Fort Myers Historical Records
Fort Myers sits on the Caloosahatchee River. It began as a fort. The Army built it in 1850. It was named for Colonel Myers. The fort closed after the wars. Civilians moved in the 1860s. The town began to grow. Thomas Edison came in 1885. He built a winter home here. Henry Ford visited him often. Your kin may have come by boat. They may have taken the train. Files wait in Lee County.
The library has strong tools. It sits at 1651 Lee Street. Call them at (239) 479-4630. The staff can help you. They have old records there. You can search family files. Many records are on file. Start your search today.
Fort Myers Quick Facts
Lee County Library System Genealogy
The Lee County Library offers strong tools. The main branch is downtown. It sits at 1651 Lee Street. Call them at (239) 479-4630. This branch has the best kin file set in the county. Staff help all who visit.
The library has big data sets. You can use Ancestry Library Edition there. It has census and military files. The set covers all U.S. states. It also has foreign nations. This helps trace kin who came from afar. You can find how they reached Fort Myers. The library has Fold3 too. This has military files.
Special sets focus on local life. You can find town history books. Family histories are there too. Maps show Lee County through time. City guides date to the 1900s. These list folks by name. You can find where they lived. Track them as they moved.
News files on film are key. The library holds the Fort Myers News-Press. Some issues date to the 1880s. Papers have birth and death notes. Society pages list events. You can read stories about kin. Obituaries name family members.
Fort Myers Historical Overview
The fort era began with war. The Army built on the river. They named it for Colonel Myers. The fort closed when wars ended. Civilians claimed the land. They built homes and stores. The town began to thrive.
Thomas Edison made the town known. He bought land in 1885. He built a lab and home. Henry Ford bought next door. They spent winters there. Other famous folks followed. The town became a retreat.
The 1920s brought fast growth. New buildings rose downtown. Streets were paved with brick. The town spread past the river. The bust slowed things down. The Depression brought more woes. But the town held on. Post-war years brought new folks. Now it is a Gulf Coast hub.
Lee County Records for Fort Myers
The Lee Clerk of Courts keeps files. They have Fort Myers kin records. The county formed in 1887. It split from Monroe County. Fort Myers has been the seat since then. Files cover all local time. Marriage licenses help prove ties. They start in 1887. Earlier ones may be in Monroe. Each license names the pair. Ages and birthplaces show up. Parents may be named. Search the clerk's index online.
Property deeds trace land through time. Early files show homestead claims. You can follow one plot from start. See raw land turn to homes. Deeds name buyers and sellers. Wives sign with husbands. This shows wed names of daughters. You learn who owned what.
Probate files open family views. When folks died, estates went to court. Files name heirs and kin ties. Wills list kids and grandkids. Inventories show what was owned. You learn about daily life. Files help build true trees.
Chapter 119 keeps files open. This law grants access. You can view and copy them. Some have privacy shields. But old files are mostly free. The clerk's office is downtown.
Florida State Archives Fort Myers Collections
The State Archives holds Lee County files. Fort Myers families are included. You can visit Tallahassee. Many files are online too.
Vital records help link kin. Death files start in 1877. They name the dead and parents. Chapter 382 sets the rules. Old files are open to all. Free indexes help you search.
Visit the State Archives of Florida to explore their holdings.
Digital Tools for Fort Myers Research
Online tools make work fast. You can search from home. Many sites cost nothing. Some need paid plans.
FamilySearch.org gives free Florida files. It has Lee County marriages. Census views cost nothing. The site grows with new scans.
Ancestry.com has the largest paid set. It has all U.S. census years. Florida news files are there. Military rolls are included.
Lee County Genealogy Records
Fort Myers is the Lee County seat. Most files are at the county level. The clerk keeps court and land files. You can visit downtown. Or use online search tools.