Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Encyclopedia
Fort Myers Beach is a town located on Estero Island
in Lee County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 6,561 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Coral
–Fort Myers
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it (53.41%) is water. The town is situated across the barrier islands of Estero and San Carlos.
Estero Island and its sister island, San Carlos, make up the community of Fort Myers Beach.
of 2000, there were 6,561 people, 3,425 households, and 2,048 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,290.9 people per square mile (885.7/km²). There were 8,429 housing units at an average density of 2,943.2 per square mile (1,137.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% White, 0.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.
There were 3,425 households out of which 7.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 37.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,045, and the median income for a family was $62,000. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $34,703. About 3.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Larry Kiker, owner of Lahaina Realty, is the mayor. Scott Janke was the town manager from March 2008 to July 2009 until he was fired after the story broke about the fact that he was married to pornographic actress Jazella Moore
. Public Works Director Jack Green is currently the Interim Town Manager.
, Chapel by the Sea was started in 1932 as a mission of the Presbyterians. It was officially founded one year later. The first building was constructed in 1937 with a seating capacity of 47. Today's Sanctuary holds 700. Although it is Presbyterian, the Chapel is known on the island as the community church. The church hosts "God's Table" feeding the poor and needy of the beach every day, Monday through Friday.
Saint Raphael's Church was the second church built on the island. It was founded on March 5, 1951 and the church was built in 1953. They are known for hosting the island's annual Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. A tradition started in 1952 to bless all the boats and their crews. It is the only Episcopal Church (United States)
on the island.
Other churches on the island are the Roman Catholic's Church of the Ascension, the Beach United Methodist Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and the Beach Baptist Church.
Estero Island
Estero Island is an island located in Lee County, Florida, on the Gulf coast of Southwest Florida. It is bordered by San Carlos Island to the north and Big Carlos Pass to the south. The Matanzas Pass Bridge is on the northern end of the island and connects Estero Island over Matazanas Pass to San...
in Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,561 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Coral
Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is a municipality located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, pre-platted community, the city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. With an area of , Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and...
–Fort Myers
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Fort Myers Beach is located at 26°26′19"N 81°55′32"W (26.438676, -81.925620).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it (53.41%) is water. The town is situated across the barrier islands of Estero and San Carlos.
Estero Island and its sister island, San Carlos, make up the community of Fort Myers Beach.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,561 people, 3,425 households, and 2,048 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,290.9 people per square mile (885.7/km²). There were 8,429 housing units at an average density of 2,943.2 per square mile (1,137.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% White, 0.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.
There were 3,425 households out of which 7.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 37.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,045, and the median income for a family was $62,000. Males had a median income of $31,929 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $34,703. About 3.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town is governed by a 5 member town council, one of which is the mayor. The town manager works with the town council to implement plans.Larry Kiker, owner of Lahaina Realty, is the mayor. Scott Janke was the town manager from March 2008 to July 2009 until he was fired after the story broke about the fact that he was married to pornographic actress Jazella Moore
Jazella Moore
Jazella Moore is a Portuguese-born American pornographic actress based in Florida.-Adult film career:...
. Public Works Director Jack Green is currently the Interim Town Manager.
Churches
The Chapel by the Sea was the first church on the island. A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA)Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, Chapel by the Sea was started in 1932 as a mission of the Presbyterians. It was officially founded one year later. The first building was constructed in 1937 with a seating capacity of 47. Today's Sanctuary holds 700. Although it is Presbyterian, the Chapel is known on the island as the community church. The church hosts "God's Table" feeding the poor and needy of the beach every day, Monday through Friday.
Saint Raphael's Church was the second church built on the island. It was founded on March 5, 1951 and the church was built in 1953. They are known for hosting the island's annual Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. A tradition started in 1952 to bless all the boats and their crews. It is the only Episcopal Church (United States)
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
on the island.
Other churches on the island are the Roman Catholic's Church of the Ascension, the Beach United Methodist Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and the Beach Baptist Church.