About Ft. Myers

As a desirable vacation destination, an average annual temperature of 76 degrees F, and 50 miles of white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers and its neighboring cities attract thousands of visitors annually, both landlubbers and waterway travelers. One of the fastest growing areas in Florida, Lee County includes Cape Coral, Pine Island, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs.

A step back in time, much remains as it was hundreds of years ago, serene and unspoiled. Mangrove forests, saltwater wetlands, estuaries, wildlife refuges, tropical gardens, nature trails, miles of winding canals and waterways, and hundreds of islands, some inhabited, some not, provide a magical retreat from a fast-paced world.

Climate

History

The Seminole Indian Wars during the 1840s and 1850s brought about the construction of several union forts along the Caloosahatchee River to serve as a base of operation for federal troops. One was Fort Myers, named after Colonel Abraham C. Myers, chief quartermaster in Florida. It fell into disuse until the Civil War when it became an important outpost and was reoccupied.

Four hundred years before in 1521, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon introduced cattle into the territory. They roamed the wide open ranges freely without care, thriving on wild grasses and the plentiful Palmetto. During the Spanish occupation of Florida, large herds were raised, providing beef, tallow for candles and hides.

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Neighborhoods

Fort Myers
Cape Coral
Pine Island
Sanibel Island
Captiva Island
Fort Myers Beach
Bonita Springs

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Fast Facts

Zip Code: 33901 – 33919
Population: 228,152
County: Lee
Sales Tax: 6.00%
Median Age: 43.4
Home Median Value: $132,535
Home Appreciation: 11.76%
Cost of Living: 95.5%
Median Income: $40,202
Unemployment Rate: 5%

By Car

Vehicle Registration

New residents may apply for their auto tag or mobile home registration and a Florida title at any one of the County’s auto tag agencies. Call the Auto Tag Information Center at 954-831-4000 before you visit a tag agency to insure that you bring the proper documents.

Your Florida vehicle title is processed in Tallahassee and will be mailed to you by the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles. Be prepared to submit proof of required Florida insurance, the driver’s license numbers-of all owners and the color of the vehicle.

Driver’s License

New state residents who wish to drive in Florida must obtain a Florida driver’s license within 30 days of moving here. U.S. citizens, take your driver’s license, social security card and birth certificate.

Non-U.S. citizens must have an INS or other document of legal presence. Canadians without INS documents must provide proof of Canadian citizenship.

Contact the DMV to find a local office.
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle
(850)922-9000
www.hsmv.state.fl.us

Seat Belts

Florida law requires that all passengers in the front seat of a vehicle wear seat belts. Children 6-15 must be belted when either in the front or rear seat of a vehicle. Children age five and younger must be secured in federally approved child-restraint devices.

Children through age three must be secured in separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child safety seat. For children age four through five years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat or a seat belt may be used.

Public Transportation

Taxis

Taxis are generally expensive, but available at any location, though a specific pick-up address must be given when calling a cab company and requesting one. Taxis are not normally allowed to pick up passengers at random locations for safety and legal reasons except at the airport, cruise port, and train stations.

Inter-City Transportation

Amtrak (800) 872-7245

America’s national passenger railroad system. Tickets may be purchased in person at any Amtrak station, via phone by calling 800-USA-RAIL or via the Internet at http://www.amtrak.com/.

Greyhound Bus (800) 231-2222

Service from City to numerous locations throughout the United States.

Air Transportation

Airports

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)

11000 Terminal Access Road
Fort Myers, FL 33913-8899
239) 590-4800
www.flylcpa.com

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) was certified for operation in May 1983 and consistently has outpaced all projections for its growth. The airport now serves more than 5 million passengers annually. It ranks among the 60 busiest airports in the nation.

City Area Codes

Note – The area code for Ft. Myers is 239, Naples 239

Emergency

Financial Services

Automatic Teller Information

Lost or Stolen Credit Cards

Lost or Stolen Travelers Checks

Government Numbers

Support Networks

Services

Shipping & Postal Service

Radio

Television

Newspapers

Fort Myers News Press (239) 335-0200
2442 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.news-press.com
Fort Myers News Press is a newspaper in Fort Myers, covering general news. This newspaper is owned by Gannett Company, Inc.

FGCU Eagle News (239) 590-7945
www.eaglenews.org
The FGCU Eagle News is the official student newspaper of Florida Gulf Coast University and is compiled through the work of student staff, contributors and the community at large.

Entertainment

There’s lots to do and see in this growing corner of southwest Florida and it’s all wonderful. Visit wildlife refuges, learn about the past through historic buildings and museums, discover the ecosystem, explore secret inlets and coves by canoe or kayak, fish to your heart’s delight, or just relax under a shaded palm and soak in the majestic tropical atmosphere.

In downtown Fort Myers, the 105-acre Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium has a museum, an aviary, nature trails and picnic areas. This is an excellent place to start. With tours and nature shop, you’ll find there’s a lot to learn and enjoy.

For some family water fun just across the Caloosahatchee River in Cape Coral to the north of the city, there’s plenty of action, rides and activities from March to October at the Sun Splash Family Waterpark.

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Golf

The City is proud to own and maintain top rated and professionally designed golf courses. The two (2) par 72 courses attract avid golfers from all regions of the country. While one course offers a beautiful tranquil setting mixed with a long and challenging field of play, the other course boasts a Donald Ross design which challenges the game’s best on a timeless and traditional-styled course. With amenities such as a Restaurant, Pro Shops, Practice facilities and Instruction, Fort Myers’ Golf Courses are an excellent way to spend your day in Southwest Florida.

Fort Myers Country Club (239) 936-3126
3591 McGregor Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Eastwood Golf Course (239) 275-4848
4600 Bruce Herd Lane
Fort Myers, FL 33994

Shopping

Tanger Outlets
20350 Summerlin Rd.
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 454-1974, (888) 471-3939
www.fortmyers-sanibel.com
Tanger Outlets offers more than 60 shops for apparel, housewares and gifts. Take a glance at a store dedicated to handmade soap using local herbs and plants-one even uses bits of shell and sand from our immaculate beaches! Or head to one of the more than 50 leading designer manufacturers like Reebok Factory Direct, Liz Claiborne Outlet and Corning Revere, who all call Tanger home.

Bell Tower Shops
13499 U.S. 41 S.E.
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 489-1221
www.fortmyers-sanibel.com
The Spanish-style plaza recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion. Here you can take in a movie at a state-of-the-art 20-screen multiplex, stroll along a meandering path through the outdoor garden area decorated with fountains and seating or devote your time to major retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Williams-Sonoma. There are also eight full-service restaurants to top off a day of shopping.

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Recommended Tours

Fort Myers and the surrounding areas that include Cape Coral, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Fort Myers Beach and Estero Island, offer a variety of venues for tours and guided trips.

If you’d like to view this beautiful region from the air, Gulfshore Helicopters, located near the airport, provides rides that will amaze and impress you.

For a close look at the historic district’s preserved and renovated homes, such as the Edison Ford Winter Estates and Burroughs Home, tours are available by costumed guides who explain how life and times were at the turn of the century when the city was becoming a major Southwest destination on the Caloosahatchee River.

The area has many wildlife refuges and natural parks that draw visitors and residents alike to appreciate and respect the beauty of this wilderness. These places provide a look at the variety of plants, habitats, and animals found in this region.

The J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, with 5,000 acres of mangroves, is home to over 200 species of birds. There is a visitor center open from November to April, along with a wildlife drive open to cars and pedestrian traffic. You can even rent a bicycle here if you don’t want to walk. Tram tours are available that will take you around the refuge.

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Education

Community Colleges
Community colleges exist for two major purposes. The first is to serve as a bridge from high school to college by providing courses for transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Four out of 10 college bound high-school graduates start their college education this way.

The second function of community colleges is to prepare students for the job market by offering entry-level career training as well as courses for adult students who want to upgrade their skills for the workplace. They often offer programs that are not available at four-year schools, like fashion design.

Edison Community College (941) 489-9300
8099 College Pky Sw
Ft Myers, Florida 33919-0000
www.edison.edu
Type of college: 2-year public
Degree types offered: Associate’s, Less than one year, One but less than two years

Southwest Florida College (941) 939-4766
1685 Medical Ln Ste 200
Ft Myers, Florida 33907-1108
Type of college: 2-year private, not-for-profit Degree types offered: Associate’s, One but less than two years

Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.

Online Learning
Recent years have witnessed the rise of online degree programs, to allow the busy professional a chance to work at their own pace from the comfort of their home on the path to getting a degree. The costs to students are typically the same as for traditional classes— and financial aid is equally available—while the cost to the institution can be much less.

There are online universities ranging from legitimate distance learning systems to fly-by-night degree-mills. It’s important to research a particular institution before deciding to enroll in their system. Generally, brick-and-mortar schools that also offer online classes are the safest, though there are plenty of fully accredited online universities out there.

Nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year. That number has been growing about 25% a year recently. Now, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By contrast, only about half of private, nonprofit schools offer them.

Online schools offer everything from Associate’s degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphases in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. Some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, but many are delivered completely online. Online courses generally require a computer with a broadband connection, but are now a serious option for the busy professional.

Public vs. Private

Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government. Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and often more prestige.

International College (941) 482-0019
8695 College Pky
Ft Myers, Florida 33919

Type of college: 4-year private, not-for-profit
Degree types offered: Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s

Technical/Trade Schools
La Baron Hairdressing Academy (941)936-5822
5215 Ramsey Way
Ft Myers, Florida 33907
Type of college: Less than 2-year private, for-profit Degree types offered: Less than one year, One but less than two years

Lee County High Technical Center-Central (941) 334-4544
3800 Michigan Ave
Ft Myers, Florida 33916
Type of college: 2-year public
Degree types offered: Less than one year, One but less than two years, Two but less than 4 years/

Sunstate Academy of Hair Design (941) 278-1311
2418 Colonial Blvd
Ft Myers, Florida 33907
Type of college: Less than 2-year private, for-profit Degree types offered: Less than one year, One but less than two years
Degree Programs offered: Barber / Hairstylist: Cosmetic Services
General: Cosmetologist

The Travel School of Fort Myers (941 )278-0777
5240 Bank St Ste 12
Ft Myers, Florida 33907
Type of college: Less than 2-year private, for-profit Degree types offered: Less than one year

Universities
Generally, a university is bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Class size often reflects institutional size and some classes may taught by graduate students.

Florida Gulf Coast University (941 )590-1000
10501 Fgcu Blvd S
Ft Myers, Florida 33965-6565
www.fgcu.edu
Type of college: 4-year public
Degree types offered: Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Postbaccalaureate certificate

Upper Division
Upper-division schools offer the last two years of undergraduate study, usually in specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students then generally transfer to an upper-division college after completing an associate degree or after finishing a second year of study at a four-year college.