The Calusa Indians originally populated Bonita Springs, but with the colonization process the tribe left the area. This beautiful region of Florida was all but forgotten as the country fought a civil war, until the 1880's.

The biggest vitalization of the region came in 1912, when J. Henry Ragsdale bought 2,400 acres of land around what was named Survey. He believed that the name Survey lacked appeal and changed the name of the area to Bonita Springs in order to attract new residents.

His purchase also led to the addition of railroads and a highway system, dubbed the Tamiami Trail because it connected Tampa to Miami. With its completion, Southwest Florida was connected via roadway to the rest of the country.

Bonita Springs is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and islands along the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to the beaches, Bonita Springs also has extensive freshwater lakes and streams. Boating, fishing, shelling and sunning and, of course, golf are just some of the wonderful outdoor activities that Bonita Springs offers.

There are extensive shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities as well. Bonita Springs has an incredible blend of shops and excellent restaurants in beautiful settings where you can find something for everyone.

Bonita Springs is also home to a wide variety of entertainment options and art museums and galleries. This includes the Germain Arena, which hosts a wide variety of entertainment offerings such as concerts by well known performers and other events.

Today, Bonita Springs continues to grow in many ways as it attracts visitors towards its uniqueness. This little town offers shopping malls, movie theatres, a performing arts hall and even a nearby state university. However, Bonita's drawing power will always be the same attraction that brought settlers here originally: the sandy white beaches, beautiful sunsets and laid-back atmosphere.