DESCRIPTION: Lot of 3 similar scale maps showing a timeseries of development on Marco Island, Florida. Maps date from 1970 through 1979 and show massive residential develoment during that period.
The 1970s marked a period of extraordinary growth on Marco Island, as the once-isolated barrier island was transformed into a major residential and resort community. Much of this development was undertaken by the Deltona Corporation, controlled by the Mackle family, which had begun its ambitious development program in 1965. The opening of the Marco River Bridge in December 1969 substantially improved access from Naples, while the replacement of the old Goodland swing bridge in 1975 provided a modern southern connection to the mainland.
Throughout the decade, extensive road construction, canal excavation, and land reclamation reshaped the island. Dredged material was used to elevate low-lying properties, creating thousands of residential lots, many with direct access to navigable waterways. Major thoroughfares, including Collier Boulevard, San Marco Road, Bald Eagle Drive, and Barfield Drive, provided the framework for expanding residential neighborhoods. By 1976, Deltona reported the completion of approximately 90 miles of roads, 95 miles of waterways, and more than 6,000 homesites.
Residential construction accelerated during the early 1970s, with hundreds of single-family houses built along the newly excavated canals and an increasing concentration of condominium developments along the Gulf beachfront. By 1973, the island contained more than 700 completed houses and approximately 1,500 condominium units. Prominent developments included Gulfview, Tradewinds, Admiralty House, and the South Seas condominium complex. The opening of the ten-story Marco Beach Hotel in 1971 further established the island as an important resort destination.
The pace of expansion slowed during the middle of the decade, reflecting national economic conditions and increasing environmental restrictions. In 1976, federal authorities denied permits for additional dredging and filling in the Barfield Bay and Big Key areas, effectively preventing completion of Deltona's original development plan. Nevertheless, by the end of the 1970s, Marco Island had acquired much of its modern configuration, with an extensive network of roads, canals, residential subdivisions, and beachfront towers replacing large areas of the island's former undeveloped landscape.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1970
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States
BODY OF WATER: Gulf of Mexico, Marco River
CONDITION: Very good.
No issues.
COLORING: Process color.
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 21
" x
16 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION:
PRICE: $300
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