CAPE CORAL

city, Lee county, southwestern Florida, U.S. It is sited on a broad peninsula pointing southward, with Fort Myers to the east across the Caloosahatchee River and with Pine Island (and the Gulf of Mexico beyond) to the west across the strait known as the Matlacha Pass. First settled in 1958, the city was incorporated in 1970 with a population of 11,470; its population grew rapidly and surpassed that of neighbouring Fort Myers by 1983. Largely residential (with many retirees), the city contains some light industry and tourist and recreational facilities, including a yacht club, golf courses, and parks. Pop. (1990) city, 74,991; Fort MyersCape Coral MSA, 335,113.