Naples, as a part of Southwest Florida, has a rich historical background dating back to the prehistoric ages. Florida was shaped by centuries of flooding during the Ice Ages. The limestone and sandy sediment found all over Collier County today was created by the reformation of polar ice sheets near the sea level.
Fossils found in this area have shown that camels, mastodons, mammoths, bison, deer and wild horses all roamed this great land. Gradual changes in climate and vegetation gradually contributed to their extinction. The first humans reached Southwest Florida about 10,000 years ago, when the climate was colder and much drier. The earliest archeological evidence of man in Collier County was discovered in 1980 at the Bay West site, northeast of Naples.
By the 1700's. small bands of Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama began arriving into Florida. Eventually, these groups of Indians joined to forge a new identity as the Seminole.
Southwest Florida remained inhabited only by the Seminoles until after the Civil War when hundreds of farmers began making their way south. Many of these pioneers made their living by farming, hunting and fishing..
The first trading posts were started by Ted Smallwood and George Sorter, and were located in the Chokoloskee Island and Everglades City, respectively. These posts became important gathering places for the few isolated Indians and settlers in the area.
The relaxing beauty of the area soon became the talk of wealthy northerners looking for a place to vacation. By the 1800's, Naples and Marco Island were already gaining popularity as a vacation destination for these people.
Collier County was created in 1923. It's early economic growth has been associated with a millionaire from Memphis, Barron Gift Collier. Mr. Collier had acquired his fortune through streetcar advertising. When Collier came to the area, he introduced paved roads, electric power, telegraphs and many new businesses to the people of the area. These new additions attracted more and more people to the area; more and more people who began to call it home.
A milestone in Collier County's history was the completion of the Tamiami Trail, an important railway, in 1928. This trail allowed the region to expand its agricultural and resort industries. More industries began to flourish; the first commercial oil well in 1943, and Collier County's cypress logging industry in the 1950's.
In the short span of thirty years, Collier County's population grew dramatically. In 1950, the number of residents was 6,488. By 1980, that number had grown to 85,000. This growth, coupled by a sustained growth in tourism, agriculture and industry has labeled Collier County as one of the fastest developing areas in the nation.
Pelican Bay was developed by the Westinghouse Communities of Naples in 1972. The untouched, 2,104 acre expanse of Southwest Florida was at first a challenge. The staff at WCI wanted to ensure that while they developed Pelican Bay, they maintained the beauty of the natural landscape that surrounded it. Their ultimate goal was to create a quality residential community while preserving the fragile environment around it.
By combining the beauty of Naples' natural preserves and beaches, with the elegance of stately homes and facilities, WCI created a community that today stands out as one of the most beautiful communities in the nation.
Today, Pelican Bay is at the center of Naples' allure, with the Gulf of Mexico to the west, the Registry Resort hotel to the south and the world-class, five-diamond, five-star Ritz Carlton of Naples to the north. Pelican Bay is home to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts and the area's finest shopping at Waterside Shops. Minutes away are the Naples and Southwest Florida International airports as well as convenient access to I-75. Residents of Pelican Bay continue to enjoy the rich history of the area, combined with the world class amenities within the community and around it. It truly is the gem of the Gulf Coast.
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