Bonita Springs is a city in
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is located in southwestern Florida, United States, on the Gulf Coast. As of the 2020 census, its population was 760,822. In 2022, the population was 822,453, making it the eighth-most populous county in the state. The county seat ...
, United States. The population was 53,644 at the
2020 census, up from 43,914 at the 2010 census. It is part of the
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, on the state's southwest coast.
History
Bonita Springs' history dates back approximately 8,000 years, with evidence of early inhabitants including the Calusa Indians.
In the 1870s, the US Army Corps of Engineers surveyed the area, establishing a camp along what is now the Imperial River. This site became known as Survey, and the river was called Surveyor's Creek.
In the 1880s, Braxton Comer bought 6,000 acres around Survey and brought indentured families to work on his plantation.
By the early 20th century, developers decided to rename the area Bonita Springs to make it more appealing to settlers and investors.
By 1912, streets and avenues were laid out, and the names Survey and Surveyor's Creek were changed to Bonita Springs and the Imperial River, respectively.
The completion of a road to Fort Myers in 1917 and the extension of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's
Fort Myers Southern Branch through Bonita Springs to
Marco Island in the 1920s spurred significant growth.
The Tamiami Trail, completed in 1928, further contributed to this development.
During this time, Bonita Springs experienced a land boom, leading to the establishment of citrus groves and various tourist attractions, including the Everglades Wonder Gardens and the Shell Factory.
The advent of air conditioning, the construction of Interstate 75, and the opening of Southwest Florida International Airport in the late 20th century brought more tourists and retirees to Bonita Springs. Today, it is known for its beautiful beaches, luxury golf courses, and a thriving community, attracting both residents and businesses.
Geography
Bonita Springs's approximate coordinates are .
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has an area of , of which is land and (13.95%) is water.
The city is on both
Estero Bay and the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
. The area called Bonita Beach is on Little Hickory Island, a road-accessible
barrier island
Barrier islands are a Coast#Landforms, coastal landform, a type of dune, dune system and sand island, where an area of sand has been formed by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of an ...
that lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Estero Bay. The
Imperial River flows through the city's downtown district and empties into Estero Bay.
Climate
The city lies in the
tropical climate zone, more specifically a
tropical monsoon climate
An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate subtype that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ' ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
: ''Am''), having a mean January temperature of .
Hurricane Charley made landfall north of Bonita Springs on August 13, 2004.
Hurricane Wilma made landfall south of Bonita Springs on October 24, 2005. On September 9–10, 2017,
Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Hurricane Maria, Maria two weeks later. At the time, it was considered ...
, at the time a slow-moving Category 3 storm, passed over Florida's southwest coast. The eyewall/eye passed overhead in Bonita Springs. Many structures were damaged or destroyed and the city experienced significant flooding.
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 53,644 people, 24,377 households, and 16,267 families residing in the city.
As of the
2010 United States census, there were 43,914 people, 19,137 households, and 12,917 families residing in the city.
2000 census
The 2009 estimated median income for a household in the city was $53,452, and the median income for a family was $53,436. Males had a median income of $31,227 versus $25,358 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $37,958. About 6.2% of families and 10% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those aged 65 or over.
In 2009, 16.7% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.55.
As of 2000, the
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was 929.4 inhabitants per square mile (358.8/km). There were 31,716 housing units at an average density of .
In 2000, the city the population was spread out, with 13.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.
Arts and Culture
Bonita Springs boasts a rich cultural scene with institutions like the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, which offers art classes, exhibitions, and performances. The city hosts several annual events, including the Celebrate Bonita festival and various arts and craft fairs.
The Bonita Springs Historical Society offers walking tours that highlight the city’s historical sites, such as the Liles Hotel and the Bonita Springs Elementary School. These tours provide insights into the area's past and its development over the years.
Public art is an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape, with numerous sculptures and murals adorning public spaces. The Everglades Wonder Gardens, a historic attraction, continues to draw visitors with its botanical garden and wildlife exhibits.
Education
Bonita Springs is served by the
Lee County School District.
Elementary schools
*
Bonita Springs Elementary School
*Spring Creek Elementary School
Middle school
*Bonita Springs Middle School
High school
*
Bonita Springs High School
Charter schools
*Bonita Springs Charter School
*Oak Creek Charter School
Private schools
*Bonita Springs Preparatory School
*Royal Palm Academy Catholic School
*Discovery Day Academy Private School
Higher learning
*Florida Institute of Music
Transportation
Airports
*
Southwest Florida International Airport in nearby South Fort Myers serves over 8 million passengers annually.
*
Naples Municipal Airport in Naples is a smaller airport primarily for private aviation
Major highways
*
Interstate 75
*
U.S. Route 41 "South
Tamiami Trail"
* (
County Road 865) Bonita Beach Road / Hickory Boulevard
Mass transportation
Fixed-route bus and
trolley service is provided by the Lee County Transit Department, operated as
LeeTran.
Rail
Seminole Gulf Railway owns and operates a line that passes through the city. The company offers freight service and local, daytime excursions.
Media
Newspapers
Bonita Springs is served by local editions of the ''
Fort Myers News-Press'' and ''
Naples Daily News''.
Radio
The metropolitan area is home to 36 radio stations. With an Arbitron-assigned 879,600 listening area population, the metropolitan area of which Bonita Springs is one part ranks 61/274 for the fall of 2013.
Arbitron
Nielsen Audio (formerly Arbitron) is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio broadcasting audiences. It was founded as the American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by mergin ...
Standard Radio Market: Ft. Myers-Naples-
Marco Island.
Television
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rat ...
designated market area: Ft. Myers-Naples.
2013 - 2014 estimate U.S. rank: 62/210 (517,920 TV Homes)
*
WBBH –
NBC affiliate
*
WFTX –
Fox affiliate
*
WGCU –
PBS member station
*
WINK
A wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signaling shared hidden knowledge or intent. However, it is ambiguous by itself and highly dependent upon additional c ...
–
CBS affiliate
*
WXCW –
CW affiliate
*
WZVN –
ABC affiliate
* BTV 98 –
Government-access television operated by the city of Bonita Springs
Points of interest


* Barefoot Beach Preserve Park, a park on the border of
Collier and Lee Counties. In 2013, ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'' ranked the park's beach the sixth-best in the country.
* Bonita Beach Park, a beachfront park with a boardwalk and swimming area
* Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, an arts organization that hosts local, regional, and national traveling art exhibitions. The organization has two campuses, the 10-acre Center for Visual Arts with galleries, studios, classrooms, art library, and offices; and 1.8 miles south, the four-acre Center for Performing Arts, which has two auditoriums, a black box theater, a film center, music rooms, and studios for study of performing arts. The organization's Bonita Springs Art Festivals are held January, February, and March in downtown Bonita Springs.
*
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a
bald cypress reserve under management of the
National Audubon Society
* Bonita Spring's Wonder Gardens features a large collection of Florida wildlife, including exotic birds, alligators, and flamingos. It opened in 1936 as both a wildlife exhibition and a refuge for injured animals and has a
botanical garden
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...
and a natural history museum.
* Little Hickory Island Beach Park
*
Lover's Key State Park, a park made up of four barrier islands, is within the city, just north of Bonita Beach. It has nature trails for hiking and bicycling, a canoe launch, kayak and canoe rentals, acres of unspoiled
mangroves and miles of pristine beaches. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to
West Indian manatee
The West Indian manatee (''Trichechus manatus''), also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the Eastern United States to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it ...
s,
bottlenose dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin is a toothed whale in the genus ''Tursiops''. They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Molecular studies show the genus contains three species: the common bot ...
s,
roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits and
bald eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche ...
s.
* There are also 10 beach accesses with public parking up and down Bonita Beach.
* Everglades Wonder Gardens, established in 1936, is a historic botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary. Originally created as a roadside attraction, it features a variety of exotic and native plants, as well as wildlife exhibits. The gardens have become an integral part of Bonita Springs' history and culture, providing educational and recreational opportunities for visitors.
Sister cities
*
Gruenstadt, Germany
*
Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Notable people
*
Glenn Steil Sr., member of the
Michigan Senate
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Cities in Lee County, Florida
Populated coastal places in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico
Cities in Florida
Former census-designated places in Florida
Beaches of Lee County, Florida
Beaches of Florida
1999 establishments in Florida
Populated places established in 1999