Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of 1 July 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on 1 July 2007. Although Naples is officially the county seat of Collier County, the courthouse is located east of the city in unincorporated East Naples.
History
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
See also: Naples-Marco Island metropolitan areaAs of the census 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/mi 2 (673.2/km 2 ). There were 16,956 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0/mi 2 (544.2/km 2 ). The racial makeup of the city was 62.50% White, 14.6% 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. 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.
Geography
Naples is located at 26°09′11″N 81°47′55″W / 26.152941°N 81.798510°W / 26.152941; -81.798510 on U.S. Highway 41 between Miami (to the east) and Fort Myers (to the north).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.4 square miles (37 km 2 ), of which 12.03 square miles (31 km 2 ) is land and 2.38 square miles (6 km 2 ) is water(16.53%).
Economy
The economy of Naples is largely based 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 it was ranked as one of the 10 pricey cities worth its high cost.
Education
Naples schools are part of the District School Board of Collier County.
Elementary schools serving Naples include:
- Big Cypress (Golden Gate)
- Lely (East Naples)
- Avalon (East Naples)
- Saint Ann's Catholic Middle School (Naples)
- Saint John Neumann Catholic High School (Naples)
- Royal Palm Academy
- First Baptist Academy
- Community School of Naples
- Naples Christian Academy
- Lake Park (Naples)
- Sea Gate (Naples)
- Shadowlawn (unincorporated area)
- Golden Gate (Golden Gate)
- Vineyards (North Naples)
- Manatee (Naples)
- Park Shore (Naples)
- Naples Park (North Naples)
- Oakridge (North Naples)
- Seacrest Country Day School
The middle schools in Naples are Royal Palm Academy, First Baptist Academy, Community School of Naples, Naples Christian Academy, Gulfview Middle School, Golden Gate Middle School, Manatee Middle School, East Naples Middle School, Oakridge Middle School, Pine Ridge Middle School and North Naples Middle School.
The high schools in Naples are: Community School of Naples, Barron Collier High School, Naples High School, Gulf Coast High School, Saint John Neumann High School, First Baptist Academy High School, Lely High School, Golden Gate High School and Palmetto Ridge High School.
Hodges University (formerly International College) offers Associate, Bachelor and Graduate degrees, and is located northeast of the city with a second campus in Fort Myers, about 30 miles north of Naples. Ave Maria University, the first Catholic university established in the U.S. since 1963, is located northeast of the city. Florida Gulf Coast University is located just outside of Estero, which is between the cities of Bonita Springs and Fort Myers to the north. Naples is also the new home of Ave Maria School of Law. The law school was originally located in Ann Arbor, Michigan from its inception until May 2009. In August 2009, classes will begin at the new campus in Vineyards.
With over 800 alumni living in Naples, the Ohio State University once established the nation's biggest alumni club in the early 2000s (outside of Columbus, Ohio). This is most likely due in large part to the overwhelming amount of midwesterners who have relocated (snowbirds) to Naples.
Healthcare
The region is served by the NCH Healthcare System, which currently has 681 beds between two hospitals, and Physician's Regional Health Care System which has two hospitals and currently 201 beds and is owned by Health Management Associates, headquartered in Naples, Florida.
CHS Healthcare CHS Healthcare is a private, not-for-profit “safety net” health care provider with 12 health care facilities located throughout Naples and Collier County and the award winning Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program. CHS Healthcare provides basic primary and preventative medical and dental health care services. In calendar year 2007, CHS provided services to over 45,000 individuals in Collier County (65% are Children) for a total of nearly 186,000 patient visits.
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 km 2 ) of landscape and wildlife, but for a two and a half mile length boardwalk winding through the sanctuary. The Naples area is also home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which dates back to 1919.
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.
Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players, The Gulfshore Playhouse, 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 home to such high-end retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Lacoste. A two-story Barnes and Noble is located on site as well. 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. Notable resorts and hotels within the city limits include the Hampton Inn Naples I-75, the Ritz-Carlton, the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, La Playa Beach and Golf Resort, the Naples Grande Beach Resort and Club (which will join The Waldorf-Astoria Collection in the fall of 2008.), the Inn on Fifth and the Edgewater Beach Hotel and Club.
Performing arts and culture
Naples is home to The Naples Players, Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Philharmonic Orchestra and Theatre Zone Equity Theatre Company.
Beaches, parks and recrea
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