Pine Island Road Live Cam

Cape Coral weather is the best! From daytime highs of 75 degrees in January to days of 95 degrees in August. I'll take it! Heat and humidity, bring it on! I think it's better than cold and ice. Cape Coral is the subtropics, which means moderate, dry winters; and hot, humid, rainy summers. Cape Coral averages 53 inches of rain each year.

The City of Cape Coral is located on the beautiful west coast of Florida. Cape Coral lies south of Sarasota and north of Naples, across the Caloosahatchee River from Fort Myers.

Since Cape Coral was incorporated as a city in 1970, its population has increased an astonishing 600 percent. From 1980 to 1990, Cape Coral's population grew 133.6 percent. With approximately 85,000 permanent residents, Cape Coral is not just growing, but doing so in carefully planned directions. Cape Coral's rapid,sustained growth is a result of a combinations of factors:

An extensive labor force with great work ethics; A mixture of affordable housing; Easy access to regional and national markets; Cost effective industrial space; Progressive tax structure and Unparalleled quality of life.

Cape Coral is the second largest geographical city (1 14.4 square miles) in Florida and ranks 14th in population statewide. This unprecedented growth has fueled an expanding labor pool to support new business. The majority of Cape Coral's work force is comprised of young, highly skilled, northern factory workers and tradesmen who have migrated south for economic and climatic reasons. What began as a traditional retirement community has become one of Florida's most attractive areas to work, live, and play.

Approximately 10 million people, or three-quarters of Florida's population live within 150 miles of Cape Coral. By the year 2000, this number will be in excess of 12 million people. The Cape Coral/Fort Myers MSA grew seven times faster than the national average between 1980 and 1990, ranking the third fastest growing market in the United States. With the recent completion of Interstate 75, the area is within comfortable driving distance of all Florida's major markets.

Cape Coral is just over two hours from Tampa, under three hours from Miami, and about three and one-half hours southwest of Orlando. The Cape Coral bridge provides easy access to the Southwest Florida International Airport with international commercial jet service to just about everywhere and convenient on site customs and cargo facilities.

Cape Coral's Quality of Life is unparalleled due to its beautiful climate, excellent health care system, affordable housing, and extremely low crime rate.

Cape Coral is fortunate in that its housing stock is relatively young. The City's oldest housing structures were constructed in the late fifties; however, a significant number of houses have been built in the last ten years. Although Cape Coral welcomes over 1000 new residents each year, housing is remarkably affordable. In 1992, the average annual price for a Cape Coral home was $94,646. The 1990 Census median value for a Cape Coral home is $91,100 and the median contract rent is $438.00. Florida's stitution provides that the first $25,000 of the assessed valuation of an owner-occupied home shall be exempt from the real property tax. Thus, based on price, quality, durability, and return on investment, Cape Coral ranks among the nation's top housing markets.

Cape Coral has an excellent police force and a remarkably low crime rate. This is obvious when compared to other metropolitan areas within Florida. Even with the accelerated rate of community growth, the crime rate has not increased at the same level as many of the nation's other cities to include South Florida.

The Cape Coral Police Department was the 125th law enforcement agency in the United States to attain the highest level of excellence needed to become Fully Accredited, placing it in the top 2% of the Nation's law enforcement agencies. This can be directly linked to the quality of life and Cape Coral Police Department's modern and progressive attitude.

One of Cape Coral's greatest strengths is its transportation infrastructure which efficiently and economically links Cape Coral to virtually every product market.

Southwest Florida International Airport is Cape Coral's and Lee County's full-service airport. The airport facilities include an 8,400 foot runway, 64,686 square feet of cargo facilities, and 18 airline service carriers. Expansion projects are already under way at the airport to keep pace with the rapid growth for the area. These projects include a new 55,000 square foot federal inspection facility and commuter terminal, expansion of the air cargo facility by 24,000 square feet and extending the runway to 12,000 feet.

Florida was one of only a few states to totally deregulate the trucking industry making shipping costs more competitive and less costly. Deregulation plus advantageous "backhaul" rates caused by fewer goods leaving the state than the amount entering, means favorable transportation costs for shippers. Cape Coral/Lee County is served by 13 intrastate and 15 interstate carriers.

Seminole Gulf Railway provides service to the north through Arcadia and to the south through Naples. Seminole Gulf carries approximately 10,300 car loads monthly.

The Caloosahatchee River borders Cape Coral to the east and travels in an east-west direction. It is the only cross-state intercoastal waterway in Florida. Port Boca Grande, located 30 miles to the north, has a 40-foot channel and is capable of handling oceangoing vessels.

Not for nothing is Florida known as the Sunshine State. The temperature soars into the 90s in the summer months and even in the winter is usually over 70 degrees. Sometimes referred to as the “Fun Capital of the World” there are hundreds of attractions within a few minutes’ drive, ranging from the Walt Disney World Resort, with its theme parks; the Universal complex; Sea World; as well as golf courses, shops and restaurants. To the east lie vast sandy expanses at Daytona and Cocoa Beaches, for example, which are close to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. To the west there is Tampa with its attractions, including Busch Gardens, as well as the Gulf Coast with the beach resorts of Clearwater, St.Petersburg and Venice. Further afield is Southern Florida which is well known for Miami and its beaches, together with the Keys and the Everglades.