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City of Fort Myers also know as the “City of Palms”
Click on any highlighted underlined word through out this page to find more information....
Nestled along the scenic shoreline of the Caloosahatchee River, the city has become an interesting blend of young and old.
Sporting the youngest population in Lee County, with a median age of 32, the City of Fort Myers is also home to the historic winter residences of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Extensive renovation of the historic downtown waterfront is underway, with new restaurants, nightclubs, apartments, and artistic venues providing energy and growth.
Throughout the year, Southwest Florida residents and visitors enjoy cultural events overlooking the river at Centennial Park and the Fort Myers Yacht Basin. And don't forget our love for baseball.... Fort Myers is home to two major league baseball teams "Spring Training" Camps! Home of the Minnesota Twins and of course my personal favoriteThe BOSTON RED SOX!
History of Fort Myers
Ponce de Leon explored areas along Florida's Gulf coast in 1513 & 1521. The barrier islands of Lee County are believed to be one of his many stops. Spanish and Cuban settlers created temporary fishing and farming camps along the coast, but for years Southwest Florida was a rugged and isolated area.
In the early 1700s the Lee Island coastline first appeared with some accuracy in British maps. During the last half of the 1700s coastal areas of Lee County were a base of operations for bands of pirates raiding the cargo ships sailing to and from the port of New Orleans.
Florida became a US Territory in 1821, and the ensuing wave of settlers asked for protection from the native Seminoles. Fort Myers was built along the Caloosahatchee River as one of the first bases of operations during the Seminole Indian Wars. Fort Myers was named in honor of Colonel Abraham C. Myers, the son-in-law of the commander of Fort Brooke in Tampa.
The fort was abandoned in 1858 and reoccupied by Federal troops from 1863-1865. The Southernmost battle of the Civil War, a skirmish between Northern and Southern troops occurred across the river in 1865 and is reenacted annually at the North Fort Myers Cracker Festival.
The fort itself was disassembled, and some of the wood used in construction of some of the first buildings in what would become downtown Fort Myers. No more than ten families lived in the original town when it was platted in 1876.
Herds of cattle were driven past the old fort grounds to Punta Rassa where they were lifted onto schooners and steamers using block and tackle, and shipped to Cuba. Cattle, farming, and logging were early mainstays in the Fort Myers area. Tomatoes, avocados, and castor beans were cultivated on Sanibel Island. Many pineapple plantations flourished inland along the river as settlers began to move away from the fort area.
In the late 1800s, Tootie McGregor and Thomas & Mina Edison began the beautification of Fort Myers. Imported Royal Palms were planted along Riverside Drive, later renamed McGregor Boulevard. We believe McGregor Boulevard is one of the most beautiful streets anywhere in America - come take a drive and see for yourself!
These magnificent Royal Palms, some towering at 75 feet, give the City of Palms its nickname. The fun and variety of tropical gardening is one of many great reasons to enjoy living in the Fort Myers area.
We have listed the different species of trees at the bottom of this page.
By 1885 Fort Myers was bursting with pride and a bulging population of 349, the second largest town on Florida's Gulf Coast south of Cedar Key. That same year Thomas Alva Edison was cruising Florida's west coast and stopped to visit the village.
Captivated with what he saw, Edison built his home and laboratory, Seminole Lodge, on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. He subsequently became Fort Myers' most famous resident and a strong force in its growth and development.
Edison had a deep respect for nature, regarding it as an endless source of discovery. Through his sheer determination and dauntless efforts, the beauty and majesty of the royal palms lining Riverside Avenue (now McGregor Boulevard) were imported and planted, and would become the reason for the "City of Palms" nickname.
Edison's Fort Myers Laboratory was originally built for research on goldenrod rubber, but many of Edison's inventions and research materials are on display. The incandescent light bulb is acknowledged worldwide as Edison's greatest invention.
Edison's diversification remains a constant amazement. With almost 1100 patents to his credit, he has been dubbed "America's most prolific inventor". His achievements include the phonograph, movie camera and projector, ship-to-shore radio, alkaline storage battery, ticker tape machine, and microphone. Naturally he had his share of losers: a perpetual cigar, a concrete house and furniture, and a helicopter-type flying machine that was lifted by kites.
Among his lesser known, but successful inventions, visitors will discover items that could be part of a 'Who Invented' trivia game. These include wax paper, tin foil, the talking doll, mimeograph, and dictating machine, plus one of the most indispensable products in history: mucilage, the "sticky stuff" that is affixed to postage stamps, envelopes, and labels.
As Edison's enchantment with Fort Myers grew, he began to spend more time at Seminole Lodge and was often joined there by his friend, Henry Ford. The two distinguished inventors would sometimes go off on a camping trip or a drive to Estero.
Ford met Edison at a meeting in New York and, with Edison's encouragement, quit his job and turned his full attention to his dream of building a gasoline driven automobile.
The winter home of Thomas A. Edison, beautifully poised along the Caloosahatchee River, is one of the greatest historic treasures within Lee County.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Step back in time by visiting Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter estates, the nation's 9th most visited historic home. You can take an extended guided tour of the homes, museum, laboratory and gardens. Botanical tours are available by special request.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.
By 1903 Ford's dream had come true and he had become so famous that people were asking to put money into his company. The Ford Motor Company was officially started that year with $28,000 cash, but it took the introduction of the Model-T in 1907 to make the company a financial success. By 1914 the first Ford Car Dealership was opened in Fort Myers.
Ford shared Edison's enthusiasm for Fort Myers, eventually purchasing the property adjoining his friend's estate and became a frequent winter visitor as long as Edison lived.
Edison's light burns a little brighter each year during the Edison Festival of Light, as the City of Fort Myers annually celebrates his February 11th birthday with two weeks of citywide events, culminated by the Grand Parade of Light. The celebration attracts thousands of visitors who view a colorful grand parade, join in street dances, and compete in contests ranging from fishing to shuffleboard. The King and Queen of Light area crowned at the coronation ball and reign at the Grand Parade of Light.
During the building boom between 1898 and the 1920's, torrents of winter visitors from the north flocked to Florida seeking their fortunes in land investments.
The opening of the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) linked Fort Myers to Tampa and Miami, adding more to the growth of the Big Boom in the 1920s. Growth radiated in all directions until the 1930s.
Two devastating hurricanes in 1921 & 1926, combined with poor publicity and inadequate planning brought a collapse in Florida's boom time. Fort Myers suffered along with the rest of the nation during the Great Depression. Still, there was moderate progress as some of the more elegant buildings in Fort Myers were built during the 1930s.
In the early 1940s, every county in Florida had air bases due to the advantageous flying weather. The Fort Myers area had Buckingham and Page Fields, and the city was home to thousands of servicemen, many of whom returned and became permanent residents.
In the years since World War II, the city has grown along with Lee County and the rest of Southwest Florida. Commercial and residential growth has pushed development in all directions to create Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Lehigh, as well as adding to the coastal settlements of Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and Bonita Springs.
Fortunately, the older downtown area and the City of Fort Myers historic districts have retained much of their charm, and proper preservation measures are in place to ensure that charm will be treasured for many generations to come.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Our thanks to the Lee County Economic Development Office for providing the following demographic data on the areas served by us.
Lee County Population By Area
(2008 Demographic Profile)
Fort Myers 67,851
Cape Coral 164,523
Bonita Springs 45,148
Fort Myers Beach 7,037
Sanibel 6,297
Unincorporated Lee County 324,885
Total 615,741
Essential Info
Checking out the information provided in this section prior to your visit will ensure that you are armed with the tools necessary to have a smooth and hassle-free move and or vacation.
Local Transportation whilst you are vacationing in Southwest Florida you may want to rent a car, hop in a taxi, or use the local public transport. There are numerous car rental companies in and around Fort Myers, or you can rent a car from Southwest Florida International Airport.
LeeTran provides public transportation between 5:00am and 9:45pm on Monday through Saturday, and a limited service on Sundays. It has 17 fixed bus routes and also provides a “Park and Ride" trolley service to and from area beaches. Please click here for more information.ion
Airport Info
Southwest Florida International Airport is located southeast of the City of Fort Myers, roughly three miles west of I-75 (exit 131). To check on your flight details or for any other airport information you may require please visit the Southwest Florida International Airport website by clicking here.
Emergency Info
We have provided here contact telephone numbers and information for emergency healthcare services:
Lee Memorial Health System:
Operates 5 hospitals, 4 of which provide emergency services as listed below. Many of Lee Memorial Health Systems’ hospitals are listed as amongst the top 100 hospitals in the United States; Cape Coral Hospital being recognized for its orthopedic services, HealthPark Medical Center for Cardiology and its Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and Lee Memorial Hospital for stroke, orthopedics, and ICU.
Cape Coral Hospital (Emergency Department): (239) 574-0354
Lee Memorial Hospital (Emergency Department): (239) 334-5334
Children's Hospital of SW Florida (Emergency Dept): (239) 432-3334
HealthPark Medical Center (Main Telephone No.): (239) 433-7799
Click here for more information.
Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
The 20 bed, level II Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day and provides prompt care and the most advanced resources to meet the needs of the community. The Chest Pain Center is also located in the Emergency Department.
Emergency Department: (239) 939-8611
Click here for more information.
Gulf Coast Hospital
The Hospital’s Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition Gulf Coast Hospital has board certified pediatricians offering pediatric emergency care. The pediatric emergency service is available eight hours a day, from 4pm until midnight.
Main Telephone Number: (239) 768-5000
Click here for more information.
Walk-In Medical Care
If you have a minor, non-life-threatening medical emergency whilst you are vacationing in Fort Myers such as a sprain, fracture, burn, eye injury, etc. you can get urgent treatment from one of the areas walk-in medical centers. For more info on opening hours and locations click here
Royal Palm
Height: 50-80 feet (15-24 meters)
Spread: 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 meters)
How to Identify:
The Royal Palm is a fast-growing palm, stately with a large, smooth green trunk at the crownshaft. Fronds are approximately 10 feet long. Small white flowers are inconspicuous and the fruit is black or bluish drupes about ½" long.
Habitat: Tropical America; South Florida.
Light: Full sun to broken shade.
Soil: Rich soil.
Care: Newly planted palms should be kept moist until the roots begin to branch out into the soil. Once established, this palm needs watering about once a week or when the soil is drying. Fertilize in March, June and October. some of the palms you will cme across in Fort Myers here below.
Queen Palm
Height: 25-50 feet (7.5-15 meters)
Spread: 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 meters)
The Queen Palm prefers full sun and is best suited to well-drained acidic soils. Alkaline soils should be avoided. Growth can be rapid in moist, fertilized conditions. Use restraint when pruning fronds to avoid tree decline.
How to Identify:
The Queen Palm has a single, usually straight, ringed trunk and a graceful crown of soft leaves.This palm has decorative orange fruits during cool months.
Habitat: Brazil; Florida.
Light: Full sun for best growth.
Soil: Tolerates different types of sandy soil.
Care: Water during dry periods. Fertilize at the beginning of the rainy season.
Areca Palm
Height: 30'
How to Identify: The Areca palm is clump-growing with ringed, bamboo-like stems and yellow leaf-ribs. The foliage is evergreen, of fine texture and yellow-green in color. Gardeners know this attractive plant under various names, and so nursery labels may designate it as madagascar palm, bamboo palm, yellow palm, or cane palm. Under any name this is one of the most useful Palms of the tropics the world around.
Habitat: Madagascar; in Florida, widely planted in nearly frostless sections.
Light: Tolerant of rather dense shade on patios or Florida rooms.
Soil: Grows best in fairly rich soil, slightly acid in reaction.
Care: Plant in fertile, acid soil; water moderately during dry periods; protect against scale insects and frost.
Pony Tail Palm
Height: 15'
How to Identify: The greatly swollen trunk base and the recurving, narrow leaves are certain identification. The foliage is evergreen, fine in texture and light green in color.
Habitat: Mexican highlands; in Florida, sandy soils in warm locations.
Light: Full sun.
Soil: Sandy, well-drained, neutral soils.
Care: Plant in a well-drained site that is not subjected to low temperatures; fertilize once at the beginning of warm weather; keep lawn grasses back from trunk. Photo gallery credits:
Lee County Visitor Information Bureau
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