Lehigh Acres is an unincorporated area and Municipal District in Lee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 Census the population was 135,272.
Once #10 on Travel and Leisure’s ‘List of World’s Eeriest Abandoned Places,’ Lehigh Acres is now thriving.
The 2020 census revealed Lehigh Acres saw a population increase of 31.69% from 2010, compared with Lee County’s overall population, which saw a 22.96% increase.
Some Lehigh Acres residents said there’s a need for more development to accommodate the growth and it’s coming in the form of schools, hospitals and businesses.
The Lee County Economic Development Office said it’s committed to economic development in Lehigh Acres, particularly focusing on small business development.
“Lehigh Acres is one of the fastest growing communities in Lee County as indicated by the recent surge of new grocery stores including Fresco y Mas, Bravo and Key Foods,” said Lee County Economic Development Director John Talmage.
Talmage said since the pandemic, more than 900 businesses have applied for a Business Tax Receipt (BTR) to start a business in Lehigh, joining the 3,857 businesses already there.
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agent, Jon Hunt said he’s noticed more growth in Lehigh now than there has been in the last 10-15 years. One reason is affordability.
“As Cape Coral has gone up in price and Fort Myers has gone up in price, it’s becoming the new hot spot to build a new construction home,” Hunt said.
Older homes are flying off the market too. That’s why Dana Hansen decided now’s the time to sell her place in Lehigh.
To meet the growth, the Lee County School District is building new schools in its east zone.
“In total there are seven new schools, four schools getting additions and renovations and two new Pre-K centers in the East Zone. The new schools alone will add more than 8,000 student stations in the East Zone,” said Lee County School District spokesman, Rob Spicker.
Where you have more people, you also need more health care. That’s why Lee Health said it’s excited to be planning a new hospital along Challenger Boulevard between Colonial Blvd and Winkler Avenue.
The new hospital will be five miles from the heart of Lehigh Acres. It’s expected to be open in 2027.
HCA Healthcare has also announced it’s also building a new hospital along Colonial Blvd. near Metro Parkway. That one is expected to be finished in 2025.