Florida

Lee

760,822
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Lee

Lee, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 1,414. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 760,822.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Calusa Raiding Southwest Florida, Calusa Dominance — Southwest Florida, Calusa-Spanish Conflict – Carlos Town 1566, and 58 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020760,822
2010618,754
2000440,888
1990335,113
1980205,266
1970105,216
196054,539
195023,404
194017,488
193014,990
19209,540
19106,294
19003,071
18901,414
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Lee

Military engagements that took place in Lee, Florida.

Calusa Raiding Southwest Florida
800
Calusa Dominance — Southwest Florida
1400
Calusa-Spanish Conflict – Carlos Town 1566
1566
Harney's Massacre at Caloosahatchee
1839
Battle of Caloosahatchee — Second Seminole War (1839)
1839
Battle of the Caloosahatchee (1839)
1839
Harney's Massacre at Caloosahatchee River (1839)
1839
Third Seminole War: Attack at Fort Myers
1856
Skirmish at Caloosahatchee River (1857)
1857
Battle of Fort Myers – Rebel Cattle Raid
1864
Battle of Fort Myers Florida
1865
Fort Myers Area Skirmishes
1865
Battle of Fort Myers
1865

Historic places in Lee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee, Florida.

Mound Key Site
Fort Myers Beach
Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway Depot
Boca Grande
Sanibel Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters
Sanibel
Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic District
Estero
Fort Myers Beach School
Fort Myers Beach
Pineland Archeological District
Pineland
Useppa Island Site
Bokeelia
Terry Park Ballfield
Fort Myers
Fish Cabin at White Rock Shoals
St. James City
Gasparilla Inn Historic District
Boca Grande
Dunbar, Paul Lawrence, School
Fort Myers
Casa Rio
Fort Myers
First Baptist Church of Boca Grande
Boca Grande
Sanibel Colored School
Sanibel
Whidden's Marina
Boca Grande
Pardo, Mark Shellworks Site
Bokeelia
Alderman House
Fort Myers
English, J. Colin, School
North Fort Myers
Bonita Springs School
Bonita Springs
Josslyn Island Site
Pineland
Boca Grande Community Center
Boca Grande
Edison Park Elementary School
Fort Myers
Murphy-Burroughs House
Fort Myers
Fort Myers Downtown Commercial District
Fort Myers
Browse all Floridahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

LeonLevyLibertyMadisonManateeMarionMartinMiami-DadeMonroeNassauOkaloosaOkeechobeeOrangeOsceolaPalm BeachPascoPinellasPolkPutnamSanta Rosa
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Lee County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Lee County, Florida. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Lee

When does Lee first appear in the US census?
Lee, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 1,414.
What is the population of Lee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lee had a recorded population of 760,822.
Were any battles fought in Lee?
13 documented military engagements took place in Lee, including Calusa Raiding Southwest Florida, Calusa Dominance — Southwest Florida, Calusa-Spanish Conflict – Carlos Town 1566.
How many historic places are in Lee?
58 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lee, Florida.
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