Until the birth of Cape Coral, the area was simply known
as “the other side of the river” by homesteaders, loggers, cattlemen,
professional fishermen, and sportsmen. However, in 1957 Leonard and Jack
Rosen changed that by purchasing a 103 square mile tract, known as Redfish
Point, for $678,000. The Gulf American Corporation (GAC) was formed to
develop this “Waterfront Wonderland” and on November 4th of that year,
ground was officially broken as Cape Coral.
Early in 1958, a stretch of “Miracle Mile”, later named Cape Coral Parkway,
extended east from Coronado for one mile, and a main intersection was soon
formed where it met Harney Point Road, now Del Prado Blvd. There was only
one building located in Cape Coral, which was a fourplex at the corner of
Cape Coral Parkway and Coronado Parkway, housing land sales offices.
Through GAC, the development grew at a remarkable pace, and on June 10,
1958, the first residents moved in. These pioneers had to drive forever to
get anywhere – 20 miles for a loaf of bread! Cape Coral was promoted like no
other Florida development, through a mail order program with ads on radio,
television and print media. In 1959, water view homesites were sold for
$990, waterfront was sold for $1,900, and riverfront cost $3,390. Property
sales reached over $9 million after the first year and planeloads of curious
northerners were soon flown down for a quick look and a heavy sales pitch,
landing an out-of-the-way strip, now called 47th Terrace.
On March 14, 1964, the two-lane Cape Coral Bridge was opened to traffic,
making the area even more accessible to potential buyers. Interestingly, as
far back as 1959 when the best location for a bridge was being considered,
engineers picked a location connecting Everest Parkway with Colonial Blvd.,
now the location of the Midpoint Memorial Bridge. However, due to
construction costs and proximity to the area of initial development, the
Cape Coral Parkway to Braden-Sutphin Rd. (now College Parkway) route was
chosen.
The city was incorporated in 1970 with a population of 11,470, making it the
3rd largest city in a land mass in Florida. The 2000 U.S. Census reported
Cape Coral’s population as 109,635. This year, Cape Coral will exceed
145,000, while remaining approximately 40% developed.