E-City Island Cache Series: Welcome!
Everglades City is a small fishing community located between the 10,000 islands and the Big Cypress Swamp on the banks of Chokoloskee Bay which is approximately 10 miles long and 2 miles wide.
The first permanent settler was William Smith Allen, who arrived on the banks of what is now known as the Barron River in 1873. In 1889, George W. Storter, Jr. became the principal landowner in the area. Storter gained fame for his sugar cane crops. He opened a trading post, a post office, and a guide service for hunting and fishing. His house eventually grew into the Rod and Gun Club, visited by United States Presidents and other notables.
In 1923 Barron Collier purchased large amounts of land from Lee County and created Collier County with Everglade as the county seat and began construction on the Tamiami Trail and State Road 29 from Everglade to Immokolee. Construction on the Trail was completed in 1929. In 1928, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad began transporting agricultural freight to Everglade City, which became the southernmost point the Coast Line ever reached. The railroad was removed in 1957.
In 1960 Hurricane Donna hit Everglade hard, and two years later, Florida's legislature moved the county seat to Naples. In 1965, the state legislature changed the town's name to Everglades City.
Everglades City proclaims itself as the Gateway to the 10,000 Islands and is now the home to about 400 people year-round. This old Florida community is home to Stone Crabber’s, fishing guides, kayakers, and ecological tours for everything from the 10,000 islands, mangrove tunnels, the big cypress swamp, and fishing!
This cache takes you to the middle of town where all the activity back in the Barron Collier days revolved around! You can see the Bank of the Everglades building, the Town Hall, the old Depot, and the famous Rod & Gun Club which was once used as a schoolhouse on the island! It is placed with the owner’s permission. Enjoy exploring this island town! Place the cache back the way you found it! BYOP