Southwest Florida

Lee County Map, Florida

Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Lee County, Florida. With a population of 760,822 living across 785 square miles of land, Lee County is one of 5 counties in the Southwest Florida region. The county seat is Fort Myers, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12071 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.

Lee County is Southwest Florida's population and economic center. It stretches from the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva across the Caloosahatchee River to the vast planned canal city of Cape Coral.

County seat
Fort Myers
Population
760,822
Land area
785 mi²
Time zone
Eastern
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Lee County map — Lee County highlighted on the Florida county map, with Fort Myers as county seat. Use the toolbar to measure distance, plan a route, or calculate area inside Lee County.
Residents
760,822
#8 of 67 Florida counties by population
Land area
785 mi²
#25 of 67 Florida counties by land area
Water area
419 mi²
34.8% of total 1,204 mi² area
Density
969 / mi²
People per square mile of land in Lee County

Lee County at a glance

A concise reference summary of Lee County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.

Official name
Lee County
County seat
Fort Myers
FIPS code
12071
Region
Southwest Florida
Established
1887
Named for
General Robert E. Lee.
Land area
785 sq mi
Water area
419 sq mi
Total area
1,204 sq mi
Population (2020)
760,822
Population density
969 / sq mi
Time zone
Eastern Time

Where is Lee County, Florida?

Lee County is located in the Southwest Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Fort Myers, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.

The county spans a total of 1,204 square miles — 785 of land and 419 of water — and operates on Eastern Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12071, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.

Lee County shares borders with 3 neighboring counties: Charlotte County, Hendry County, Collier County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.

Lee County geography & landscape

Barrier islands, mangrove estuaries, the Caloosahatchee River, and a nearly flat inland plain. Cape Coral has over 400 miles of navigable canals.

The county's overall footprint — 785 square miles of land plus 419 square miles of water — places it in the mid-range of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.

Economy & industry in Lee County

Health care (Lee Health, one of the region's largest employers), tourism, real estate, retirement services, and a growing tech and life-sciences base. RSW airport is a major Southwest Florida gateway.

Employment, tax base, and land use in Lee County reflect its location in Southwest Florida and its position as one of Florida's most populous counties. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.

History of Lee County

Split from Monroe County in 1887. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford wintered in Fort Myers; their neighboring estates draw visitors. Hurricane Ian (2022) caused catastrophic damage on Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and coastal Fort Myers.

Established in 1887, Lee County is one of Florida's 19th-century counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Lee County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.

Tourism & things to do in Lee County

Sanibel and Captiva Islands, J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers Beach, and Lovers Key State Park.

Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Lee County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Southwest Florida identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).

Cities, towns & communities in Lee County

Lee County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.

Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Lehigh Acres
Bonita Springs
Estero
Fort Myers Beach
Sanibel

Getting to Lee County

Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Lee County.

Major highways
  • I-75
  • US-41
  • SR-80
  • SR-82
Airports & airfields
  • Southwest Florida International (RSW)
  • Page Field (FMY)

Lee County GIS, parcel & boundary data

Lee County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12071.

You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.

Frequently asked about Lee County

Where is Lee County located in Florida?
Lee County is located in the Southwest Florida region of Florida. It operates on Eastern Time and its administrative seat is Fort Myers.
What is the county seat of Lee County?
Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County. County government offices, the courthouse, and the board of county commissioners are all headquartered there.
What is the population of Lee County?
Lee County has a population of 760,822 residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 decennial count. That works out to roughly 969 people per square mile of land — ranking it #8 of Florida's 67 counties by population.
How big is Lee County?
Lee County covers 785 square miles of land and 419 square miles of water, for a total area of 1,204 square miles. That places it #25 of Florida's 67 counties by land area.
When was Lee County established?
Lee County was established in 1887. It was named for General Robert E. Lee.
What is the FIPS code for Lee County?
The full FIPS code for Lee County is 12071. Federal datasets — Census, USGS, FEMA, BLS — use this identifier to key data to the county.
Which cities are in Lee County?
The major incorporated cities, towns, and communities in Lee County include Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel.
Which counties border Lee County?
Lee County shares land borders with Charlotte County, Hendry County, Collier County.
Can I download a printable Lee County map?
Yes. Use the download panel in the sidebar to export Lee County as a scalable SVG vector file, a high-resolution PNG image, or a formatted PDF factsheet suitable for print, presentations, or classroom use.
Sources & methodology

Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.

Nearby Florida counties

Counties that share a border with Lee County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.