Fort Myers, city (2020 pop. 86,395),
seat of Lee co., SW Fla., on the Caloosahatchee River, near the Gulf of
Mexico; founded 1850, inc. 1905. It has a tourist trade and light industry
and is a shipping point for citrus fruits, winter vegetables, flowers
(especially gladioli), and fish. The city grew up around Fort Harvie, built
(c.1841) in the Seminole War, and lies in a region of tropical vegetation
noted for its royal palms. There now is a large retired community, and the
city has been marked by urban and economic growth. Thomas Edison's and Henry Ford's winter estates are museums, and
there is a historical museum. An annual festival of light commemorates
Edison. Florida Gulf Coast Univ. is in the city. Nearby tourist attractions
include wildlife preserves, a manatee park, and extensive beach resorts.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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