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Fort Myers Community Profile |
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Fort Myers
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On the south side of the Caloosahatchee River, the
rhythm of the city blends with staid beauty and history
in downtown Fort Myers. People in business suits
hurrying from the courthouse of financial offices pass
vacationers n shorts meandering through the collection
of specialty shops or pausing in the shade of a
sprawling banyan tree outside grand, historic buildings.
Yachts dock at the marina at Centennial Park and Yacht
Basin alongside sailboats and smaller pleasure crafts
stopping for a nice meal or a relaxing sunset. |
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| Fort Myers is the
seat of Lee County and home to much of the history of
the area. It is apparent in the architecture downtown
and in nearby neighborhoods, most notably just south of
the downtown area, where Fort Myers most celebrated
residents lived. The Edison-Ford Winter Estates, the
former homes of seasonal residents and friends Thomas
Alva Edison and Henry Ford, is arguably the city's most
popular spot for visitors. A tour of the estates takes
peoples through the winter homes of these two remarkable
men as well as through Edison's laboratory and extensive
gardens. Fort Myers celebrates Edison annually with the
Edison Festival of Light, featuring pageants, parties, a
parade, and other activities and events. |
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| History buffs can learn much
more at the Fort Myers Historical Museum about the area’s
prehistory when huge armadillo-like creatures walked the earth,
to the history of the Calusa Indians, U.S. soldiers, Florida
Crackers, and homesteaders who subsequently left their marks on
the region. |
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Map of
Fort Myers |
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Property Developments |
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Local Real Estate - MLS |
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| Sports enthusiasts have
terrific opportunities in Fort Myers, apart from the
obvious water activities that abound. Baseball fans flock to
Fort Myers each spring to watch the Boston Red Sox and the
Minnesota Twins in spring training. In the summer, the Twins
farm team, the Fort Myers Miracle, keep baseball fans at the Lee
County Sports Complex entertained. Hockey lovers and ice skaters
indulge their passions at the Fort Myers Skatium or a few miles
south in Estero, where Germain Arena is home to the Florida
Everblades professional hockey team. |
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| Those in search of arts and
culture find them at the Arcade Theatre downtown, where Florida
Repertory Theater Company stage regular productions, and the
Broadway Palm Dinner Theater and its associated Off-Broadway
Palm Theater, where professional musicals and other productions
take place. Lee County Alliance of the Arts offer classes and
presents art exhibits, as well as drama productions and music in
its indoor and outdoor venues. Among these are cutting-edge
dramas by Theatre Conspiracy, which also hosts the annual
playwright contest. And the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts
Hall, home of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus, offers a regular menu of ballet, rock groups, Broadway
productions, chamber music, comedians and a pleasing diversity
of other arts and entertainment. Families also have plenty of
options, including the Imaginarium where children explore
science through sensory attractions and activities. |
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| Southwest Florida's natural
places make the region different from any other on earth, and
visitors can explore mangrove forest, swamps, and other unique
habitats in several areas. Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
provides an informative look and special programs about the
region's natural systems and animals. Special presentations also
are staged periodically in the planetarium. Manatee Park allows
winter visitors to get a close-up look at these gentle water
giants in their natural habitat, and Six Mile Cypress Slough
gives visitors a feeling for the region's wetlands and the
creatures that inhabit them. Lakes Park is a good spot for those
who prefer to walk or bicycle along nature trails, simply to
relax after a busy day sightseeing around Fort Myers. |
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Economic Statistics |
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Demographic
Characteristics |
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1990 |
2000 |
2006 |
| Population |
44,759 |
48,208 |
65,729 |
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, University of Florida, 2006
population is an estimate* |
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Median Household Income |
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$31,793 |
| Per
Capita Income |
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$19,364 |
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Median Age |
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31.7 |
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Labor Force |
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23,667 |
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Density
(population/sq.mile) |
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1,638.5 |
| Source:
DemographicsNow, 2006 |
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Major
Non-Government Employers |
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EMBARQ |
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850 |
| The
News-Press |
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710 |
| Sam
Galloway Ford |
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663 |
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Radiology Regional Center |
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411 |
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Industries |
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400 |
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Source: Lee County Economic Development, 2006 |
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Important Local Links |
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The City of Fort Myers |
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Lee County Property Appraiser |
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Lee County School District |
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Southwest Florida International Airport |
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Lee County, Florida |
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Lee County School Board |
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Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce |
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Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce |
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