Collier County, County in Florida, United States
Collier County is an administrative district in southwestern Florida that stretches along the Gulf of Mexico coast and includes the northern parts of the Everglades. The region covers cities such as Naples and Marco Island along with wide conservation areas featuring wetlands and cypress groves.
The district was founded in 1923 when it separated from Lee County and was named after Barron Collier, a New York businessman who promoted development of the region. Over the following decades the initially sparse area transformed through road construction and tourism into a growing coastal region.
Residents in coastal communities depend on tourism and boating, while further inland agriculture and conservation shape daily routines. Spanish is heard often in shops and public buildings, as more than a quarter of the people have Latin American roots.
The administration is based in East Naples, where offices, libraries and schools can be reached. Those wishing to visit the conservation areas in the east should bring insect protection and water, as the trails often pass through wet landscapes.
Big Cypress National Preserve in the southeast protects rare orchids and Florida panthers, which now occur in only a few areas of the peninsula. Visitors can walk on raised wooden boardwalks through the wetland without disturbing the delicate ground.
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