Tides & Towns
Southwest Florida · FL

Marco Island

The largest of the Ten Thousand Islands.

Population
15,760 (2020 census)
Incorporated
1997
Key Marco Cat
Found 1896
Tides
Two highs, two lows, uneven

Then

  1. c. 500

    The Calusa people live on the island.

  2. 1896

    Frank Hamilton Cushing excavates Calusa artifacts on Key Marco, including the carved wooden Key Marco Cat.

  3. 1903–1947

    Clam canneries operate near Caxambas Pass, first Burnham's and later Doxsee's.

  4. 1960s

    The Mackle brothers' Deltona Corporation buys much of the island and develops it. The S.S. Jolley Bridge opens in 1969.

  5. 1997

    Marco Island incorporates as a city on August 28.

Now

The population more than doubles in winter. The Key Marco Cat is on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum, on loan from the Smithsonian.

Cape Romano and the Ten Thousand Islands stretch south toward Cape Sable.

On the water

From NOAA's predictions for Marco, Big Marco River, FL over the next 365 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).

Pattern
Two highs and two lows a day, one noticeably bigger than the other
Typical daily range
2.7 ft
Biggest swing
4.3 ft on Dec 23
Smallest swing
0.8 ft on May 26
Highest high
3.5 ft, Aug 2 at 1:25 PM
Lowest low
−1.1 ft, Jan 22 at 7:03 AM

9 tide stations around Marco Island

Sources