Cape Coral is a city in
Lee CountyLee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The county makes up the entirety of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the most populous county in Southwest Florida....
,
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. With over of navigable waterways, Cape Coral has more miles of canals than any other city on earth. According to estimates as of 2009, the city had a population of 167,917, making it the largest city in
Southwest FloridaSouthwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades...
. The population estimate for the
Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan areaThe Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Metropolitan Statistical Area consisting of Lee County in the state of Florida in the USA. The principal cities in the MSA are Cape Coral and Fort Myers. In 2008 the population of the MSA was more than 640,000. The Fort Myers,...
was more than 623,725 as of April 2008.
Cape Coral is located at .
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of , making it the second largest city in Florida in terms of area.
Cape Coral is a city in
Lee CountyLee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The county makes up the entirety of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the most populous county in Southwest Florida....
,
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. With over of navigable waterways, Cape Coral has more miles of canals than any other city on earth. According to estimates as of 2009, the city had a population of 167,917, making it the largest city in
Southwest FloridaSouthwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades...
. The population estimate for the
Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan areaThe Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Metropolitan Statistical Area consisting of Lee County in the state of Florida in the USA. The principal cities in the MSA are Cape Coral and Fort Myers. In 2008 the population of the MSA was more than 640,000. The Fort Myers,...
was more than 623,725 as of April 2008.
Geography
Cape Coral is located at .
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of , making it the second largest city in Florida in terms of area. of it is land and of it (8.61%) is water.
Cape Coral is bordered on the south and east by the
Caloosahatchee RiverThe Caloosahatchee River is a river on the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States, approximately 75 mi long. It drains rural areas on the northern edge of the Everglades northwest of Miami...
and on the west by Matlacha Pass. The city of Fort Myers lies across the Caloosahatchee River to the south and east, and Matlacha and
Pine IslandPine Island is an island located in Lee County, Florida, on the Gulf coast of southwest Florida. The Intracoastal Waterway passes through Pine Island Sound, to the west of the island. Matlacha Pass runs between Pine Island and the mainland...
lie across Matlacha Pass to the west.
Canals
Cape Coral Florida has over of canals, more than any other city in the world. Cape Coral's canal system is so extensive that local ecology and tides have been affected.
Bridges
Cape Coral is connected to Fort Myers by two bridges. The
Cape Coral BridgeThe Cape Coral Bridge is a bridge located in Southwest Florida. It spans the Caloosahatchee River connecting Fort Myers and Cape Coral. It is made up of two parallel fixed spans, each long....
connects Cape Coral Parkway to College Parkway in Fort Myers. The
Midpoint Memorial BridgeThe Midpoint Memorial Bridge is a bridge located in Southwest Florida. It spans the Caloosahatchee River, connecting Fort Myers and Cape Coral. It is a four-lane fixed span one and one-quarter mile long...
connects Veterans Parkway to Colonial Boulevard.
Hancock Bridge Parkway, after intersecting Santa Barbara Boulevard, sweeps north to its approximate terminus on Pine Island Road, with the east end of Hancock Bridge Parkway terminating at U.S. Highway 41.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 102,286 people, 40,768 households, and 30,209 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 972.4/mi² (375.4/km²). There were 45,653 housing units at an average density of 434.0/mi² (167.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.01% White, 2.00% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.33% of the population.
There were 40,768 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,410, and the median income for a family was $47,503. Males had a median income of $32,320 versus $25,068 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $21,021. About 5.3% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Over the course of a few years, beginning in 1958, canals were dug, homes and businesses built, and a city was born. Celebrities were brought in to tout the benefits of "the Cape," as it is known by the locals. The first building was a four-plex at the corner of Coronado and Cape Coral Parkway. This building was the Rosen's company headquarters and the temporary home of Cape Coral's first permanent resident, Kenny Schwartz, the Rosens' new general manager. Cape Coral's first four homes were completed in May 1958 on Riverside and Flamingo drives.
Through the rest of the 1950s and early 1960s, development moved quickly, mostly on Redfish Point, south of Cape Coral Parkway. By 1963, the population was 2,850; 1,300 buildings had been finished or were under construction; of road had been built, and of canals had been dug. The yacht club, a golf course, medical clinic, and shopping center were up and running. A major addition for Cape Coral was the construction of the Cape Coral Bridge, which opened in early 1964. Before the bridge, a trip to Fort Myers was more than , following the long haul up Del Prado, then over to the Edison Bridge to cross the river.
Since its inception Cape Coral had been known as a "sleepy" community with its large retirement population. This all changed with the population boom of the 1990s that brought with it young working class families. There is still a larger than normal retirement population. While the majority of the community still has to cross the river to Fort Myers for work and entertainment, this has improved in recent years with new stores, restaurants and nightclubs opening up. Today, Cape Coral offers a lively strip of restaurants and stores along Cape Coral Parkway, Del Prado Blvd. and Pine Island Road.
The Real Estate Bubble
Southwest Florida was hit hard by the declining real estate market. After years of double digit property value increases beginning late 2006 the market started to slow to a crawl. As of April 23, 2009 the area is listed number 1 out of 25 for the highest Foreclosure Cities in the US according to RealtyTrac. This has also caused the closing of many businesses which in turn has lead to an unemployment rate of over 13.2% as of July 2009.
City Events
- The city holds an annual Independence Day
In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
fireworks festival known as Red, White & BOOM!! This is the biggest single day event in the city and also the biggest July 4 display in Southwest Florida. Red, White and BOOM is presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral.
- Every October the local German-American Club holds an annual Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a 18-day festival held each year in Munich, Germany, running from late September to early October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year, and is an important part of Bavarian culture...
styled after the original held in GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
. This has been the case since 1985.
- The Cape Coral Festival of the Arts is held the second weekend of January every year. The event takes place on Cape Coral Parkway and attracts over 100,000 visitors. Nearly 300 artists and craftspeople from across the nation line the street to make this one of the largest and best attended art festivals in Southwest Florida.
Education
Three public high schools in Cape Coral are operated by the Lee County School District:
Cape Coral High SchoolCape Coral High School is located in Cape Coral, Florida. It is one of four high schools in the city of Cape Coral and is also a part of the Lee County School District system....
, built in the late 1970s,
Mariner High SchoolMariner High School is located in Cape Coral, Florida in the Lee County School District and is home to the Mariner Fightin Tritons. The school is located at 701 Chiquita Blvd. N. in Northern Cape Coral, Florida. The school's students come mainly from Cape Coral, the neighboring villages on Pine...
, which opened in 1987, and
Ida S. Baker High SchoolIda S. Baker High School is a public high school located at 3500 Agualinda Boulevard, Cape Coral Florida.Melissa Robery - PrincipalDonna Manning - Assistant PrincipalDebbie Diggs - Assistant PrincipalBen Williams - Assistant Principal...
, founded in 2004 and named after one of the early principals of Cape Coral High School, with the building opening in 2005. The newest high school,
Island Coast High SchoolIsland Coast High School is located in Cape Coral, Florida. It is one of four high schools in the city of Cape Coral and is also a part of the Lee County School District. Total enrollment is estimated at about 1,800 students. It is the newest high school in Cape Coral. The school has been finished...
, opened its doors for the 2008-2009 school year.
Notable residents
- Echo Chernik
Echo Chernik is an American Art Nouveau artist.Born in Ellington, Connecticut, Chernik graduated summa cum laude from Pratt Institute in 1995 with a BFA in Communication Design | Illustration. She is a mainstream advertising and publishing illustrator, best known for advertisements and poster design...
, illustrator.
- The members of Twisted Method
-History:Formed in 1998, Twisted Method came together after its band members met each other at high school.The band signed a five-year, $15.5 million contract with MCA Records....
grew up and first formed their band in Cape Coral.
- Angela Watson
Angela Christine Watson is an American model and actress best known for her role on the American sitcom Step by Step, where she played one of the daughters of Suzanne Somers' character.-Early years:...
, actress.
- Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham is an American talk radio host. His full-time job is hosting The Big Show with Bill Cunningham, a local show on 700 WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cunningham now hosts Live on Sunday Night, it's Bill Cunningham, which is syndicated to over 300 stations by Premiere Radio Networks...
, talk radio host.
- Greg Spires
Gregory Tyrone Spires Gregory Tyrone Spires Gregory Tyrone Spires (born August 12, 1974 in Marianna, Florida is an American football who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
, NFL player
- Earnest Graham
Earnest Graham, Jr. is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Florida....
, NFL Running Back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Lela Star
Lela Star is a pornographic actress of Cuban descent who has starred in over 70 films.-Biography:Star debuted in the Hustler-produced Barely Legal 18th Birthday after being discovered by agent, Jim South....
, pornographic actress was born in Cape Coral.
- Stacy Carter
Stacy Carter , better known as Miss Kitty or The Kat, is an American former professional wrestling valet.During her tenure in the World Wrestling Federation, she held the Women's Championship once, although she was not a trained wrestler...
, professional wrestler.
- Seth Petruzelli
Seth "The Silverback" Petruzelli is an American professional mixed martial artist and former K-1 kickboxer. He holds notable wins over Dan Severn and Kimbo Slice.- Mixed martial arts career :...
- mixed martial artsMixed martial arts is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground...
fighter
- The members of Godsmack
Godsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band comprises founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin...
live in Cape Coral.
- Hilary Hemingway
Hilary Hemingway is an American author and wife to author Jeff Lindsay and daughter of Leicester Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's brother. In many of her earlier published works she is included as Lindsey's co-author. She is also an award-winning screenwriter and has worked for studios such as Warner...
, writer, producer and niece of Ernest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American writer and journalist. He was part of the 1920s expatriate community in Paris, and one of the veterans of World War I later known as "the Lost Generation." He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for The Old Man and the Sea, and the Nobel Prize in Literature...
External links