Collier County, Florida

History

Archaeology at Platt Island in the Big Cypress National Preserve shows humans settled in what is now Collier County more than 2000 years ago. The Calusa people had an extensive presence in the area when Europeans arrived.

The county was created in 1923 from Lee County. It was named for Barron Collier, a New York City advertising mogul and real estate developer who had moved to Southwest Florida and established himself as a prominent landowner. He agreed to build the Tamiami Trail for what was then Lee County (comprising today's Collier, Hendry, and Lee Counties) in exchange for favorable consideration with the state legislature to have a county named for him. After Collier County was named, Collier was quoted as saying: "When I first came here on holiday with Juliet, I never expected that I would buy a whole region of it, nor did I expect to pay for the new Tamiami Trail, or half the things I've done. But I really didn't expect to have a whole county named after me."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2305 sqmi, of which 307 sqmi (13.3%) are covered by water. It is the largest county in Florida by land area and fourth-largest by total area. Virtually the entire southeastern portion of the county lies within the Big Cypress National Preserve. The northernmost portion of Everglades National Park extends into the southern coastal part of the county. Chokoloskee, Florida is in the county. The total area of this county is nearly one and a half times the size of Rhode Island, which is the smallest state, and is bigger than Rhode Island and Luxembourg combined.

Adjacent counties

Collier County is located at the southern end of Florida's Gulf Coast, and bounded by:

• Hendry County – north
• Broward County – east
• Miami-Dade County – southeast
• Monroe County – south
• Lee County – northwest

National protected areas

• Big Cypress National Preserve (part)
• Everglades National Park (part)
• Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
• Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Transportation

• Everglades Airpark
• Immokalee Airport
• Marco Island Airport
• Naples Municipal Airport
• Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (mostly unused)

Major highways

• [[Image:I-75.svg|20px]] Interstate 75
• [[Image:US 41.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 41
• [[Image:Florida 29.svg|20px]] State Road 29
• [[Image:Florida 84.svg|20px]] State Road 84
• [[Image:Florida 951.svg|22px]] State Road 951

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2015 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 375,752 and the median age was 52.9 years; 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 32.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.0 males; there were 97,279 families residing in the county.

The racial makeup of the county was 68.4% White, 6.2% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian,

88.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 11.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 157,921 households in the county, of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 54.0% were married-couple households, 15.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 228,390 housing units, of which 30.9% were vacant; among occupied units, 74.9% were owner-occupied and 25.1% were renter-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 2.3% and a rental vacancy rate of 11.9%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

The county continues to experience significant growth and is becoming increasingly diverse. As of the 2010 census, the county's population had increased by 27.9% to 321,520, over the 2000 census. As of the 2010 census, 83.85% of the population was non-Hispanic Whites, 25.9% was Latino or Hispanic, 6.6% was African American, and 1.1% was Asian. As of the 2010 census, the greatest source of population growth in the county since the 2000 census came from the Latino or Hispanic population, which grew from 49,296 (19.6%) to 83,177 (25.9% ). In terms of ancestry, 37.9% were English, 9.9% were Irish, 9.1% were "American", 3.2% were Italian and 3.1% were German.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 251,377 people, 102,973 households, and 71,257 families resided in the county. The population density was 124 /mi2. The 144,536 housing units had an average density of 71 /mi2.

, its racial makeup was 86.06% White, 4.54% was African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 6.25% from other races, and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos (of any race) accounted for 19.61%. Primary languages spoken were 75.3% English, 17.8% Spanish, 2.3% French Creole, and 1.2% German.

In 2000, of the 102,973 households, 22.7% had children under 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were not families. About 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.79.

The county's population distribution was 19.9% under 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44.1 years, higher that the U.S. average. For every 100 females, there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,289, and for a family was $54,816. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $26,371 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,195. About 6.6% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic

Black or African American

Education

The county's public schools are operated by the District School Board of Collier County.

Public library

The Collier County Public Library system consists of 10 locations serving the entire county. All locations offer public internet stations, printing, photocopying, free Wi-Fi, and 24/7 drop boxes for book and video returns.

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a majority of registered voters in Collier County. It is also one of the handful of counties where independents outnumber Democrats among registrants. The county is part of a long-established Republican stronghold in southwestern coastal Florida. It was one of the first parts of Florida to break from a "Solid South" voting pattern. The last Democrat to win the county was Adlai Stevenson II in 1952, and no Democrat has managed even 40 percent of the county's vote since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The last Democratic gubernatorial candidate to carry the county was Reubin Askew in 1974 and the last Democratic senatorial candidate to do so was Bob Graham in 1992; six years later, the county was one of four to back Graham's Republican challenger, Charlie Crist.

All voter information is , and provided by Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Statewide elections

Communities

Cities

• Everglades City
• Marco Island
• Naples

Census-designated places

• Ave Maria
• Berkshire Lakes
• Chokoloskee
• Golden Gate
• Goodland
• Heritage Bay
• Immokalee
• Island Walk
• Lely
• Lely Resort
• Marco Shores-Hammock Bay
• Naples Manor
• Naples Park
• Orangetree
• Pelican Bay
• Pelican Marsh
• Pine Ridge
• Plantation Island
• Verona Walk
• Vineyards
• Winding Cypress

Community development districts

• Fiddler's Creek District #1
• Fiddler's Creek District #2

Other unincorporated communities

• Carnestown
• Copeland
• East Naples
• Isles of Capri
• Jerome
• Miles City
• North Naples
• Ochopee
• Vanderbilt Beach
• Vanderbilt Beach Estates

Invasive snake issues

Collier is located in the center of Florida's invasive snake epidemic. A three-month effort at the beginning of 2016 netted over one ton of captured snakes, including a Florida record for the largest male Burmese python, measuring 16 ft and weighing 140 lb.

References

References

1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Collier County, Florida". Census.gov.
2. "Collier County, Florida Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census".
3. (July 21, 2023). "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Guidance on the Uses of the Delineations of These Areas".
4. Widmer, Randolph J.. (1988). "Evolution of the Calusa: a Stratified Non-Agricultural Chiefdom on the Southwest Florida Coast". University of Alabama Press.
5. Clark, James C.. (2014). "A Concise History of Florida". Arcadia.
6. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Collier County, Florida Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census".
13. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. (1980). "1980 U.S. Census - General Population Characteristics - Table 16 Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980".
18. (1980). "1990 U.S. Census - Social and Economic Characteristics - Table 6. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990".
19. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Collier County, Florida".
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Collier County, Florida".
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Collier County, Florida".
22. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
23. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
24. not an option in the 1980 Census
25. not an option in the 1990 Census
26. "Collier County Census Overview".
27. "POPULATION & DEMOGRAPHICS | Collier County, FL".
28. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
29. "Locations, hours, maps". Collier County Public Library.
30. Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016
31. "Collier County Supervisor of Elections".
32. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
33. "Our Campaigns".
34. (March 17, 2016). "A ton of Burmese pythons removed in 90 days".
35. "South Florida has pythons by the ton, literally".
36. "South Florida has pythons by the ton, literally".