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Naples, Florida

City

Bayside, in front of downtown

Beachside

City Dock

Naples Bay

Beach Hotel & Golf Club

Naples Pier at sundown

Seal

Logo

Nickname(s):

Naples on the Gulf

Location in Collier County and the state of Florida

Naples, Florida

Location in Florida

Naples, Florida

Location in the United States

Country

United States

Settled

November 6, 1886

Incorporated (town)

December 1, 1923

Incorporated (city)

May 25, 1949

Named for

Naples, Italy

Government

• Type

Council-manager

Area

• City

16.46 sq mi (42.64 km²)

• Land

12.30 sq mi (31.87 km²)

• Water

4.16 sq mi (10.77 km²) 25.09%

Elevation

7 ft (2 m)

Population

(2020)

• City

19,115

• Density

1,553.56/sq mi (599.83/km²)

• Metro

322,000 (Estimation)

• Demonym

Neapolitan

Time zone

UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−04:00 (EDT)

ZIP code

34101-34120

Area code(s)

239

FIPS code

12-47625

GNIS feature ID

2404348

Naples is a city located in Collier County, Florida, in the United States. In 2020, about 19,115 people lived there. Naples is a main city in the Naples–Marco Island area, which has a population of about 375,752 people.

The city is famous for its beautiful white-sand beaches and many golf courses. Naples even calls itself the "Golf Capital of the World." It has more golf holes than any other city in Florida! Many older adults also choose Naples as a place to live after they retire.

History of Naples

Before Europeans arrived, the Calusa people lived in Florida for thousands of years. This included the area where Naples is today. In 1513, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León came to the region. He met the Calusa, who did not want him to start a Spanish colony. This led to many years of conflict between the Spanish and the Calusa. Later, in the early 1700s, most of the remaining Calusa moved south and east to avoid raids from other groups.

The city of Naples was started in 1886. It was founded by John Stuart Williams, a former general and U.S. Senator, and his business partner, Walter Newman Haldeman. During the 1870s and 1880s, magazines and newspapers wrote about the area's warm weather and many fish. They compared it to the sunny Italian peninsula. The name Naples became popular because people said the bay was even better than the bay in Naples, Italy.

By the summer of 1888, about 80 people lived in Naples. The first hotel opened in 1889. Big growth was expected after Collier County was created in 1923. It was also expected when the railroad was finished in 1927 and the Tamiami Trail connected Naples to Miami in 1928. However, major development didn't really begin until after the Great Depression and World War II. During the war, the U.S. Army Air Forces built a small airfield for training. This airfield is now the Naples Municipal Airport.

In 1938, John Glenn Sample, a radio advertising pioneer from Chicago, came to Naples. He bought land on the south end of Naples, mostly marshland. In 1949, Naples officially became a city. The first bank, the Bank of Naples, opened on 5th Avenue. In the early 1950s, Sample started digging to create many peninsulas and canals. These areas had lots of homes overlooking Naples Bay. He called this project "Port Royal," named after an old Jamaican city. The streets in this neighborhood have pirate-themed names, like Gin Lane and Treasure Lane.

In 1956, the first modern hospital, Naples Community Hospital, opened. In the 1960s, the historic Cove Inn was built. The Collier County Public Library and Cambier Park also opened. In 1971, passenger train service to the city stopped. The old station is now the Naples Depot Museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Sample's Port Royal project also led to other fancy neighborhoods in the 1960s and 70s. These included Aqualane Shores, Park Shore, and Moorings. They all have large homes on the water with boat access. In 1977, the city's first mall, the Coastland Center, opened.

Geography of Naples

Naples is located in southwest Florida. It is on U.S. Highway 41. Miami is to the east, and Fort Myers is to the north.

The city covers about 42.5 square kilometers (16.4 square miles). About 31.9 square kilometers (12.3 square miles) is land, and 10.7 square kilometers (4.16 square miles) is water. This means about 25% of the city's area is water.

Hurricanes in Naples

Since 1851, 74 tropical storms have passed close to Naples. This means a storm comes close about once every 2.2 years.

2005 Hurricane Wilma was a very strong storm. It had winds of 125 mph when it hit near Marco Island, just south of Naples. Wilma caused 87 deaths and about $22.4 billion in damage.
2017 Hurricane Irma was another powerful storm. When it hit near Marco Island, its winds were 115 mph. Irma caused widespread power outages, leaving over 7.5 million homes in Florida without electricity for days. It caused 134 deaths and about $50 billion in damage.
2022 Hurricane Ian was a Category 4 hurricane when it hit Florida. It caused power outages in much of Naples. Repairs helped turn the power back on quickly. Ian caused 149 deaths in Florida and an estimated $989 million in damage to Naples.

Climate of Naples

Naples has a tropical savanna climate. This means it's usually warm and doesn't get frost. Plants can grow all year long.

Naples has two main seasons:

Hot and Wet Season: From May through October, it's hot with an average high of 92°F. Thunderstorms are common.
Dry Season: From November through April, it's sunny and dry with milder temperatures, usually around 74°F.

Climate data for Naples, Florida (Naples Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	88 (31)	89 (32)	91 (33)	95 (35)	96 (36)	98 (37)	98 (37)	98 (37)	99 (37)	96 (36)	92 (33)	89 (32)	99 (37)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	84.6 (29.2)	85.4 (29.7)	87.4 (30.8)	90.3 (32.4)	92.9 (33.8)	94.7 (34.8)	95.3 (35.2)	95.3 (35.2)	94.3 (34.6)	92.3 (33.5)	88.5 (31.4)	85.9 (29.9)	96.1 (35.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	74.8 (23.8)	77.2 (25.1)	79.7 (26.5)	83.8 (28.8)	87.5 (30.8)	89.8 (32.1)	90.8 (32.7)	90.9 (32.7)	89.6 (32.0)	86.5 (30.3)	81.3 (27.4)	77.3 (25.2)	84.1 (28.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	65.3 (18.5)	67.5 (19.7)	70.3 (21.3)	74.6 (23.7)	78.8 (26.0)	82.1 (27.8)	83.1 (28.4)	83.3 (28.5)	82.4 (28.0)	78.5 (25.8)	72.4 (22.4)	68.2 (20.1)	75.5 (24.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	55.9 (13.3)	57.9 (14.4)	60.9 (16.1)	65.5 (18.6)	70.2 (21.2)	74.4 (23.6)	75.5 (24.2)	75.8 (24.3)	75.1 (23.9)	70.5 (21.4)	63.4 (17.4)	59.0 (15.0)	67.0 (19.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	37.4 (3.0)	40.6 (4.8)	45.1 (7.3)	51.3 (10.7)	60.2 (15.7)	68.1 (20.1)	70.1 (21.2)	71.0 (21.7)	69.2 (20.7)	57.7 (14.3)	49.0 (9.4)	41.8 (5.4)	35.4 (1.9)
Record low °F (°C)	26 (−3)	28 (−2)	33 (1)	39 (4)	51 (11)	59 (15)	65 (18)	67 (19)	65 (18)	46 (8)	31 (−1)	27 (−3)	26 (−3)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.68 (43)	1.40 (36)	1.88 (48)	2.52 (64)	2.76 (70)	7.41 (188)	7.77 (197)	8.89 (226)	8.60 (218)	3.93 (100)	1.39 (35)	1.32 (34)	49.55 (1,259)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.7	4.2	4.4	5.5	7.9	14.7	16.1	18.7	15.5	6.4	3.9	4.5	106.5
Source: NOAA

People of Naples

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	391	—
1940	1,253	220.5%
1950	1,465	16.9%
1960	4,656	217.8%
1970	12,042	158.6%
1980	17,581	46.0%
1990	19,508	11.0%
2000	20,981	7.6%
2010	19,539	−6.9%
2020	19,115	−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, there were 19,115 people living in Naples. There were 10,453 households and 6,193 families. The average household income was about $135,657. The average income per person was about $141,245.

In 2010, the largest groups of people in Naples based on their family background were:

German-American (20.0%)
English-American (19.2%)
Irish-American (17.8%)
Italian-American (9.2%)

Naples's Diverse Population

**Naples Racial Makeup**
(*NH = Not Hispanic*)
Group	People in 2010	People in 2020	% in 2010	% in 2020
White (NH)	17,566	17,087	89.91%	89.39%
Black or African American (NH)	779	495	3.99%	2.59%
Native American (NH)	22	17	0.11%	0.09%
Asian (NH)	118	190	0.60%	0.99%
Pacific Islander (NH)	3	2	0.02%	0.01%
Other Race (NH)	13	75	0.07%	0.39%
Two or More Races (NH)	155	299	0.79%	1.56%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	881	950	4.51%	4.97%
Total	19,537	19,115

Economy of Naples

The economy of Naples mainly relies on tourism. Historically, it also depended on building new homes and farms. Because it's close to the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands, many people who enjoy nature also visit Naples.

Some companies based in Naples include Beasley Broadcast Group and ASG Technologies. There are also many small businesses. Naples is known for being a wealthy area, so it has many non-profit organizations. Larger companies in the Naples area include Health Management Associates and NewsBank.

In 2009, U.S. News & World Report listed Naples as one of the "10 Pricey Cities That Pay Off." This report looked at how much satisfaction a city brings to its residents. In 2012, a report by Kiplinger said Naples had the sixth-highest income per person in the country. It also had the second-highest number of millionaires per person in the U.S.

Arts and Culture in Naples

Fun Attractions

The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens started as a garden in 1919. It officially became a zoo in September 1969.

Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players, a theater group. You can also find the 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping areas. These places have many fancy shops and great restaurants. "Gallery Row" is where many art galleries are located downtown. Near Naples Bay and the Gordon River, you'll find Tin City. This outdoor shopping area sells unique gifts and has several seafood restaurants.

The Naples Half Marathon is a running race held every year since 1989. In 2013, over 2,000 runners participated!

In 2019, Baker Park opened. It's a large park that cost $15 million to build. The park also includes the Gordon River Greenway, a path that connects to the Naples Airport.

Places to Visit

The front entrance of Naples City Hall

Naples Botanical Garden
Naples Depot Museum
Naples Zoo
Palm Cottage
Waterside Shops
Golisano Children's Museum of Naples
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Naples station

Performing Arts

Naples has many performing arts groups. These include The Naples Players, Opera Naples, and Theatre Zone. The Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum are part of Artis—Naples. This center also helps teach young musicians in the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and other groups. The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida teaches many students each year about important history.

Sports in Naples

The final LPGA golf tournament of the year, the CME Group Tour Championship, has been held in Naples since 2012. It's played at the Gold Course of the Tiburón Golf Club. This tournament offers the largest prize money for women's golf.

Swamp Buggy races in Naples

Pickleball is a sport that is becoming very popular in Naples. Many parks have added pickleball courts. Naples hosts the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships every year.

Naples has two semi-pro soccer teams: Naples United FC and Naples City FC. Starting in 2025, Naples will also have a professional soccer club called FC Naples.

Naples is also known for swamp buggy races. These races happen three times a year at the Florida Sports Park. The swamp buggy vehicle was actually invented in Naples!

Parks and Recreation in Naples

The Naples Fishing Pier was one of the area's better-known landmarks but was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian

The beach along the Gulf of Mexico is over 10 miles long. It is famous for its clean, white sand. In 2005, the Travel Channel named Naples the best all-around beach in America.

Some of the beaches in the Naples area include:

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Clam Pass Beach Park
Naples Pier
Vanderbilt Beach
North Gulfshore Boulevard Beach
Seagate Beach
Lowdermilk Beach Park

Education in Naples

Naples is served by the District School Board of Collier County. There are also many private schools.

Some of the schools in Naples are:

St. Elizabeth Seton School (private)
Naples High School (public)
Barron G. Collier High School (public)
Gulf Coast High School (public)
St. John Neumann High School (private)
Golden Gate High School (public)
Lely High School (public)
Palmetto Ridge High School (public)
Community School of Naples (private)
Seacrest Country Day School (private)
First Baptist Academy (private)
Mason Classical Academy (charter)
Lorenzo Walker Technical High School (public)
Naples Christian Academy (private)
Saint Ann School (private)
The Village School of Naples (private)
Naples Classical Academy (charter)

Colleges and Universities Near Naples

While there are no colleges directly inside Naples city limits, several are nearby:

Ave Maria School of Law is in Vineyards.
Florida SouthWestern State College has a campus in Lely Resort.
Florida Gulf Coast University offers classes in downtown Naples.
Ave Maria University (about 35 miles northeast)
Florida Gulf Coast University (about 8 miles northeast)
Florida SouthWestern State College (about 30 miles northwest)
Hodges University (about 35 miles north)

Naples's Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and Buses

Since 2001, Naples has bus routes operated by the Collier Area Transit. Buses run seven days a week. Major highways like I-75 and US-41 pass through Naples.

Air Travel

The city has the Naples Airport. It doesn't have regular commercial flights, but it's one of the busiest small airports in the U.S. For commercial flights, the closest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport.

Healthcare

The NCH Healthcare System serves the region with two hospitals that have a total of 716 beds. Physician's Regional Healthcare System also has two hospitals with 201 beds. Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida (HCN) started in 1977 to help farmworkers. Now, it provides care to over 41,000 people in Collier County. It offers services like general medicine, children's care, and dental care.