Naples

Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the historical city (i.e. in the immediate vicinity of downtown Naples) was 19,115. Naples is a principal city of the Naples-Marco Island, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of about 375,752 as of 2020. The city is mostly known for its high-priced homes, white-sand beaches, and numerous golf courses. It is the self-titled "Golf Capital of the World", as it has the second most holes per capita out of all communities, and the most holes of any city in Florida. Naples was founded in 1886 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. The name Naples caught on when promoters described the bay as "surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy". By the summer of 1888, Naples had aPopulation of about 80 people. The first hotel opened in 1889. Major development was anticipated after Collier. County was established in 1923, the completion of the Seaboard Air Line. Railroad extension in 1927, and completion of. the Tamiami Trail linking Naples to Miami in 1928, but did not begin until after the 1929 Stock market crash, the Great Depression, and World. War II. During the war the U.S. Army Air Forces built a small airfield and used it for training purposes; it is now the Naples Municipal Airport.

History

Naples is the primary city name, but also Coco River are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is Naples, Florida. The city of Naples was founded in 1886 by former Confederate general and Kentucky U.S. Senator John Stuart Williams and his partner, Louisville businessman Walter N. Haldeman. The name Naples caught on when promoters described the bay as "surpassing the bay in Naples, Italy". By the summer of 1888, Naples had a population of about 80 people, and the first hotel opened in 1889. After a hurricane in 1945, a fill was required to repair the damage. The Aqualane Shores Association was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on February 3, 1966. It served lot owners in the area roughly bounded by the Bay of Naples to the east, Gordon Drive to the west and the land between 14th Avenue and 21st Avenue S, as well as Marina Drive, Forrest Lane, and Southwinds Drive. Thirty years later, in 1996, a state-mandated city master plan renamed the area the Aqualana Shores Neighborhood and extended its boundary west to the Gulf of Mexico, east to the Bay and south to Jamaica Channel. The numerous canals and waterfront homes add a distinctive feature to the south portion of Naples and provide access to the gulf of Mexico for many homeowners. Today, the Wyatt family is credited with the construction of Naples' first beach. In 1949, Reginald Wyatt II asked Mr. Rust to sell him the 296 acres (120 ha) from Jamaica Channel to 15th Avenue S. The Jamaica Channel was widened, one canal was dredged, and 14th Ave S was created.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 19,537 people, 9,710 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The largest self-identified ancestry/ethnic groups in Naples were German-American 20.0%, English-American 19.2%, Irish-American 17.8% and Italian-American 9.2%. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38. The city's 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 income for a household in theCity was $71,553, and the median income. for a family was $102,262. 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%. The city has a population of 19,115 people, and as of the 2020 U.S. census there are 17,957 people living in Naples. The population density is 1,744.3 inhabitants per square mile (673.5/km²) The racial makeup of the city is 94.1%. The largest ethnic groups are German, American, English, Irish, and Italian.

Economy

The economy of Naples is based largely on tourism and was historically based on real estate development and agriculture. Due to its proximity to the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands, Naples is also popular among ecotourists. In 2012, a report by Kiplinger ranked Naples with the sixth-highest per capita income in the country, along with the second-highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US. The surrounding Naples metro area is also home to major private employers such as Fortune 1000 company Health Management Associates and technology company NewsBank. In 2009, Naples placed 10th in aReport by U.S. News & World Report titled "10 Pricey Cities That Pay Off" The report ranked cities by its "amenity value," a measurement based on the amount of satisfaction an asset brings to its owner. The report also ranked Naples as one of the best places to live in the United States, with a ranking of 10 out of 10 for the city's overall "quality of life" and satisfaction level. The city is home to numerous small businesses, including ACI Worldwide, Beasley Broadcast Group, ASG Technologies, and Arthrex, a global medical device company, in addition to numerous other non-profit organizations.

Geography and climate

Naples is located in southwest Florida at (26.139, 81.795) on U.S. Highway 41 between Miami to the east and Fort Myers to the north. Of the six ecological seasons, Naples experiences only two: Vernal (spring) from approximately October through May and Estival (high summer) Naples experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Naples is normally frost-free and the growing season is 365 days. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.4 square miles (42.5 km²) of which 12.3 square miles is land and 4.1 sq miles (10.7 km²), or 25.09%, is water. Of the two tropical seasons, the wet season is from approximately June through September with frequent afternoon rains, while the dry season is between October and May. Naples does not experience Prevernal (pre-spring), Serotinal (late summer), Autumnal (autumn) and Hibernal (winter) because its trees and vegetation are in a perpetual state of leaf replenishment and bloom; and large numbers of bird species are settled in Naples year-round. Within the Vernal season, October, November, February, March, April and May are mild temperate, while December and January are cool temperate. The city has an average daily rainfall of approximately 1.5 inches (4.5 millimeters).

Education

Naples is served by the District School Board of Collier County and various private institutions. No colleges are based within the city limits. Ave Maria School of Law is located in Vineyards, and Florida SouthWestern State College has a satellite campus in Lely Resort. Florida Gulf Coast University operates continuing education classes from their Downtown Naples campus, and Hodges University has a campus in North Naples. Naples is located on the Florida Turnpike, which runs from Florida to Georgia. It is about 30 miles northwest of Tampa and 8 miles northeast of Fort Myers, the state's largest city. Naples has a population of about 3,000. The city is home to the University of Naples, a private college with more than 1,000 students. It also has a number of private schools, including St. Elizabeth Seton, Saint Ann, and Mason Classical Academy. Naples also has one of Florida's largest high schools, Golden Gate High School, which has about 1,200 students. The town has a large number of golf courses, many of which are located in the town of Lely. It has a small number of country clubs, including Lely Country Club and Lely Golf and Country Club, which is located near the city's downtown area. In the summer, the town also has several golf courses and a golf course called Lely Lake, which was built in the 1970s. It was the first golf course in the state and is now one of the largest in the United States.

Transportation

Since February 2001, Naples has been served by several bus routes operated by the Collier Area Transit. Highways that pass through Naples are I-75 and US-41. The city is served by the Naples Airport, and although it doesn't have any scheduled commercial service, it is one of the busiest private jet airports in the United States. The closest airport with regular-scheduled commercial service for both domestic and international destinations is Southwest Florida International Airport.

Healthcare

Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida was founded in 1977 to serve migrant farmworkers and their families in Immokalee. It now provides care to over 41,000 residents of Collier County through 20 practices, including internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, behavioral health and dental care. The region is served by the NCH Healthcare System, which currently has 716 beds between two hospitals, and Physician's Regional Healthcare system, which has two hospitals that contain 201 beds. In addition to the two hospitals, the company operates six clinics in Naples. It is owned by the Health Management Associates, headquartered in Pelican Bay. The company is a subsidiary of the Health Care Network of South Florida, which is based in Tampa, Florida. It has a network of 20 practices in the region, including six clinics and a physician's office in Naples, Florida, that provides internal medicine and family practice care. It also provides behavioral health care, including pediatrics and behavioral health, and other health care services in the Naples area. The system has a total of seven hospitals, including two that have more than 200 beds, and six clinics. The hospital system also has two other hospitals that are part of the Physician’s Regional Healthcare System. The hospitals are located in Naples and in Punta Gorda, Florida; the company also has a clinic in Piedmont, Florida and a satellite clinic in Port St. Lucie, Florida that provides health care in the Tampa Bay area.

Area attractions

The Naples Half Marathon is a half marathon held every year in Naples since 1989. 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-long boardwalk winding through the sanctuary. The Naples Players, the 5th Avenue South, and 3rd Street South shopping districts feature a variety of antique luxury shops. The Waterside Shops is an upscale open-air shopping center with popular stores such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Near downtown Naples Bay and the Gordon River is the shopping district of Tin City, which specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties. The Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife refuge, and Picayune Strand State Forest are all located in the Naples area. It is also home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, which dates back to 1919, and the Coastland Center, an indoor mall anchored by J. C. Penney and Macy's. The City of Naples is home to several major land reserves, including the Corks Crew Swamp Sanctuary, Everglade National Park and Big Cypresses National Preserves. The city is also known for its beaches, which are popular with surfers and kayakers. It has one of the largest concentrations of art galleries in the United States, with many art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. In 2013, there were 2,038 runners in the city's half marathon.

Sports

The CME Group Tour Championship has been held in Naples since 2012. It claims the largest purse and the largest winner's share of any women's golf tournament. Naples is home to the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, which have been held annually since 2016. The swamp buggy was invented in Naples. Naples has a semi-pro soccer team, Naples United FC, which was founded in 2017. They currently play in the Sunshine Conference of the National Premier Soccer League. The city is also the home of swamp buggy races, held three times each year at the Florida Sports Park. The event is held at the Gold Course of the Tiburón Golf Club. It is held on the same course as the LPGA Tour Championship, which has been played in Naples for the last five years. The tournament is currently played on the Gold course, which is located on the outskirts of the city. It has a purse of $5,000,000 and the winner's shares of $1,500,000. The purse and winner's sharing increase in 2022, to $7,000, 000 and $2,00,000 respectively. It will be played on a different course each year from 2022 to 2023, and will be held at a different venue each year until 2023. Naples also has a large number of pickleball courts, and many parks have been added to accommodate the growing popularity of the sport in the area. The town is also home to a number of golf courses, many of which are open to the public.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Naples, Collier County, Florida = 96. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 52. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Naples = 7.1 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 19,115 individuals with a median age of 63.1 age the population grows by 6.72% in Naples, Collier County, Florida population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,553.56 residents per square mile of area (599.83/km²). There are average 1.94 people per household in the 11,422 households with an average household income of $81,500 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 12.40% of the available work force and has dropped -9.95% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 7.70%. The number of physicians in Naples per 100,000 population = 232.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Naples = 53.9 inches and the annual snowfall = 0 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 118. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 264. 91 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 54.1 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 30, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Naples, Collier County, Florida which are owned by the occupant = 48.58%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 30 years with median home cost = $521,330 and home appreciation of -13.29%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $8.49 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,140 per student. There are 16.3 students for each teacher in the school, 784 students for each Librarian and 411 students for each Counselor. 6.72% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 29.62% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 15.51% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).