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Sanibel, Florida is located on the eastern end of Sanibel Island just off the coast of southwest Florida. Located in Lee County, just offshore from Fort Myers, the city is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA is located entirely in Lee County and includes the cities of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Bonita Springs, as well as Sanibel.
Drawn to the area by abundant food and natural resources, the native Calusa Indians were the first-known residents of the island. The proliferation of seashells, provided by the crescent-shaped island's east-west geographical orientation, provided the Calusa Indians with tools. Juan Ponce de Leon was credited with being the first European to discover Sanibel Island in 1513, while searching for his famous fountain of youth. He named the barrier island “Santa Isybella” after Queen Isabella. After battling with the fierce and determined Calusa Indians for many years, the Spanish were not successful in establishing a permanent settlement. European diseases such as yellow fever, tuberculosis, and measles, eventually decimated Calusa population by the late 1700s.
Infamous pirates, such as Jose Gaspar, visited the island in the early 1800s. Indian raids from the Seminole Wars and fear of pirates kept the island free from any type of permanent settlement until after the Civil War. With the advent of ferry service in 1928, settlers began to farm the island. Sanibel Island soon became known for its sunny white beaches, balmy weather, tranquility, and southern hospitality.
The Sanibel Causeway, linking Sanibel Island to mainland Florida, was completed in 1963. Residents worried that the causeway would change the tranquil face of the island. Since 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has worked to control commercial growth and maintain the island's fragile ecosystem. The City of Sanibel incorporated in 1974, with former CIA Director Porter Goss as its first mayor. Incorporation allowed Sanibel to enact land use restrictions, thus preserving the area's natural heritage. Today, over 60 percent of Sanibel Island consists of protected wildlife preserves. Residents and visitors enjoy over 26 miles of bike trails and over 17 miles of beautiful beaches. Thousands of visitors come to enjoy Sanibel's beaches each year. Since the island lies east to west instead of the usual north to south, this allows the island to act as a scoop for a wide variety of seashells. Sanibel, Florida is so well-known for its seashells that the "Sanibel Stoop" was coined to described the seashell collectors hunched over position while gathering seashells. Sanibel, FL encompasses 33.16 square miles, of which 17.21 square miles consist of land, and 15.96 square miles is water.
Sanibel had 6,064 residents in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median household income of $79,044 was well above the $41,994 US average. The median house value of $392,400 was significantly above the U.S. average of $119,600. The Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce estimated the 2005 Sanibel City population at 6,272 residents. Awe-inspiring gulf views, an average temperate of 74 degrees, and miles of pristine beaches draw numerous visitors to the island every year. During peak tourist season, the population swells to 31,000 residents.
While Sanibel maintains its natural charm by discouraging rampant commercial development, the city's residents are not isolated. Sanibel is connected to the mainland by the Sanibel Causeway. The three-part causeway bridge was completed in 2007, and the high-span section replaced the original 1963 drawbridge. A short bridge over Blind Pass links Sanibel to the unincorporated town of Captiva on Captiva Island. Sanibel is 45 minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport, 2.5 hours from Miami or Tampa, and 3.5 hours from Orlando.
Major hospitals and medical centers near Sanibel, Florida include the Cape Coral Hospital,13 miles from Sanibel in Cape Coral, FL, the Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center, also about 13 miles from Sanibel in Fort Myers, FL, and the Lee Memorial Hospital, which is 18 miles from Sanibel in Fort Myers, Florida.
Public education is offered by the Lee County Schools, which operate the one public school in Sanibel, The Sanibel School, a National School of Excellence, serving grades K-8. Nearby institutions of higher learning include: Florida Gulf Coast University; Edison Community College; Manatee Community College; Hillsboro Community College, University of Tampa and Polk Community College. Over 96 percent of Sanibel's population has obtained a high school diploma, which is significantly above the national average.
The Florida State Courts System is divided into 20 judicial circuits or areas of jurisdiction. Florida has two appellate courts. Florida's Supreme Court, the state's highest court, hears civil and criminal appeals from the lower courts. The court also answers constitutional questions and rules on the validity of statutes and on the construction of the state or U.S. constitutions. The state's five District Courts of Appeal, headquartered in Tallahassee, Lakeland, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Daytona Beach, hear all matters not directly appealable to the Supreme Court, as well as final actions of state agencies.
Florida has a two-tier trial court system of Circuit and County courts. The state's Circuit Courts hear felonies, family law matters, civil cases involving amounts over $15,000, probate, guardianship and mental health issues, juvenile dependency and delinquency issues and appeals from County Court. The state's County Courts hear misdemeanors, small claims of up to $5,000, and civil cases of up to and including $15,000 in controversy, as well as traffic cases. Examples of civil matters include hospital negligence, surgical malpractice, automobile accidents, truck accidents, work injury, dog bites, and professional liability lawsuits.
Sanibel, being in Lee County, is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Lee Justice Center is located at 1700 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901.
