Okay, the answer to your first question is easy: there is no fort in Fort Myers.
There was one, of course, once upon a time. Florida became a US territory in 1821, and almost immediately there was a minor population explosion. The new settlers felt unsafe around the Native American population, the Seminole tribe, and so Fort Myers was built along the Caloosahatchee River to protect them. Named for the son-in-law of another local commander, the fort became one of the first bases of operations during the Seminole Indian Wars. It was abandoned and reoccupied several times, and eventually hosted the southernmost battle of the Civil War (which is reenacted annually at the North Fort Myers Cracker Festival).
But its history isn’t just about battles. In 1885 Thomas Edison came to Fort Myers and was captivated by what he saw: he immediately built a home and laboratory here, and worked on several beautification projects. It was thanks to Edison that Fort Myers is known as the City of Palms, as he imported and planted the impressive royal palms now lining McGregor Boulevard.
Nor was Edison our only famous resident: his friend Henry Ford came to visit, and in 1914 opened the first Ford dealership here. You can now learn all about these men and their contributions, not just to Fort Myers but also to the world, at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, visits that include tours of laboratories as well as their gardens, homes, and museums.
If you’re considering a move, then take a look at the Fort Myers homes that will enable you to enjoy this beautiful city on a permanent basis. The Lee County public school system is the ninth-largest school district in Florida—and 40th in the nation—so you can be sure that your children will be getting a good education. And they’re not the only ones: there’s a vibrant community center that offers adult-education classes from fused art glass to Zumba, from Kendo to ballroom dancing, so there’s always something going on.
And a Fort Myers mortgage is affordable. You can live in the City of Palms and enjoy the area that has attracted so many other residents to this gateway to southwest Florida. From gated communities to villas, from condos to simple single-family homes, from mansions to townhomes, there is something for you here … and very probably something that will help you fall even more in love with the area!