Pine Island (Lee County, Florida) facts for kids
 Pine Island
Location in Florida
Pine Island
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lee County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 26°33′33″N 82°05′59″W / 26.55917°N 82.09972°W |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Gulf of Mexico |
| Administration | |
| State | Florida |
| County | Lee |
Pine Island is the biggest island on the Gulf Coast of Florida, a state in the United States. It is located in Lee County, on the southwest coast of Florida. This island is also one of the largest islands in the entire United States!
To the west of Pine Island, you'll find the Intracoastal Waterway. This is a long channel that boats use. Matlacha Pass is a waterway that separates Pine Island from the mainland. Pine Island is also west of a city called Cape Coral. For many years, people on Pine Island made their living by fishing. Even today, many residents still fish for a living.
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Geography of Pine Island
Pine Island is different from other nearby islands like Sanibel and Captiva. Those islands have big, sandy beaches. Pine Island, however, does not have large beaches. Instead, it is made from the same kind of coral rock as the mainland.
The island is surrounded by mangrove trees. These special trees grow in salty water. Pine Island also has three areas that protect its water and nature. People who visit Pine Island love its quiet, natural feel. They also enjoy fishing and boating. Most of Pine Island is used for farming. Many visitors travel far to buy tropical fruits grown here. These fruits include lychee and mangos.
Communities on Pine Island
Pine Island is home to four small towns. These towns are Pine Island Center, St. James City, Bokeelia, and Pineland. There's also a community called Matlacha, but it's on its own tiny island nearby.
Pine Island feels like a small, friendly town. There are no traffic lights here! Most of the land is used for farming. The communities of Matlacha and Pine Island have their own fire department. They also have marinas for boats, shops, and nice restaurants. About 9,000 people live on Pine Island. However, this number changes during the year. Many people come to Pine Island to live during the winter.
Pine Island Center
Pine Island Center is in the middle of the island. It's where Pine Island Road and Stringfellow Road meet. Pine Island Road (County Road 78) is the only road that connects the island to the mainland. Pine Island Center has the island's two main grocery stores. You can also find an elementary school, a library, a museum, a swimming pool, and a large park here.
Exploring the Island Roads
Stringfellow Road (County Road 767) is Pine Island's main road. It is about 16 miles long. This road connects St. James City on the south end to Bokeelia and Pineland on the north side.
St. James City is the most populated area on Pine Island. From here, you can see beautiful views of Sanibel Island.
Northern Pine Island Communities
Bokeelia is at the very northern tip of Pine Island. It even has a small bridge to tiny Bokeelia Island. Bokeelia is located at the entrance of Charlotte Harbor. On clear days, you can see across the water to Cape Haze. You can also see Boca Grande Pass, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the harbor.
Pineland is also on the northern part of Pine Island. It's west of Stringfellow Road, between Pine Island Center and Bokeelia. Pineland has a golf course and a country club. It is also home to the Randell Research Center. This center is near old shell mounds. These mounds are what's left of a Calusa Indian village. The Calusa people lived here for over 1,500 years! The Randell Research Center teaches people about the history and nature of Southwest Florida. It also teaches about the Calusa culture.
Little Pine Island and Matlacha
East of Pine Island Center is Little Pine Island. It is about 2 miles (3 km) down Pine Island Road. Little Pine Island is a 4,700-acre (19 km2) wildlife preserve. No new buildings are allowed here.
The island community of Matlacha (say "mat-luh-SHAY") is east of Little Pine Island. It is west of Cape Coral on the mainland. The Matlacha Pass Bridge is a small bridge. People call it "The fishingest bridge in the world" because it's almost always full of fishermen. Matlacha also has a large park and a pier. You can find several shops, bars, and restaurants there too.
Ecology and Wildlife
Pine Island is a special place for nature. It is home to the Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge. Little Pine Island is a state-owned wildlife refuge. It is being returned to its natural state. This means removing old buildings that were once there.
Many amazing birds live on or visit the island. You can often see Ospreys, herons, egrets, ibises, and roseate spoonbills. You might also spot owls, hawks, and even bald eagles. Many different songbirds also live here.
Hurricanes and Their Impact
Pine Island has been affected by strong storms. In 2004, Hurricane Charley passed through the area. It caused a lot of damage.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian hit the island very hard. It caused major damage to the bridge that connects Pine Island to the mainland. The storm also damaged the power lines. It took many months, until March 2023, to rebuild the power system.
