Sanibel, Florida

Sanibel, Florida
City
City of Sanibel
A 2014 view looking across to the northern tip of Sanibel from the Captiva side of Blind Pass. The bridge connecting the two islands is visible on the extreme left.
Seal
Motto: "A Barrier Island Sanctuary"
Location inLee County, Florida
Coordinates:26°26′23″N82°4′50″W
Country	United States of America
State	Florida
County	Lee
Settled	1832-1884
Incorporated	1974
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
•Mayor	Richard Johnson
•Vice Mayor	Mike Miller
•Council Members	Holly D. Smith, Arlene Dillon, and John Henshaw
•City Manager	Dana Souza
•City Clerk	Pamela Smith
Area
• Total	33.21 sq mi (86.01 km2)
• Land	16.18 sq mi (41.90 km2)
• Water	17.03 sq mi (44.10 km2) 48.13%
Elevation	3 ft (0.9 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	6,382
• Density	394.44/sq mi (152.30/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code	33957
Area code	239
FIPS code	12-63700
GNISfeature ID	0290637
Website	City of Sanibel Florida Website

Sanibelis an island and city inLee County, Florida,United States. The population was 6,382 at the2020 census,down from 6,469 at the 2010 census. It is part of theCape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.The island, also known asSanibel Island,constitutes the entire city. It is abarrier island—a collection of sand on theleewardside of the more solid coral-rock ofPine Island.

Most of the city proper is at the island's eastern end. After theSanibel causewaywas built to replace the ferry in 1963, the city was incorporated in 1974, and the residents asserted control over development by establishing the Sanibel Comprehensive Land Use Plan, helping maintain a balance between development and preservation of the island's ecology.In September 2022, the causeway was heavily damaged byHurricane Ian.

Due to easy causeway access, Sanibel is a popular tourist destination known for its shell beaches and wildlife refuges. More than half the island is made up of wildlife refuges, the largest beingJ. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.The Island hosts the Sanibel Historical Village and a variety of other museums, including theBailey-Matthews National Shell Museum.

History

View of the Lighthouse at the southern tip of Sanibel Island

Sanibel andCaptivaformed as one island about 6,000 years ago. The first known humans in the area were theCalusa,who arrived about 2,500 years ago.The Calusa were a powerfulIndiannation who came to dominate most of Southwest Florida through trade via their elaborate system of canals and waterways. Sanibel remained an important Calusa settlement until the collapse of their empire, soon after the arrival of theEuropeans.

During the 1700s, Cuban fishermen seasonally traveled from their homes and set up fishing camps along the Gulf Coast, calledranchos,including on Sanibel Island.

In 1765, the first known appearance of a harbor on Sanibel is shown on a map asPuerto de S. Nibel(the "v" and "b" being interchangeable); thus, the name may have evolved from "San Nibel". Alternatively, the name may derive, as many believe, from "(Santa) Ybel", which survives in the old placename "Point Ybel", where theSanibel Island Lightis. How it would have gotten this name, however, is a matter of conjecture. One story says it was named byJuan Ponce de Leónfor QueenIsabella I of Castileor thesaint whose name she shares.Another attributes the name to Roderigo Lopez, the first mate ofJosé Gaspar(Gasparilla), after his beautiful lover Sanibel whom he had left behind in Spain. But like most of the lore surrounding Gasparilla, this story is apocryphal, as the above references to recognizable variants of the name predate the buccaneer's supposed reign.

Sanibel is not the only island in the area to figure prominently in the legends of Gaspar; Captiva,Useppa,andGasparillaare also connected. Sanibel also appears in another tale, involving Gaspar's ally-turned-rivalBlack Caesar,said to have been a former Haitian slave who escaped during theHaitian Revolutionto become a pirate. According to folklore, Black Caesar came to theGulf of Mexicoduring theWar of 1812to avoid interference from the British. In the Gulf he befriended Gasparilla, who allowed him to establish himself on Sanibel Island. Eventually the old Spaniard discovered Caesar had been stealing from him and chased him off, but not before his loot had been buried.

In 1832, the Florida Peninsular Land Company established a settlement on Sanibel (then spelled "Sanybel" ), but the colony never took off, and was abandoned by 1849. It was this group that initially petitioned for a lighthouse on the island. The island was repopulated after the implementation of theHomestead Actin 1862, and again a lighthouse was petitioned. Construction of the Sanibel Island Lighthouse was completed in 1884,but the community remained small.

In May 1963, a causeway linking Sanibel and Captiva to the mainland opened, resulting in an explosion of growth. The City of Sanibel passed new restrictions on development after it was incorporated; developers challenged them to no avail. The island's only buildings taller than two stories predate 1974, and no fast food or chain restaurants are allowed on the island except for two that were there before the laws were enacted. A new causeway was completed in 2007; it replaced the worn-out 1963 spans, which were not designed to carry heavy loads or large numbers of vehicles. The new bridge features a "flyover" span tall enough for sailboats to pass under, replacing the old bridge's bascule drawbridge span. The original bridge was demolished and its remains were sunk into the water to create artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Development

The main town is on the island's eastern end. The city was formed in 1974,as a direct result of the main causeway being built in 1963 to replace the ferry, and the rampant construction and development that followed. Developers sued over the new restrictions, but the city and citizens prevailed in their quest to protect the island. The only buildings above two to three stories on the island were built during that period.

A short bridge overBlind Passlinks Sanibel toCaptiva Island.More than half of the two islands are preserved in its natural state as wildlife refuges. Visitors can drive, walk, bike, or kayak through the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife RefugeThe island's most famous landmark, theSanibel Lighthouse,is at its eastern end, adjacent to the fishing pier. The main thoroughfare, Periwinkle Way, is where most of Sanibel's stores and restaurants are, while the Gulf Drives (East, Middle and West) have most of the accommodations.

TheSanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation,a nonprofit organization, has been a key player in curbing commercial growth and development on the island. Since 1967, SCCF has been dedicated to preserving natural resources on and around Sanibel and Captiva and has led efforts to acquire and preserve environmentally sensitive land on the islands, including critical wildlife habitats, rare and unique subtropical plant communities, tidal wetlands, and freshwater wetlands along the Sanibel River.

The Wall Street Journalselected Sanibel and Captiva Islands as one of the 10 Best Places for Second Homes in 2010.

Geography

Beach near the western end of Sanibel

Sanibel is located at26°26′23″N82°4′50″W(26.439608, –82.080456).According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has an area of 33.16 square miles (85.9 km²), of which 17.21 square miles (44.6 km²) is land and 15.96 square miles (41.3 km²) (48.13%) is water.

Climate

Sanibel Island, in southern Florida, has a "tropical and humid" climate, with daily high temperatures ranging from 75 °F (24 °C) in midwinter to around 90 °F (32 °C) in the summer.The months of January through April (peak tourist season on the island) have the coolest temperatures, ranging from 75 °F (24 °C) during the day to a cool 55 °F (13 °C) at night, and there is very little rainfall on the island during those months.The island's summer heat and humidity, which has been recorded as high as 100 °F (38 °C), is cooled by the seabreezes from the Gulf of Mexico, and by almost daily afternoon and evening rain showers, which are responsible for much of the island's rainfall. June is when the Island gets most of its rain.The area is prone to being hit bytropical cyclonesand hurricanes; the hurricane season starts in June, but most of the activity occurs in September and October. Local communities have "adapted to cope with these occasional storm threats."

Hurricanes

Further information:Hurricane CharleyandHurricane Ian

Southwest Florida rarely suffers direct strikes by hurricanes, but every 20 or so years it takes a significant hit, and about every 40 years a major one. Most of these have affected Sanibel. On August 13, 2004, it was hit hard byHurricane Charley,acategory fourhurricane with 143 mph (230 km/h) winds.It was the strongest to hit Southwest Florida sinceHurricane Donnain September 1960.While much of the native vegetation survived, the non-indigenousAustralian Pinessuffered serious damage, blocking nearly every road. Wildlife officials reported that the nests of birds andsea turtleswere destroyed. The Sanibel Lighthouse suffered little damage, the Sanibel Causeway suffered relatively minor damage except for a tollbooth being tilted partly over, and a smallseawallwas eroded. Blind Pass was again cut through, but it refilled less than a month later. Residents who left before the August 13 storm were not allowed back by the city government until August 18, due to hundreds of downed trees and electric power lines, and the lack of potable water and sanitary sewerage. A temporary city hall for Sanibel was set up in a Fort Myers hotel until utilities and transport could be restored to the island.

On September 28, 2022, the island suffered extensive damage fromHurricane Ian,which made landfall just to the north of the island as a strong category 4 storm. TheSanibel Causewaypartially collapsed during the storm, leaving no road access to the island or nearbyCaptiva, Florida.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	3,363		—
1990	5,468		62.6%
2000	6,064		10.9%
2010	6,469		6.7%
2020	6,382		−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Sanibel racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White(NH)	6,219	6,030	96.14%	94.48%
Black or African American(NH)	40	27	0.62%	0.42%
Native AmericanorAlaska Native(NH)	5	8	0.08%	0.13%
Asian(NH)	24	44	0.37%	0.69%
Pacific IslanderorNative Hawaiian(NH)	1	2	0.02%	0.03%
Some other race(NH)	7	16	0.11%	0.25%
Two or more races/Multiracial(NH)	22	100	0.34%	1.57%
Hispanic or Latino(any race)	151	155	2.33%	2.43%
Total	6,469	6,382

As of the2020 United States census,there were 6,382 people, 3,919 households, and 2,766 families residing in the city.

As of the2010 United States census,there were 6,469 people, 3,526 households, and 2,322 families residing in the city.

In 2010, the population density was 375.9 inhabitants per square mile (145.1/km²). There were 7,821 dwelling units at an average density of 454.6 per square mile (175.5/km²).

In 2010, there were 3,526 households, out of which 8.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 2.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.28.

Among the population in 2010, 8.5% under the age of 19, 1.1% from 20 to 24, 7.5% from 25 to 44, 32.7% from 45 to 64, and those aged 65 or older represented 50.1%. The median age was 65 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the city was $97,788, and the median income for a family was $138,194. Males had a median income of $80,152 versus $45,458 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $79,742. About 3.6% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, with 21.3% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Ecology

Flora and fauna

Marsh rabbitsare common in Sanibel

The island's curvedshrimp-like shape forms Tarpon Bay on the north side of the island. It is linked to themainlandby theSanibel Causeway,which runs across two small manmade islets and theIntracoastal Waterway.A short bridge links Sanibel Island toCaptiva IslandoverBlind Pass. TheBailey-Matthews Shell Museumon Sanibel is the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to the study of shells. The Gulf-side beaches are excellent on both Sanibel and Captiva, and are world-renowned for their variety ofseashells,which includecoquinas,scallops,whelks,sand dollars,and many other species of both shallow-water and deeper-watermollusks,primarilybivalvesandgastropods. Sanibel Island is home to a significant variety ofbirds,including theroseate spoonbilland several nesting pairs ofbald eagles.Birds can be seen on the beaches, the causeway islands, and the reserves, includingJ. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.Common sights includepelicans,herons,egrets,andanhingas,as well as the more common birds liketerns,sandpipers,andseagulls.

Loggerhead turtletrack on a beach in Sanibel

There is a population ofAmerican alligatorson Sanibel Island. A lone rareAmerican crocodilehad been seen at the Wildlife Refuge for over 30 years, but she died in 2010 of unseasonably cold winters or old age.A memorial was set up atJ.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refugehonoring "Wilma", as she was known by the residents.A new crocodile was introduced in May 2010 when she was found on a private property and relocated toJ.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.Plants on the island include the nativesea grape,sea oats,mangroves,and several types ofpalm trees.TheAustralian pineis an introduced species that has spread throughout the island, to some extent overpowering native vegetation and trees. Once mature, the pine blocks sunlight and drops a thick bed of pine needles that affect the soil's pH and prevents new native growth. The ground is very soft under these pines.

The local form of themarsh rice rathas been recognized in some classifications as a separatesubspecies,Oryzomys palustris sanibeli.

Wildlife refuges

Bobcatsare sometimes seen in Sanibel

Preserving the island's natural ecology has always been important to its citizens and visitors alike. A driving force in the preservation of the island is theSanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundationwhich was founded in 1967 with a mission to "preserve natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around the islands of Sanibel and Captiva."1,300 acres (5.3 km²) of land on Sanibel are under the supervision of the Foundation; included in this land there is a "Marine Laboratory which actively conducts research in areas includingseagrasses,mangroves,harmfulalgal blooms,fish populations and shellfish restoration. "Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation also has a project called RECON (River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network) which includes a "network of eight in-water sensors that provide real-time, hourly readings of key water quality parameters."The foundation also serves to protect the wildlife on the island and has a variety of education programs designed to instruct people about the island's unique ecology.

The biggest wildlife refuge on the island is the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Covering more than 5,200 acres (21 km²) of land, the refuge strives to ensure that these lands are "preserved, restored and maintained as a haven for indigenous and migratory wildlife as part of a nation-wide network of Refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service" The lands also serve to provide a home for many endangered and threatened species.Currently the refuge provides a home for over 220 species of birds native to the island.Visitors to the refuge can walk, bike, drive, or kayak though the wildlife drive which takes you through five miles (8.0 kilometres) of mangrove tree forests and tidal flats, this drive is perfect for watching the island's wildlife and looking at the island's native vegetation. To show that preserving the wildlife really is important, the drive is closed one day every week, Friday, so that the wildlife can have a day to themselves where they can scavenge for food closer to the drive and not have to be bothered by or fearful of humans. There is also an education center which features "interactive exhibits on refuge ecosystems, the life and work of" Ding "Darling, migratory flyways, and the National Wildlife Refuge System."

Beaches and seashells

A view looking north on the beach at West Gulf Drive Beach access point #7, Sanibel, Lee County, Florida. The whitish objects are all shells, and so are some of the brown objects.

Sanibel's beaches attract visitors from all around the world, partly because of the large quantities of seashells that wash up there. Many sand dollars can be found as well. One of the reasons for these large accumulations of shells is that Sanibel is a barrier island that is "part of a large plateau that extends out into theGulf of Mexicofor miles. It is this plateau that acts like a shelf for seashells to gather. "Sanibel also has an" east-west orientation when most islands are north-south. Hence, the island is gifted with great sandy beaches and an abundance of shells. "

People lucky enough to find the elegant brown-spotted shell ofa Junoniaon a Sanibel beach often get their picture in the local newspapers. Junonia volutes are reasonably common living in deep water but only rarely wash up; a beach find of a whole shell is greatly prized. Junonia shells can be purchased at local shell shops and are displayed at theBailey-Matthews National Shell Museum,in some of the glass display tables at the Sanibel Cafe, and at the Sanibel Shell Fair in early March.

Throughout the year, people come to Sanibel's beaches to gather shells. People are often seen bending down as they look for seashells, and this posture is known as the "Sanibel Stoop."There are beaches almost all around the island. There are even beaches along the Sanibel causeway that are great for fishing andwindsurfing.Beach parking is very limited, and in high season finding a convenient parking space can be a challenge.

Lighthouse Beach is named afterSanibel Lighthouse,which includes a popular fishing pier and nature trails. The island's most secluded beach is Bowman's Beach; no hotels are in sight and the beach has a "pristine and quiet" atmosphere.

Infrastructure

A view looking toward the mainland from the bay side of Sanibel shows the causeway in the distance.

Transportation

A new three-section causeway bridge to Sanibel was completed in 2007, with a high-span section replacing the original drawbridge. Many sections of the causeway were destroyed in September 2022 byHurricane Ian,rendering it unusable.

Library

Sanibel Public Library was built in 1994 and expanded in 2004. It has more than 60,000 titles.

Notable people

The city's best-known resident is formerCIADirectorPorter Goss,who spearheaded the island's incorporation, became its first mayor, and represented the area inCongressfrom 1989 until his appointment as CIA Director in 2004.

Other notable people who reside or used to reside on Sanibel include:

• R. Tucker Abbott,leading 20th centurymalacologist/conchologist
• Horace William Baden Donegan,Bishop of New York, Episcopal Church in the United States of America
• Clifton Fadiman,author and radio/TV personality
• Helaine Fendelman,appraiser
• Jean Shepherd,author, screenwriter and radio raconteur
• Willard Scott,TV personality
• Randy Wayne White,writer ofcrime fictionand nonfiction adventure tales

In literature

Sanibel Island is the main setting for crime novels by local author Randy Wayne White. Popular locales are referenced throughout his novels. White's main fictional character is Doc Ford and due to his popularity, White opened a restaurant called Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar & Grill. Sanibel Island is the setting in the prologue of the bookPeople We Meet on Vacation.

In film

Parts ofGeorge A. Romero'sDay of the Deadwere shot on Sanibel Island.Romero had a second home on Sanibel, where he rewroteDay of the Deadin 1984.

Night Moveswas filmed on the Island in 1975, directed byArthur Penn.It starsGene Hackman,Jennifer Warren,Susan Clarkand features early career appearances byJames WoodsandMelanie Griffith.

Religion

• Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

External links

• Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of CommerceOfficial website for businesses on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island
• City of Sanibel Florida WebsitePortal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
• Lee County Visitor & Convention BureauInformation regarding travel and tourism to and around Sanibel Island