Did You Know... Marco Island

Did you know Marco Island is the largest of the barrier islands in the Ten Thousand Islands area? At 14 square miles, the island contains six miles of beach and more than 100 miles of waterways. Originally inhabited by the Calusa Indians, Marco Island was one of the sites where Juan Ponce de Leon made landfall while exploring Florida. Now one of the oldest place names in North America, the Spaniards named the island Caxambas (the Indian word for fresh water). Later, the island became known as La Isla de San Marco, then San Marco Island and eventually just Marco Island. The area was incorporated as Collier City in 1927 but later unincorporated. The City of Marco Island was incorporated in August 1997. Reprinted from Quality Cities January/February 2006 Photo courtesy of Visit Florida Back to City Trivia Home