Immokalee, Florida

History

The region was settled by the Calusa people. It was inhabited by the Seminole centuries later, after they moved down from northern Florida. Initially the settlement was known as Gopher Ridge by the Seminole and Miccosukee nations. Immokalee means "your home" in the Mikasuki language.

When the swamps were drained in the region, agriculture became the dominant industry. European-American hunters, trappers, Native American traders, cowmen, and missionaries moved in before permanent villages developed. The first permanent settlement was founded in 1872. In 1921, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad extended its Haines City Branch south to Immokalee. The railroad was removed in 1989.

The Immokalee area is heavily agricultural. It is one of the nation's major centers of tomato growing. In 1960, CBS News anchor Edward R. Murrow reported on the region's farms' working conditions for his Harvest of Shame report for CBS Reports, which described the harsh lives of migrant workers.

Geography

Immokalee is in northern Collier County along Florida State Road 29. LaBelle is 24 mi north, and Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) is 20 mi south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of 60.3 km2, of which 58.8 km2 is land and 1.5 sqkm, or 2.42%, is water.

Climate

Immokalee features a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa). |Jan avg record high F = 84.8 |Feb avg record high F = 86.5 |Mar avg record high F = 89.2 |Apr avg record high F = 91.3 |May avg record high F = 94.9 |Jun avg record high F = 96.2 |Jul avg record high F = 95.5 |Aug avg record high F = 95.9 |Sep avg record high F = 94.5 |Oct avg record high F = 91.9 |Nov avg record high F = 88.6 |Dec avg record high F = 85.6 |year avg record high F = 97.3

|Jan avg record low F = 32.1 |Feb avg record low F = 34.5 |Mar avg record low F = 40.5 |Apr avg record low F = 46.4 |May avg record low F = 56.3 |Jun avg record low F = 65.1 |Jul avg record low F = 68.8 |Aug avg record low F = 69.9 |Sep avg record low F = 67.4 |Oct avg record low F = 54.0 |Nov avg record low F = 45.1 |Dec avg record low F = 35.8 |year avg record low F = 29.7

|Jan record high F = 89 |Feb record high F = 90 |Mar record high F = 99 |Apr record high F = 96 |May record high F = 100 |Jun record high F = 102 |Jul record high F = 98 |Aug record high F = 100 |Sep record high F = 98 |Oct record high F = 95 |Nov record high F = 95 |Dec record high F = 89 |year record high F = |Jan record low F = 20 |Feb record low F = 25 |Mar record low F = 30 |Apr record low F = 38 |May record low F = 49 |Jun record low F = 54 |Jul record low F = 63 |Aug record low F = 64 |Sep record low F = 64 |Oct record low F = 41 |Nov record low F = 27 |Dec record low F = 24 |year record low F = | archive-date = May 20, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230520212446/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mfl | url-status = dead

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,557 people, 5,985 households, and 4,517 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census

Immokalee's population was 24,154 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,763 people, 4,715 households, and 3,635 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,449.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,987 housing units at an average density of 618.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.98% Hispanic (Of Any race), 18.03% African American, 3.19% White, 1.03% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 35.66% from other races, and 6.38% from two or more races.

There were 4,715 households, out of which 49.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 13.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.91 and the average family size was 4.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 34.9% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 4.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 145.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,315, and the median income for a family was $22,628. Males had a median income of $17,875 versus $16,713 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,576. About 34.6% of families and 39.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.1% of those under age 18 and 26.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The federally recognized Seminole Tribe of Florida has one of its six reservations here, Immokalee Reservation, on which it operates one of its gaming casinos.

The Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is nearby.

Government

Being unincorporated, the area has no municipal government of its own and is governed by Collier County.

Education

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

Elementary schools in Immokalee and serving Immokalee include Eden Park, Highlands, Lake Trafford, and Village Oaks. Pinecrest Elementary School, outside of and adjacent to the CDP, serves a portion of the CDP. All residents are zoned to Immokalee Middle School and Immokalee High School, both in the CDP.

Media

Immokalee is home to WCIW-LP, a low power community radio station owned and operated by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The station was built by volunteers from Immokalee and around the country in December 2003 at the fifth Prometheus Radio Project barnraising. WCIW broadcasts music, news, and public affairs to listeners in Spanish, Haitian Creole and several indigenous languages.

WAFZ-FM (92.1 FM) is a full-power FM radio station licensed to Immokalee, Florida. The station plays a variety of hits in the Regional Mexican format.

WAFZ's programming is also heard on WAFZ AM 1490 in Immokalee.

Transportation

Collier Area Transit provides local bus service and paratransit. The #5 connects to Naples, the #7 connects to Marco Island (limited trips), and the 8A circulates within the area.

Immokalee used to be served by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (formerly Atlantic Coast Line), which ran a branchline from Palmdale through Immokalee to Everglades City. The line generated considerable agricultural-related traffic. The line was cut back to Sunniland south of Immokalee in the 1950s and then abandoned to the mainline at Palmdale in the 1980s. This left Immokalee without rail service.

The main road through Immokalee is State Road 29. Other important county roads through the region are CR 29A and CR 846.

Immokalee Airport is a public-use general aviation airport 1 mi northeast of the central business district. The closest airport for commercial service is Southwest Florida International Airport.

Notable people

• Mackensie Alexander, cornerback
• Albert Bentley, football player for the Miami Hurricanes and the Indianapolis Colts
• J. C. Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers cornerback
• Edgerrin James, Hall of Fame running back (Indianapolis Colts)
• Javarris James, Indianapolis Colts running back
• D'Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars running back
• Brian Rolle, former NFL and CFL linebacker
• Ovince Saint Preux, Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor
• Felipe Santos, missing person
• Deadrin Senat, defensive tackle

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2402609
4. Mascia, Jennifer. (June 15, 2011). "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Immokalee, Fla.". New York Times.
5. Bittman, Mark. (June 14, 2011). "The True Cost of Tomatoes".
6. "January ends with record heat again in Florida and Cuba. 90F/32C at Immokalee, Ochopee 17ESE and Miles City 7N tied the hottest January day in Florida history.".
7. "Explore Census Data".
8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Immokalee CDP, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
9. "[http://www.collierschools.com/parents/docs/ZoneMaps.pdf Attendance Zones Effective 2009-2010] {{Webarchive. link. (September 20, 2010 ." [[District School Board of Collier County]]. Retrieved on September 18, 2009.)
10. (March 2020)
11. "Collier County : CAT Maps & Schedule".
12. (7 September 2018). "NFL: Immokalee's J.C. Jackson goes from undrafted to New England Patriots". [[Naples Daily News]].
13. (18 April 2015). "Mixed martial arts: Immokalee's Ovince St. Preux lands opening-round KO". [[Naples Daily News]].
14. (6 September 2018). "Tyler Perry, attorney announce lawsuit against ex-deputy in 2 men's disappearances". [[WSB-TV]].
15. (27 April 2018). "NFL Draft: Immokalee's Deadrin Senat of USF taken by Atlanta Falcons in third round". [[Naples Daily News]].
16. Dave McNary, [https://variety.com/2014/film/news/eva-longorias-food-chains-documentary-getting-u-s-distribution-1201150552/ Eva Longoria’s ‘Food Chains’ Documentary Getting U.S. Distribution], ''[[Variety (magazine). Variety]]'', March 31, 2014
17. Frank Scheck, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/food-chains-film-review-751479 'Food Chains': Film Review], ''The Hollywood Reporter'', November 24, 2014