Barron Gift Collier, Sr., the founder of Barron Collier Company, was a visionary. Having made his fortune in streetcar advertising, he visited Southwest Florida in 1911 and was mesmerized by its beauty. During the early 1920s, he purchased 1.3 million acres of land that would later become Collier and Hendry Counties.
The first challenge in the development of his newly acquired land was the construction of the Tamiami Trail (US41). This road, extending for 368 miles, was built through some of the most difficult terrain in the U.S.-mostly dense swamps and wilderness infested with snakes and alligators. The Tamiami Trail provided an urban link from Tampa to Miami.
Collier’s extraordinary accomplishments were born of more than unwavering determination and foresight. He was a man known for his fairness to employees and business associates, a keen business sense and respect for the land he managed. These qualities continue to serve as the cornerstone of BCC’s success.
Mr.
Collier, Sr. died in 1939 and the management of the company was assumed by
his sons, Sam, Miles and Barron. The war interrupted their days in Florida,
as all three sons served overseas: Barron in the Army, Sam in the Navy and
Miles in the OSS. During this period, oil was discovered in Southwest Florida
at the Sunniland site on Collier land. The discovery of oil provided a financial
source for further development of BCC’s projects.
Following
the war, Florida’s population grew rapidly. Mosquito control and air conditioning
- combined with the private wealth provided by social security and a favorable
tax environment - helped the Sunshine State become the fastest growing state
in the union. Sam and Miles both died in the early 1950s, leaving the company
to be managed by Barron, who became President and CEO. The Miles Collier and
Barron Collier families later divided the holdings, allowing each family to
operate its assets individually.