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History · Matlacha

Half of Matlacha’s homes were built after 1980

Most of Matlacha was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1980. Below: maps from 1958 on and the census since 2000.

0on the National Register
0.0%homes built before 1940
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What stands out about Matlacha’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Matlacha are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Matlacha’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Matlacha’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story so far

Matlacha, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Matlacha yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Matlacha ( MAT-lə-shay "MAT-la-shay") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lee County, Florida, United States. The CDP had a population of 598 at the 2020 census, down from 677 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. Matlacha is an "Old Florida" fishing village, home to many brightly colored art galleries, island boutiques, seafood restaurants, and traditional Floridian cottages. The village was largely devastated by Hurricane Ian in October 2022.

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 677 to 598 (-12%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

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On the map

Matlacha on the map, 1958 to 1987

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Matlacha. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Matlacha on the 1958 USGS mapMatlacha on the 1972 USGS mapMatlacha on the 1987 USGS map1958Matlacha sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Matlacha.

People over time

Matlacha, census by census

020040060080020002020Peak: 735

Between 598 and 735 people in every census since 2000.

3 censuses, 2000–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Matlacha’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Matlacha

Nobody well known was born in Matlacha itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Haley BennettAmerican actress and singer · b. 1988
M
Mindy McCreadyAmerican country music singer · b. 1975
Deion SandersAmerican football and baseball player and footb… · b. 1967
Connie Mack IVAmerican politician · b. 1967
Elissa SteamerAmerican professional skateboarder · b. 1975
D
David McCaggSwimmer · b. 1990

Questions about Matlacha’s history

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.