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Everglades City, a city of natural beauty that attracts visitors from across the world. The city is surrounded by Everglades National Park, its biggest tourist attraction.
In 1889,George Storter Jr. of Alabama bought the area for $800. When Collier County was first established and was owned primarily by county founder, Barron Collier, Everglades City became the county seat. Then it was known simply as Everglade. When the area incorporated in 1953, the name changed to Everglades City. It remained the county seat until 1961, when the county offices were moved to Naples.
The Bank of Everglades came to town in 1923. It still is one of the town's landmarks. Also that year, the county's official newspaper, called the Collier County News, began running off the presses. The newspaper later evolved into the Naples Daily News.
The Everglade City Museum, also known as the laundry building, was built in 1927. The site served as the town's common laundry facility. In 1928, the Atlantic Coast Line passenger train rolled into town for the first time, extending its southern terminus from Immokalee to Everglades City.
Today, tourism is the main industry of Everglades City. Airboat, swamp buggy rides and alligator wrestling, beckon tourists to explore the natural wonders of Everglades City. Each February, about 50,000 people attend the Annual Seafood Festival.
The Everglades City School, with more than 200 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade, is the last school in the county that houses so many grade levels under its roof. The school is the second smallest school in Florida housing students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
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