Sanibel Island-                                                                  
population -6,300                          11.75 mile of gulf frontage
Island area  11,600 acres                 ave. temp 74 degrees
median age 60
Dwelling units
single family # 3,894
multifamily   # 3,115
History-
The islands are 5000 years old. 3000 people lived in 40 Calusa Villages
in 1500. Ponce del leon landed in Sanbel in 1513.
Pirates buried treasure in the area in the 1700's and early 1800's. The Lighthouse was lit in 1884. The first American settler came here in 1887. By 1889. just 100 Americans were on the Island.
By 1920's Sanibel became a tourist destination. Charles and Anne Lindbergh honeymooned on Captiva in 1929, and Edna St. Vincent Millay vacationed on Sanibel.
Lee county had plans in the 60's and early 70's to allow for 90,000 residents to live on Sanibel, Also a 4 lane highway thru the refuge was  planned, as well as high rises.
A grassroots group started a conservation movement  and took control of their destiny.  On Nov. 5, 1974 the Wonderful Island Residents incorportated , and allowed for only minimal growth. It is a great story and island visitors as well as locals will always be grateful to the grassroots group who really loved their Island.
Growth is now limited to 9000 units ( which includes time share and motel units)...I would say they did a great job!
Captiva-  I have lots of stories...just not any more writing space.