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Sanibel Island
| Chamber of Commerce: |
Chamber of Commerce
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| Land Area: |
17.2 square miles in Lee County
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| Population: |
5,468
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| General Characteristics: |
Most Sanibel inhabitants reside in close-knit condominium neighborhoods. Architecture, ranging from stilt homes to stucco housing. Sanibel and Captiva Islands offer a variety of lifestyles � elegant condominiums, traditional homes, breezy island cottages and estate homes, many affording panoramic waterfront views.
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| Location: |
The town of Sanibel is located on Sanibel Island off the southwest coast of Florida. It is connected by bridge to the mainland and is located SW of Fort Myers.
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| Nearby Access Routes: |
Interstate Highway 75 traverses the county in a north/south direction; in Collier County to the south, it turns east and is dubbed the Everglades Parkway, a.k.a. Alligator Alley. U.S. Highway 41 (a.k.a. Tamiami Trail) is the other main north/south road. It runs from Tampa to Miami, roughly paralleling I-75, although it is the older of the two highways and is both farther west closer to the ocean and farther south than I-75
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| Recreation/Organizations: |
Tranquil beaches washed by the surf gently rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico. Seashells wildlife tropical native plants a world far away from snow shovels and smog. Relax enjoy the slow pace and easy-going attitude found on Sanibel Island.
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Lying just 15 miles to the southwest of Fort Myers are the sister islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Joined to the mainland by a three-mile toll bridge ($3.00 one way) and causeway, these world renowned islands stretch for 20 miles along the beautiful blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
With half of the island�s acreage permanently reserved as nature and wildlife sanctuaries, the unique ambiance they possess will remain for generations to come. These barrier islands have become one of the most sought-after resort and residential areas in the country.
Striking sunsets, spectacular shelling, and looming lighthouses. These are quite possibly the first images one has of Southern Florida's Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Yet there are so many unexpected pleasures to find here. Everything from nature hiking to shopping to just plain relaxing can be found on Sanibel and the twenty miles of pristine, white, sandy beaches which comprise its shore. On these "Seashell Islands," life is lush and taken at an easy, relaxed pace.
The City of Sanibel has a year round population of approximately 5,468 people, but during season it increases to about 18,000 - 20,000 people.
Sanibel Island is shaped somewhat like a boomerang and is approximately 13 miles long and 3 miles wide at it's widest point, which is Dixie Beach Boulevard, and sits east and west in the water. About 50% of the island is the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge named after J. Ding Darling, and ecologically oriented political satirist, who back in the 1920's was ahead of his time in being concerned about the ecology of this country. Ding Darling fell in love with Sanibel Island and used his influence to preserve it. There is an outstanding 5+ mile nature trail that runs through the Wildlife Refuge, along with several other smaller sanctuary areas throughout the island.
The City of Sanibel was incorporated in 1974 to protect itself from the massive development schemes which were then being carried out on much of the prime coastal areas of Lee County. After incorporating, the city fathers commissioned a study which led to the development of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. It is one of the most stringent comprehensive land use plans in the United States and has served as a model for other small communities throughout the country. The plan is continuously being updated and reflects the experience and growth of the Island community.
Our land use plan lowered the density of development on the Island dramatically - e.g. from 18 units/acre to 5 units/acre, with build-out projection of approximately 9,000 dwelling units. In addition, the land use plan assigned every part of Sanibel an ecological zone, which was based primarily on the elevation above sea level.
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