Bonita Springs, Florida

Bonita Springs, Florida
Bonita Springs is a city in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 53,644 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, on the state's southwest coast.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (13.95%) is water.
The city is located on both Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The area referred to as Bonita Beach is located on a road-accessible barrier island (Little Hickory Island) that lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Estero Bay. The Imperial River flows through the downtown district of the city and empties out into Estero Bay.
Climate
The city lies in the tropical climate zone, having a mean January temperature of . Hurricane Charley made landfall north of Bonita Springs on August 13, 2004. Hurricane Wilma made landfall south of Bonita Springs on October 24, 2005. On September 9–10, 2017, Hurricane Irma, at the time a slow-moving Category 3 storm, passed over the southwest coast of Florida. The eyewall/eye passed overhead in Bonita Springs. Many structures were damaged or destroyed and the city experienced significant flooding.
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 53,644 people, 24,377 households, and 16,267 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 43,914 people, 19,137 households, and 12,917 families residing in the city.
2000 census
The 2009 estimated median income for a household in the city was $53,452, and the median income for a family was $53,436. Males had a median income of $31,227 versus $25,358 for females. The per capita income for the city was $37,958. About 6.2% of families and 10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those aged 65 or over.
In 2009, 16.7% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.55.
As of 2000, the population density was 929.4 inhabitants per square mile (358.8/km). There were 31,716 housing units at an average density of .
In 2000, the city the population was spread out, with 13.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.
Points of interest
Barefoot Beach Preserve Park, a park located on the border of Collier and Lee Counties. In 2013, Forbes ranked the park's beach the sixth-best in the country
Bonita Beach Park, a beachfront park with a boardwalk and swimming area
Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs - an arts organization that hosts local, regional and national traveling art exhibitions. The organization has two campuses, the 10-acre Center for Visual Arts with galleries, studios, classrooms, art library, and offices; and 1. 8 miles south, the 4-acre Center for Performing Arts, which has two auditoriums, a black box theater, a film center, music rooms and studios for study of performing arts. The organization's Bonita Springs Art Festivals, are held January, February, and March in downtown Bonita Springs
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a bald cypress reserve under management of the National Audubon Society
Bonita Spring's Wonder Gardens, features a large collection of Florida wildlife, including exotic birds, alligators, and flamingos. The facility opened in 1936 as both a wildlife exhibition and a refuge for injured animals and has a botanical garden and a natural history museum
Little Hickory Island Beach Park
Lover's Key State Park, a park made up of four barrier islands, is within the city and just north of Bonita Beach. It has nature trails for hiking and bicycling, a canoe launch, kayak and canoe rentals, acres of unspoiled mangroves and miles of pristine beaches. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits and bald eagles
There are also 10 beach accesses with public parking up and down Bonita Beach
Education
Bonita Springs is served by the Lee County School District.
Bonita Springs Elementary School
Spring Creek Elementary School
Bonita Springs Middle School
Bonita Springs High School
Bonita Springs Charter School
Oak Creek Charter School
Bonita Springs Preparatory School
Royal Palm Academy Catholic School
Discovery Day Academy Private School
Florida Institute of Music
Transportation
Airports
Southwest Florida International Airport in nearby South Fort Myers serves over 8 million passengers annually.
Naples Municipal Airport in Naples is a smaller airport primarily for private aviation
Major highways
Interstate 75
U.S. Route 41 "South Tamiami Trail"
(County Road 865) Bonita Beach Road / Hickory Boulevard
Mass transportation
Fixed-route bus and trolley service is provided by the Lee County Transit Department, operated as LeeTran.
Rail
Seminole Gulf Railway owns and operates a line that passes through the city. The company offers freight service and local, daytime excursions.
Media
Newspapers
Bonita Springs is served by local editions of the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News.
Radio
The metropolitan area is home to 36 radio stations. With an Arbitron-assigned 879,600 listening area population, the metropolitan area of which Bonita Springs is one part ranks 61/274 for the fall of 2013. Arbitron Standard Radio Market: Ft. Myers-Naples-Marco Island.
Television
Nielsen Media Research designated market area: Ft. Myers-Naples.
2013 - 2014 estimate U.S. rank: 62/210 (517,920 TV Homes)
WBBH – NBC affiliate
WFTX – Fox affiliate
WGCU – PBS member station
WINK – CBS affiliate
WXCW – CW affiliate
WZVN – ABC affiliate
BTV 98 – Government-access television operated by the city of Bonita Springs
Sister cities
Gruenstadt, Germany
Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Notable people
Glenn Steil Sr., member of the Michigan Senate
References
External links
Cities in Lee County, Florida
Populated coastal places in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico
Cities in Florida
Former census-designated places in Florida
Beaches of Lee County, Florida
Beaches of Florida
1999 establishments in Florida
Populated places established in 1999