Types of Neighborhoods
Every city has its own unique characteristics, so does every neighborhood within the city. Naples is no exception and every neighborhood in the Naples area is unique. Each individual neighborhood offers its own unique sense of community and blends seamlessly into the Naples community as a whole. Whether you are seriously considering moving to or within the Naples area or just visiting this fabulous stretch of Florida coastline it is fitting to know a little bit about every street and boulevard in the city and the greater Naples metro area.
A Brief History of the Area
Naples was originally founded more than 100 years ago by northerners seeking to create a new seaside oasis. The name Naples was inspired by the city of Naples on the Italian Peninsula and its location on the coast close to but not quite at the end of the peninsula. The original town of Naples was no more than a few thousand acres but quickly grew into the city we know today.
Naples began with beach front property as a resort destination for the captains of industry during the gilded age, and a pier was constructed at which boats would dock since Naples was originally accessible only by boat. The first hotel built in Naples was the old 16 room Naples Hotel which was an exclusive retreat for that periods influential industrialists who quickly realized the beauty and value Naples had to offer.
Naples had relatively slow growth in the early 1900s with building with nearby builders and far off investors working to build Naples into a much more substantial town, gaining a crushed shell road connecting Naples to Fort Myers.
Collier County’s creation in 1923 and its early economic growth were closely tied to Memphis-born millionaire, Barron Gift Collier. With his fortune from streetcar advertising, Collier introduced paved roads, electric power, telegraphs and countless new businesses and homeowners to Florida’s last frontier. The completion of the Tamiami Trail in 1928 also unlocked the region’s enormous agricultural and resort potential.
The county seat was transferred from Everglades City to East Naples in 1962, signaling a new era of sustained growth in agriculture, tourism and real estate that has made Collier County one of the fastest developing areas in the nation.
In the 1960s the areas such as East Naples and North Naples soon began developing as well. The 1960s also brought the Rosen Brothers of Gulf American Land corporation who platted and developed Golden Gate, and the Golden Gate Estates.
From the 60s on to today development has been relentless, with only a short pause during the housing crash of 2008.
City of Naples
The City of Naples consists of all areas that are located within the city limits of Naples. These areas are the oldest and most established in the Naples Area and offer a more “old word” charm compared to the outlying areas.
Areas within the city limits are impeccably maintained and properties within the city limits generally hold their value well owing to a very strong sense of community within the City of Naples.
East Naples
East Naples consists of the areas in the Greater Naples Area that are located immediately east of Downtown Naples along Tamiami Trail East (US-41) and Davis Blvd.
These areas began development after the construction of the Tamiami Trail and there are a great variety of neighborhoods in East Naples some of which are established areas, and others that are just beginning to be developed. East Naples is the highest concentration of neighborhoods that are undergoing revitalization owing to the younger generations desire to live near but not in downtown areas.
North Naples
North Naples includes some of the first areas of Collier County to develop outside of the initial City of Naples. Vanderbilt Beach, developed in the 1940s was the home to the luxury Ritz Carlton Beach Resort.
This area also includes Pelican Bay a beachfront luxury golf community which is home to the Artis Naples (formerly the Philharmonic Center for the Arts) and is part of the community’s cultural fabric.