Fort Myers, established in 1886, is the center of commerce and is the historical and governmental hub of Lee County. It is one of the cities that make up the Cape Coral-Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area and is 40.4 square miles large with a population of 62,298 in 2010. Fort Myers has a humid subtropical climate with short, warm winters and long, hot and humid summers.
Fort Myers gets its name by being one of the first forts built on the Caloosahatchee River as a base against the Seminole Indians. Previously known at Fort Harvey, Fort Myers was renamed after Abraham C. Myers in 1850 who was the son in law of the fort’s commander.
Nick-named “City of Palms”, Fort Myers is known for their palm trees. When taking a trip down McGregor Boulevard, it is easy to see why! Fort Myers is home to the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Lakes Regional Park, Jet Blue Park and Manatee Park. Along McGregor Boulevard, you can visit and tour the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates as well as their Holiday Nights where you can view the homes at night lit up with holiday lights and decorations. On the first Friday of every month, residents and guest enjoy the Art Walk in Downtown Fort Myers, the annual film festival, Sand Sculpting Contests and Taste of the Town as only a few events throughout the year. Fort Myers Beach is a popular and favorite tourist destination with miles of beaches, restaurants, shops, hotels and cottages. Gulf Coast Town Center can also be found in Fort Myers. The center features casual and upscale restaurants, as well as shopping that includes 20 anchor stores, over 50 specialty shops and over 20 eateries as well as a movie theater.
