Marco Island, Florida

History

Marco Island's history can be traced to 500 CE, when the Calusa people inhabited the island as well as the rest of southwest Florida. A number of Calusa artifacts were discovered on Key Marco (an island then adjacent, and since attached, to Marco Island) in 1896 by anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing as part of the Pepper-Hearst Expedition. The most notable artifact discovered was the carved wooden "Key Marco Cat", now on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum under a loan from the Smithsonian Institution. The artifact is featured on a 1989 postage stamp.

When Spanish explorers came to the island in the mid-1500s, they gave the island the name La Isla de San Marcos after St. Mark, traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of Mark. Early development of the island began in the late 1800s after the arrival of William Thomas Collier and his family. Collier founded the village of Marco on the island in 1870, and in 1896 his son, William D. "Capt. Bill" Collier, opened a hotel on the island, known today as the Olde Marco Inn. Clam digging became a major industry on Marco Island and throughout the Ten Thousand Islands in the early 1900s. The Burnham Clam Cannery began operation near Caxambas Pass in 1903 and operated until 1929. The Doxsee Clam Cannery also operated from 1911 to 1947. In 1912, ferry service began between Marco Island and the Isles of Capri. A road on the mainland linked the ferry landing with East Naples (just west of State Road 951). A small piece of this road remains and is known as Barefoot Williams Road.

Barron G. Collier (whom Collier County is named after, and no relation to William T. Collier) purchased a large amount of land on Marco Island in 1922, and in 1927 the island incorporated as Collier City. Collier City was abolished in 1957. James Harvey Doxsee Sr. served as Collier City's only mayor. Also in 1927, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad began service to the island after extending its route from Fort Myers and Naples. The railroad ran to the island along the present route of State Road 951. Rail service was discontinued in 1944. The first vehicle bridge to the island was a small wooden swing bridge built in 1938 near Goodland on the island's east side. Remnants of this bridge can be seen next to the current bridge at the site, the Stan Gober Memorial Bridge (built in 1975). The island's ferry service was discontinued after the original Goodland Bridge opened.

Significant development of Marco Island took place in the 1960s that made it into the retirement and tourist destination it is today. The Mackle brothers of the Deltona Corporation led development of the island after purchasing large amounts of land there for $7 million. As a result of development, the S.S. Jolley Bridge opened for traffic in 1969. Marco Island reincorporated as a city on August 28, 1997. As in many coastal communities, residents battle short-term rentals and traffic congestion. On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian devastated the island with an 8' storm surge.

Geography

Marco Island is in southwestern Collier County, along the Gulf of Mexico. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 59.0 km2, of which 31.4 km2 is land and 27.6 km2 (46.73%) is water.

Climate

Marco Island has a tropical climate that borders on a humid subtropical climate since the mean temperature in the coldest month, January, is 64.4 F which is barely over the 64 F threshold for a tropical climate. |Jan record high F = 86 |Feb record high F = 87 |Mar record high F = 88 |Apr record high F = 93 |May record high F = 95 |Jun record high F = 97 |Jul record high F = 98 |Aug record high F = 97 |Sep record high F = 96 |Oct record high F = 94 |Nov record high F = 92 |Dec record high F = 87

|Jan avg record high F = 81.7 |Feb avg record high F = 82.1 |Mar avg record high F = 84.0 |Apr avg record high F = 88.3 |May avg record high F = 91.5 |Jun avg record high F = 94.1 |Jul avg record high F = 94.1 |Aug avg record high F = 94.3 |Sep avg record high F = 93.3 |Oct avg record high F = 90.9 |Nov avg record high F = 86.8 |Dec avg record high F = 83.5 |year avg record high F = 95.1

|Jan avg record low F = 39.0 |Feb avg record low F = 42.5 |Mar avg record low F = 46.7 |Apr avg record low F = 55.3 |May avg record low F = 62.5 |Jun avg record low F = 70.0 |Jul avg record low F = 72.3 |Aug avg record low F = 72.0 |Sep avg record low F = 71.5 |Oct avg record low F = 59.5 |Nov avg record low F = 49.9 |Dec avg record low F = 45.9 |year avg record low F = 36.9

|Jan record low F = 28 |Feb record low F = 31 |Mar record low F = 39 |Apr record low F = 47 |May record low F = 58 |Jun record low F = 66 |Jul record low F = 69 |Aug record low F = 67 |Sep record low F = 65 |Oct record low F = 45 |Nov record low F = 42 |Dec record low F = 32

| 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

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,760 people, 9,056 households, and 6,109 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,413 people, 7,517 households, and 5,393 families residing in the city. There were 7,517 households, out of which 9.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21. The median income for a household in the city was $73,373, and the per capita income was $52,089. 2.1% of the population were below the poverty level.

Government

Political affiliation

Marco Island generally supports the Republican Party, as the city is represented in the House by Republican Byron Donalds and voted in favor of Republican incumbent Donald Trump during the 2020 election at margins varying from 62% to 73% over Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The region, however, voted more Democratic than it did during the 2016 election.

Education

The District School Board of Collier County operates the following schools serving Marco Island:

• Lely High School
• Marco Island Academy High School
• Marco Island Charter Middle School
• Tommie Barfield Elementary School

Private schools:

• Island Montessori Academy
• Marketplace Mission Learning Center

Transportation

Two bridges provide road access to the island via Collier Boulevard and San Marco Road (CR 92). There are two public access locations with parking and amenities (Tigertail and South Beach), a private beach complex for residents (Residents' Beach), a private parking area for residents (Sarazen Park at South Beach), and two other public access points (with no amenities). Offshore island beaches, such as Keewaydin, are accessible by boat or tour.

Marco Island Executive Airport (MKY) provides general aviation service to the area. It is 4 mi northeast of the island's central business district. The closest regularly scheduled commercial flights to the area arrive at Southwest Florida International Airport.

Marco Island is served by Collier Area Transit's Route #21 and Route #121 (Express: Immokalee to Marco Island).

Notable people

• John Boehner, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
• Michael Collins, astronaut
• William J. Cullerton, World War II flying ace
• Leighton Meester, actress

References

References

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13. (2 April 2020). "North of Isles of Capri – Part Two".
14. Layden, Laura. (3 April 2012). "Lighthouse Project - History: Marco began as a place for catching, canning clams". Naples Daily News.
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18. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
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24. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Marco Island city, Florida".
25. Park, Alice. (2021-02-02). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election". The New York Times.
26. "Lely High School".
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31. (February 20, 2014). "House Speaker John Boehner bringing tan, tears to Marco Island after buying luxury condo".
32. Megan, Graydon. (16 January 2013). "William Cullerton, 1923-2013 WWII pilot, entrepreneur, radio host and well-known outdoorsman championed conservation". [[Chicago Tribune]].
33. (September 19, 2018). "Leighton Meester: From High School Drama to Parenthood".