[edit] Geography

Cape Coral is located at 26°38′23″N, 81°58′57″W (26.639600, -81.982471).^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 115.10 square miles (298.1 km²), making it the second largest in Florida. 105.19 square miles (272.4 km²) of it is land and 9.91 square miles (25.7 km²) of it (8.61%) is water.^[1]

The City is divided into Four Quadrants: NW, NE, SW and SE. The East-West Divide is Santa Barbara Blvd., and the North-South divide is Embers Pkwy/Hancock Bridge Pkwy. These are also the centers for the city's street grid.

The City contains a large network of canals, some of which lead to the Gulf of Mexico and some to local lakes. Many houses are along the canals, a large number of which have docks or boat lifts. Fish regularly swim the canals, and can be caught with deep running minnow lures. The fish include Crevalle Jack, catfish, Mullet, and others.

The Cape Coral Bridge connects Cape Coral Parkway to College Parkway in Fort Myers. The Midpoint Memorial Bridge connects Veterans Parkway to Colonial Boulevard, also in Fort Myers. Hancock Bridge Parkway, after intersecting Santa Barbara Boulevard, sweeps north to its approximate terminus on Pine Island Road, with the east end of Hancock Bridge Parkway terminating at U.S. Highway 41.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 102,286 people, 40,768 households, and 30,209 families residing in the city. The population density was 972.4/mi² (375.4/km²). There were 45,653 housing units at an average density of 434.0/mi² (167.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.01% White, 2.00% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.33% of the population.

There were 40,768 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,410, and the median income for a family was $47,503. Males had a median income of $32,320 versus $25,068 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,021. About 5.3% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Over the course of a few years, beginning in 1958, canals were dug, homes and businesses built, and a city was born. Celebrities were brought in to tout the benefits of “the Cape," as it’s known by the locals. The first building was a four-plex at the corner of Coronado and Cape Coral Parkway. This building was the Rosen's company headquarters and the temporary home of Cape Coral's first permanent resident, Kenny Schwartz, the Rosens' new general manager. Cape Coral's first four homes were completed in May 1958 on Riverside and Flamingo drives[1].

Through the rest of the 1950s and early 1960s, development moved quickly, mostly on Redfish Point, south of Cape Coral Parkway. By 1963, the population was 2,850; 1,300 buildings had been finished or were under construction; 80 miles of road had been built, and 160 miles of canals had been dug. The yacht club, a golf course, medical clinic, and shopping center were up and running. A major addition for Cape Coral was the construction of the Cape Coral Bridge, which opened in early 1964. Before the bridge, a trip to Fort Myers was more than 20 miles, following the long haul up Del Prado, then over to the Edison Bridge to cross the river.

Since its inception Cape Coral had been known as a "sleepy" community with its large retirement population. This all changed with the population boom of the 1990s that brought with it young working class families. There is still a larger than normal retirement population. While some of the community still has to cross the river to Fort Myers for work and entertainment, this has become less of a requirement with new stores, restaurants and nightclubs opening up every year. Today, Cape Coral offers a lively strip of restaurants and stores along Cape Coral Parkway, Del Prado Blvd. and Pine Island Road. Also, there is an array of activities within the city including Sun Splash Family Waterpark [2], Mike Greenwell’s Family Fun Park[3] and the brand new, 27,000-sq.-ft. Eagle Skate Park[4].

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1970	11,470	—
1980	32,103	179.9%
1990	74,991	133.6%
2000	102,286	36.4%
Est. 2006	151,389	48.0%

[edit] City Events

The city holds an annual Independence Day fireworks festival known as Red, White & BOOM!! This is the biggest single day event in the city and also the biggest July 4 display in Southwest Florida[5].
Every October the local German-American Club holds the annual Oktoberfest styled after the original held in Germany. This has been the case since 1985 [6].

[edit] Education

Three public high schools in Cape Coral are operated by the Lee County School District: Cape Coral High School, built in the late 1970s, Mariner High School, which opened in 1987, and Ida S. Baker High School, founded in 2004 and named after one of the early principals of Cape Coral High School, with the building opening in 2005. A new high school, Island Coast High School, is scheduled to open its doors for the 2008-2009 school year.

[edit] Notable residents

Echo Chernik, illustrator. (Current)
The members of Twisted Method grew up and first formed their band in Cape Coral. (Current)
Angela Watson, actress. (Former)
Greg Spires, NFL player (Former)
Earnest Graham, NFL Running Back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (former)
Jeff Lindsay, author of Darkly Dreaming Dexter, on which Showtime's Dexter (TV series) is based.
Lela Star, pornographic actress was born in Cape Coral.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Florida by Place. Population, Housing, Area, and Density: 2000. US Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
^ ^a ^b Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida (XLS). US Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
^ ^a ^b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (XLS). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

City of Cape Coral Official site

Cape Coral, Florida is at coordinates 26°38′23″N 81°58′57″W / 26.6396, -81.982471 (Cape Coral, Florida)Coordinates: 26°38′23″N 81°58′57″W / 26.6396, -81.982471 (Cape Coral, Florida)
Cape Coral Historical Museum
Pictorial History of Cape Coral
Cape Coral Gardens
Cape Coral Sailing Club

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Lee County, Florida

County seat: Fort Myers

Cities	Bonita Springs \| Cape Coral \| Fort Myers \| Sanibel

Towns	Fort Myers Beach

CDPs	Alva \| Bokeelia \| Buckingham \| Burnt Store Marina \| Captiva \| Charleston Park \| Cypress Lake \| East Dunbar \| Estero \| Fort Myers Shores \| Gateway \| Harlem Heights \| Iona \| Lehigh Acres \| Lochmoor Waterway Estates \| Matlacha \| Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores \| McGregor \| North Fort Myers \| Olga \| Page Park \| Palmona Park \| Pine Island Center \| Pine Manor \| Pineland \| Punta Rassa \| San Carlos Park \| St. James City \| Suncoast Estates \| Three Oaks \| Tice \| Villas \| Whiskey Creek