Naples FL Moving Companies

Naples, Florida

The city of Naples, Florida is a major tourist center for the north Everglades section of southwestern Florida. With multiple white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico coast, tourists have flocked to Naples for over a century. The city has 21,653 residents as well (with over 300,000 living in the greater metropolitan area), drawn in by an economically-advantageous lifestyle and warm climate. In fact, Naples has been ranked by US News & World Report as one of the “10 Best Undervalues Places to Live in America" making this city an excellent destination for those moving to Naples.

Economy:
While Naples depends on tourism for much of the area’s employment, other industries contribute to the local economy. A large percentage of the city’s employees do work in the many hotels and resorts along the “Paradise Coast,” as Naples is the main urban center for the local region. Technology and health care-related companies are also major employers for Naples. The technology company INgage Networks, the insurance company Health Management Associates and the medical equipment company Arthrex are all headquartered in the Naples area. Among the other companies based in Naples are March Aviation, Herbreau Creations, Loos & Co., Graybar, Lawson Aquatics, Gulf Coast American Fabrication, Interlocking Pavestones and Vitarich. With some many employment opportunties, it's no wonder Naples moving companies are so busy bringing in new residents all the time.

History:
The first European settlers in the Naples region, Roger Gordon and Joe Wiggins, arrived in the late 1860s to land inhabited by the Caloosa Indian tribe. Over the following decades, the remote coastal town grew more in reputation than population, with advertisements claiming the area to be as pleasant as the coast of southern Italy. The comparisons between the town and Naples, Italy led to its name. A group of investors from Kentucky arrived in 1887 and bought most of the town’s land. With their construction of a 600-foot-long pier into the Gulf of Mexico, shipping traffic into Naples increased. Road traffic had to wait much longer, with only dirt and shell roads leading to and from the city well into the 20th century. Paved access to Naples came courtesy of Barron G. Collier, who purchased one million acres of Naples land in 1911. Wanting his investment to grow, Collier actively campaigned for Naples and eventually helped fund the Tamiami Trail through the town. When the Trail opened in 1926, it was the only paved highway to run between Miami and Tampa.

Tourism:
There are many attractions in Naples, a town that orients itself around the tourism industry. Due to the city’s position just to the north of the Everglades National Park, nature tours of various kinds depart from the city. You can visit a manatee habitat, explore protected swamplands and search for dolphins on day tours leaving from Naples. Cultural attractions include museums like the Palm Cottage House historical museum, music and theater venues like the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts and the galleries found along downtown’s Gallery Row. While many visitors come to Naples solely for its white sand beaches (six of them in the city), others take advantage of world class shopping in districts such as the Village on Venetian Bay, the Waterside Shops (featuring Tiffany & Co., Gucci and Saks Fifth Avenue), 3rd Avenue South and 5th Avenue South. The Naples Municipal Airport only offers flights to and from Fort Lauderdale, but the Southwest Florida International Airport (in Fort Myers, Florida) offers a nearby alternative with daily flights to destinations around the country. Once in Naples, you can use public transportation in the form of Collier Area Transit buses.

Colleges/Universities:

• Hodges University
• Ave Maria University
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Ave Maria School of Law

Interesting Facts:

• The town of Naples was built on originally swampy land in close proximity to the Everglades. As a result, swamp animals like alligators were frequent visitors in Naples’ early years. Some alligators were so close, in fact, that homeowners would empty table scraps directly to the animals from their windows.
• In 1932, Naples had the honor of a plane landing by Charles Lindbergh. Later in the 1930s, the famous aviator and his wife maintained a vacation home in the nearby community of Sanibel.
• Naples’ early reputation as a tourist resort was supported by visits from late 19th and early 20th century celebrities, including Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, Gary Cooper, Greta Garbo, Rose Cleveland and Hedy Lamarr.

Helpful Links:

• City of Naples
• City of Naples Citizens Guide
• Naples Chamber of Commerce