Naples, Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, USA. As of 1 July 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,804.^[2] Naples is a Principal City of the Naples-Marco Island, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 314,649 on 1 July 2006.^[4] Despite being the largest city in Collier County, the city of Naples is not its county seat; rather the county seat is located east of the city in unincorporated East Naples.^[5]

[edit] History

Naples was founded during the late 1880s by former Confederate general and Kentucky U.S. Senator John Stuart Williams and his partner, Louisville businessman Walter N. Haldeman, the publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal. It had grown into a resort town by the turn of the century. The city got its name from developers who advertised it in the north as to have "a bay comparable to that of Naples (Italy)".

[edit] Geography

Naples is located at 26°9′11″N, 81°47′55″W (26.152941, -81.798510)^GR1 on U.S. Highway 41 between Miami (to the east) and Fort Myers (to the north).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.4 square miles (37 km²), of which 12.03 square miles (31 km²) is land and 2.38 square miles (6 km²) is water(16.53%).

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 20,976 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3/sq mi (673.2/km² ). There were 16,956 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0/sq mi (544.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.50% White, 4.65% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.

There were 10,803 households out of which 10.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the city the population was spread out with 10.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 42.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $58,641, and the median income for a family was $117,040. Males had a median income of $86,092 versus $30,948 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,141. About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

The economy of Naples is largely based on tourism. Along with Marco Island and the Everglades, the city makes up the popular vacation area known as the Paradise Coast. Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates is also headquartered in Naples.

[edit] Education and Healthcare

Naples schools are part of the Collier County School District, which includes several of the state's top-ranked schools. Barron G. Collier High School, which is located in western Collier County, was included in Newsweek's 2006 list of top U.S. high schools^[6]. Ave Maria University, the first Catholic university established in the U.S. since 1963, is located northeast of the city^[7]. Florida Gulf Coast University is located just outside of Estero, which is between the cities of Bonita Springs and Fort Myers to the north.

The region is served by the NCH Healthcare System, which currently has 681 beds between two hospitals.

[edit] Area attractions

Naples is home to several major land reserves, including the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and Picayune Strand State Forest. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is known not only for its 11,000 acres (45 km²) of landscape and wildlife, but for a two and a half mile length boardwalk winding through the sanctuary.^[8]. The Naples area is also home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which dates back to 1919.^[9].

The city is served by the Naples Municipal Airport. Delta Air Lines flew Delta Connection flights out of the airport, but ceased doing so in the summer of 2007, citing financial and logistical problems. It still provides service to Key West, Florida, by Yellow Air Taxi. Southwest Florida International Airport, in South Fort Myers, Florida, handles the vast majority of commercial air traffic in and out of the region, which served 7.6 million passengers in 2006.^[10]

Naples is home to an estimated 250 Fortune 500 CEOs.^{[citation needed]}

Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players, and the 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping districts, which feature a variety of antique shops. Gallery Row, also downtown, is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. The Village on Venetian Bay is an upscale open-air shopping district on the Gulf coast. Located directly off of Tamiami Trail are the Waterside Shops, an upscale open-air center home to such high-end retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Lacoste. A two-story Barnes and Noble is located on site as well.

In a separate area is the shopping district Tin City. This open-air shopping center specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties.

The Philharmonic Center for the Arts, located in North Naples, has played host to celebrities including Bill Cosby, and musical talents from across the globe^[1]. The Naples Players at the Sugden Community Theatre,^[2] who, along with their Kidzact youth theatre program, have been nationally recognized as one of the top ten Community Theatre companies in the United States. Other resident groups include the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonic Center of Naples, and the other cultural attractions in Naples makes the area "The top small art town in America".^{[citation needed]}

Naples is also the home to swamp buggy races, held three times each year at the Florida Sports Park.

The beach on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles long, and is noted for its cleanliness and pristine white sand. In 2005, Naples was voted the best beach in America by the Travel Channel.^[3]

With more than 80 championship golf courses in the Naples area, Naples is the self-titled "Golf Capital of the World", claiming to have more holes per capita than any other community.

Naples is also within 30 minutes of the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox spring training facilities. The teams are based in the area through the winter and are an important attraction. During the summer months, the Ft. Myers Miracle, the single-A team of the Twins play at the Ft. Myers Sports Complex.

[edit] Points of interest

• The Naples Players
• Naples Botanical Garden
• Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
• Naples Pier
• The Conservancy of Southwest Florida
• The Teddy Bear Museum of Naples (now closed)

[edit] Notable residents

• Peter Thomas - television narrator
• Steven Spielberg - movie producer/director
• Robert Ludlum - author (deceased)
• Judith Sheindlin - famous television judge
• Mitch Holleman- Actor Reba (TV series)
• Neal Boortz- Nationally syndicated radio personality / Author and FairTax champion
• Larry Bird - Basketball Player
• Bob Seger - Musician (Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band)
• Mike Ditka-NFL Hall Of Fame Tight End, former Head Coach Of The Chicago Bears, ESPN Personality.
• Dave Wannstedt-Head Coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team, former Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Naples, Florida is at coordinates 26°09′11″N 81°47′55″W / 26.152941, -81.79851Coordinates: 26°09′11″N 81°47′55″W / 26.152941, -81.79851
• Local government
  • City of Naples Government
  • Collier County Government

• Cultural and other attractions
  • Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts
  • Naples Players Community Theatre
  • Naples Botanical Garden
  • Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
  • Naples Daily News - Newspaper of Record

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