Immokalee ( ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Collier County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,557 at the 2020 census, up from 24,154 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Naples–Marco Island metropolitan area.
History
thumb|left|Former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Immokalee Depot
The region was settled by the Calusa people. It was inhabited by the Seminole centuries later, after they moved down from northern Florida. Initially the settlement was known as Gopher Ridge by the Seminole and Miccosukee nations. Immokalee means "your home" in the Mikasuki language. In 1960, CBS News anchor Edward R. Murrow reported on the region's farms' working conditions for his Harvest of Shame report for CBS Reports, which described the harsh lives of migrant workers.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Immokalee had a population of 24,557. The median age was 28.8 years. 32.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 7.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 109.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.0 males age 18 and over.
There were 6,609 households in Immokalee, of which 53.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.8% were married-couple households, 21.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 4,593 || 18.7%
|-
| Black or African American || 4,995 || 20.3%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 560 || 2.3%
|-
| Asian || 45 || 0.2%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 11 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 8,153 || 33.2%
|-
| Two or more races || 6,200 || 25.2%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 18,549 || 75.5%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Immokalee racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|White (NH)
|709
|2.89%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|4,875
|19.85%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|70
|0.29%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|37
|0.15%
|-
|Pacific Islander (NH)
|3
|0.01%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|75
|0.31%
|-
|Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)
|239
|0.97%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|18,549
|75.53%
|-
|Total
|24,557
|
|}
2010 census
Immokalee's population was 24,154 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area.
2000 census
As of the census
Media
Immokalee is home to WCIW-LP, a low power community radio station owned and operated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The station was built by volunteers from Immokalee and around the country in December 2003 at the fifth Prometheus Radio Project barnraising. WCIW broadcasts music, news, and public affairs to listeners in Spanish, Haitian Creole and several indigenous languages.
WAFZ-FM (92.1 FM) is a full-power FM radio station licensed to Immokalee, Florida. The station plays a variety of hits in the Regional Mexican format.
WAFZ's programming is also heard on WAFZ AM 1490 in Immokalee.
Transportation
Collier Area Transit provides local bus service and paratransit. The #5 connects to Naples, the #7 connects to Marco Island (limited trips), and the 8A circulates within the area.
Immokalee used to be served by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (formerly Atlantic Coast Line), which ran a branchline from Palmdale through Immokalee to Everglades City. The line generated considerable agricultural-related traffic. The line was cut back to Sunniland south of Immokalee in the 1950s and then abandoned to the mainline at Palmdale in the 1980s. This left Immokalee without rail service.
The main road through Immokalee is State Road 29. Other important county roads through the region are CR 29A and CR 846.
Immokalee Airport is a public-use general aviation airport northeast of the central business district. The closest airport for commercial service is Southwest Florida International Airport.
Notable people
- Mackensie Alexander, cornerback
- Edgerrin James, Hall of Fame running back (Indianapolis Colts)
- Felipe Santos, missing person
- Deadrin Senat, defensive tackle
See also
- Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a grassroots community and workers' organization in the area. The 2014 documentary Food Chains was shot in Immokalee.
References
External links
- The Story of Immokalee 1938 WPA interview covering founding, slave era, post-Civil War Reconstruction and up through Great Depression. Electronic record maintained by Library of Congress. Accessed January 15, 2007.