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Naples History

Naples is a city located on the southwestern coast of Florida, and it has a rich and interesting history dating back thousands of years.

The area now known as Naples was originally inhabited by the Calusa people, a powerful Native American tribe that lived along the Gulf of Mexico for thousands of years. The Calusa were skilled fishermen and had a complex social structure with a ruling class and a system of government.

In the 1800s, European settlers began to arrive in the area, attracted by the fertile land and abundant wildlife. One of the earliest settlers was Roger Gordon, who built a homestead on the Gordon River in 1869. Gordon is often credited with naming the town after Naples, Italy, a city known for its natural beauty and Mediterranean climate.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Naples became a popular destination for wealthy visitors from the north who were looking for a warm winter retreat. Many of these visitors built homes and established businesses in the area, and the town began to grow.