Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Fort Myers Beach is a town located on the north end of Estero Island in Lee County, Florida, United States. The town is on the Gulf of Mexico and is accessed from the mainland by a bridge over Estero Bay. It is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was officially incorporated on December 31, 1995. The population was 5,582 at the 2020 census, down from 6,277 at the 2010 census.

History

Early history

The Calusa Indians first inhabited Estero Island, the island that Fort Myers Beach occupies, 2,000 years ago. The Calusa Indians resisted Spanish colonization attempts successfully including those by Ponce de León in 1513 and 1521. The Calusa met their demise 150 years later due to disease, hostilities, and political and economic upheaval. In the mid to late 1700s, Cuban fishermen then began to settle a small fishing village known as a Ranchero. This effectively displaced the remaining Calusa. In 1845, Florida became the 27th state.

American settlement

The Homestead Act of 1862 initiated American settlements on Estero Island. In 1862, Robert Gilbert received a homestead grant at the end of Connecticut Street, the highest point on Fort Myers Beach. In 1911, William Case developed the first subdivision and cottage rental industry. By 1914, all the property on the island was homesteaded with little industry beyond a hotel, fishing, gardening, and a sawmill operated by the Koreshan Unity (a communal society based on mainland Estero). At this point, Estero Island was named Crescent Beach.

Hurricane Ian

On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall north of Fort Myers Beach as a Category 4 hurricane, causing damage and loss of life in the city due to high winds and destructive storm surge, which damaged the majority of homes and businesses along the coastline, including the Times Square. Almost all infrastructure in the area was damaged leaving the island with a continual rebuilding project.

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| align-fn = center

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable"

|+Fort Myers Beach racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>

!Race

!Pop 2010

!Pop 2020

!% 2010

!% 2020

|White (NH)

|5,999

|5,272

|95.57%

|94.45%

|Black or African American (NH)

|16

|13

|0.25%

|0.23%

|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|10

|0.16%

|0.18%

|Asian (NH)

|34

|12

|0.54%

|0.21%

|Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)

|0.02%

|0.00%

|Some other race (NH)

|14

|0.10%

|0.25%

|Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)

|36

|101

|0.57%

|1.81%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|175

|160

|2.79%

|2.87%

|Total

|6,277

|5,582

|100.00%

thumb|upright|Fishermen wading in Fort Myers Beach

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Fort Myers Beach had a population of 5,582. The median age was 67.8 years. 3.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 58.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,106 households in Fort Myers Beach, of which 5.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.2% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 6,277 people, 3,596 households, and 2,025 families residing in the town.

The population density in 2010 was . There were 9,402 housing units at an average density of .

In 2010, there were 3,444 households, out of which 7.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.23.

In 2010, in the town, the population was spread out, with 5.4% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 11.6% from 25 to 44, 34.9% from 45 to 64, and 45.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 63.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the town was $55,213, and the median income for a family was $79,292. Males had a median income of $41,761 versus $39,961 for females. The per capita income for the town was $57,902.

Arts and culture

thumb|The beach of Fort Myers Beach

thumb|upright|The beach as seen from the terrace of the Lani Kai Island Resort

The Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival celebrates the shrimping industry on Fort Myers Beach, and features a shrimp eating competition, a 5k run, a parade, a pageant, and a food and crafts exposition.

Taste of the Beach takes features local restaurants offering food samples.

Parks and recreation

Bay Oaks Park, a recreational facility and community center. It features outdoor tennis courts, baseball fields, disk golf course and a small playground.
Bayside Veterans Park, a small park consisting of a stage and area for portable seating overlooking over Matanzas Harbor.
Fort Myers Beach Community Pool, a public pool with a water slide, kiddie pool and water works areas.
The Mound House, an archaeological and historical site consisting of a small park and museum.
Newton Beach Park, a small public beach park. It housed the 1953 Seven Seas Cottage of Jim and Ellie Newton, after which it was named, until its destruction by hurricane Ian.

thumb|alt=A grey building with white accents and a sign that says "Future Home: Fort Myers Beach Town Hall"|Town Hall

Government

Fort Myers Beach is governed by a five-member town council.

Education

Fort Myers Beach Elementary School is the only school located on Fort Myers Beach.