Fort Myers Beach, Florida
| Fort Myers Beach, Florida | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Coordinates: 26°26′19″N 81°55′32″W / 26.43861°N 81.92556°WCoordinates: 26°26′19″N 81°55′32″W / 26.43861°N 81.92556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Lee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.2 sq mi (15.9 km2) |
| • Land | 2.9 sq mi (7.4 km2) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 6,561 |
| • Density | 2,290.9/sq mi (885.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 33931-33932 |
| Area code(s) | 239 |
| FIPS code | 12-24150[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0282701[2] |
Fort Myers Beach is a town located on Estero Island in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,561 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was officially incorporated on December 31, 1995.
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[edit] Geography
Fort Myers Beach is located at 26°26′19″N 81°55′32″W / 26.43861°N 81.92556°W (26.438676, -81.925620).[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km2), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) of it is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) of it (53.41%) is water. The town is situated across the barrier islands of Estero and San Carlos.
Estero Island and its sister island, San Carlos, make up the community of Fort Myers Beach.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 2,463 |
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| 1970 | 4,305 | 74.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,753 | 33.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,284 | 61.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,561 | −29.3% | |
| source:[4][5] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,561 people, 3,425 households, and 2,048 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,290.9 people per square mile (885.7/km²). There were 8,429 housing units at an average density of 2,943.2 per square mile (1,137.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% White, 0.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.
There were 3,425 households out of which 7.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 37.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,045, and the median income for a family was $62,000. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,703. About 3.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
The town is governed by a 5 member town council, one of which is the mayor, Larry Kiker. The town manager, Terry Stewart, works with the town council to implement plans.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach also operates Bay Oaks Recreational Campus(BORC). Located at 2731 Oak Street, on Fort Myers Beach. A few features of BORC include 4 full size outdoor tennis courts, an 18 hole disc golf course, 2 full size indoor basketball courts, weight room, public pool that offers a childs pool along with a large slide, the pool is also avaliable for lap swimmers. Bay Oaks is also a wonderful place for kids of all ages. Club Rec, an after school program which runs from 2:15pm till 6:00pm. Also avaliable is summer camp and fun days for when kids are out of school. For the older kids there is the Teen/Tween Program ( Ages 11-17). Teen program takes multiple trips and holds events on-site at Bay Oaks. Also open is the Teen Room, equipped with a PS3!
[edit] Churches
The Chapel by the Sea was the first church on the island. A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Chapel by the Sea was started in 1932 as a mission of the Presbyterians. It was officially founded one year later. The first building was constructed in 1937 with a seating capacity of 47. Today's Sanctuary holds 700. Although it is Presbyterian, the Chapel is known on the island as the community church. The church hosts "God's Table" feeding the poor and needy of the beach every day, Monday through Friday.
Saint Raphael's Church was the second church built on the island. It was founded on March 5, 1951 and the church was built in 1953. They are known for hosting the island's annual Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. A tradition started in 1952 to bless all the boats and their crews.[6] It is the only Episcopal Church (United States) on the island.
Other churches on the island are the Roman Catholic's Church of the Ascension, the Beach United Methodist Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and the Beach Baptist Church.
[edit] Gallery
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The beach of Fort Myers Beach
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Matanzas Pass
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The beach as seen from the terrace of the Lani Kai Island Resort
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.html. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ Census figures from 1960 to 1990 were enumerated prior to incorporation as Fort Myers Beach CDP.
- ^ http://www.saintraphaelschurch.org/aboutus.html
[edit] External links
- Town of Fort Myers Beach official site
- Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
- Fort Myers Beach Localization Committee
- Fort Myers Beach Public Library
