1958 Map of Naples South

About this map

Naples sits at the northern edge of this coastal survey, where the development of the mid-20th century meets the intricate mangrove systems of southwest Florida. The map illustrates a landscape defined by water and shifting sands, following the shoreline south from Naples Bay through the narrow opening at Gordon Pass. The terrain transitions into a complex network of tidal keys and inner waterways, including Dollar Bay and the wide expanse of Rookery Bay. These shallow estuaries and lagoons are separated from the open Gulf of Mexico by a thin, vulnerable barrier beach that terminates at Little Marco Pass. The survey records the early finger-canal developments in the town, showing the intersection of human engineering and the natural hydrological patterns of the Florida coast before decades of further expansion.