Bonita Springs, Florida facts for kids
Bonita Springs is a city in Lee County, Florida, United States. It's located on Florida's southwest coast. In 2020, about 53,644 people lived there. The city is known for its beautiful beaches, golf courses, and a lively community that attracts both residents and visitors.
Quick facts for kids
Bonita Springs, Florida
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Bonita Beach
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| Etymology: Spanish: bonita (beautiful), English: beautiful springs | ||
| Nickname(s):
Gateway to the Gulf
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| Motto(s):
"Small Town Charm, Big Bright Future"
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Location in Lee County and the U.S. state of Florida
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Florida | |
| County | Lee | |
| Settled (Town of Survey) |
Late 1800s-1912 | |
| Incorporated (city) | 1925-1932 | |
| Reincorporated (city) | December 31, 1999 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 46.51 sq mi (120.47 km2) | |
| • Land | 38.42 sq mi (99.50 km2) | |
| • Water | 8.09 sq mi (20.96 km2) 13.95% | |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 53,644 | |
| • Density | 1,396.32/sq mi (539.12/km2) | |
| • Urban | 425,675 (US: 97th) | |
| • Urban density | 1,752.0/sq mi (676.5/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
34133-34136
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| Area code(s) | 239 | |
| FIPS code | 12-07525 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0279207 | |
Contents
History of Bonita Springs
The history of Bonita Springs goes back about 8,000 years. Early people like the Calusa Indians lived here. In the 1870s, the US Army Corps of Engineers explored the area. They set up a camp by a river, which they called Surveyor's Creek. The camp became known as Survey.
In the 1880s, Braxton Comer bought a lot of land around Survey. He brought families to work on his farm. In the early 1900s, people decided to change the area's name to Bonita Springs. This made it sound more attractive to new settlers and investors. By 1912, streets were planned, and the names Survey and Surveyor's Creek became Bonita Springs and the Imperial River.
New roads and railroads helped Bonita Springs grow a lot. A road to Fort Myers was finished in 1917. A railroad line reached Bonita Springs in the 1920s. The Tamiami Trail, a major road, was completed in 1928. During this time, many people bought land. Citrus farms started, and tourist spots like the Everglades Wonder Gardens opened.
Later, air conditioning became popular, and Interstate 75 was built. The Southwest Florida International Airport also opened. These changes brought more tourists and people retiring to Bonita Springs. Today, it's famous for its beautiful beaches, fancy golf courses, and a lively community.
Geography and Climate
Bonita Springs is located at about 26°20′59″N 81°47′27″W. The city covers about 41 square miles (106 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 5.7 square miles (14.8 square kilometers) is water.
The city is next to Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Bonita Beach is on Little Hickory Island. This is a barrier island that separates the Gulf of Mexico from Estero Bay. The Imperial River flows through the city's downtown area. It then empties into Estero Bay.
Climate in Bonita Springs
Bonita Springs has a tropical climate. This means it's warm all year round. The average temperature in January is about 65°F (18°C).
Sometimes, big storms called hurricanes affect the area. Hurricane Charley hit north of Bonita Springs in 2004. Hurricane Wilma hit south of the city in 2005. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over Bonita Springs. It caused damage to buildings and a lot of flooding.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 356 | — | |
| 1970 | 1,932 | — | |
| 1980 | 5,435 | 181.3% | |
| 1990 | 13,600 | 150.2% | |
| 2000 | 32,797 | 141.2% | |
| 2010 | 43,914 | 33.9% | |
| 2020 | 53,644 | 22.2% | |
| source: | |||
Population Changes
The city's population has grown a lot over the years. In 2010, there were 43,914 people living in Bonita Springs. By 2020, this number grew to 53,644 people.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White | 32,980 | 39,703 | 75.10% | 74.01% |
| Black or African American | 289 | 470 | 0.66% | 0.88% |
| Native American | 58 | 53 | 0.13% | 0.09% |
| Asian | 433 | 754 | 0.99% | 1.41% |
| Pacific Islander | 14 | 30 | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Some other race | 36 | 199 | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| Two or more races | 227 | 1,063 | 0.52% | 1.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,877 | 11,372 | 22.49% | 21.20% |
| Total | 43,914 | 53,644 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 53,644 people living in the city. There were 24,377 households and 16,267 families.
Arts and Culture
Bonita Springs has a lively art and culture scene. The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs offers art classes, shows, and performances. The city also has yearly events like the Celebrate Bonita festival and many art and craft fairs.
The Bonita Springs Historical Society gives walking tours. These tours show important historical places like the Liles Hotel and the Bonita Springs Elementary School. They help people learn about the city's past.
You can see public art all around the city, including sculptures and murals. The Everglades Wonder Gardens is a historic place that still attracts visitors. It has a botanical garden and exhibits with different animals.
Education
The Lee County School District serves Bonita Springs.
Elementary Schools
- Bonita Springs Elementary School
- Spring Creek Elementary School
Middle School
- Bonita Springs Middle School
High School
- Bonita Springs High School
Charter Schools
- Bonita Springs Charter School
- Oak Creek Charter School
Private Schools
- Bonita Springs Preparatory School
- Royal Palm Academy Catholic School
- Discovery Day Academy Private School
Higher Learning
- Florida Institute of Music
Transportation
Airports
- Southwest Florida International Airport is in nearby South Fort Myers. It serves many passengers each year.
- Naples Municipal Airport in Naples is a smaller airport mainly for private planes.
Major Roads
Interstate 75
U.S. Route 41 (also called "South Tamiami Trail")
County Road 865 (Bonita Beach Road / Hickory Boulevard)
Public Transportation
Buses and trolleys are provided by Lee County Transit, known as LeeTran.
Rail
The Seminole Gulf Railway owns a train line that goes through the city. They offer freight service and short train trips during the day.
Media
Newspapers
Bonita Springs has local news from the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News.
Television
Local TV stations include:
- WBBH – an NBC channel
- WFTX – a Fox channel
- WGCU – a PBS channel
- WINK – a CBS channel
- WXCW – a CW channel
- WZVN – an ABC channel
- BTV 98 – a local government TV channel for Bonita Springs
Fun Places to Visit
- Barefoot Beach Preserve Park: This is a large park on the border of Collier and Lee Counties. Its beach was once ranked as one of the best in the country.
- Bonita Beach Park: A beachfront park with a boardwalk and a swimming area.
- Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs: This organization hosts art shows and has two campuses. One is for visual arts with galleries and classrooms. The other is for performing arts with theaters and music rooms. They also hold art festivals.
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: A special place that protects bald cypress trees. It is managed by the National Audubon Society.
- Bonita Spring's Wonder Gardens: Opened in 1936, this place has many Florida animals like exotic birds, alligators, and flamingos. It's also a botanical garden and a natural history museum.
- Little Hickory Island Beach Park: Another great beach park.
- Lover's Key State Park: This park is made up of four barrier islands. It has trails for hiking and biking, and you can rent canoes and kayaks. It's a home for wildlife like West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and bald eagles.
- There are also 10 public beach access points along Bonita Beach.
- Everglades Wonder Gardens: Established in 1936, this is a historic botanical garden and animal sanctuary. It has many different plants and animals. It's an important part of Bonita Springs' history.
Sister Cities
Bonita Springs has special connections with two other cities around the world:
- Gruenstadt, Germany
- Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Famous People
- Glenn Steil Sr., who was a member of the Michigan Senate.
See also
In Spanish: Bonita Springs para niños
