Though Fort Myers was not incorporated by the State Legislature until April 1911, the late 1800's and early 1900's was a period of growth and change for Fort Myers. In 1885, Thomas Alva Edison came to Fort Myers and made the town his winter home. Another famous resident who wintered in Fort Myers was Henry Ford. The winter homes of both Edison and Ford are available to visitors and public tours. Fort Myers, a High Quality Family Life 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, DC and Miami, FL, is far below average. The population of Fort Myers is projected to grow to 60,000 by the year 2010, with the greatest concentration of residents either between the ages of 25-44 or over 65 years old. Recreation is also stressed in Fort Myers.