BlockBefore

Lee County, Florida

118 topographic sheets cover 71 settlements here, and 50 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

50 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Florida within the United States
Lee County within Florida

What the record shows

  • 984 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 50 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 41 buildings, 8 districts and 1 site.
  • 3 of the 50 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 71 populated places in this county; 71 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

50

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Alderman Housebuilding198888002690
Alva Consolidated Schoolsbuilding199999000695
Boca Grande Community Centerbuilding199595000306
Boca Grande Lighthousedistrict198080000953
Boca Grande Quarantine Stationbuilding199696000447
Bonita Springs Schoolbuilding199999000800
Buckingham Schoolbuilding198989000011
Captiva School and Chapel-by-the-Sea Historic Districtdistrict201313000853
Casa Riobuilding199696001186
Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway Depotbuilding197979000676
Dean Park Historic Residential Districtbuilding201313000319
Downtown Boca Grande Historic Districtdistrict201111000577
Paul Lawrence Dunbar Schoolbuilding199292000025
Edison Park Elementary Schoolbuilding199999000524
Thomas Edison Winter Estatedistrict199191001044
J. Colin English Schoolbuilding199999000798
First Baptist Church of Boca Grandebuilding200909000962
Fish Cabin at White Rock Shoalsbuilding199191000398
Henry Ford Estatebuilding198888001822
Fort Myers Beach Schoolbuilding199999000796
Fort Myers Downtown Commercial Districtdistrict199089002325
Gasparilla Inn Historic Districtdistrict200808000205
Gilmer Heitman Housebuilding199696001033
Hendrickson Fish Cabin at Captiva Rocksbuilding199191000402
Ice House at Captiva Rocksbuilding199191000407
Ice House at Point Blancobuilding199191000408
Jewett-Thompson Housebuilding198888001708
Journey's Endbuilding198585000554
Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic Districtdistrict197676000599
Larsen Fish Cabin at Captiva Rocksbuilding199191000404
Lee County Courthousebuilding198989000196
Leneer Fish Cabin at Captiva Rocksbuilding199191000403
Halstead and Emily Lindsley Housebuilding201111000502
McCollum Hallbuilding2022100007618
Menge-Hansen Marine Waysbuilding200909000670
Mound Housebuilding2019100002723
Murphy-Burroughs Housebuilding198484000898
Norton Fish Cabin at Captiva Rocksbuilding199191000405
Olga Schoolbuilding199595000509
Pine-Aire Lodgebuilding201414000826
Punta Gorda Fish Company Cabinbuilding200303001289
Punta Gorda Fish Company Ice Housebuilding198989000320
Sanibel Colored Schoolbuilding199999000797
Sanibel Lighthouse and Keeper's Quartersbuilding197474000648
Terry Park Ballfieldsite199595000730
Tice Grammer Schoolbuilding199999000799
William H. Towles Housebuilding200808000463
Tween Waters Inn Historic Districtdistrict201111000904
Whidden Fish Cabin at Captiva Rocksbuilding199191000406
Whidden's Marinabuilding200000001539

Photographs from libraries nationwide

22 of 86 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 86 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Airport obstruction chart, OC 6757, Southwest Florida Regional Airport, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Airport obstruction chart, OC 6757, Southwest Florida Regional Airport, Fort Myers, Florida. United States. National Ocean Service, Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Thomas A. Edison Memorial Bridge Ft. Myers, Fla, Boston Public Library - undated
Thomas A. Edison Memorial Bridge Ft. Myers, Fla. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Edison Bridge as seen from Hunt's Island, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Edison Bridge as seen from Hunt's Island, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Royal Poinciana tree amidst majestic Royal Palms, Scene on First Street Fort Myers, Florida, City of Palms, Boston Public Library - undated
Royal Poinciana tree amidst majestic Royal Palms, Scene on First Street Fort Myers, Florida, City of Palms. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Looking up Orange River at Sunset, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Looking up Orange River at Sunset, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Open air post office, Fort Myers, Florida, City of Palms, Boston Public Library - undated
Open air post office, Fort Myers, Florida, City of Palms. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Unusual banyan tree, court house square, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Unusual banyan tree, court house square, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Home of the Rabe O. Wilkinson Post No. 38 American Legion, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Home of the Rabe O. Wilkinson Post No. 38 American Legion, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Coconut Walk, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Coconut Walk, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Edgepark Court, Ft. Myers, Fla., Boston Public Library - undated
Edgepark Court, Ft. Myers, Fla.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Tropical Palms Court, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Tropical Palms Court, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Exhibition Hall, Ft. Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Exhibition Hall, Ft. Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Fort Myers beach scene, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Fort Myers beach scene, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Moreton Bay fig tree with the Henry Ford Home in the distance, Thomas A. Edison winter home, Fort. Myers, Fla., Boston Public Library - undated
Moreton Bay fig tree with the Henry Ford Home in the distance, Thomas A. Edison winter home, Fort. Myers, Fla.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Coconut Walk, Fort Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Coconut Walk, Fort Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
The Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Private beach of The Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Private beach of The Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Thomas A. Edison Memorial Bridge Ft. Myers, Fla, Boston Public Library - undated
Thomas A. Edison Memorial Bridge Ft. Myers, Fla. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Exhibition Hall, Ft. Myers, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Exhibition Hall, Ft. Myers, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. The Sky is always blue in Florida, the land of the coconut palm., Boston Public Library - undated
Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. The Sky is always blue in Florida, the land of the coconut palm.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Bolton Motel, Bonita Springs, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Bolton Motel, Bonita Springs, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 1,351 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-11-19, scale 1:60000
1950-11-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-11-19, scale 1:60000
1950-11-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-11-19, scale 1:60000
1950-11-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-18, scale 1:28400
1951-03-18, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-18, scale 1:28400
1951-03-18, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-18, scale 1:28400
1951-03-18, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-18, scale 1:28400
1951-03-18, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-05, scale 1:41112
1958-02-05, scale 1:41112. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-05, scale 1:41112
1958-02-05, scale 1:41112. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-05, scale 1:41112
1958-02-05, scale 1:41112. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-05, scale 1:41112
1958-02-05, scale 1:41112. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-02-04, scale 1:62349
1959-02-04, scale 1:62349. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-02-04, scale 1:62349
1959-02-04, scale 1:62349. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-02-04, scale 1:62349
1959-02-04, scale 1:62349. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-02-04, scale 1:62349
1959-02-04, scale 1:62349. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-22, scale 1:60481
1960-01-22, scale 1:60481. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-22, scale 1:60481
1960-01-22, scale 1:60481. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:126037
1969-10-14, scale 1:126037. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:126037
1969-10-14, scale 1:126037. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-27, scale 1:82200
1971-01-27, scale 1:82200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-27, scale 1:82200
1971-01-27, scale 1:82200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-27, scale 1:82200
1971-01-27, scale 1:82200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-27, scale 1:82200
1971-01-27, scale 1:82200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12211
1982-05-15, scale 1:12211. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:25923
1983-01-16, scale 1:25923. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:25923
1983-01-16, scale 1:25923. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:25923
1983-01-16, scale 1:25923. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:25923
1983-01-16, scale 1:25923. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-11-19, scale 1:60000
1950-11-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-02-28, scale 1:28400
1952-02-28, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-02-28, scale 1:28400
1952-02-28, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-02-28, scale 1:28400
1952-02-28, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-02-28, scale 1:28400
1952-02-28, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-22, scale 1:60481
1960-01-22, scale 1:60481. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-01-22, scale 1:60481
1960-01-22, scale 1:60481. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:126037
1969-10-14, scale 1:126037. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:127061
1969-10-14, scale 1:127061. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-03-06, scale 1:80000
1978-03-06, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-03-06, scale 1:80000
1978-03-06, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-03-06, scale 1:80000
1978-03-06, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-03-06, scale 1:80000
1978-03-06, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12211
1982-05-15, scale 1:12211. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12211
1982-05-15, scale 1:12211. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12211
1982-05-15, scale 1:12211. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

47 stations, 27 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

47 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 36-1Fort Myers city, comprising parts of Commissioner's Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 1 in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Billy's Creek; City limits; Michigan Ave.; Ward line
  • 36-2Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 2 in Commissioner's District Bounded by Billy's Creek; Ward line; Michigan Ave., North Palm Ave., Second; North Evans Ave., Caloosahatchee River
  • 36-3Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 2 in Commissioner's District 1, excluding Royal Palm Hotel Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; North Evans Ave. ;Commissioner's District line; Lee
  • 36-4Royal Palm Hotel (In Fort Myers city, Ward 2 Commissioner's District 1)
  • 36-5Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 2 in Commissioner's District 1, excluding Bradford Hotel and Franklin Arms Hotel Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; Lee; West Anderson Ave.; Hendry
  • 36-6Bradford Hotel (In Fort Myers city, Ward 2 Commissioner's District 1)
  • 36-7Franklin Arms Hotel (In Fort Myers city , Ward 2 Commissioner's District 1)
  • 36-8Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 3 in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; Hendry, Commissioner's District line, Union, N. Broadway; Edison Ave.; N. Cleveland Ave., Victoria Ave., Clifford, Ward line
  • 36-9Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 4 in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Ward Line, Clifford, Victoria Ave.; North Cleveland Ave.; West Canal, Ward Line, Lynnwood Ave.; Caloosahatchee River
  • 36-10Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 5 in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Lynnwood Ave.; Cortez Blvd.; Braman Ave.; Caloosahatchee River
  • 36-11Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 5 in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Ward line, West Canal; South Cleveland Ave., City limits; Braman Ave.; Cortez Blvd.
  • 36-12Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 5 in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Braman Ave.; City limits; City limits; McGregor Blvd.
  • 36-13Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 5 in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Braman Ave.; McGregor Blvd.; City limits; Caloosahatchee River
  • 36-14Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 4 in Commissioner's District 3 Bounded by W. Edison Ave.; Palm Ave.; City limits; S. Central Ave., N. Central Ave.
  • 36-15Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 4 in Commissioner's District 3 Bounded by W. Edison Ave.; N. Central Ave., S. Central Ave.; City limits; S. Broadway, N. Broadway
  • 36-16Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 4 in Commissioner's District 3 Bounded by W. Edison Ave.; N. Broadway, S. Broadway; City limits; S. Cleveland Ave., N. Cleveland Ave.
  • 36-17Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 1 in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; City limits; Woodside Ave., Polk, Washington Ave.; Palmetto Ave., Seminole Ave., Princess
  • 36-18Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 1 in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Washington Ave., Polk, Woodside Ave.; City limits; City limits; Palmetto Ave.
  • 36-19Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 1 in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; Princess, Seminole Ave., Palmetto Ave., City limits; Billy's Creek; E, Marion, First, Superior
  • 36-20Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 2 in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; Superior, First, Marion, E; Billy's Creek
  • 36-21Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 1 in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by Indian, Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Ward line, Michigan Ave.; City limits; City limits, E. Anderson Ave.; Palm Ave.
  • 36-22Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 2 in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by Second, N. Palm Ave., Michigan Ave.; Ward line; Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Indian, Palm Ave., Lime, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, West Anderson Ave.; Commissioner's District line, N. Evans Ave.
  • 36-23Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 3 in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by W. Anderson Ave.; N. Evans Ave.; W. Edison Ave.; N. Broadway, Union, Commissioner's District line
  • 36-24Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 3 in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Lime; Palm Ave.; W. Edison Ave.; N. Evans Ave.
  • 36-25Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 4 in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by E. Anderson Ave.; City limits; E. Edison Ave.; Palm Ave.
  • 36-26Fort Myers city - That part of Ward 4 in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by E. Edison Ave.; City limits; City limits; Palm Ave.
  • 36-27Commissioner's District 1, outside Fort Myers city: New Prospect, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo DCT-3C-86)
  • 36-28CCommissioner's District 1 - That part comprising Gasparilla Island
  • 36-28BCommissioner's District 1 - That part west of Matlacha Pass outside Gasparilla Island and excluding Useppa Inn
  • 36-28ACommissioner's District 1 - That part comprising the Mainland, outside the unincorporated place of New Prospect(See boundaries shown on aerial photo DCT - 3 C - 86)
  • 36-29Boca Grande Hotel (In Commissioner's District 1)
  • 36-30Gasparilla Inn and Cottages (In Commissioner's District 1)
  • 36-31Useppa Inn (In Commissioner's District 1) (Remainder of Commissioner's District 1 is in Fort Myers city)
  • 36-32Commissioner's District 2 - outside Fort Myers city: Rio Vista - Twin Palms, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo DOT - 3C - S1)
  • 36-33ACommissioner's District 2 - That part south and west of San Carlos Bay, excluding Sanibel Island U.S. Lighthouse
  • 36-33BCommissioner's District 2 - That part north and east of San Carlos Bay, outside the unincorporated place of Rio Vista - Twin Palms (See boundaries shown on aerial photo DCT - 3C - 81)
  • 36-34Sanibel Island U. S. Lighthouse (In Commissioner's District 2) (Remainder of Commissioner's District 2 is in Fort Myers city)
  • 36-35Commissioner's District 3, outside Fort Myers city: Commissioner's District 3 - That part east of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
  • 36-36BCommissioner's District 3 - That part Bounded by Section line from northwest corner of Section 14, Township 46, Range 23 to the northeast corner of Section 18, Township 46, Range 24; Section line between Sections 17 and 18, Township 46, Range 24, Ostego Bay; Big Carlos Pass; Commissioner's District line
  • 36-36CCommissioner's District 3 - That part Bounded by Section line between Sections 10 and 15, Township 47, Range 25 from Atlantic Coast Line Railroad west to Commissioner's District line; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; County line; Commissioner's District line
  • 36-36ACommissioner's District 3 - That part Bounded by Fort Myers city limits; Commissioner's District line, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; Section line between sections 10 and 15, Township 47, Range 25 from Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to Gulf; Big Carlos Pass, Ostego Bay, Section line between Sections 17 and 18 and from the northeast corner of Section 18 to Commissioner's District line, Commissioner's District line
  • 36-37ACommissioner's District 4 - That part Bounded by County line; Range line between Ranges 25 and 26 East; Commissioner's District line, Fort Myers city limits, Commissioner's District line; Commissioner's District line
  • 36-37CCommissioner's District 4 - That part Bounded by County line; County line; Commissioner's District line; Commissioner's District line
  • 36-37BCommissioner's District 4 - That part Bounded by County line; Range line between Ranges 26 and 27; Commissioner's District line; Commissioner's District line
  • 36-38Commissioner's District 5, outside Fort Myers city: Tice, unincorporated Bounded by Caloosahatchee River; Branch of Caloosahatchee River, Unnamed Street; State Hwy. 80, Unnamed road, Billy's Creek; Fort Myers city limits (See separate map for boundaries of Tice)
  • 36-39Commissioner's District 5 - That part outside Fort Myers city and the unincorporated place of Tice (See separate map for boundaries of Tice) of Commissioner's District 5 is in Fort Myers city)
  • 36-40Commissioner's District 4 - That part south of Fort Myers city (Remainder of Commissioner's District 4 is in Fort Myers city)

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

2,990 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,990 of them, burning about 47,510 acres. 892 started naturally and 227 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural892
Railroad operations and maintenance605
Missing data/not specified/undetermined481
Equipment and vehicle use263
Arson/incendiarism227
Misuse of fire by a minor159
Debris and open burning142
Recreation and ceremony89
Power generation/transmission/distribution53
Fireworks42
Smoking31
Other causes6

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
27 June 2007Natural2,400 acresFlorida Forest Service36/ANDALUSIA-PALMETTO FIRE
29 May 2004Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,660 acresFlorida Forest ServiceBEN HILL GRIFFIN
23 March 1999Railroad operations and maintenance1,425 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
29 April 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,177 acresFlorida Forest Service36/DIVISION B
29 April 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,148 acresFlorida Forest Service36/ CHEROKEE ROAD
1 June 2004Natural862 acresFlorida Forest ServiceLOST FIRE
30 June 1998Railroad operations and maintenance800 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
19 April 1998Railroad operations and maintenance800 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1953 to 2026

60 of 652 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 652 reports for this county, causing 21 deaths, 66 injuries and about $570,541,340 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind229
Tornado126
Hail122
Lightning57
Flood39
Waterspout18
Heavy Rain15
Funnel Cloud15
Flash Flood11
Wildfire11
Dust Devil3
Heat3
Rip Current2
High Wind1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2005LightningFt Myers2 killed, 1 hurtLightning from a fast-moving thundertstorm killed two Fort Myers roofers and injured a third as they were getting ready to go home for the day.
March 1997Rip CurrentFt Myers2 killedTwo girls, ages nine and twelve, were swept out to sea by a rip current at Boca Grande Pass.
July 2014LightningFt Myers Beach1 killed, 2 hurtLocal law enforcement and media reported a lightning strike on Fort Myers Beach. Three people were walking on the beach with thunderstorms in the area. A 41 year old male was struck and killed. Two others were injured, one critically, and were transported to a local hospital.
July 2021LightningSanibel1 killed, 1 hurtA family of four was on the beach at Sanibel Island as a thunderstorm moved overhead. Unfortunately a lightning strike hit the father and he died of his injuries.
June 2017LightningFort Myers1 killed, 1 hurtLocal broadcast media reported that a 9 month pregnant woman was struck by lightning in a neighborhood in Fort Myers. She was transported to a local hospital. After arriving at the hospital, doctors delivered the baby. After a few weeks in intensive care, the child passed away. The mother was eventually released from the hospital and is back home recovering from her injuries.
May 2015LightningBonita Spgs1 killed, 1 hurtTwo men working on a roof were struck by lightning. They stopped working when it began to rain but returned shortly after the rain had stopped. Neighbors said that the lightning strike hit a roofer directly in the head knocking him unconscious. That bolt then transferred to another worker who was just steps away. They were transferred to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. The man who was struck directly died from his injuries three days later.
October 1960Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, $2,500no account filed
July 2016LightningCoconut1 killedA 35 year old man was struck by lightning while working on the 6th floor lanai of a building under construction. Witnesses said that this was the only lightning strike seen or heard in the area from the storm. Attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful, and he died at the scene.
October 2012LightningPine Manor1 killedAn 11 year old student was struck by lightning during football practice at around 4:30 pm EDT on the 3rd, right after taking the field. The student died on the afternoon of the 7th after he was removed from life support.
September 2007LightningFort Myers1 killedA 53-year-old man was struck by lightning while standing on a pier on the Caloosahatchee River near Freemont Street. He was taken to the hospital and died the next day.
September 2006LightningLehigh Acres1 killedLightning struck a tree and killed a 13-year-old boy who was standing nearby. The boy was among a group of kids playing at a popular swimming hole at Ocean Park Drive. It was not raining at the time of the strike.
April 2005LightningBonita Spgs1 killedA golfer was struck while walking on the fairway toward a ball. The sun was shining at the golf course at the time of the strike but isolated thunderstorms were moving onshore near the course.
May 2004LightningFt Myers1 killedA man was struck by lightning while playing golf. The lightning strike entered in his stomach and exited out his foot. It was not raining at the golf course when the lightning strike occurred, however dark clouds were nearby.
August 2003LightningFt Myers1 killedLightning struck and killed a 23 year old man while he was playing soccer at Billy Bowlegs Park in Fort Myers.
August 2002LightningBonita Spgs1 killedField worker preparing a field for tomatoes was struck and killed.
August 2001Rip CurrentSanibel1 killedA 65 year old male drowned in a rip current at Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel Island.
June 1998HeatFt Myers1 killedThe Lee County Health Department reported that an eleven month old female, left unattended in an unventilated, non-airconditioned room, died from the affects of heat in Ft Myers.
June 1998HeatNorth Ft Myers1 killedThe Lee County Health Department reported that a 44 year-old male died from the combined affects of heat and alcohol in an enclosed parked van in North Ft Myers.
June 1998HeatNorth Ft Myers1 killedThe Lee County Health Department reported that 46 year-old man was found dead from the affects of heat and alcohol in the back of a closed van on the 15000 block of North Cleveland Avenue.
August 1986Tornado (F2)not stated12 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
February 1995Thunderstorm WindLeesburg10 hurt, $10,000Thunderstorm winds uprooted several large pecan trees. Two mobile homes were blown over and several power lines were downed.
September 1991Tornado (F1)not stated7 hurt, $250,000no account filed
January 2016Tornado (EF2)Matlacha3 hurt, $2,000,000NWS Storm Survey revealed EF-2 tornado damage in the western sections of Cape Coral. The tornado damaged 178 structures in total. One home was completely destroyed while 14 sustained major damage and another 163 sustained minor damage. The minor damage mainly consisted of roof damage and destroyed pool cages. Over 100 power poles were knocked down along the tornado's path along with many trees. The tornado injured three people while it was on the ground for about 7 minutes.
July 1996Tornado (F0)Cape Coral2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
February 1965Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
August 2009LightningCape Coral2 hurtTwo women were struck by lightning during a storm that moved over Cape Coral. One 40-year-old woman felt lightning move through her arm as she was holding an umbrella next to a truck. Another 34-year-old woman felt lightning come through her keyboard while she was on her computer. Both were transported to the hospital in stable condition.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindFort Myers Beach1 hurt, $5,000,000The metal roof of a boat dry storage building was blown off at Fort Myers Beach Marina causing an estimated $750,000 damage to the building and 17 boats inside or nearby the building. One male sleeping onboard a boat received minor injuries. Several mobile homes east of the marina received roof, carport, and screened porch damage. The Coast Guard station nearby observed a gust to 59 mph at 0146 EST.
October 1993Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $5,000,000A tornado hit the Imperial Lakes Mobile Home Park. 54 mobile homes were damaged including 37 which suffered substantial damage. One person was injured by flying glass.
September 2007Tornado (EF1)Cape Coral1 hurt, $4,000,000Thunderstorms continued to develop northward along the sea breeze front and produced a tornado that traveled due north from near the intersection of Rose Garden and and El Dorado Parkway West to near Skyline Boulevard and Veterans memorial Parkway. The damage path was less than the size of a single family home for most of the track and the average wind speed based on the damage was 65-75 MPH. The EF1 damage was of a home nearly cut in half by the tornado with wind speeds estimated at 105 MPH. The lower than expected wind estimate was a result of older building codes and the roof blowout occurred as a result of a large picture window being blown in. About 138 homes were damaged. Six homes received moderate damage and one home was destroyed. The tornado snapped several power poles and damaged numerous fences, sheds and trees. Several vehicles and boats were flipped over. There was one injury as a gentleman looked outside to see the tornado and was struck by debris. Thirty people were displaced from their homes. Damage estimates were based on a survey completed by Cape Coral Emergency Management.
August 1986Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
December 2021Tornado (EF1)Fort Myers Villas1 hurt, $750,000Dozens of homes had roof damage and numerous trees and large branches|broken near and along the path of the tornado. One minor injury was|reported due to broken glass and several pool enclosures and vehicles were|also damaged. Initial estimated damages exceed $500K. Damaging winds|continued past the initial tornado damage due to gradient winds.
August 2006LightningCape Coral1 hurt, $114,000Sixteen single family homes were damaged by flying debris and reverberations caused by an explosion of a 40 foot decaying pine tree due to a lightning strike. The expanding steam and resin from the wet but dead tree created a one block debris field. The explosion from the strike shattered windows, lifted roofs, caved ceilings, dented cars, and bent fences. A 14-foot long trench about a half a foot deep was formed as the roots exploded. In all, 29 windows were broken and 2 homes reported damage of $30,000 or more. One man was treated for minor injuries.
April 2017Tornado (EF0)Punta Rassa1 hurt, $110,000Emergency management reported and broadcast media received video of a tornado that crossed the southern point of Pine Island. The tornado then became a waterspout as it moved east and into Fort Myers towards Lakes Regional Park. In Fort Myers, the tornado destroyed one mobile home, damaged trees, fences, and car ports, and lifted a metal dock out of the water at Lakes Regional Park. One person sustained minor injuries.
June 2008Tornado (EF1)Bayshore Manor1 hurt, $100,000Fourty four mobile homes had minor damage to roofs, carports and lanais. Ten mobile homes had moderate damage to roofs and portions of walls. One un-anchored single-wide mobile home was pushed 5 feet from its original position, with the roof blown off and exterior walls partially collapsed. One double-wide mobile home had complete structural failure of a well-constructed outer wall and roof section. Most of the damage was in the high-end EF0 range, with a small pocket of low-end EF1 damage. Wind speeds were estimated between 75-100mph.
August 1979Tornado (F0)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
August 1995Thunderstorm WindFt. Myers1 hurt, $20,000The roof of the Tiki Bar at Del Prado Inn collapsed and injured one person. A boat was damaged, and many power lines were downed by the thunderstorm winds.
July 2004LightningFt Myers1 hurt, $5,000A woman watching fireworks in front of her home was indirectly struck in the head by lightning. The the main bolt of lightning struck a power pole near her yard. The energy from the bolt traveled down the power line to her home, then to her. A small fire resulted at the woman's home where the power line entered the house.
June 1964Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $2,500no account filed
August 1998LightningNorth Ft Myers1 hurt, $1,000Lightning struck and shattered an eight foot antenna of a boat on the Caloosahatchee River in North Ft. Myers. A 64 year old male was treated for minor electrical burns on his neck, left arm and shoulder.
July 2017LightningSouthwest International Airport1 hurtBroadcast media reported that lightning struck an airplane at Southwest Florida International Airport, injuring a person standing nearby.
September 2003Lightning(Fmy)Ft Myers Page F1 hurtA man in rural Lee County was struck by lightning, taken to the hospital, then released.
June 2000Tornado (F0)Boca Grande1 hurtA Skywarn Spotter reported that a waterspout came onshore as a tornado at the south end of Gasparilla Island. One man was injured by flying debris from the tornado before it lifted and dissipated.
August 2000LightningSanibel1 hurtA woman was struck and injured by lightning while walking under a tree in a parking lot on Sanibel Island. The lightning strike knocked the woman unconscious and left her with burns on her feet. The lightning victim was resuscitated and regained consciousness, but could not speak following the strike.
August 1999LightningSanibel1 hurtA man was injured by the sideflash of lightning that struck a nearby tree as he walked across a foot bridge at Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island.
July 1998LightningCape Coral1 hurtLightning struck and injured a 42 year old man that was boating near Cabbage Key. The man suffered full cardiac arrest from the lightning strike and was later resuscitated with CPR administered by a nurse.
August 1997LightningNorth Ft Myers1 hurtA 14 year old male was injured by a sideflash of lightning that first struck a nearby tree. The youth reported numbness on one side of his body after seeking medical care.
July 1997LightningBonita Spgs1 hurtA 52 year old man was injured when lightning struck an industrial trash bin approximately five feet from where he was standing at the First Baptist Church of Bonita Springs.
June 1992Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
September 2017FloodBonita Spgs$500,000,000Heavy rains from Hurricane Irma on the 10th and 11th cause water levels to rise on the Imperial River in southern Lee county to rise, resulting in flooding of hundreds of homes in Imperial Bonita Estates and the surrounding areas. ||Flood damage from Irma in Lee County was roughly estimated at $500 million.
January 2022Tornado (EF2)Punta Rassa$10,000,000Iona/Fort Myers tornado. A waterspout first identified just northwest of Fort Myers Beach moved ashore as a tornado and pushed through the Iona area near Fort Myers producing EF-2 damage with peak winds estimated around 118 mph before dissipating near the Cape Coral bridge. Over 200 residences suffered damage across three separate mobile home communities (Point Breeze, Tropicana, and Century 21), with 45 destroyed, 90 sustaining major damage and another 92 with minor damage. 3 people suffered minor injuries. Damage estimates totaled around $10 million USD.
March 1993Thunderstorm WindBonita Springs$5,000,000Strong winds blew down trees and power lines over an extensive area and ripped the roof of a 7-story building three-quarters of the way off.
March 1993Thunderstorm WindFort Myers$5,000,000Page Field Airport measured a wind gust to 59 mph at 0302 EST. Traffic signals and signs were blown down in San Carlos, with damage to homes and business buildings in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers. Southwest Florida Regional Airport recorded a gust to 69 mph at 0303 EST.
July 1989Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
November 1988Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
October 1982Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
September 2000Tornado (F1)Sanibel$2,000,000A fast moving tornado, on the low end of the F1 scale, associated with an outer band of hurricane Gordon, touched down along East Gulf Drive, two miles east of Sanibel on Sanibel Island, and caused extensive damage to two condominium complexes, two dozen nearby homes and lanais. The tornado moved north northwest and sporadically touched down along rural County Road 767 on Pine Island in western Lee county. The tornado damaged the roofs of a few homes, carports and toppled or snapped palm trees along it's path. The tornado lifted and dissipated near Bokeelia on the north side of Pine Island. Residents in the path of the tornado in Sanibel indicated that they heard the sound of roaring train and their ears felt an air pressure change as it passed overhead.
September 2000Tornado (F1)Sanibel$1,000,000A tornado, on the high end of the F1 scale, associated with an outer band of Hurricane Gordon, touched down on the south side of Sanibel Island and rapidly moved north northwest across Periwinkle Way where it removed roofs, destroyed lanais, downed trees, power lines and large branches across the island. The tornado then moved over southern Pine Island where it widened to nearly 200 feet in width and uprooted or stripped numerous mangrove trees. The tornado continued rapidly north northwest along and east of County Road 767 until it moved over Little Pine Island. The tornado caused significant roof damage to two businesses and at least ten homes, carports, garages and lanais along Pine Island Road, west of Matlacha, before it dissipated on the northern side of Little Pine Island. Also, more than a dozen trees were uprooted and five utility poles downed by the tornado along Pine Island Road near west of Matlacha. Residents along Pine Island Road indicated that the torndo sounded like a loud machine or train as it passed overhead.
February 2000WildfireLehigh Acres$750,000no account filed
August 1998LightningFt Myers$645,000Lightning struck and burned to the ground an upscale home on the 14400 block of Hickory Fairway Court near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Daniels Parkway.
October 2019Tornado (EF1)Cape Coral$600,000A tornado touched down in northwest Cape Coral, damaging 18 homes and several vehicles. Most of the damage to homes involved partial roof damage, and fascia, siding, and awnings being blown off the homes. A couple of cars were rolled over, totaling the vehicles. No injuries were reported.

Mines and quarries

17 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 17 workings inside this county. 16 still produce and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken9
Limestone, General7
Sand1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Youngquist Brothers Rock - Corkscrew WoodsSandProducer
Fl Rock Ind.,Inc.(Ft. Myers Plant)Limestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Florida Rock Industries - Ft. Myers MineLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Fugate Constr. - Number One MineLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Harper Bros.,Inc.(Alico Plant)Limestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Harper Brothers - Colonial MineLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Harper Brothers - Nelson Shell PitLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Stephens Const. Mat. ContractorsLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Alva PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Bonita PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Colonial Dolomite PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Edison PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Estero QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Fort Meyers QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Fugate Mine No. 1Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Pit 12-026Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Triple C PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

Every populated place in the county

71

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Lee County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.