Naples, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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 Show map of Florida Naples, Florida Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Collier
Settled	November 6, 1886 (1886-11-06)
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, United States. In 2020, about 19,115 people lived there. Naples is part of a larger metropolitan area that had about 375,752 people in 2020.

The city is famous for its beautiful white-sand beaches and many golf courses. Naples calls itself the "Golf Capital of the World." It has more golf holes than any other city in Florida. Many retired people enjoy living in Naples, making up a large part of its population.

History of Naples

Before Europeans arrived, the Calusa people lived in Florida for thousands of years. In 1513, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León came to the area. The Calusa people did not want the Spanish to settle there, leading to many conflicts. Later, in the early 1700s, most of the remaining Calusa moved away to escape raids.

Founding and Early Growth

The city of Naples was founded in 1886. It was started by John Stuart Williams, a former general, and Walter Newman Haldeman, a businessman. Magazines and newspapers in the 1870s and 1880s wrote about the area's nice weather and many fish. They compared it to the sunny Italian peninsula. The name Naples became popular because people said its bay was even more beautiful than the bay in Naples, Italy.

By 1888, about 80 people lived in Naples. The first hotel opened in 1889. Major growth was expected after Collier County was created in 1923. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad was extended to Naples in 1927. The Tamiami Trail, a road connecting Naples to Miami, was finished in 1928. However, big development did not truly 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.

Modern Development

In 1938, John Glenn Sample, a radio advertising pioneer, came to Naples. He bought land on the south side 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 canals and creating peninsulas. This project was called "Port Royal." Its streets are named after pirate themes, like Gin Lane and Treasure Lane. The streets in this neighborhood were paved by the late 1970s.

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. Passenger train service to Naples stopped in 1971. The old station is now the Naples Depot Museum.

Sample's dredging project also led to other wealthy neighborhoods like Aqualane Shores and Park Shore. These areas have large waterfront homes with boat access. In 1977, the city's first mall, the Coastland Center, opened.

Geography

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 (16.46 square miles). About 31.9 square kilometers (12.30 square miles) is land. The rest, about 10.7 square kilometers (4.16 square miles), is water.

Hurricanes

Naples has experienced many tropical storms since 1851. Records show that about 74 tropical storms have passed close to Naples. This means a storm passes nearby about once every 2.2 years.

• Hurricane Wilma (2005): This was a very strong storm. Its winds reached 185 miles per hour (298 km/h). When it hit land near Cape Romano, its winds were 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). Wilma caused 87 deaths and about $22.4 billion in damage.
• Hurricane Irma (2017): Irma also had very strong winds, up to 180 miles per hour (290 km/h). It hit land near Marco Island with winds of 115 miles per hour (185 km/h). Irma caused widespread power outages in Florida. Over 7.5 million homes lost electricity for days. Irma caused 134 deaths and about $50 billion in damage.
• Hurricane Ian (2022): Ian had winds of 160 miles per hour (257 km/h) as it neared Florida. It made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with 150 miles per hour (241 km/h) winds. Many areas in Naples lost power for several days. Ian caused 149 deaths in Florida. It also caused about $989 million in damage to Naples.
• Hurricane Milton (2024): Milton had winds of 180 miles per hour (290 km/h) north of the Yucatan Peninsula. It made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane. Its winds were 120 miles per hour (193 km/h). Many parts of Naples lost electricity for days. Milton caused 35 deaths and about $34.3 billion in damage.

Climate

Naples has a tropical savanna climate. This means it is usually warm and does not have frost. Plants can grow all year long.

Naples has two main seasons:

• Hot and Wet Season: From May through October, it is hot and rainy. The average high temperature is around 92°F (33°C). Thunderstorms are common during this time.
• Dry Season: From November through April, it is sunny and dry. Temperatures are milder, with daily highs around 74°F (23°C).

Population and People

In 2020, Naples had 19,115 people living in 10,453 households. The average income for a household was about $135,657. The income per person was about $141,245.

Population Makeup

Here is a look at the different groups of people living in Naples:

In 2010, the largest groups of people by their family background were:

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

In 2000, about 10.9% of households had children under 18. Many people living alone were 65 or older (20.1%). The median age in Naples was 61 years old.

Economy

Naples' economy mainly relies on tourism. Historically, it also depended on real estate and farming. Because it is close to the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands, many people visit Naples for ecotourism. This means they come to enjoy nature.

Some companies based in Naples include Beasley Broadcast Group and ASG Technologies. There are also many small non-profit groups. Large private employers 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." In 2012, Kiplinger magazine 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

Attractions

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

Downtown Naples has fun places like The Naples Players theater. There are also shopping areas like 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South. These areas have fancy shops and restaurants. Gallery Row has many art galleries. Near Naples Bay, Tin City is an outdoor shopping center. It sells antiques and local handmade items, plus seafood restaurants.

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

In 2019, Baker Park opened. This park cost $15 million and includes the Gordon River Greenway. This greenway connects to the Naples Airport.

Points of Interest

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 several performing arts groups. These include The Naples Players, Opera Naples, and Theatre Zone. The Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum are at Artis—Naples. This place also offers music education programs for young people. The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida teaches many students each year.

Sports

Naples is a big golf city. The last LPGA golf tournament of the year, the CME Group Tour Championship, has been held in Naples since 2012. It has the largest prize money for women's golf.

Swamp Buggy races in Naples

Pickleball is a very popular sport in Naples. Many parks have added pickleball courts. Naples hosts the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships every year since 2016. Because of this, Naples and East Naples Community Park are known as the "Pickleball Capital of the World."

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, FC Naples.

Naples is also home to 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

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 (16 km) long. It is known for being clean and having beautiful white sand. In 2005, the Travel Channel named Naples the best all-around beach in America.

Some popular 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

Schools in Naples are part of the District School Board of Collier County. There are also several private schools.

High Schools

• 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)
• Lorenzo Walker Technical High School (public)

Other Schools

• St. Elizabeth Seton School (private)
• Community School of Naples (private)
• Seacrest Country Day School (private)
• First Baptist Academy (private)
• Mason Classical Academy (charter)
• Naples Christian Academy (private)
• Saint Ann School (private)
• The Village School of Naples (private)
• Naples Classical Academy (charter)

Colleges and Universities

While there are no colleges directly within the 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 from its Downtown Naples campus.
• Ave Maria University (about 35 miles northeast of Naples)
• Florida Gulf Coast University (about 28 miles northeast of Naples)
• Florida SouthWestern State College (about 30 miles northwest of Naples)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road Travel

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

Air Travel

The city has the Naples Airport. It does not have regular commercial flights, but it is 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 and 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 various medical services like family care and dental care.

Notable People

Many interesting people have lived in Naples, including:

• Bill Bain, who founded Bain & Company.
• Ben Bova, a famous science fiction author.
• Mary Carillo, a former tennis player and sportscaster.
• Michael Collins, an astronaut from Apollo 11.
• Robin Cook, an author.
• Mike Ditka, a former NFL player and coach.
• Byron Donalds, a U.S. Representative.
• Dominic Fike, a rapper.
• Laura Jane Grace, lead singer of Against Me!.
• Carlos Hyde, an NFL running back.
• Sonny Jurgensen, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback.
• Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• John Kruk, a Major League Baseball player.
• Alex Lifeson, a rock musician.
• John Lodge, a British musician from The Moody Blues.
• Earl Morrall, a two-time Super Bowl champion.
• Rick Scott, a U.S. Senator.
• Richard M. Schulze, founder of Best Buy.
• Bob Seger, a musician.
• Judith Sheindlin, known as Judge Judy.
• Donna Summer, an entertainer.
• Abby Wambach, a former professional soccer player.

Images for kids

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

See also

In Spanish: Naples (Florida) para niños