Naples is the self-titled "Golf Capital of the World" with the second-most golf holes per capita and the most holes of any city in Florida.[4][5] The city is also known for being appealing to retirees, who make up a large percentage of the population.[6]
Before the period ofEuropean colonization, theindigenousCalusa lived in Florida (including the region of present-day Naples) for thousands of years, fromCharlotte Harbor toCape Sable. In 1513, SpanishconquistadorJuan Ponce de León explored the region and encountered the Calusa, who resisted attempts by de León to establish aSpanish colony in Florida. This initiated nearly two hundred years of conflict between the Spanish and the Calusa. In the early 18th century, followingslave raids fromMuscogee andYamasee raiders allied with European settlers inCarolina, the majority of the remaining Calusa moved south and east to escape the raids.[7]
In 1938, John Glenn Sample, a pioneer in radio advertising fromChicago, came to Naples. He had read about the fame and fortune of Palm Beach; however, he decided to look elsewhere and discovered the relaxed atmosphere that Naples had to offer on the Gulf of Mexico and soon began buying property on the south end of Naples below 5th Avenue and along Naples Bay, which consisted mostly of marshland.
In 1949, Naples officially became a city, and the Bank of Naples, the city's first banking service, opened on 5th Avenue. In the early 50's, Sample began dredging to create numerous peninsulas and canals with lots overlooking the Naples Bay. He nicknamed the project "Port Royal", which was conceived after the 17th century Jamaican city ofPort Royal. The neighborhood's streets are all named in pirate tradition, examples being names like Gin Lane, Rum Row, Treasure Lane, and Galleon Drive.[11][12][13] Works to pave streets in the neighborhood were completed in the late 1970s.[14]
In March 1956, the first modern medical facility was opened in Naples with the name Naples Community Hospital.[10] In the 1960s the historic Cove Inn on Naples Bay was built, as well as the Collier County Public Library, and Cambier Park on 8th Avenue.[15]
Sample's dredging project with Port Royal also spurred developments in the 60s and 70s like Aqualane Shores,[16] Park Shore, and Moorings,[17] all affluent neighborhoods in Naples with large, waterfront homes that have boat access. In 1977, the city's first mall, theCoastland Center, was opened.[18]
Naples is located in southwest Florida onU.S. Highway 41 between Miami to the east andFort Myers to the north.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.4 square miles (42.5 km2), of which 12.3 square miles (31.9 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (10.7 km2), or 25.09%, is water.[19]
National Weather Service records that date back to 1851, indicate 74 tropical storms have passed within 85 nautical miles (157 km; 98 mi) of Naples, or once every 2.2 years (as of a 2014 data).[20]
2005Hurricane Wilma (Category 5) – Wilma reached maximum wind strength of 185 miles per hour (298 km/h), but its winds were 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) when it made landfall nearCape Romano (below Naples, just beyond the southwestern tip ofMarco Island and northwest of theTen Thousand Islands in Collier County).[21][22] Wilma caused 87 deaths and $22.4 billion in damage.[citation needed]
2017Hurricane Irma (Category 5) – Irma had maximum wind strength of 180 miles per hour (290 km/h), but when it made landfall near Marco Island, its winds were 115 miles per hour (185 km/h). As Irma hit Florida, tropical-storm-force winds extended out to 400 miles (640 km) from the center and hurricane-force winds extended up to 80 miles (130 km). This storm left over 7.5 million homes (70% of the state) without electricity for days. Irma caused 134 deaths and $50 billion in damage.
2022Hurricane Ian (Category 5) – Ian had a maximum wind strength of 160 miles per hour (260 km/h) while approaching Florida, and it made landfall atCayo Costa slightly below peak strength as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h). Power was lost to much of the Naples area includingPelican Bay and Bay Colony for several days, but repairs allowed power to be turned back on, beginning on October 1, 2022.[23] Ian caused 149 deaths in the state of Florida and an estimated $989 million in damages to the city of Naples and approximately $2.2 billion in damages to buildings in Collier County.[24][25]
2024Hurricane Milton (Category 5) – Milton had a maximum wind strength of 180 miles per hour (285 km/h) just north of the Yucatan Peninsula and made landfall nearSiesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 miles per hour (193 km/h). Much of the Naples area including Grey Oaks and Estuary lost electricity for a number of days, but power was restored beginning on October 16, 2024.[26] Milton caused 35 deaths and $34.3 billion in damage.[27]
According to theKöppen climate classification, Naples has atropical savanna climate (Aw). Naples is normally frost-free and the growing season is 365 days. Like much of central and southern Florida there are two basic seasons in Naples; From May through October there is a hot and wet season in Naples, when hot temperatures (average high temperature is 92 °F or 33.3 °C) and frequent thundershowers are common. From November through April, is the dry season, when sunshine, dry weather, and milder temperatures with daily highs around 74 °F or 23.3 °C. Naples is in USDAhardiness zone 10b.[28]
Climate data for Naples, Florida (Naples Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present
As of the2020 United States census, there were 19,115 people, 10,453 households, and 6,193 families residing in the city.[35] Median household income (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022 $135,657. The Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022 is $141,245[36]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 19,537 people, 9,991 households, and 6,041 families residing in the city.[37]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 20,981 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3 inhabitants per square mile (673.5/km2). There were 16,957 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0 units per square mile (544.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 92.50%White, 4.65%African American, 0.12%Native American, 0.33%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. 2.23% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
In 2000, there were 10,803 households, out of which 10.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38.
In 2000, 10.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 2.3% was from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 42.3% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city is $65,641, and the median income for a family is $83,831. Males have a median income of $50,092 versus $30,948 for females. Theper capita income for the city is $61,141. 5.9% of the population and 3.1% of families are below thepoverty line. Out of the total population, 15.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Companies based in Naples includeBeasley Broadcast Group andASG Technologies in addition to numerous small businesses. Due to the wealth present in Collier County, Naples is also home to many small non-profit organizations. The surrounding Naples metro area is also home to major private employers such asFortune 1000 companyHealth Management Associates and technology companyNewsBank.
In 2009, Naples was placed 10th in a report byU.S. News & World Report titled "10 Pricey Cities That Pay Off." The report ranked cities by its "amenity value", a measurement based on the amount of satisfaction an asset brings to its owner.[39] In 2012, a report byKiplinger ranked Naples with the sixth-highest per capita income in the country,[40] along with the second-highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US.[41]
TheNaples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens was founded in 1919. It started as a garden but officially became a zoo in September 1969.[42]
Downtown Naples is home toThe Naples Players, the 5th Avenue South, and 3rd Street South shopping districts, which feature a variety of antique luxury shops and fine dining restaurants. Gallery Row is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. Near downtown Naples Bay and the Gordon River is the shopping district of Tin City. This open-air shopping center specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties, as well as several seafood restaurants.
In 2019, Baker Park, a $15 million park close to the intersection of 5th Avenue and Goodlette-Frank Road, was opened. The park also includes theGordon River Greenway, which links to the Naples Airport.[44][45]
Naples is home toThe Naples Players, Naples Shakespeare Festival (and sister company Marco Island Shakespeare Festival),[46] Opera Naples, the equity theatre companyTheatre Zone, and Gulfshore Playhouse.[47] The Naples Philharmonic andThe Baker Museum are located at Artis—Naples, which also serves as the educational campus for the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Youth Chorus, Youth Jazz Orchestra and Youth Symphony.[48] The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida educates about 155,000 students each year both in its facility and with a locally traveling exhibit.
TheLPGA's longest-lasting continuously played tournament, theCME Group Tour Championship, has been held in Naples since 2012. Since2013, it has been played at the Gold Course of theTiburón Golf Club. It claims the largest purse and the largest winner's share of any women's golf tournament, presently at $5,000,000 and $1,500,000 respectively.[49] The purse and winner's share increase in2022, to $7,000,000 and $2,000,000 respectively.[50]
Swamp Buggy races in Naples
Pickleball is an increasingly popular sport in Naples. Because of this, many parks have added pickleball courts. Naples is home to theU.S. Open Pickleball Championships, which have been held annually since 2016.,[51] Because of this Naples and East Naples Community Park is known as the Pickleball Capital of the world.[52]
The Naples Pier was one of the area's better-known landmarks but was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian
The beach on the coast of theGulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles (16 km) long and is known for its cleanliness and pristine white sand. In 2005, Naples was voted the best all-around beach in America by theTravel Channel.[55][56]
Since February 2001, Naples has been served by several bus routes operated by theCollier Area Transit.[61] The service runs seven days a week and end times depend on the route.[62] Highways that pass through Naples areI-75 andUS-41.
The city is served by theNaples Airport, and although it doesn't have any scheduled commercial service, it is one of the busiest municipal airports in the United States.[63] The closest airport with regular-scheduled commercial service for both domestic and international destinations isSouthwest Florida International Airport.
The region is served by theNCH Healthcare System, which currently has 716 beds between two hospitals, and Physician's Regional Healthcare System, which has two hospitals that contain 201 beds and is owned by the Health Management Associates, headquartered inPelican Bay. In addition to the two hospitals, the company operates six clinics in Naples.[64]
Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida (HCN) was founded in 1977 to serve migrant farmworkers and their families in Immokalee. It now provides care to over 41,000 residents of Collier County through 20 practices, including internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, behavioral health[65] and dental care.[66]
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