Bonita Springs, Florida is a popular retirement community in Southwest Florida.

Bonita Springs FL History

In the 1870's, government surveyors pitched camp near a medicinal spring that the local Indians believed could heal the sick. After the crew left, the site was known as “Survey” and the stream running from it was called Surveyor's Creek.

In the late 1880's, Braxton B. Comer bought 6000 acres of land around Survey to locate a large plantation that grew pineapples, bananas and coconuts. Within a few years, Survey developed from a scattering of homesteaders into a community. By 1910, the Eagle Hotel was in business catering to visitors attracted to the area's hunting and fishing.

In 1912, Mr. Ragsdale and his associate Dan Farnsworth purchased 2400 acres around Survey. They surveyed the area and laid out a small town with streets and avenues named for potential buyers. The developers decided that the name “Survey” lacked sales appeal, so they renamed the town Bonita Springs. Indian Spring Branch became Oak River and Surveyor's Creek was renamed Imperial River. By the early 1920's, the Fort Myers-Southern Railroad extended to include Bonita Springs. Fiddlerville, so called for its millions of tiny fiddler crabs, became Bonita Beach.

Bonita Springs Florida – Flourishing Southwest Florida Township

Today, Bonita Springs Florida has fine restaurants and excellent recreational facilities. It is a flourishing Southwest Florida township that is popular year round.