The Calusa Indians were the first known inhabitants of the area known now as Everglades City. The Calusa built a large shell mound on nearby Chokoloskee Island.
Just after the Civil War in 1868, the Weeks and Allen families are believed to be the area's first permanent white residents along the Allen River. They were farmers on the banks of the river which was the only naturally high ground around. This was only 10% of the territory which is now Everglades City. In 1923, Barron G. Collier made Everglades the headquarters for his Tamiami Trail road building company and dredged to make high ground which constitutes most of today's Everglades City. The high ground of today is the result of Collier's dredging operations in the 1920s. With land to build on, the town prospered and by 1929 there was a trolley, hospital and clinic, movie house, library, railroad depot, common garage for autos, two hotels and a jail.
When the Tamiami Trail, a road from Tampa to Miami, was completed in 1928, many construction jobs were lost. The area rebounded with commercial fishing during the late 1920s and 1930s. By 1953, the town had grown large enough to take over its own municipal operations and bought the water, sewer, electric, street, fire and other public services from the Collier company. After the Collier companies moved their headquarters to Naples, and the town became more of a fishing community. Sponge fishing flourished in the 1940s, shrimping in the 1950s, and stone crabbing in the 1960s.
Everglades City represents the quiet, clean, life of the Olde Florida, close to nature.
Each year Everglades City hosts a Seafood Festival which brings in visitors from around the world. There is much to do in Everglades City.....fishing, airboat rides, canoeing, deep water tours and back water tours. The Everglades National Park, Gulf Coast Center is located in Everglades City. Everglades City has accommodations for every purse and food to please most palates.
Come, relax, and enjoy the quiet life.
Everglades City - a nice place to live!