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Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The county makes up the entirety of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA, and is the most populous county in Southwest Florida.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2000, the population of Lee County was 440,888. The population estimate for July 1, 2005 was 544,758, reflecting a 23.6 percent growth over 5 years. This, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, makes Lee County the 63rd fastest growing county in the country.*

Between 2000 and 2004, Lee County had the fastest growth rate in Hispanic population in the country. *

Its county seat is Fort Myers6, and its largest city is Cape Coral.

History

Lee County was created in 1887 from Monroe County. It was named for Robert E. Lee, general in the American Civil War.

In 1923, Collier and Hendry Counties were created by splitting these areas from Lee County. As recently as 2004, discussion had taken place surrounding the possibility of the city of Cape Coral becoming its own county, citing in particular a perceived lack of infrastructure support from the Lee County government. However a new county has as of yet not been created.

In August 2004, the county was hit hard by Hurricane Charley, particularly on the northwestern islands of Captiva, Gasparilla and North Captiva.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,139 km² (1,212 mi²). 2,081 km² (804 mi²) of it is land and 1,057 km² (408 mi²) of it (33.69%) is water.

Lee County is located on the southwest coast of Florida. It is approximately 125 miles south of Tampa and 115 miles west of Fort Lauderdale via Interstate 75; and approximately 125 miles west-northwest of Miami via U.S. Highway 41.

Borders

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 440,888 people, 188,599 households, and 127,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 212/km² (549/mi²). There were 245,405 housing units at an average density of 118/km² (305/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.69% White, 6.59% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.07% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 9.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 188,599 households out of which 22.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the county the population was spread out with 19.60% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 25.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,319, and the median income for a family was $46,430. Males had a median income of $31,247 versus $24,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,542. About 6.70% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.

Municipalities

Incorporated

Unincorporated

Islands

Transportation

Airports

Seaports/Marine Transport

A small port operation continues in Boca Grande, being used as a way-point for oil distribution. However, Port Boca Grande has been in decline for many years as the shipping industry has moved north, especially to the Port of Tampa.

In addition, a private enterprise operates a high-speed passenger-only ferry service between Fort Myers Beach and Key West.

Major Highways

The Southwest Florida Expressway Authority is an 8-person body including transportation officials from Lee and Collier Counties, the role of which is to raise toll revenue to widen and improve major arteries throughout both counties. Of particular priority is the needed revenue to widen the I-75 freeway beyond the 6-lane expansion due to begin in March 2007.

  • Interstate 75 is the county's only fully-controlled-access freeway, and has nine interchanges within Lee County, linking the area to Naples, Fort Lauderdale and Miami to the south and east; and Sarasota and Tampa to the north. The freeway is due to be widened and improved dramatically from its current 4-lane structure, beginning in March 2007. Plans include express/local lanes, and/or HOT Lanes, coordinated by the Southwest Florida Expressway Authority. *

= Bi-County Transportation Corridor
= In March 2005, Lee County and Charlotte County concluded a transportation study on creating a circumferential freeway that would bypass downtown Fort Myers, running through downtown Cape Coral and South Fort Myers.

The freeway is being designed as an 8- to 10-lane structure, including minor frontage roads. It is to begin at the Jones Loop Road interchange with Interstate 75 south of Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, and end at an upgraded Colonial Boulevard interchange with Interstate 75 near Lehigh Acres. *

Major Road Bridges

  • Matanzas Pass Bridge (Florida State Road 865): 3-travel-lane single-span bridge crosses Hurricane Bay and Matanzas Pass within the incorporated limits of the Town of Fort Myers Beach, connecting the mainland to the barrier islands.

Mass Transportation

Fixed-route bus service is provided by the Lee County Transit Department, operated as "LeeTran". Several routes extend outward from the Downtown Intermodal Transfer Center; in addition, suburb-to-suburb routes are operated, as well as park-and-ride service to and from both Fort Myers Beach and Southwest Florida International Airport.

The Downtown Intermodal Transfer Center also serves as an intermediate stop on Greyhound Lines bus service.

Media

Newspapers

Lee County's main newspaper is the Fort Myers News-Press.

In addition, the Naples Daily News (Web site) (circulation 56,981) publishes a "Bonita Daily News" edition (Web site), which serves Bonita Springs in southern Lee County. The Daily News is owned by the Ohio-based E. W. Scripps Company.

Radio

Arbitron Standard Radio Market: Ft Myers-Naples-Marco Island. *

With an Arbitron-assigned 744,800 listening area population, the metropolitan area ranks 64/297 for the fall of 2005.

The metropolitan area is home to 32 radio stations.

Television

Nielsen Media Research Designated Market Area (DMA): Ft. Myers-Naples. *

Number of TV homes: 461,920

2005-2006 U.S. rank: 66/210

Professional sports

Club Sport League Venue
Florida Everblades Hockey East Coast Hockey League Germain Arena, Estero
Florida Firecats Arena Football Arena Football-2 Germain Arena, Estero
Florida Flame* Basketball NBA Development League Germain Arena, Estero
Fort Myers Miracle Minor League Baseball Florida State League Hammond Stadium, South Fort Myers
Boston Red Sox (Spring training) Major League Baseball American League City of Palms Park, Fort Myers
Minnesota Twins (Spring training) Major League Baseball American League Hammond Stadium, South Fort Myers
*It has been announced that the Florida Flame will not return for the 2007-2008 season.

External links

Government links/Constitutional Offices

Special Districts
Judicial branch

Florida counties | Charter counties in Florida | Lee County, Florida

Lee County (Florida) | Condado de Lee (Florida) | Condado de Lee (Flórida)

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Lee County, Florida".

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