In the video Outposts of Opportunity I learned about what Immokalee used to be like. Immokalee was a swampland inhabited by the Seminole indians and used to be called Gopher Ridge. As more Americans moved to Immokalee they started trading things that they farmed like sugar syrup for things like clothes. Trading was a big factor in helping Immokalee develop into a city. When railroad tracks were built in Immokalee it helped the city to export timber an cattle and ice was shipped to Immokalee from other states. The saw mill and farming brought many new people to Immokalee and Barren Collier made Immokalee Collier county. The South Tamiami trail was created making a route from Tampa to Miami. Also the Texas Fever Tick was killed allowing a bigger cow population. Immokalee became a large farming area. In the video Evolving Opportunities Immokalee's bomber training base from World War II became Immokalee Regional Airport giving the people of Immokalee another option for transportation. Oil was discovered and vegetable farming expanded. Children from Labelle helped pick cucumbers on the farm and then finally farmworkers started moving to Immokalee from different states and even different countries like Mexico. Also the Seminal Indian Gambling Casino was built and more reservations were created.
Immokalee differs from Fort Myers because it is more of a farming town. Immokalee is a representative of the old American dream providing many people with farming jobs. The farming industry will definately drive Immokalee's future because it is the biggest industry in Immokalee. In ten years Immokalee may have the biggest farming industy in Florida. Florida does not get as cold as other states giving Immokalee the advantage because there crops are less likely to freeze during winter. With many crops being exported from Immokalee, the farming community of Immokalee will prosper.