25-708: Marco Island Historical Museum is a history museum on Marco Island, Florida , Collier County, Florida . It is operated by the Marco Island Historical Society and is part of the Collier County Museum System. Its exhibitions include information on the Calusa Indians and the history of development on Marco Island. 25°56′00″N 81°42′57″W / 25.9332°N 81.7159°W / 25.9332; -81.7159 Marco Island, Florida Marco Island
50-550: A loan from the Smithsonian Institution . The artifact is featured on a 1989 postage stamp. When Spanish explorers came to the island in the mid-1500s, they gave the island the name La Isla de San Marcos after St. Mark , traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of Mark. Early development of the island began in the late 1800s after the arrival of William Thomas Collier and his family. Collier founded
75-406: A million dollars. In 1907, Barron Collier married Juliet Gordon Carnes , also a native of Memphis. In 1911, they visited Fort Myers, Florida on vacation and developed an enduring relationship with the area. They bought nearby Useppa Island for the sum of $ 100,000. Barron Gift Collier was a highly successful and diversified entrepreneur with a portfolio that went far beyond his first business,
100-483: A private beach complex for residents (Residents' Beach), a private parking area for residents (Sarazen Park at South Beach), and two other public access points (with no amenities). Offshore island beaches, such as Keewaydin , are accessible by boat or tour. Marco Island is a principal city of the Naples –Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area . The population was 15,760 at the 2020 census , down from 16,413 at
125-444: Is 64.4 °F (18.0 °C) which is barely over the 64 °F (18 °C) threshold for a tropical climate. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 15,760 people, 9,056 households, and 6,109 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 16,413 people, 7,517 households, and 5,393 families residing in the city. In 2010, there were 7,517 households, out of which 9.4% had children under
150-796: Is a city and barrier island in Collier County , Florida , 20 miles (32 km) south of Naples on the Gulf Coast of the United States . It is the largest barrier island in Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands area, which extends southerly to Cape Sable . Marco Island is home to an affluent beach community with resort amenities. Two bridges provide road access to the island via Collier Boulevard and San Marco Road (CR 92). There are two public access locations with parking and amenities (Tigertail and South Beach),
175-555: Is in southwestern Collier County, along the Gulf of Mexico . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 22.8 square miles (59.0 km ), of which 12.1 square miles (31.4 km ) is land and 10.7 square miles (27.6 km ) (46.73%) is water. Marco Island has a tropical climate that borders on a humid subtropical climate since the mean temperature in the coldest month, January,
200-426: The 2020 election at margins varying from 62% to 73% over Democratic nominee Joe Biden . The region, however, voted more Democratic than it did during the 2016 election . The District School Board of Collier County operates the following schools serving Marco Island: Private schools: Marco Island Executive Airport (MRK) provides general aviation service to the area. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of
225-655: The Automobile Racing Club of America in 1933, renamed in 1944 as the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Miles, Cameron Argetsinger , and Briggs Cunningham were instrumental in founding the Watkins Glen racing facility, near one of their summer retreats. Juliet worried about the risks of racing and tried to influence her sons against it; Sam would indeed die in a racing accident at Watkins Glen in 1950. Briggs's renowned automobile collection
250-650: The Calusa people inhabited the island as well as the rest of southwest Florida . A number of Calusa artifacts were discovered on Key Marco (an island then adjacent, and since attached, to Marco Island) in 1896 by anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing as part of the Pepper-Hearst Expedition . The most notable artifact discovered was the carved wooden "Key Marco Cat," now on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum under
275-511: The 2010 census. The population more than doubles during the winter. Parts of the island have some scenic, high elevations relative to the generally flat south Florida landscape. The island has a tropical climate; specifically a tropical wet and dry or savanna type ( Aw under the Köppen system). It is known for its distinct wet and dry seasons, with most of the rainfall between June and October. Marco Island's history can be traced to 500 CE, when
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#1732801192468300-728: The Consolidated Street Railway Advertising Company of New York City. His varied business interests included: Collier was an avid fisherman and established the Izaak Walton Club at their Useppa Island resort; it became one of the most exclusive sporting clubs in the world. Collier next developed golf courses and improved the Rod and Gun Club , a hunting club in Everglades City, Florida , that also attracted wealthy tourists. Over
325-562: The Florida legislature named the newly created Collier County for him on May 8, 1923. He manifested tremendous energy in other pursuits. He was involved in the national Boy Scout movement. In New York, serving as special deputy commissioner for public safety, he introduced the use of white and yellow traffic divider lines on highways. Following the Lindbergh kidnapping in March 1932, he
350-472: The Isles of Capri. A road on the mainland linked the ferry landing with East Naples (just west of State Road 951 ). A small piece of this road remains and is known as Barefoot Williams Road. Barron G. Collier (whom Collier County is named after, and no relation to William T. Collier) purchased a large amount of land on Marco Island in 1922, and in 1927 the island incorporated as Collier City . Collier City
375-581: The age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21. In 2010, the median income for a household in the city was $ 73,373, and the per capita income was $ 52,089. 2.1% of the population were below the poverty level . Marco Island generally supports the Republican Party , as the city is represented in the House by Republican Byron Donalds and voted in favor of Republican incumbent Donald Trump during
400-409: The island after purchasing large amounts of land there for $ 7 million. As a result of development, the S.S. Jolley Bridge opened for traffic in 1969. Marco Island reincorporated as a city on August 28, 1997. As in many coastal communities, residents battle short-term rentals and traffic congestion. On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian devastated the island with an 8’ storm surge. Marco Island
425-405: The island's central business district. The closest regularly scheduled commercial flights to the area arrive at Southwest Florida International Airport . Marco Island is served by Collier Area Transit 's Route #21 and Route #121 (Express: Immokalee to Marco Island) Barron Collier Barron Gift Collier (March 23, 1873 – March 13, 1939) was an American advertising entrepreneur who became
450-588: The island's east side. Remnants of this bridge can be seen next to the current bridge at the site, the Stan Gober Memorial Bridge (built in 1975). The island's ferry service was discontinued after the original Goodland Bridge opened. Significant development of Marco Island took place in the 1960s that made it into the retirement and tourist destination it is today. The Mackle brothers of the Deltona Corporation led development of
475-591: The largest landowner and developer in the U.S. state of Florida , as well as the owner of a chain of hotels, bus lines, several banks, newspapers, a telephone company and a steamship line. Collier was born in Memphis, Tennessee . He quit school at age 16 to work for the Illinois Central Railroad . Within four years, he started his own business, the Consolidated Street Railway Advertising Company of New York City. At age 26, his assets were valued at
500-646: The next decade, the Colliers went on to acquire more than a million acres (4000 km ) of land in Southwest Florida , making them the largest private land owners in the state. He invested millions of dollars to transform and develop the wilderness, including drainage of the Everglades and construction of the Tamiami Trail . To recognize his influence on, and investment in, the state's future,
525-624: The village of Marco on the island in 1870, and in 1896 his son, William D. "Capt. Bill" Collier, opened a hotel on the island, known today as the Olde Marco Inn. Clam digging became a major industry on Marco Island and throughout the Ten Thousand Islands in the early 1900s. The Burnham Clam Cannery began operation near Caxambas Pass in 1903 and operated until 1929. The Doxsee Clam Cannery also operated from 1911 to 1947. In 1912, ferry service began between Marco Island and
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#1732801192468550-525: Was abolished in 1957. James Harvey Doxsee Sr. served as Collier City's only mayor. Also in 1927, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad began service to the island after extending its route from Fort Myers and Naples . The railroad ran to the island along the present route of State Road 951. Rail service was discontinued in 1944. The first vehicle bridge to the island was a small wooden swing bridge built in 1938 near Goodland on
575-538: Was influential in persuading the U.S. government to join, in 1938, INTERPOL , which had been formed in 1923. He was decorated by nine foreign governments. His wife, Juliet Carnes Collier , appeared on the cover of the U.S. edition of the Tatler , the Tatler and American Sketch , in the early 1930s. Collier died March 13, 1939, in Manhattan , survived by his wife and three sons, Barron Jr., Miles, and Samuel , and
600-529: Was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx , New York. Although the Great Depression had strained his finances and slowed development of their Florida lands, the next generations of his family would continue his development work in subsequent decades. The family members participated in many sports, including motorsports , and especially road racing , which led to the sons Miles and Sam founding
625-765: Was purchased by a member of the Collier family, and is now part of the Revs Institute for Automotive Research in Naples, Florida, which is open to the public. The Collier County Public School System named Barron Collier High School in honor of Barron Gift Collier, Sr. Collier had relationships with several U.S. Presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt , Woodrow Wilson , Calvin Coolidge , and Herbert Hoover . He also maintained ties with influential senators, governors, and diplomats. His political involvements covered
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