Naples was founded during the late 1880s by former Confederate general and Kentucky U.S. Senator John Stuart Williams and his partner, Louisville businessman Walter N. Haldeman, the publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Throughout the 1870s and ’80′s, magazine and newspaper stories telling of the area’s mild climate and abundant fish and game likened it to the sunny Italian peninsula. The name Naples caught on when promoters described the bay as “surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy”.
Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 20,976 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3 per square mile (673.2/km2). There were 16,956 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0 per square mile (544.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.50% White, 4.6% Black, 0.12% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.2% of the population.
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 the city the population was spread out with 10.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 42.3% who were 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 age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $71,553, and the median income for a family was $102,262. Males had a median income of $86,092 versus $30,948 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,141.
About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The economy of Naples is based largely on tourism. Along with Marco Island and the Everglades, the city makes up the popular vacation area known as the Paradise Coast. Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates is located just north of the city limits. The area is also home to technology company INgage Networks and medical equipment manufacturer Arthrex. In 2009, Naples was ranked as one of the 10 pricey cities worth its high cost.[8]
Area Attractions
Naples is home to several major land reserves, including the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and Picayune Strand State Forest. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is known not only for its 11,000 acres (45 km2) of landscape and wildlife, but for a two and a half mile length boardwalk winding through the sanctuary.[14] The Naples area is also home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which dates back to 1919.[15]
The city is served by the Naples Municipal Airport. Yellow Air Taxi also provides service to Key West, Florida. Southwest Florida International Airport, in South Fort Myers, Florida, handles the vast majority of commercial air traffic in and out of the region, with over 8 million passengers in 2007.[16]
Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players and the 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping districts, which feature a variety of antique shops. Gallery Row, also downtown, is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. The Village on Venetian Bay is an upscale open-air shopping district on the Gulf coast. Located directly off of Tamiami Trail are the Waterside Shops, an upscale open-air center.
Near downtown on Naples Bay and the Gordon River is the shopping district Tin City. This open-air shopping center specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties. Also near downtown is Big Cypress Market Place with over 100 diverse vendors. Naples hosts The Oliver Group Champions Cup of the Outback Champions Tennis Series each year. Naples is also the home to swamp buggy races, held three times each year at the Florida Sports Park.
Tourism is a main industry for the City of Naples.
Performing Arts and Culture
Naples is home to The Naples Players, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Philharmonic Orchestra and Theatre Zone Equity Theatre Company.[17]
Beaches, Parks and Recreation Areas
The beach on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles long, and is noted for its cleanliness and pristine white sand. In 2005, Naples was voted the best beach in America by the Travel Channel.
Naples beaches include:
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
- Clam Pass Beach Park
- Naples Municipal Beach & Fishing Pier (Naples Pier)
- Vanderbilt Beach
- North Gulfshore Boulevard Beach
- Lowdermilk Beach Park.
The Naples Fishing Pier is one of the area’s better-known landmarks. With more than 80 championship golf courses in the Naples area, Naples is the self-titled “Golf Capital of the World”, claiming to have more holes per capita than any other community.
In December 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist met with Chicago Cubs president Crane Kenney, chairman Tom Ricketts and other team officials about possibly moving the Chicago Cubs’ spring training and minor league facilities from Mesa, Arizona to Naples.
