Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, USA. As of 1 July 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,804. Naples is a Principal City of the Naples-Marco Island, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 314,649 on 1 July 2006. Despite being the largest city in Collier County, the city of Naples is not its county seat; rather the county seat is located east of the city in unincorporated East Naples.

History

Naples was founded during the late 1880s by former Confederate general and Kentucky U.S. Senator John Stuart Williams and his partner, Louisville businessman Walter N. Haldeman, the publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Throughout the 1870s and '80's, magazine and newspaper stories telling of the area's mild climate and abundant fish and game likened it to the sunny Italian peninsula. The name Naples caught on when promoters described the bay as "surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy".

Geography

Naples is located at (26.152941, -81.798510) on U.S. Highway 41 between Miami (to the east) and Fort Myers (to the north).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water(16.53%).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,976 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3/sq mi (673.2/km² ). There were 16,956 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0/sq mi (544.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.50% White, 4.6% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 10,803 households out of which 10.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the city the population was spread out with 10.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 42.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $58,641, and the median income for a family was $117,040. Males had a median income of $86,092 versus $30,948 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,141. About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The economy of Naples is largely based on tourism. Along with Marco Island and the Everglades, the city makes up the popular vacation area known as the Paradise Coast. Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates is located just north of the city limits.

Several large national law firms have set up offices in Naples. Among them are Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone; Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi; and Quarles & Brady.

Education

Naples schools are part of the District School Board of Collier County.

Elementary schools serving Naples include:

• Lake Park (Naples)
• Sea Gate (Naples)
• Shadowlawn (unincorporated area)
• Golden Gate (Golden Gate)
• Vineyards (North Naples)
• Naples Park (North Naples)

The middle schools in Naples are Gulfview Middle School, Oak Ridge Middle School, Pine Ridge Middle School and North Naples Middle School.

The high schools in Naples are Barron Collier High School, Naples High School, Gulf Coast High School and Palmetto High School.

Hodges University (formerly International College) offers Associate, Bachelor and Graduate degrees, and is located northeast of the city with a second campus in Fort Myers, about 30 miles north of Naples. Ave Maria University, the first Catholic university established in the U.S. since 1963, is located northeast of the city. Florida Gulf Coast University is located just outside of Estero, which is between the cities of Bonita Springs and Fort Myers to the north.

Healthcare

The region is served by the NCH Healthcare System, which currently has 681 beds between two hospitals, and Physician's Regional Health Care System which has two hospitals and is owned by Health Management Associates, headquartered in Naples, Florida.

• CHS Healthcare CHS Healthcare is a private, not-for-profit “safety net” health care provider with 12 health care facilities located throughout Naples and Collier County which includes the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program. Offering basic primary and preventative medical and dental health care services. In calendar year 2006, CHS provided services to 43,501 individuals in Collier County (29,038 Children & 14,463 adults) for a total of 191,335 patient visits.

Area attractions

Naples is home to several major land reserves, including the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and Picayune Strand State Forest. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is known not only for its 11,000 acres (45 km²) of landscape and wildlife, but for a two and a half mile length boardwalk winding through the sanctuary.. The Naples area is also home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which dates back to 1919..

The city is served by the Naples Municipal Airport. DayJet provides nonstop flights to many Florida and South Eastern cities and Yellow Air Taxi also provides service to Key West, Florida. Southwest Florida International Airport, in South Fort Myers, Florida, handles the vast majority of commercial air traffic in and out of the region, with over 8 million passengers in 2007.

Naples is home to an estimated 250 Fortune 500 CEOs.

Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players, and the 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping districts, which feature a variety of antique shops. Gallery Row, also downtown, is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. The Village on Venetian Bay is an upscale open-air shopping district on the Gulf coast. Located directly off of Tamiami Trail are the Waterside Shops, an upscale open-air center home to such high-end retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Lacoste. A two-story Barnes and Noble is located on site as well. Near downtown on Naples Bay and the Gordon River is the shopping district Tin City. This open-air shopping center specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties. Naples hosts The Oliver Group Champions Cup of the Outback Champions Tennis Series each year. Naples is also the home to swamp buggy races, held three times each year at the Florida Sports Park.

Tourism is a main industry for the City of Naples. Notable resorts and hotels within the city limits include the Ritz-Carlton, the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, La Playa Beach and Golf Resort, the Naples Grande Beach Resort and Club (which will join The Waldorf=Astoria Collection in the fall of 2008.), the Inn on Fifth and the Edgewater Beach Hotel and Club.

Performing Arts and Culture

CNN and Money Magazine have both recognized Collier County as one of the of the top five "Best places for a long life in the United States", due in large part to its performing arts community.The Naples Players at the Sugden Community Theatre, along with their Kidzact youth theatre program, has been recognized as one of the top ten Community Theatre companies in the United States. The Philharmonic Center for the Arts, located in North Naples, has played host to celebrities including Bill Cosby, and national tours of Broadway Theatre musicals such as Cats and The Drowsy Chaperone, and musical talents from across the globe . Other resident groups include the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, and Theatre Zone Equity Theatre Company.

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Beaches, Parks and Recreation Areas

The beach on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles long, and is noted for its cleanliness and pristine white sand. In 2005, Naples was voted the best beach in America by the Travel Channel.

With more than 80 championship golf courses in the Naples area, Naples is the self-titled "Golf Capital of the World", claiming to have more holes per capita than any other community.

Naples is also within 30 minutes of the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox spring training facilities. The teams are based in the area through the winter and are an important attraction. During the summer months, the Fort Myers Miracle, the single-A team of the Minnesota Twins play at the Fort Myers Sports Complex, while the Boston Red Sox play at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.

Points of interest

• The Naples Players
• Naples Botanical Garden
• Theatre Zone Equity Theatre Company
• Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
• Naples Pier
• The Conservancy of Southwest Florida
• The Teddy Bear Museum of Naples (now closed)
• Naples Historical Society
• Downtown Naples

Notable residents

• Larry Bird – former American NBA basketball player, widely considered one of the best players of all time
• Mike Ditka – former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach.
• Robin Cook (novelist), American author
• Mitch Holleman – American child actor who is most notable for his portrayal of Jake Hart on the TV sitcom Reba.
• Robert Ludlum – American author of 21 thriller novels (deceased)
• Neal Boortz – radio host, commentator, lawyer, and best-selling author.
• Donkey Kong – American programmer known most prominently for his extensive work in the field of video arcade games.
• Wally Phillips – former Chicago radio personality (deceased)
• Bob Seger – American rock and roll singer-songwriter and musician.
• Judith Sheindlin – better known to the public as Judge Judy, is an American author and television personality
• Steven Spielberg – American film director, producer and screenwriter.
• Peter Thomas – American narrator of television programs
• Dave Wannstedt – current head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team
• Rocco Mediate, professional golfer

References

Tiger Woods, PGA Golfer

External links

• Local government
• City of Naples Government
• Collier County Government

• Cultural and other attractions
• Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts
• Naples Players Community Theatre
• Theatre Zone Equity Theatre Company
• Naples Botanical Garden
• Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
• Naples Daily News - Newspaper of Record