Welcome to a special section of The News-Press that celebrates the 40th anniversary of Cape Coral’s incorporation. Cape Coral officially became a city on Aug. 18, 1970.
I’ve worked in Cape Coral for five years, and I’m still struck every day by how passionate people are about the city and all the things that have made it so unique over the years.
Our section has a dual purpose as it tries to honor that passion: to track the history and growth of the city and to celebrate the character of the community through the events, fun places and culture that have sprung up around us.
To do that, we’ve divided the section into parts. We have a brief introduction about Jack and Leonard Rosen, the visionaries who helped sell the world on Cape Coral, but we’re mostly tackling things from 1970 onward, although our community has been around much longer than that.
- Part I is all about the building blocks: How the city incorporated, the first mayors and the city council, and how the fire and police departments were formed.
- Part II is about progress. You’ll read about the first schools, the Cape Coral Hospital, the Midpoint Bridge and business options that have sprung up.
- Part III is called people and places. These are stories about the first people and neighborhoods in the city, night life and special events.
- Part IV takes a look at the city’s arts and recreation options.
We also have plenty of old photos from all eras, timelines, and other interesting tidbits to help give readers a sense of what their city is all about, how it got to where it is, and where it might possibly be going.
I would like to thank Anne Cull of the Cape Coral Historical Society, who let us use some fantastic photos. I encourage all residents to check out this amazing resource. The museum, run entirely by volunteers, has tons of exhibits and a wealth of information. It truly is a treasure trove. Visit www.capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org.
A big thanks must also go to our city historian, Paul Sanborn, whose knowledge and general good humor kept us pointed in the right direction.
Here’s to another 40 years. Thanks for reading.
