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Marco Island Real Estate Agent Naples FL Property For Sale
Marco Island - The Hawaii of the East
Search for Restaurants on Marco Island Marco Island is the largest of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, located on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida. It has been described as a Magical Mystical Paradise. The attraction is tropical sun-washed white sugar sand beaches and a casual easy paced lifestyle. Sunshine, frolicking dolphins, and all of the water and sun sports that go with the beaches are available for your pleasure. As you cross the Jolley Bridge and look out over the Island and water ways, you get a sense you are entering paradise. The original inhabitants of Marco Island were the Calusa Indians. They were expert fisherman and great sailors who lived here as far back as 1513. They spent their days fishing, weaving fishing nets, fashioning jewelry and making ornaments for their shrines. The Calusa are considered to be the first "shell collectors." Their shells were discarded into huge heaps creating hills and are located in the Estates section of Marco. These heaps have become some of the highest points of elevation in Collier County and one of the highest south of Tampa.
Around 1870, Captain W.D. Collier arrived on Marco Island and began a career of clamming and fishing. Captain Collier discovered one of the largest archeological sites in Florida. Sometime after his find, Frank Hamilton Cushing of the Smithsonian Institute came to Marco and led the "1896 Expedition" and hundreds of artifacts were discovered. A six inch wooden cat was discovered and became famous known as the "Key Marco Cat". In the early 1960's, Marco Island was still undeveloped and infested with mosquitos until the Deltona Development Corporation purchased most of the property on Marco Island in 1962. Their emphasis on locations that offered great future potential earmarked Marco as a perfect resort and leisure destination. By 1968 the population had grown to an estimated 1,000 people and new model homes were continually being added. The Mackle brothers, founders of the Deltona Corporation are responsible for the planning and development of Marco as it stands today. Marco Island is truly one of Florida's best kept secrets.
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