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A bit of Naples history
Long before
Naples had a name, people seeking opportunity made it their
home.
The first
known to historians were tall, proud Native-Americans known as Calusas.
They built an intricate civilization taking advantage of the warm Gulf
waters teeming with fish and oysters as well as the pine and cypress forests
filled with deer, turkey and other game.
Five hundred
years later, the same warm climate, subtropical beauty and bountiful
natural resources that served the Calusa so well have attracted thousands upon
thousands of new Americans seeking opportunity.
The first
ones to come were true pioneers. They arrived by wooden boat or ox cart.
Later they came by train and Model T. Today they arrive by jet and Chevrolet.
All were, or are, in search of their own paradise. And, all in some way shaped
Naples.
What is Naples?
It is a
vibrant, growing community sandwiched between white sand beaches and rich
vegetable fields.
It is the
government and economic center of a county the size of the state of
Delaware.
It is modern
schools, sailboats docked in backyards, ball fields, parks, churches,
restaurants, citrus groves, upscale shopping centers, 7-Elevens and people,
150,000 of them at last count.
The 1990
census says Naples is the 169th largest metropolitan area in the United
States. In 1960, census takers counted 6,150. This population growth in 30
years has brought vitality as well as challenges to Naples.
Little more
than 100 years ago, Naples was a nameless outpost for hunters, fishermen
and a handful of squatters. There were no roads, only cart paths that were
pocked with mud holes during the summer rainy season. Boats were the only
reliable means of transportation in 1887 when two Kentucky gentlemen - Gen.
John S. Williams and Walter N. Haldeman - decided to see their Naples
dream.
Florida was
experiencing a land boom at the time, tripling its population as more and
more post-Civil War Americans were discovering the state's potential as a
resort for health-seekers and the sports minded.
A persistent
theme throughout the boom of the 1880s, according to Ron Jamro and Gerald
L. Lanterman in their book "The Founding of Naples", was the romantic notion
that the Florida peninsula could somehow be molded into a mirror image of the
sunny Italian peninsula. This preoccupation with Italy obviously was on the
minds of 10 men when they formed the Naples Town Improvement Co. during a
strategy session in Tallahassee in the autumn of 1886. The men had decided to
establish a town and name it for Naples, Italy, a thriving seaport on the
Mediterranean. They had a name. All they lacked was land. On Dec. 2, they
purchased 3,712 acres between the Gulf of Mexico and what came to be known as
Naples Bay. The price was $11,136 … $3 an acre.
On the
morning of Sept. 10, 1960, Hurricane Donna hit the coast with 120 mph winds.
No lives were lost, but much of the town was flooded and damage was put at
$25 million. Insurance adjusters arrived soon after the water receded and began
paying claims. The money pumped new life into a town that was little more than
a winter haven for a few millionaires and a rest stop for cars traveling the
270 miles from Tampa to Miami on the Tamiami Trail. Land values held as new
structures replaced old. A new Florida land boom was beginning on the tail of
the prosperous 1950s. Donna ironically left Naples well positioned. And,
modern-day pioneers flowed into the area bringing their dreams and seeking
opportunity. Annually, that migration made Naples one of the fastest growing
communities in the nation.
A Climate for Business
The economy
of Southwest Florida has changed over the years from one concentrating on
just a few industries - tourism, real estate, agriculture - to an ever-evolving
combination of goods and services that shows the growing diversity of the
area.
To be sure,
the old standbys remain at the top of the heap.
Tourism is
the seasonal engine. From autumn to late spring, the region is bursting
with visitors, here to enjoy the sandy beaches, warm weather and variety of
man-made tourist attractions.
Many of
those visitors decide to stay, fueling the ever-growing real estate industry.
From a community that hugged the coastline just a few decades ago, it has
matured into a countywide conglomeration of housing developments, all designed
to make the one-time visitor a permanent resident.
Not-so-old
timers can tell you of when one had to drive to Miami or at least Fort Myers to
do any decent shopping. But that has changed as the nation's major
retailers have discovered Naples. An expanded Coastland Center mall and
revitalized Fifth Avenue South, along with the traditions of Third Street
South, are helping to make the area a self-contained shopper's
paradise.
And industry
is also discovering Southwest Florida. Not the dirty, smelly industry of
the Rust Belt, but a clean, high-tech industry that brings welcome jobs and
year-round production.
Waterfront Dining There's plenty to do in the Naples area
OK, so it's
not exactly a "toddlin' town" or a "city that never sleeps." But Naples is
definitely more than just a beach, a gulf and a gaggle of signature golf
courses. And it has been for quite a while now.
For
years, visitors have been surprised to find that once they put their clubs
away or brush the sand off their feet, there's plenty to do in Collier
County.
Nearly every
month there is a festival or fair that's celebrated with a Southwest Florida
flair - namely plenty of seafood, sunshine and fun. Even the area's small
communities have found it a recipe for success.
The
Philharmonic
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Another
event that reflects the history of the area is the annual Swamp Buggy
Races, a tradition that has grown from a muddy ride through a shallow pond
to a spectacular race broadcast nationally from a specially designed course at
the Florida Sports Park.
Some of the
local culture is, of course, a bit more ... cultured, as residents and
visitors alike have been unwilling to totally forsake their love for fine food
and entertainment while here in Paradise.
Art Galleries |
Indeed,
those who don't mind putting on a pair of shoes and a shirt at some point
during the day have found that the addition of certain luxuries - such as
multi-screen theaters, several well-regarded restaurants and The Philharmonic
Center for the Arts - have simply made the place all the more heavenly.
| REAL ESTATE TRIVIA |
| Q |
What famous American monument is also the world's heaviest statue?
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| A |
The Statue of Liberty, officially named "Liberty Lighting the World", weighs 54.31 million pounds. |
| More Real Estate Trivia |
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