LEE COUNTY, FL HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Lee County, Florida: A Genealogical Overview

Located in southwestern Florida along the Gulf of Mexico, Lee County is a major destination for tourism and retirement, renowned for its barrier islands like Sanibel and Captiva, extensive man-made canals in Cape Coral, and the historic winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in Fort Myers. Its history is layered, from the ancient Calusa peoples and the military conflicts of the Seminole Wars to its modern-day explosion as one of Florida’s most populous and rapidly developing counties.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Lee County’s formation from a vast parent county and its own role as a “mother county” is essential for tracing ancestors in the rapidly changing landscape of Southwest Florida.

  • 1887: County Formed: Lee County was established on May 13, 1887, by an act of the Florida Legislature.
  • Parent County: It was created from the southern portion of Monroe County. Records prior to 1887 for this area would be located in Monroe County records, whose county seat is Key West.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Lee County was later partitioned itself as the population grew. In 1923, its southern portion was used to create Collier County, and its eastern portion was combined with part of Palm Beach County to form Hendry County. Researchers with ancestors in these areas must be aware of these 1923 boundary changes.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
  • County Seat History: The county seat has always been Fort Myers, which was established as a military fort long before the county’s creation.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the heartland of the Calusa people, a powerful non-agricultural chiefdom known for their complex shell mounds and extensive canal systems. Following the demise of the Calusa, the area became significant territory for the Seminole people during the 19th-century Seminole Wars.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first major non-native settlement was military, centered around Fort Myers, a key outpost during the Seminole Wars. After the Civil War, settlement was sparse, with an economy based on cattle ranching (by “cow hunters”), fishing, and agriculture. The arrival of the railroad in 1904 and the influence of famous winter residents like Thomas Edison transformed the area’s profile. The largest growth came after World War II, with massive land development projects like Cape Coral and a booming economy based on construction, tourism, and services for a growing retirement community.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Lee County.

  • Courthouse: Lee County Clerk of the Court: Located at the Lee County Justice Center, 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901. This office is the primary repository for county records including probate (wills and estates), civil and criminal court cases, and official land records (deeds) from the county’s formation. Marriage licenses are also held here.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Florida began in 1917, although some earlier records may exist. These official records are held by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. For deaths or births prior to this, researchers should consult church records, cemetery records, and newspapers.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1887 to the present are held by the Lee County Clerk of the Court.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Lee County Library System: The main Fort Myers-Lee County Public Library has a dedicated genealogy collection with local and state resources.
    • Southwest Florida Historical Society: Located in Fort Myers, this is a key resource for local history, photographs, and family research.
    • State Archives of Florida: (Located in Tallahassee) For statewide research, this is the most important repository, holding state-level records, Confederate pension applications, and microfilm copies of many county-level records.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Charlotte County, FL
    • Glades County, FL
    • Hendry County, FL
    • Collier County, FL

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks