Fort Myers Beach, Florida

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Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Fishermen wading in Fort Myers Beach
Location in Lee County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 26°26′19″N 81°55′32″W / 26.43861°N 81.92556°W / 26.43861; -81.92556
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 CoralFort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Fort Myers Beach is located at 26°26′19″N 81°55′32″W / 26.43861°N 81.92556°W / 26.43861; -81.92556 (26.438676, -81.925620)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.4 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

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/sq mi (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] 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.

St. Raphael Episcopal Church was the second church built on the island. It was started in 1951 and the first building was constructed in 1953. They are known for hosting the island's annual Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet.

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

[edit] References

[edit] External links


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