Collier County
Collier County is often touted as the largest county by geographical size in Florida, and what’s more impressive: more than 75 percent of the land is set aside for federal, state, and county parks and conservation. As a result, it is home to vast wildlands—swamp, prairie, marsh, and coastal ecosystems—along with rural and agricultural areas that flourish in the frost-free area. Collier County was one of the last frontiers in the American South, and it was named for advertising magnate Barron Gift Collier who, at one time, was the largest landowner in Florida and fueled the completion of the construction of the Tamiami Trail. Today it has three incorporated cities and many distinct communities throughout the unincorporated parts of the county. Here is a snapshot of the municipalities:
Everglades City: Coastal Outback
When Collier County was carved out of Lee County by the Florida legislature in 1923, this remote town was incorporated as Everglades and designated the county seat. (The county seat later moved to Naples.) The town served as the base for Barron Collier’s development of the Tamiami Trail, linking the east and west coasts of South Florida, which opened with national fanfare in 1928. Its arduous completion through muck, limestone, and swarms of mosquitoes unlocked the remote region for more efficient travel for tourism, commerce, and development.
Located on the edge of Chokoloskee Bay, the Everglades City area had previously been occupied for millennia by Native Americans, followed by Seminoles and white settlers after the Civil War.
Today, this remote incorporated city is renowned for fishing and its proximity to Everglades National Park, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, and Ten Thousand Islands. Its population of 400 residents is a hardy, tight-knit community still recovering from the impacts of several hurricanes since 2017. Nearby, smaller towns include Chokoloskee, Plantation, Jerome, Copeland, and Ochopee.
Marco Island: Relaxed Oasis
At 24 square miles, Marco Island lies 35 miles south of Naples and is the largest barrier island within the Ten Thousand Islands. With a permanent population of about 16,200 and a peak winter season population of 40,000, Marco Island features six miles of beaches and is crisscrossed with more than 100 miles of canals and waterways created when the city was developed in the 1960s. Marco Island is recognized for its high quality of life with a low crime rate, proximity to fantastic fishing, and casual atmosphere, and friendliness. While real estate is relatively expensive compared to many communities in Florida, there is a wide variety of price ranges for homes, condominiums, and vacation rentals.
Naples: Jewel on the Gulf
Upon its founding as a resort town in 1888, Naples was named for the romantic town in Italy because of its shimmering Naples Bay and location on the Gulf of Mexico. As the county seat of Collier County, it is home to both city and county government offices, law enforcement headquarters, and courts. It has ranked among the top 10 wealthiest cities in the United States. Home to about 19,700 residents, Naples has long been a popular winter destination, boasting more than 250 sunny days per year, rich cultural amenities, a strong philanthropic spirit, and sophisticated dining and shopping.
Facebook Comments