[7] Before the period of European colonization, the indigenous Calusa lived in Florida (including the region of present-day Naples) for thousands of years, from Charlotte Harbor to Cape Sable.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, magazines and newspapers ran stories about the area's mild climate and abundant fish and likened it to the sunny Italian peninsula.

[10] Major development was anticipated after Collier County was established in 1923, the completion of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad extension in 1927, and the completion of the Tamiami Trail linking Naples to Miami in 1928, but did not begin until after the 1929 Stock market crash, the Great Depression, and World War II.

[11] During the war the U.S. Army Air Forces built a small airfield and used it for training purposes; it is now the Naples Municipal Airport.

In the early 50’s, Sample began dredging to create numerous peninsulas and canals with lots overlooking the Naples Bay.

[11] In the 1960s the historic Cove Inn on Naples Bay was built, as well as the Collier County Public Library, and Cambier Park on 8th Avenue.

[19] Naples is located in southwest Florida on U.S. Highway 41 between Miami to the east and Fort Myers to the north.

[20] National Weather Service records that date back to 1851, indicate 74 tropical storms have passed within 85 nautical miles (157 km; 98 mi) of Naples, or once every 2.2 years (as of a 2014 data).

[21] 2005 Hurricane Wilma (Category 5) – Wilma reached maximum wind strength of 185 miles per hour (298 km/h), but its winds were 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) when it made landfall near Cape Romano (below Naples, just beyond the southwestern tip of Marco Island and northwest of the Ten Thousand Islands in Collier County).

2022 Hurricane Ian (Category 5) – Ian had a maximum wind strength of 160 miles per hour (260 km/h) while approaching Florida, and it made landfall at Cayo Costa slightly below peak strength as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h).

Much of the Naples area including Grey Oaks and Estuary lost electricity for a number of days, but power was restored beginning on October 16, 2024.

The Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2022 dollars), 2018-2022 is $141,245 [37] As of the 2010 United States census, there were 19,537 people, 9,991 households, and 6,041 families residing in the city.

[38] In 2010, the largest self-identified ancestry and ethnic groups in Naples were German-American 20.0%, English-American 19.2%, Irish-American 17.8%, and Italian-American 9.2%.

Companies based in Naples include Beasley Broadcast Group and ASG Technologies in addition to numerous small businesses.

Due to the wealth present in Collier County, Naples is also home to many small non-profit organizations.

The report ranked cities by its "amenity value", a measurement based on the amount of satisfaction an asset brings to its owner.

This open-air shopping center specializes in antiques and handmade local novelties, as well as several seafood restaurants.

The last LPGA golf tournament played each year, the CME Group Tour Championship, has been held in Naples since 2012.

[53] Naples is also the home of swamp buggy races, held three times each year at the Florida Sports Park.

[54] The beach on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles (16 km) long and is known for its cleanliness and pristine white sand.

[55][56] Naples area beaches include: Naples is served by the District School Board of Collier County and various private institutions, including the following:[57] While no colleges are based within the city limits, Ave Maria School of Law is located in Vineyards, and Florida SouthWestern State College has a satellite campus in Lely Resort.

[58] In addition, Florida Gulf Coast University operates continuing education classes from its Downtown Naples campus.

[64] Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida (HCN) was founded in 1977 to serve migrant farmworkers and their families in Immokalee.