History

1885

Walter N. Haldeman founded Naples in 1885.

1885-1889

A dock on the western shore of Naples Bay was built for initial access to Naples.

1885-1889

Population: Madison and Nancy Weeks, their three sons and a daughter.

1887

Naples was platted in 1887 and filed in Lee County.

1888

Pier under construction 1888

1888

The first two structures built in 1888 were the 600-foot Naples Pier and the 16-room Hotel Naples facing it.

1894-1911

Dock on Naples Bay 1911. Storter houseboat with windows beside fishermen.

1894-1911

The dock on Naples Bay being initial access to Naples. Sketch by Robert L. Storter, born 1894. He remembers it. Dock on Naples Bay.

1894-1919

First bridge over Gordon River. Sketch by Robert L. Storter, born 1894.(he remembers it). A one-car wooden bridge over the Gordon River was built.

1900-1919

A nine-foot wide, sand grade road was cleared and covered with shell from Naples to Fort Myers via Bonita Springs.

1900-1919

The Naples Company Mercantile, a dry goods store was built on the site of present day 1177 Third Street.

1900-1919

Naples’ first school was built on Broad Avenue South.

1900-1919

Initial development of the Naples Bay area included commercial fishing and boat building.

1900-1919

A 9-hole golf course was constructed, stretching from Third Street to Fifth Avenue South and almost as far as present day Cambier Park.

1900-1919

The first telephone line was extended from Fort Myers to the Hotel Naples.

1900-1919

Population: 25.

1910

A hurricane in 1910 destroyed the Naples Pier and it was rebuilt to a length of 1,000 feet.

1920-1929

The Naples Company Building was built on the corner of Third Street and Broad Avenue South on the site of present day 1148 Third Street and room S-6 was designated as Naples Town Hall.

1920-1929

A two-cell, concrete 16′ x 10′ jail was constructed on 10th Avenue South between 4th and 6th Streets, nicknamed the pawpaw patch because it sat amidst a cluster of pawpaw shrubs.

1920-1929

Town Council banned automobiles from parking on Naples Beach beside the Naples Pier.

1920-1929

An electric and water plant opened at 560 10th Ave. S. Water was drawn from Spring Lake.

1920-1929

Naples Town Council adopted the first Code of Ordinances.

1920-1929

The Naples Seaboard Airline Depot was built and rail service to Naples was inaugurated.

1920-1929

Naples’ first church, the Methodist Church, was built at First Avenue and Fourth Street South.

1920-1929

The Naples Chamber of Commerce was organized.

1920-1929

Naples’ second church, the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, was built on Naples Bay.

1920-1929

Population: 157.

1923

On May 8, 1923 Collier County was created from Lee County.

1923

On December 1, 1923 the Town of Naples was incorporated.

1923

Speed S. Menefee, Mayor, 1923.

1925-1927

E.G. Wilkinson, Mayor, 1925; 1927.

1926

The Naples Pier was rebuilt following damage during the hurricane of 1926.

1928

Edward J. Keefe, Mayor, January 3, 1928. Resigned November 1928.

1928

John C. McDonnell, Mayor November 1928 – November 1930.

1929

Gordon Pass was dredged for the first time in 1929 and a jetty was built at its mouth.

1929

Police and Fire Chief Cale Jones in 1929.

1930

John C. McDonnell, Mayor 1930.

1930-1939

Population: 390.

1930-1939

A new bridge over the Gordon River was built to replace the original wooden one-car bridge.

1930-1939

Use of Naples’ first golf course was discontinued and the site was designated as Naples Airport.

1930-1939

Gordon Pass was dredged for a second time.

1930-1939

The Naples Volunteer Fire Department was organized.

1930-1939

The dock on Naples Bay was deeded to the City by Lindsey Crayton.

1930-1939

The development of Fifth Avenue South began.

1932

James K. Hamill, Jr., elected Mayor of the Town of Naples in 1932. Resigned May 18, 1934.

1934

William L. Clarke, Jr., Mayor May 18, 1934; 1936; 1938; 1940; 1942; 1944.

1940-1949

Population: 1,253.

1940-1949

Town Council created The Naples Plan, designed “To Make Naples a Better Place to Live.”

1940-1949

The Town of Naples and Collier County mutually purchased a site for the establishment of the World War II Naples Airdrome, which became present day Naples Municipal Airport.

1940-1949

The Naples Pier was completely destroyed by the hurricane of 1944 and was rebuilt only to be the target of another hurricane the following year.

1940-1949

Naples’ first Water Works and Treatment Plant was constructed behind Town Hall.

1940-1949

Naples streets and houses were first numbered.

1940-1949

Cambier Park, named for William Cambier, Naples’ first Town Engineer, opened.

1940-1949

Naples’ first subdivision, Aqualane Shores, was developed.

1940-1949

Crayton Cove was developed.

1940-1949

Restrooms were constructed on the Naples Pier.

1940-1949

The Bank of Naples opened on Fifth Avenue South.

1940-1949

Naples hosted the first Swamp Buggy Race.

1940-1949

George Washington Carver Elementary School opened at 10th Street North.

1946

W. Roy Smith, Mayor 1946; 1948.

1949

The status of Naples was changed from a town to a city in 1949.

1950-1959

Population: 1,465.

1950-1959

The original two-cell jail on 10th Avenue South was demolished.

1950-1959

The Naples Mosquito Control District was created.

1950-1959

The development of Port Royal began.

1950-1959

Tourism picked up and motels began being built at a fast rate.

1950-1959

Fifteen-bed Naples Community Hospital opened.

1950-1959

Caribbean Gardens, established in 1919 by Dr. Henry Nehrling, was developed this decade.

1950-1959

The Naples Garden Club was founded.

1950-1959

Naples Players, Inc. was organized.

1950-1959

Naples Civil Air Patrol was organized.

1950-1959

Two more banks opened on Fifth Avenue South, Naples Federal Savings & Loan and the First National Bank.

1950-1959

The Naples Art Association was incorporated.

1950-1959

Coquina Sands was developed.

1950-1959

River Park was developed.

1950-1959

The Moorings was developed.

1950-1959

Third Street was developed.

1950-1959

The City of Naples Zoning Board of Appeals was created.

1950-1959

Royal Harbor was developed.

1950-1959

The City purchased the Robert L. Storter house at 758 8th Street South for the first City Recreation Center.

1950-1959

Naples’ second school, Lake Park Elementary, was built.

1950-1959

The city’s first sewer system extension program was initiated.

1950-1959

Television service was inaugurated.

1950-1959

The City constructed a second water plant.

1950-1959

Originally paved with shell, city streets began being paved with crushed limerock.

1950-1966

The City began using voting machines, on loan from Collier County.

1951

Naples’ first free-standing Town Hall was constructed at 735 8th Street South. The 870 square foot structure was enlarged in 1951, 1953, and 1957 and rebuilt in 1974.

1952

W. Roy Smith, Mayor 1950; 1952; 1954; 1956; 1958.

1953

The 1953 expansion of City Hall included the addition of a Fire Department and Police Department and Jail.

1960

The Naples Pier was rebuilt after it was destroyed by hurricane Donna on September 11, 1960.

1960-1962

Dr. Francis Ford, Mayor 1960; 1962.

1960-1969

Population: 4,655.

1960-1969

Vertical development began.

1960-1969

The Naples Humane Society was founded.

1960-1969

Pets were no longer permitted on the Naples Pier. Restricted also were riding bicycles, diving or jumping off the structure, and shark fishing.

1960-1969

The Cove Inn was built.

1960-1969

The Collier County Public Library opened on Central Avenue.

1960-1969

River Park East was developed.

1960-1969

A City Recreation Center was built on 8th Avenue South.

1960-1969

All Collier County schools integrated.

1960-1969

The Naples Airport Authority was created.

1961

Lowdermilk Park was dedicated to Naples City Manager Fred Lowdermilk.

1961

Not rebuilt since 1961, the Naples Pier was rebuilt in 1995 to modern standards.

1964-1966

Archie Turner, Mayor 1964; 1966.

1966

Phone canvassing for votes on Fifth Avenue, outside the United Telephone Company building, where a phone was set up for them.

1966

Voting by ballot box in the United Telephone Company building when the County did not have enough voting machines to share with City.

1968

Wesley G. Downing, Mayor 1968.

1970-1972

Lloyd M. Easterling, Mayor 1970; 1972.

1970-1979

Population: 12,042.

1970-1979

The 1940 City Hall was completely rebuilt and the 1945 water tower and water plant behind it were demolished.

1970-1979

The City created a Water Pollution Study Committee to examine the health of Naples Bay.

1970-1979

The City’s first Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan was drawn up.

1970-1979

The City’s Minimum Housing Code Enforcement Program was inaugurated.

1970-1979

The City of Naples Engineering Department was established.

1970-1979

The City and the County co-developed a Master Plan to address the management of growth and development.

1970-1979

The City’s well field was expanded to include wells in Golden Gate Estates.

1970-1979

The City’s first water storage facility was constructed north of Pine Ridge Road.

1970-1979

Rail service to Naples was discontinued.

1970-1979

The Naples Pier was designated as a State Historical Site.

1970-1979

The Naples Planning Advisory Board was created.

1970-1979

Pursuant to revision of the Florida Constitution, Naples Municipal Court merged with the Collier County Court system.

1970-1979

The Florida Legislature adopted the Municipal Home Rule Powers Act, giving cities in Florida the authority to establish their forms of government through their charters, and to enact ordinances, codes, plans and resolutions without prior state approval.

1970-1979

The paving of streets in Port Royal was completed and the Lantern Lane pumping station was installed.

1970-1979

Construction of a sewer system in Royal Harbor was initiated.

1970-1979

A sewage treatment plant was constructed on Goodlette-Frank Road.

1970-1979

The City’s First Tree ordinance was created to particularly protect cypress, slash pine and mangrove trees.

1970-1979

A second Naples Post Office was constructed, on Goodlette-Frank Road.

1970-1979

Coastland Mall was built.

1974-1976

Harry E.O. Heineman, Mayor 1974; 1976.

1978

R.B. Anderson, Mayor 1978.

1980

R.B. Anderson, Mayor 1980.

1980-1989

Population: 17,581.

1980-1989

The 13-member Naples Beautification Council was formed, charged to improve landscaping and public space signage.

1980-1989

The Naples/Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization was created.

1980-1989

The Veterans’ War Memorial Monument was constructed at Cambier Park.

1980-1989

A helipad was constructed on top of Naples Community Hospital’s Ambulatory Surgical Center of Naples.

1980-1989

The position of City of Naples Natural Resource Manager was created to monitor and preserve.

1980-1989

Naples’ natural resources, mangroves, marine life and canals, lakes and waterways.

1980-1989

The City’s Living Memorial Tree Program was established.

1980-1989

A 24-hour Airport Rescue Firefighting Facility was constructed at Naples Municipal Airport.

1982-1984

Stanley R. Billick, Mayor 1982; 1984.

1985

The federal 1985 Local Government Planning and Land Development Regulation Act required local governments to adopt comprehensive plans.

1986

Edwin J. Putzel, Jr., Mayor 1986.

1986

A 1986 voter-approved charter amendment limited council terms to two consecutive four-year terms.

1990

Mayor Billick’s suggestion that the City of Naples mayoral term be increased from two to four years in order to get more work done was approved by voters and took effect in 1990.

1990-1991

Alden R. Crawford, Mayor 1990. Resigned 1991.

1990-1999

Population: 19,505.

1990-1999

North Collier Hospital opened.

1990-1999

A City-County Beach Renourishment/Maintenance Committee was formed.

1990-1999

Florida Environmental Reorganization Act, The control of stormwater runoff became a requirement of all new development in Naples before building permits could be issued.

1990-1999

The City of Naples Community Redevelopment Agency was created.

1990-1999

Fifth Avenue revitalization took place this decade.

1990-1999

The City of Naples began covering the cost of blanket fishing licenses, enabling users of the Naples Pier to fish free of charge.

1990-1999

Mixed-use Bayfront was developed.

1990-1999

City departments and buildings were consolidated as the City Municipal Complex at Riverside Circle.

1990-1999

Fifth Avenue was revitalized and gained the designation of a “Main Street Community.”

1990-1999

The first city parking garage was constructed on 8th Street.

1990-1999

The Sugden Community Theater was built on Fifth Avenue.

1990-1999

The Von Liebig Art Center was built at Cambier Park.

1991-1992

Kim Anderson-McDonald Mayor 1991-1992.

1992

Paul W. Muenzer, Mayor 1992.

1993

Pursuant to the creation of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by the 1993.

1995

The Fifth Avenue restaurant L’Auberge was the first to be approved for outdoor dining in 1995.

1996

William Barnett, Mayor 1996.

2000

Bonnie Mackenzie, Mayor 2000.

2000-2019

Population: 20,976.

2000-2019

The Naples Pier underwent major renovations and upgrades to withstand gale force winds.

*Naples City Council Dais Mural Designed and Painted by John Haney, III, City of Naples Water Plant Employee in 2001.

2000-2019

A master plan was developed to to achieve linkages and consistency of theme, “connectivity,” throughout the community via sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.

2000-2019

Security cameras were installed at the City Dock and Naples Pier.

2000-2019

The City’s wastewater treatment plant was upgraded to increase capacity.

2000-2019

Natural gas lines were laid between Fort Myers and the City of Naples along U.S. 41.

2000-2019

The Southwest Florida Holocaust Museum opened.

2000-2019

One-story commercial buildings constructed north of the Four Corners between 1950 and 1970 were demolished and replaced with two-story developments, including medical buildings and banks.

2000-2019

The American Water Works Association awarded the City of Naples Water Plant first place for “best tasting tap water.”

2000-2019

Grand Central Station was redeveloped.

2000-2019

Naples Bay Resort was developed.

2000-2019

The City established the Conservation and Preservation of Land Program and the Land Preservation Trust Fund.

2000-2019

The City’s Code of Ordinances was amended to abolish the Zoning Board of Appeals.

2000-2019

Moorings Park was annexed into the City.

2000-2019

The River Park Aquatic Center opened.

2000-2019

The City adopted a 20-year Integrated Water Resources Plan, which addressed the need to identify alternate water sources.

2000-2019

The City created the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District to stimulate retail business on the avenue.

2000-2019

The City adopted its first stormwater lakes Lake Management Plan.

2000-2019

Patty and Jay Baker Park was developed.

2000-2019

Naples Fire Station No. 1 beside City Hall was rebuilt.

2002

The City’s 2002 Reclaimed Water Master Plan was completed.

2003

The Twenty-Year Plan for the restoration of Naples Bay was initiated in 2003.

2004

William Barnett, Mayor 2004; 2008; 2016.

2007

The City adopted a ten-year Vision Plan in 2007, “Preserving Naples: A Vision Plan to Keep the Best of the Past, while Building a Better Community for the Future.”

2010

City Council Member, Gary Price, kicks off First Annual Stiletto Sprint on October 1, 2010.

2012

John F. Sorey III, Mayor 2012.

2020-2023

Population: 19,115.

2020-2023

Teresa Heitmann, Mayor 2020.