Introduction: Life on Pine Island’s Southern Coast
St. James City, located on the southern end of Pine Island in Lee County, Florida, is a community with a rich maritime and agricultural heritage. Nestled along the Gulf Coast, the city has evolved from a modest fishing and farming settlement into a thriving residential and recreational community. Its history reflects the broader patterns of Florida’s coastal development, including Indigenous habitation, European exploration, land speculation, and modern urbanization.
The city’s charm derives from its natural surroundings, historic structures, and a persistent connection to the Gulf of Mexico. Residents and visitors alike continue to engage with St. James City’s layered history through cultural events, fishing traditions, and preservation of its unique barrier island environment.
Indigenous Inhabitants and Early Settlement
Long before Europeans arrived, Pine Island and its surrounding waterways were home to the Calusa people, one of the most powerful and complex Indigenous societies in Southwest Florida. The Calusa established villages along rivers and estuaries, constructing shell mounds, canals, and defensive structures.
The Calusa economy was based on fishing, shellfish gathering, and trade with inland tribes. Their sophisticated understanding of tides, currents, and local ecology allowed them to thrive in the mangrove-lined estuaries that now surround St. James City. Evidence of mounds and artifacts in the region underscores the long-standing Indigenous presence and cultural influence. shutdown123