The City of Fort Myers was established in 1886 on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in beautiful Southwest Florida. The current population within the Fort Myers city limits is 52,527 but more importantly Fort Myers is the geographic center of Lee County whose population exceeded 500,000 during the first quarter of 2004. Fort Myers is also home to the youngest population in Lee County.

Downtown Fort Myers is the governmental hub of Lee County with the City, County, State and Federal government offices headquartered within walking distance of one another. The daytime working population in downtown is in excess of 8,500 people. The number of residential units will more than double over the next 3 years to 3,000 units as new condominium developments are completed along the waterfront.

Besides its rich history, Fort Myers offers its residents great business opportunities and a high quality of family life. Emphasis is placed on fostering nurturing neighborhoods and strong educational programs. Retirees, too, can find a quality of life in Fort Myers not found in other communities. Personal income and effective buying income has steadily risen since 1990, with the greatest recent employment growth in the home health industry. The cost of living, in comparison with cities such as Washington D.C. and Miami, FL, is far below average. Recreation is also stressed in Fort Myers. For almost 70 years, Fort Myers has been famous for its professional baseball spring training. From February to April, both the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins call this town home. Fort Myers, or the City of Palms, beckons its visitors and residents alike to remember its rich history and its status as one of the best places to live now and in the future.