Naples, Florida

Before the European colonial period, the Calusa tribe had dwelt in the region for thousands of years, from Charlotte Harbor to Cape Sable. In 1513, Juan Ponce de León landed in the region and found resistance from the Calusa, which was then followed by nearly 200 years of strife between the Spanish and the Calusa. In the early 1700s, following slaving raids by Uchise Creek and Yamasee tribes allied with the English Province of Carolina, most of the Calusa retreated south and east.[6]

The city of Naples was founded during the late 1880s 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 '80s, magazine and newspaper stories telling of the area's mild climate and abundant fish and game likened it to the sunny Italian peninsula. The name Naples caught on when promoters described the bay as "surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy". Major development was anticipated after the railroad reaching Naples on January 7, 1927, and the Tamiami Trail linking Naples to Miami was completed in 1928, but did not begin until after 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, fill was required to repair the damage. A local dredging company, Forrest Walker & Sons, created a lake north of 16th Avenue S, between Gordon Drive and Gulf Shore Boulevard. In 1949, Forrest Walker asked Mr. Rust to sell him 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 by March 1950; a new subdivision was named "Aqualane Shores"[7] at the opening party that same year. 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 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, land was filled to create lots with navigable water.

The Aqualane Shores Association was incorporated as a non-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, a state-mandated city master plan renamed the area to 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.

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 19,537 people, 9,710 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3 per square mile (673.2/km²). There were 16,957 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0 per square mile (544.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.1% White, 4.5% Black, 0.12% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.5% of the population. The largest self-identified ancestry/ethnic groups in Naples were German-American 20.0%, English-American 19.2%, Irish-American 17.8% and Italian-American 9.2%.[9]

There were 9,708 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. Thirty-four percent 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 was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38.

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 age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $71,553, and the median income for a family was $102,262. Males had a median income of $86,092 versus $30,948 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,141. About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

The economy of Naples 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 ACI Worldwide, 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 is also home to major private employers such as Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates and technology company NewsBank.

In 2009, Naples 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.[10] In 2012, a report by Kiplinger ranked Naples with the sixth-highest per capita income in the country,[11] along with the second-highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US.[12]

Naples is located in southwest Florida at 26.139, −81.795 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 km²), of which 12.3 square miles (31.9 km²) is land and 4.1 square miles (10.7 km²), or 25.09%, is water.[2]

Naples experiences a tropical savannah climate (Köppen climate classification: Aw).[13] Naples reports more than 2,900 hours of sunshine a year and more than 300 sunny days a year. Naples is normally frost-free and the growing season is 365 days.

Naples is served by the District School Board of Collier County and various private institutions, including the following:[16]

• St. Elizabeth Seton School (private)
• Naples High School (City of Naples, public)
• Barron G. Collier High School (public)
• Gulf Coast High School (public)
• St. John Neumann High School (private)
• Golden Gate High School (public)
• Lely High School (public)
• Palmetto Ridge High School (public)
• Community School of Naples (private)
• Seacrest Country Day School (private)
• First Baptist Academy (private)
• Mason Classical Academy (private)
• Lorenzo Walker Technical High School (public)
• Naples Christian Academy (private)
• Saint Ann School (private)

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.[20]

Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida (HCN) 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 and gynecology, pediatrics, behavioral health[21] and dental care.[22]

Tourism is a major industry for the city. The Naples area is home to several major land reserves, including the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and Picayune Strand State Forest. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is known not only for its 11,000 acres (45 km²) of landscape and wildlife, but for a two-and-a-half-mile-long boardwalk winding through the sanctuary.[23] The Naples area is also home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which dates back to 1919.[24] Near the zoo is where the Coastland Center is located, an indoor mall with many different types of stores anchored by J. C. Penney, Macy's and Sears.

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. Gallery Row is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. Located directly off of Tamiami Trail are the Waterside Shops, an upscale open-air shopping center with popular stores such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Near downtown on 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.

The Naples Half Marathon is a half marathon held every year in Naples since 1989,[25] with record participation in 2013 of 2,038 runners. The race has been called one of the best half-marathons in the United States by Runner's World magazine.[26]

Pickleball 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.

In December 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist met with Chicago Cubs president Crane Kenney, chairman Tom Ricketts and other team officials about possibly moving the Cubs' spring training and minor league facilities from Mesa, Arizona, to Naples.[27] The Cubs eventually chose to stay in Mesa and build a new facility there.[28][29]

Naples has a semi-pro soccer team, Naples United FC, which was founded in 2017. They currently play in the Sunshine Conference of the National Premier Soccer League. 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.[30]

Naples is home to The Naples Players, Naples Shakespeare Festival (and sister company Marco Island Shakespeare Festival),[31] Opera Naples, and the Equity Theatre Companies Theatre Zone and Gulfshore Playhouse.[32] 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.[33] The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida educates about 155,000 students each year both in its facility and with a locally traveling exhibit.

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 was voted the best all-around beach in America by the Travel Channel.[34][35]

Naples area beaches include:

• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
• Clam Pass Beach Park
• Naples Pier
• Vanderbilt Beach
• North Gulfshore Boulevard Beach
• Seagate Beach
• Lowdermilk Beach Park

The Naples Fishing Pier is one of the area's better-known landmarks.

With more than 80 championship golf courses in the Naples area, Naples is the self-titled "Golf Capital of the World", as it has the second most holes per capita out of all communities, and the most holes of any city in Florida.[36][37][38]

Many movies have been filmed in or around Naples, such as Still Green, Gone Fishin', Just Cause, and Pick-Up.

The front entrance of Naples City Hall

• Naples Botanical Garden
• Naples Depot Museum
• Naples Zoo
• Naples Players
• Palm Cottage
• Coastland Center
• The Baker Museum
• Waterside Shops
• Golisano Children's Museum of Naples

• Bill Bain, management consultant, founder of Bain & Company
• Ben Bova, award-winning science fiction author and science author
• Mary Carillo, former professional tennis player, now a sportscaster
• Wrinkles the Clown, performance artist
• Robin Cook, author
• Dominic Fike, rapper
• Keith Eloi, NFL player
• Garnet Hathaway, NHL player (Washington Capitals)
• Carlos Hyde, current NFL running back (Houston Texans)
• Earnest Graham, former NFL running back (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Shahid Khan - Pakistani-American billionaire,[39][40] owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, English soccer club Fulham and Flex-N-Gate.[41]
• Mickey Kuhn, child actor
• Denny Laine, first lead singer of The Moody Blues, Ginger Baker’s Airforce, and Paul McCartney and Wings[42]
• Fred McCrary, former NFL player, graduated from Naples High School in 1991.
• Earl Morrall, former NFL quarterback, played for the Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins
• Jake O'Connell, former NFL tight end that went to Gulf Coast High School.
• Chris Resop, former MLB pitcher
• Rick Scott, U.S. Senator and former Governor of Florida
• Judith Sheindlin, better known to the public as Judge Judy, author and television personality (Pelican Bay)
• Richard M. Schulze, businessman, best known as the founder of Best Buy
• Donna Summer, entertainer; died at her home in Naples in 2012
• Peter Thomas, narrator of television programs
• Jesse Witten, professional tennis player
• Glennon Doyle, author
• Abby Wambach, former professional soccer player, has a home in Naples
• Alex Lifeson, rock musician, has a home in Naples

•  Florida portal

Visitors

• City of Naples official website
• Collier County government
• Collier County Public Library
• Naples, Marco Island, Everglades – Convention and Visitors Bureau website
• Newspaper