Barron Gift Collier wasn’t a politician or a pioneer, but his vision shaped the future of Southwest Florida. A self-made advertising magnate, he built an empire before turning his attention to the untamed frontier of Florida’s Gulf Coast. His investments in infrastructure, transportation and conservation not only transformed the region but also led to the creation of Collier County .
From streetcars to Southwest Florida
Collier made his fortune by revolutionizing streetcar advertising, expanding his business across 70 American cities, Canada and Cuba. By 1925, his company became the world’s largest advertising organization.
In 1911, a visit to Useppa Island captivated him. He purchased the island for $100,000 and soon acquired over a million acres, becoming Florida’s largest private landowner by 1924. But his ambitions extended beyond land ownership; he sought to modernize the region.
Collier established the county’s first newspaper (now Naples Daily News), first telephone and power companies and Southwest Florida’s first bus line. He also played a critical role in completing the Tamiami Trail, a crucial roadway linking the Gulf Coast to Miami…