Fort Myers, Florida

USA / Florida / Fort Myers /
 city, county seat
 Upload a photo
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida. The population was 48,208 at the 2000 census. The city is one of two major cities that make up the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA, the other being Cape Coral. As of July 1, 2006, the population estimate for the metropolitan area was 571,344.

Fort Myers, built in 1850 as a military fort to fend off Seminole Indians, was named after Col. Abraham C. Myers, who was stationed in Florida for seven years and was the son-in-law of the fort's establisher and commander. In 1858, after years of elusive battle, Seminole Chief Billy Bowlegs and his warriors were persuaded to surrender and move west, and the fort was abandoned. the town of Fort Myers was incorporated in 1886.

Fort Myers first became a nationally known winter resort with the building of The Royal Palm Hotel in 1898, and it was the frequent winter home of Thomas Edison. But what really sparked the city's growth was the construction of the Tamiami Trail Bridge built across the Caloosahatchee River in 1924. After the bridge's construction, the city experienced its first real estate boom and many subdivisions sprouted around the city.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Myers,_Florida
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   26°37'35"N   81°49'53"W

Comments

  • The summer home of Ford and Edison.
  • Also one of the WORST places to live for anyone below age 40.
This article was last modified 4 years ago