighing 140 lb. 26°05′N 81°24′W / 26.08°N 81.40°W / 26.08; -81.40 Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Florida , United States. As of
4760-417: The center and hurricane-force winds extended up to 80 miles (130 km). This storm left over 7.5 million homes (70% of the state) without electricity for days. Irma caused 134 deaths and $ 50 billion in damage. 2022 Hurricane Ian (Category 5) - Ian had a maximum wind strength of 160 miles per hour (260 km/h) while approaching Florida, and it made landfall at Cayo Costa slightly below peak strength as
4845-485: 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
4930-402: The city. The population density was 1,744.3 inhabitants per square mile (673.5/km). There were 16,957 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0 units per square mile (544.4 units/km). The racial makeup of the city is 92.50% White , 4.65% African American , 0.12% Native American , 0.33% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. 2.23% of
5015-478: The county was Reubin Askew in 1974 and the last Democratic senator to do so was Bob Graham in 1992; six years later, the county was one of four to back the then-Republican candidate, Charlie Crist . All voter information is as of September 30, 2022 , and provided by Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office. Collier is located in the center of Florida's invasive snake epidemic . A three-month effort at
5100-409: The county was $ 31,195. About 6.6% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. The county continues to experience significant growth and is becoming increasingly diverse. As of the 2010 census, the county's population had increased by 27.9% to 321,520, over the 2000 census. As of the 2010 census, 83.85% of
5185-515: The county. The population density was 124 people per square mile (48 people/km ). The 144,536 housing units had an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km ). As of 2000 , its racial makeup was 86.06% White, 4.54% was African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 6.25% from other races, and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos (of any race) accounted for 19.61%. Primary languages spoken were 75.3% English, 17.8% Spanish, 2.3% French Creole, and 1.2% German. In 2000, of
SECTION 60
#17328545913625270-546: 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 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
5355-409: The fort to keep it out of Union hands. Beyond 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
5440-575: 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
5525-413: The land was filled to create lots with navigable water. The Aqualane Shores Association was incorporated as a 'not for profit' corporation on February 3, 1966. It served lot owners in the area roughly bounded by the Bay of Naples to the east, Gordon Drive to the west, and the land between 14th Avenue and 21st Avenue S, as well as Marina Drive, Forrest Lane, and Southwinds Drive. Thirty years later, in 1996,
5610-570: 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
5695-468: 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,
5780-475: The numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. Near downtown Naples Bay and the Gordon River is the shopping district of Tin City. This open-air shopping center specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties, as well as several seafood restaurants. The Naples Half Marathon is a half marathon held every year in Naples since 1989, with record participation in 2013 of 2,038 runners. Naples
5865-442: The population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2000, there were 10,803 households, out of which 10.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
5950-502: The population was non-Hispanic Whites, 25.9% was Latino or Hispanic, 6.6% was African American, and 1.1% was Asian. As of the 2010 census, the greatest source of population growth in the county since the 2000 census came from the Latino or Hispanic population, which grew from 49,296 (19.6%) to 83,177 (25.9% ). In terms of ancestry, 37.9% were English , 9.9% were Irish , 9.1% were "American" , 3.2% were Italian and 3.1% were German . As of
6035-537: The raids. The city of Naples was founded in 1886 by former Confederate general and Kentucky U.S. Senator John Stuart Williams and his partner, Louisville businessman Walter N. Haldeman , the publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal . Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, magazines and newspapers ran stories about the area's mild climate and abundant fish and likened it to the sunny Italian peninsula . The name Naples caught on when promoters described
6120-554: The region and encountered the Calusa, who resisted attempts by de León to establish a Spanish colony in Florida . This initiated nearly two hundred years of conflict between the Spanish and the Calusa. In the early 18th century, following slave raids from Muscogee and Yamasee raiders allied with European settlers in Carolina , the majority of the remaining Calusa moved south and east to escape
6205-627: 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
6290-420: The sixth-highest per capita income in the country, along with the second-highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, was founded in 1919. Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players , the 5th Avenue South, and 3rd Street South shopping districts, which feature a variety of antique luxury shops and fine dining restaurants. Gallery Row is a concentration among
6375-445: The southern coastal part of the county. Chokoloskee, Florida is in the county. The total area of this county is nearly one and a half times the size of Rhode Island, which is the smallest state, and is bigger than Rhode Island and Luxembourg combined. Collier County is located at the southern end of Florida's Gulf Coast, and bounded by: As of the census of 2000, 251,377 people, 102,973 households, and 71,257 families resided in
6460-411: Was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38. In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 10.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 42.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 83.9 males. In 2000, the median income for
6545-467: Was 19.9% under 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44.1 years, higher that the U.S. average. For every 100 females, there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 99.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 48,289, and for a family was $ 54,816. Males had a median income of $ 32,639 versus $ 26,371 for females. The per capita income for
6630-424: 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
6715-615: 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
6800-480: Was founded in 1977 to serve migrant farmworkers and their families in Immokalee. It now provides care to over 41,000 residents of Collier County through 20 practices, including internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, behavioral health and dental care. Many movies have been filmed in or around Naples, such as Still Green , Just Cause , Pick-Up and Thunder and Lightning . Scat ,
6885-572: 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, 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
6970-442: 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,
7055-576: 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 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
7140-455: Was then Lee County (comprising today's Collier, Hendry, and Lee Counties) in exchange for favorable consideration with the state legislature to have a county named for him. After Collier County was named, Collier was quoted as saying: "When I first came here on holiday with Juliet, I never expected that I would buy a whole region of it, nor did I expect to pay for the new Tamiami Trail, or half the things I've done. But I really didn't expect to have
7225-998: Was voted the best all-around beach in America by the Travel Channel . Naples area beaches include: Naples is served by the District School Board of Collier County and various private institutions, including the following: While no colleges are based within the city limits, Ave Maria School of Law is located in Vineyards , and Florida SouthWestern State College has a satellite campus in Lely Resort . In addition, Florida Gulf Coast University operates continuing education classes from its Downtown Naples campus. Hodges University sold its campus in North Naples in 2021. Higher education institutions close to Naples include: Since February 2001, Naples has been served by several bus routes operated by
#361638