Sanibel, FL

Sanibel, Florida

Introduction to Sanibel, Florida

Sanibel, Florida is 9 miles SW of Cape Coral, Florida (center to center) and 107 miles S of Tampa, Florida. The city is in Lee county, and is part of the Fort Myers - Cape Coral metro area. The population of Sanibel is 6,064.

Sanibel History

The city of Sanibel is located on Sanibel Island. Around 6,000 years ago, Sanibel and Captiva formed as one island, and the Calusa Indians lived in the area until the arrival of the Europeans. In 1768, a Spanish map labeled the island "Puerto de S. Nibel" which is probably how the area received the name Sanibel. However, another tradition claims that the community was christened "Santa Isybella" by Juan Ponce de Leon, a famous explorer believed to have discovered the island and to have named it in honor of Queen Isabella. Though the Spanish failed in their efforts to set up an establishment, they left behind a host of diseases which nearly wiped out the Calusa population in the 1700s. The Sanibel Lighthouse was constructed in 1884, and gradually a settlement began to form around it. In the 1900s, Americans started visiting the island as tourists. In 1963, the Sanibel Causeway was completed, and in 1974, Sanibel was incorporated as a city.

Sanibel and Nearby Attractions

• Museum of the Islands
• Thomas Edison Winter Estate
• Bailey Matthews Shell Museum
• Darling National Wildlife Refuge
• Stump Pass Beach State Park
• Naples Zoo

Things To Do In Sanibel

Bailey Matthews Shell Museum, and the Museum of the Islands showcase exhibits which reflect local history and nature. The Thomas Edison Winter Estate, the Henry Ford Estate, and the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium are also close to Sanibel. Naples Zoo, and Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuge are two other popular attractions in the area. Because the city is on Sanibel Island, the parks offer facilities for various water sports. The Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Cayo Costa State Park, and Gasparilla Island State Park provide amenities for swimming, fishing, boating, scuba diving, canoeing, camping, and picnicking. In addition, the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park offers visitors the opportunity to view wildlife like sea turtles, and manatees.

Sanibel Transportation

The closest major airport is Southwest Florida International Airport.

Sanibel Higher Education

Colleges near Sanibel include the Edison Community College, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Manatee Community College.

High Points

Sanibel strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Florida):

Category	Trophy
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 3%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 4%
Low Rate of Poverty (vs. State)	Top 4%
Short Commute Times (vs. State)	Top 4%
People in Middle Class or Better (vs. State)	Top 4%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 6%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 6%
Median Family Income (vs. Peers)	Top 7%
Low Violent Crime (vs. State)	Top 7%

Comparative Profile of Sanibel, FL

Comparing Sanibel to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Florida (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men
Well-Paid Single Women
Female Share of the Population
Male Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Children Under 5 Years Old

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People Above Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Public Transportation Use

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone
Affordability of Property Taxes
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Affordability of Rents

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Sanibel Almanac

Sanibel Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Sanibel Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Nearby Cities and Towns

Sanibel Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Sanibel Colleges

(List of All Florida Colleges)

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