RECREATION
Southwest FL boasts an incredible coastline with beautiful beaches, 10 parks and numerous accesses. With direct access to the Caloosahatchee River; Alva, FL offers recreational as well as leisure opportunities. Caloosahatchee Regional Park features an extensive network of trails to explore. Lee County Parks & Recreation manages more than 3,500 acres of developed land as well as community centers, dog parks and spring training facilities for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. Strawberry Shortcake and Plant Sale, Babcock Wilderness Adventures, Alva Library and Museum, 5 Star Stables, Mirror Lakes Golf Club and The Bailey-Matthew National Shell Museum are just a few of the many additional unique local attractions.
AMENITIES
Top employers in the region are Lee Health, Lee County School District, Publix Supermarkets and Lee County Government. In addition to the more than 87,000 students served by the Lee County Schools, there are several colleges including Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Barry University and Florida SouthWestern State College. FGCU is one of 12 campuses in the State University System of Florida offering numerous bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Lee Memorial Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, Gulf Coast Medical Center and Cape Coral Hospital are available for healthcare needs with modern technology and services.
HISTORY
Alva is the oldest settlement in the county. It is believed the city’s name comes from Denmark sea captain Peter Nelson, who was also a botanist and admired a flower (the Alva Flower) that grew in the area. Lee County was formed from portions of Monroe County in 1887; one year after Fort Myers was incorporated as a city. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford frequently made this area their winter home.
CLIMATE
In Lee County the weather is warm as well as monsoon influenced so it is either classified as a humid subtropical climate or a tropical savanna climate depending on the season. There’s no shortage of sunshine with 268 sunny days each year in Alva. Precipitation falls in Alva, FL on an average of 106 days annually totaling 54 inches of rain.