Fort Myers Florida History

For thousands of years the area was inhabited by native Indians. In the 1500’s the Spanish brought cattle in an attempt to establish settlements, along with fishing and farming. During the late 1700s, pirates lived along the coastal areas of Lee County, raiding cargo ships sailing to and from New Orleans. During the 1840s and 1850s, several Union forts were established along the Caloosahatchee River by Colonel Abraham Charles Myers. During that time, a thriving cattle industry and a land of plenty provided for settlers along with wildlife, fish and game. The myriad of inland waterways and a port provided a means of transportation for homesteaders and commercial enterprises. After the war, pineapple plantations sprung up, and cattle were driven to Punta Rassa where steamers shipped them to Cuba from the Gulf of Mexico. In 1885 Thomas Alva Edison visited the area and built a 14-acre winter home where he conducted many of his scientific experiments. His friend, Henry Ford, also built an estate next door. In 1904 the railroad had come west and Fort Myers was a growing town.

The 1920s saw a land boom; the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture was popular with both commercial buildings and homes. The 1930s saw the end of the Boom Era with the collapse of the stock market, but World War II brought a new wave of growth. Lee County continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in Florida.