Lehigh Acres, Florida

Lehigh Acres, Florida is located in Lee County, in the southwest portion of the Florida peninsula. It is the US Census Bureau’s official Census-Designated Place in the country. In 2006 the population was around 68,000. Lehigh Acres is a rapidly growing community because it is a large and expansive, pre-platted subdivision that includes roughly 61,000 acres of land.

Lehigh Acres actually got its start in the 1950’s when Lee Ratner, a Chicago businessman, needed a tax shelter. He faced the possibility that he would lose all of his businesses and most of his earnings to the high-capital tax gains of the particular time period. Ratner believed that cattle were a good investment, so he purchased 18,000 acres of land named the Lucky Lee Ranch. Later, he and a few other men started selling land at Lehigh Acres. His pasture land since then has been divided into 152,000 quarter and half acre lots for housing.

Outdoor Living in Lehigh Acres, FL

The average annual temperature is 74 degrees. Summer highs are in the 90’s and winter lows are in the 40’s. This semitropical climate makes Lehigh Acres the perfect place to move with your family or retire. Lehigh Acres has a well rounded mix of retirees and families. The city is located just 12 miles east of Fort Myers and the Gulf of Mexico lies 30 miles to the west. The best beaches in Florida are less than an hour away.

If you’re an outdoorsman or woman, Lehigh Acres offers several different recreational activities that are sure to fit any lifestyle. If you’re a golf fan, Lehigh Acres offers two championship 18-hole golf courses to choose from. There are also several lighted tennis courts for those who love the thrill of playing tennis in the evening. Lee County Parks and Recreation offers families parks with picnic tables and grills as well as baseball diamonds and summer camps. Everyone in the family is guaranteed to have a good time at any of the parks in Lehigh Acres.

Kids and Seniors in Lehigh Acres, FL

Education in Lehigh Acres is different than in most other communities. The city offers 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school for all children in the area to attend. What makes Lehigh Acres special is that children are able to choose the school that they want to attend if there is available room.

The Senior Friendship Center is also unique to Lehigh Acres. It is a not-for-profit organization that serves residents over 60 that have mental and/or physical disabilities. Funding is based on a sliding scale basis based on ability to pay, funding, etc. Members enjoy a variety of different activities as well as a hot lunch. A bus can also be arranged to pick them up and drop them back off again.

Overall, Lehigh Acres is a great place to live and a great place to retire. It holds an interesting history as well as several current qualities that make it unique from other cities in the area.