Florida

The first humans in the area of the Sanibel-Captiva Islands were the Calusa, who arrived about 2500 years ago. The Calusa were a powerful Indian nation who came to dominate most of Southwest Florida through trade and complicated systems of canals and waterways. Sanibel was an important settlement to the Calusa up until the collapse of their empire which was brought about by the arrival of Europeans to the New World as the Americas were called at that time.

The first Europeans to arrive in Florida were the Spanish who were looking to add more lands to their substantial empire which took up most of South America and the Caribbean. The origin of the name Sanibel is thought to have been Santa Isabelle, a reference to the Saint or to the Spanish Queen at the time. The discoverer of Florida has been said to have given Sanibel it’s first name, Juan Ponce de Leon, while others say that it’s name was a reference to Roderigo Lopez’s lover, Sanibel whom he had left behind in Spain to depart on the expedition to Florida.

During the War of 1812, to avoid interference from the British Black Caesar, a pirate, set up on the island. Later when Gasparilla, a prominent Spaniard found out that he was stealing from him, chased him away, but not before Caesar managed to bury his treasure. Besides pirate dens, the first modern settlement on Sanybel as the island was called at the time was established by the Florida Peninsular Land Company in 1832. This colony never took off and was eventually abandoned by it’s inhabitants.

This first group petitioned, while it was still on the island, for the creation of a lighthouse on the island. The island was repopulated by the Homestead Act and again the settlers petitioned for a lighthouse. Construction on a Sanibel lighthouse was completed in 1884 but the community still remained small. In May 1963 a causeway was built that connected Sanibel and Captiva islands to the mainland which resulted in an explosion of growth across both islands.

The city of Sanibel passed new restrictions on development after it was incorporated which were challenged by developers which led to nothing. Currently the only buildings higher than 2 stories are buildings that were built before 1974, and there are no fast food restaurants permitted on the island, save a Dairy Queen which was on the island before the restrictions were passed.

The ecology of Sanibel is rich with various species of birds, such as Bald Eagles, Pelicans, and Roseate Spoonbills. There is a population of American Alligators and even a lone American crocodile that lives on the J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife National Refuge. Sanibel is also a location that many people come to go shelling as Sanibel and Captiva are out on the water and the currents push most of the shells out at sea on the shores of these islands.

The education of Sanibel’s children is one of preservation of their islands and native animals. Children are also given the opportunity to study a curriculum based on interaction among the community. The Sanibel school only provides education from Kindergarten and Eighth grade however.