History of Lee County, Florida in Timeline
Lee County, Florida, situated on the Gulf Coast, is the eighth-most populous county in the state with a population of over 822,000 as of 2022. Its county seat is Fort Myers, while Cape Coral is the largest city. The county experienced substantial population growth between the 2020 census and 2022, reflecting the broader trend of population increases in southwestern Florida.
18 hours ago : Lee County transportation projects face public hearings, MPO priorities, and future planning.
Lee County's transportation future is under discussion, with public hearings and MPO prioritizing city projects. Input is sought through surveys and public forums for future developments and planning.
1911: Fort Myers Incorporated as a City
In 1911, Fort Myers was officially incorporated as a city.
1923: Collier and Hendry Counties Created
In 1923, Collier and Hendry Counties were created by splitting these areas from Lee County.
1924: Tamiami Trail Bridge Construction
In 1924, the construction of the Tamiami Trail Bridge across the Caloosahatchee River spurred growth in the city, leading to a real estate boom.
1927: Page Field Established
In 1927, a property purchased by the City of Fort Myers was transformed into an airport, which was eventually named Page Field.
1942: Buckingham Army Airfield Constructed
In 1942, Buckingham Army Airfield was constructed.
1944: Last Democratic Presidential Candidate Win
In 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win Lee County.
1945: Buckingham Army Airfield Closed
In 1945, Buckingham Army Airfield was closed down after World War II.
1947: Royal Palm Hotel Demolished
In 1947, the Royal Palm Hotel on the corner of First and Fowler was torn down after being closed permanently following the end of World War II.
1948: Barracks Used for Edison College
In 1948, the barracks at the former Buckingham Army Airfield served as classrooms for Edison College.
1981: Record High Temperature
June 16–17, 1981, saw a record high temperature of 103 °F (39 °C) recorded in Lee County.
1983: Southwest Florida Regional Airport Opened
In 1983, Southwest Florida Regional Airport (now known as Southwest Florida International Airport) opened, boosting the county's economy.
1991: Hammond Stadium Opens
In 1991, Hammond Stadium, where the Minnesota Twins conduct their spring training, opened in south Lee County with a capacity of 7,500.
1992: City of Palms Park Built
City of Palms Park had been built in 1992 for the Red Sox' spring training.
August 13, 2004: Hurricane Charley Strikes
On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley, a category 4 storm, struck Lee County, particularly affecting the northwestern islands of Captiva, Gasparilla, and North Captiva.
2006: Arbitron Radio Market Ranking
In the fall of 2006, the Ft Myers-Naples-Marco Island Arbitron standard radio market ranked 62/299, with a listening area population of 783,100. The area was home to 32 radio stations.
October 28, 2008: Agreement for New Spring-Training Facility Approved
On October 28, 2008, the Lee County commission approved an agreement with the Boston Red Sox to build a new spring-training facility in south Lee County.
2009: Red Sox Considering Early Out
The Red Sox were considering exercising the early out in their contract that would have allowed them to leave following the 2009 spring season.
2010: Primary Languages Spoken in 2010
As of 2010, 78.99% of residents in Lee County spoke English as their first language, while 15.19% spoke Spanish.
2012: JetBlue Park Opened
JetBlue Park at Fenway South opened in time for the 2012 season.
2013: Eagles Basketball Attendance
In 2013, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles' men's basketball team had an average attendance of 2,291.
2016: Hertz Headquarters Relocation
In 2016, Hertz moved its headquarters from New Jersey to Estero, marking the first major corporation relocation to Lee County.
2016: Median Household Value Between 2016-2020
The median value of owner-occupied housing units between 2016 and 2020 was $235,300 and the median gross rent was $1,225 in Lee County. Around 94.2% of the households had a computer and 87.2% of households had a broadband internet subscription.
September 10, 2017: Hurricane Irma Strikes
On September 10, 2017, Lee County was struck by Hurricane Irma, a category 2 storm.
2019: Largest Employers in Lee County
In 2019, the largest employers in Lee County were listed.
2019: Red Sox Lease Through 2019
The Red Sox' lease with Fort Myers ran through 2019.
2020: 2020 Census Data
As of the 2020 United States census, Lee County had a population of 760,822 people, 288,916 households, and 187,877 families.
2020: Median Household Value 2020
The median value of owner-occupied housing units between 2016 and 2020 was $235,300 and the median gross rent was $1,225 in Lee County. Around 94.2% of the households had a computer and 87.2% of households had a broadband internet subscription.
September 28, 2022: Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Lee County as a category 4 storm, causing major damage to Sanibel, Pine Island, and surrounding areas. The Sanibel Causeway partially collapsed. 71 deaths occurred in Lee County as of October 4.
2022: 2022 Population Estimate
In 2022, Lee County's population was estimated to be 822,453, making it the eighth-most populous county in Florida.
Mentioned in this timeline
Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court...
JetBlue Airways Corporation a prominent American low-cost airline is headquartered...
Florida a southeastern U S state is a peninsula between...
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in...
Minnesota is a U S state in the Upper Midwest...
Boston is the capital and most populous city of Massachusetts...
Trending
2 minutes ago Patrick Schwarzenegger Possibly Taking on Lead Role in 'American Psycho' Remake
2 minutes ago Natasha Lyonne shines in 'Poker Face' Season 2 as show tops streaming charts.
2 minutes ago Alex Cooper alleges sexual harassment by BU coach Nancy Feldman; University responds.
1 day ago OceanGate's Titan sub disaster exposed in Netflix documentary and pilot's safety concerns.
3 minutes ago Shedeur Sanders at Browns camp: Future QB prospect gains experience and matures.
1 hour ago Aaron Taylor-Johnson Celebrates 35th Birthday with Wife Sam, Shares Romantic Photos.
Popular
The Boeing Dreamliner is an American wide-body airliner developed by...
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who gained international...
Thomas Douglas Homan is an American law enforcement officer and...
Cristiano Ronaldo often called CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
Playboi Carti born Jordan Terrell Carter is an American rapper...