Editing Marco Island, Florida (section)

==History==
[[File:Florida's Emerald Isle, Marco Island.ogv|thumb|left|Marco Island in the 1960s]]
Marco Island's history can be traced to 500 CE, when the [[Calusa]] people inhabited the island as well as the rest of [[southwest Florida]]. A number of Calusa artifacts were discovered on [[Key Marco]] (an island then adjacent, and since attached, to Marco Island) in 1896 by anthropologist [[Frank Hamilton Cushing]] as part of the [[Pepper-Hearst Expedition]]. The most notable artifact discovered was the carved wooden "Key Marco Cat",<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-27|title=Nine Lives Well Lived|url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/rrc/blog/nine-lives-well-lived/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Florida Museum|language=en-US}}</ref> now on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum under a loan from the [[Smithsonian Institution]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themihs.info/keymarcoartifacts/|title=The Key Marco Artifacts}}</ref> The artifact is featured on a 1989 postage stamp.<ref>{{cite web |title=45c Pre-Columbian American single |url=https://collections.si.edu/search/record/ark:/65665/hm88a043acdc5dd4651b9e26c0369a2a63c |website=Smithsonian National Postal Museum |access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>

When Spanish explorers came to the island in the mid-1500s, they gave the island the name ''La Isla de San Marcos'' after [[Mark the Evangelist|St. Mark]], traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of Mark.<ref>{{cite web| title=Marco Island's History| url=http://www.marcoisland.org/history.htm| publisher=Marco Island Visitor Guide| access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref> Early development of the island began in the late 1800s after the arrival of William Thomas Collier and his family. Collier founded the village of Marco on the island in 1870, and in 1896 his son, William D. "Capt. Bill" Collier, opened a hotel on the island, known today as the Olde Marco Inn.<ref>{{cite web| title=Historical Markers of Marco Island| url=http://www.marcosun.com/marco_history.htm| publisher=Marco Sun| access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref> [[Clam digging]] became a major industry on Marco Island and throughout the [[Ten Thousand Islands]] in the early 1900s. The Burnham Clam Cannery began operation near Caxambas Pass in 1903 and operated until 1929.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} The Doxsee Clam Cannery also operated from 1911 to 1947.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 1912, ferry service began between Marco Island and the Isles of Capri. A road on the mainland linked the ferry landing with [[East Naples, Florida|East Naples]] (just west of [[Florida State Road 951|State Road 951]]). A small piece of this road remains and is known as Barefoot Williams Road.<ref>{{cite web| last=Cousineau| first=Bonnie Jean| title=Barefoot Williams| url=http://www.naples-florida.com/barefoot-williams.htm| work=Naples, Florida History| publisher=Naples Historical Society| access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Woodward |title=North of Isles of Capri – Part Two |url=https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/news/north-of-isles-of-capri-part-two/article_665f84c1-1a46-543c-a38f-bbf77ebad7fb.html |access-date=9 May 2024 |agency=Coastal Breeze News |date=2 April 2020}}</ref>

[[Barron Collier|Barron G. Collier]] (whom Collier County is named after, and no relation to William T. Collier) purchased a large amount of land on Marco Island in 1922, and in 1927 the island incorporated as Collier City. Collier City was abolished in 1957. James Harvey Doxsee Sr. served as Collier City's only mayor.<ref name=history>{{cite news| last=Layden| first=Laura| title=Lighthouse Project - History: Marco began as a place for catching, canning clams| url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/apr/03/marco-island-resort-community-clams-lighthouse/?print=1| access-date=5 March 2014| newspaper=Naples Daily News| date=3 April 2012}}</ref> Also in 1927, the [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] began service to the island after extending its route from [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]] and [[Naples, Florida|Naples]]. The railroad ran to the island along the present route of State Road 951. Rail service was discontinued in 1944.<ref name="Turner">{{cite book| last =Turner | first =Gregg M. | title =Railroads of Southwest Florida | publisher =Arcadia Publishing | series =Images of America | date =December 1, 1999}}</ref> The first vehicle bridge to the island was a small wooden [[swing bridge]] built in 1938 near [[Goodland, Florida|Goodland]] on the island's east side. Remnants of this bridge can be seen next to the current bridge at the site, the [[Stan Gober Memorial Bridge]] (built in 1975). The island's ferry service was discontinued after the original Goodland Bridge opened.

Significant development of Marco Island took place in the 1960s that made it into the retirement and tourist destination it is today. The Mackle brothers of the Deltona Corporation led development of the island after purchasing large amounts of land there for $7 million. As a result of development, the [[S.S. Jolley Bridge]] opened for traffic in 1969.<ref>{{cite web| title=Modern Marco| url=http://www.themihs.com/historical-photos/modern-mar/| publisher=Marco Island Historical Society| access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref> Marco Island reincorporated as a city on August 28, 1997.<ref>{{cite web| title=Present Day Marco Island| url=http://www.cityofmarcoisland.com/index.aspx?page=208| publisher=City of Marco Island| access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref> As in many coastal communities, residents battle short-term rentals and traffic congestion.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} On September 28, 2022, [[Hurricane Ian]] devastated the island with an 8' storm surge.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}