North Fort Myers is a large, unincorporated area of Lee County, Florida, occupying the north bank of the Caloosahatchee River opposite the city of Fort Myers. Although it has no municipal government of its own, it functions as a complete residential community, with a population of roughly 42,700 spread across established neighborhoods, canal-front streets, and a notable concentration of age-restricted active-adult developments. Its identity is closely tied to the river: downtown Fort Myers sits just across the bridges to the south, while the Caloosahatchee widens westward toward the Gulf of Mexico. The area developed as the northern counterpart to Fort Myers, and U.S. Route 41 — the historic north-south highway through Southwest Florida — remains its main commercial spine. Pine Island Road and other east-west corridors tie the community to Cape Coral and the islands to the west. This road network gives North Fort Myers a practical, central position within Lee County, with the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel-Captiva reachable by car. Housing is a defining feature. North Fort Myers is known for its many 55-and-older communities, including Del Webb Oak Creek and Magnolia Landing, which offer resort-style amenities and draw active adults and retirees from across the country. Alongside them sit older Florida neighborhoods, manufactured-home communities, and waterfront properties along canals that connect to the Caloosahatchee. The result is a varied housing landscape that serves everyone from seasonal residents to working families. Day-to-day life draws on the area's parks and preserves, its proximity to Fort Myers' cultural and medical institutions, and its easy access to boating and fishing. Lee County government provides the services an incorporated city would elsewhere, and the county's school district educates local children. For those considering a move, North Fort Myers offers an established, well-located Southwest Florida address with a notably strong retirement and active-adult presence.