Introduction to Fort Myers
Fort Myers is situated at the convergence of the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico. Fort Myers is located in Lee County. It's the center of government as well as the commercial center for the county. It's recognized as the gateway to the popular tourist area located in the Southwest portion of the state of Florida, including Sanibel Island. Fort Myers was founded in 1886.
The Ft. Myers area is well known for its beautiful beaches as well as numerous resort hotels. Plenty of shopping opportunities are located on the Tamiami Trail. The coastline provides excellent opportunities for fishing. The Ft. Myers area includes a vast amount of quality golf courses that are ideal for vacationing golf enthusiasts.
History
Fort Myers was constructed as a military fort. It was utilized to prevent the Seminole Indians from continuing to kill the settlers in the region. The fort was given its name as a tribute to Col. Abraham C. Myers who was stationed in the state of Florida and was the son-in-law of the commander of the fort. In 1858 the Indians surrendered and vacated the area which allowed the soldiers to abandon the fort. However, federal soldiers took advantage of the existence of the fort and they occupied it during the Civil War. When the Civil War ended, the fort was abandoned. In 1882, the population significantly increased by the arrival of a vast amount of settlers. The city experienced another population surge in 1924 due to the construction of the Tamiami Trail Bridge which crosses the Caloosahatchee River.
Colleges
Florida Gulf Coast University is a part of the State University System of Florida. The university features the following colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Professional Studies, Lutgert College of Business and the College of Health Professions. The university's classrooms feature state-of-the-art multimedia instructional systems. Other colleges in the Ft. Myers area include:
- Edison College.
- Hodges University.
- Nova Southwestern University.
- Southwest Florida College.
Getting There
Fort Myers can be reached by air flights to the Southwest Florida International Airport.
Attractions
- Sanibel Lighthouse.
- Boston Red Sox spring training.
- The Minnesota Twins spring training.
- Numerous quality golf courses.
- The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium.
- Seminole Lodge, formerly the winter home of Thomas Edison.
- The Mangoes, formerly the winter home of Henry Ford.
