History

Located on the south bank of the Caloosahatchee, Fort Myers has been home to soldiers, ranchers, cowboys, snowbirds and inventors.
Named after Col. Abraham Myers, Fort Myers was founded in 1850 as a military outpost during the Seminole Wars. The Fort saw service
again as a Union outpost during the Civil War and was officially retired from military service in 1865. Almost immediately the abandoned Fort
Myers became home to settler families, land speculators and Florida Crackers (our cowboys and cowgirls).

By 1885, the Town of Fort Myers was established, the Fort Myers Press was printing and world famous inventor Thomas Alva Edison called
Fort Myers his winter home. During this period Fort Myers became the county seat of the newly formed Lee County and tourism boomed as
offshore tarpon fishing enticed sport fishermen and adventurers from around the world.

Fort Myers saw amazing growth through the 1920s until the combination of a failing real estate market and crashing stock market sent Fort
Myers into depression. During this time Fort Myers was aided through federal works projects that changed the face of downtown. The new
Federal Post Office building, the Edison Bridge and the Yacht Basin all made significant improvements to the struggling downtown.

It was a return to Fort Myers' military heritage that would bring all of Southwest Florida out of depression and into prosperity. The
establishment of Buckingham Field and Page Field during World War II brought thousands of service men and women to Lee County and gave
local business a much need boost with government contracts and services for the two bases.

Since the 1950's Southwest Florida and Fort Myers have seen amazing growth .and prosperity and have become premiere destinations for
sun-seekers, investors and retirees. As we move forward to the future, Fort Myers will continue to hold "post" as the center of commerce,
government and entertainment for the ever-growing Southwest Florida community.

For more history on the city of Fort Myers and the surrounding Southwest Florida area you can visit the Southwest Florida Museum of History www.swflmuseumofhistory.com

Florida Facts

Total Area: 58,560 Square Miles
Total Land Area: 54,252 Square Miles
Total Water Area: 4,308 Square Miles
Rank among states In total area: 22nd
Length north and south: 447miles(SI.Mary'sRivertoKeyWest)
Width east and west: 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River)
Distance from Pensacola to Key West:792 miles (by road)
Highest Natural Point: 345 feet near Lakewood in NE Walton Co.
Geographic Center: 12 miles NW of Brooksville, Hemando Co.
Coastline: 1,197statute miles
Tidal shoreline (general): 2,276 statute miles
Beaches: 663 miles
Longest River: SI. Johns, 273 miles
Largest Lake: Lake Okeechobee, 700 square miles
Largest County: Palm Beach, 2,578 square miles
Smallest County: Union, 245 square miles
Number of lakes, greater than 10 acres: about 7,700
Number of first-magnitude springs: 27
Number of islands, greater than 10 acres: about 4,500
First Permanent European settlement: SI.Augustine,1561,by Spain
U.S.Territory: 1821
Admitted to US as State: March 3, 1845 (27th state)
Capital:Tallahassee
Population 1990: 12,937,926 Rank 4th
Population 1980: 9,739,992
Population Growth Rate 1980-90: 32.83%
Number of Counties: 67
Form of Government: Govemor and independent cabinet consisting of secretary of state, attomey general, comptroller, treasurer, commissioner of agricuHure, and commissioner of education
State sales tax: 6%
State income tax: NONE

Source: Atlas of Florida, Copyrighl© 1992, Board of Regents, State of Florida