1958 Map of Estero

About this map

Estero and the surrounding Lee County coast show a landscape defined by subtropical wetlands and early residential development in this late-century revision of 1950s data. The area around Koreshan State Park preserves the footprint of a unique communal settlement, including the Koreshan Unity Cem, while newer inland growth appears at San Carlos Park. This survey documents a critical period before the heavy modern expansion of the Gulf Coast, where numerous Flowing Wells dot the interior and small lakes like Lily Lake and Spruce Lake are surrounded by nascent street grids. Along the coast, the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve protects a complex network of mangrove islands and keys, including Mound Key State Park and the southern reaches of Big Hickory Island. The transition from the rural outpost of Coconut to a more suburbanized environment is visible through the increasing density of trailer parks and golf courses.