Marco Island is a small barrier island in Collier County, Florida, located south of Naples on the Gulf Coast of the United States. It is the largest barrier island within Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands area, which extends southerly to Cape Sable. Marco Island is home to an affluent beach community with resort amenities. Two bridges provide road access to the island via Florida State Road 951 and County Road 92, respectively. Located on the island is the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, the Hilton Marco Island Resort, a golf club, a yacht club, a country club, and several parks and nature areas. The crescent beach on Marco Island is among the widest in Florida and features white sugar sand and shelling opportunities. Beach regulations are in place against litter, noise, glass, and fires. There are two public access locations with parking and amenities (Tigertail and South Beach), a private beach complex for residents (Residents' Beach), and a private parking area for residents (Sarazen Park at South Beach), and two other public access points (with no amenities). Offshore island beaches, such as Keewaydin, are accessible by boat or tour. Marco Island is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,760 at the 2020 census. The population more than doubles in size during the winter season. Parts of the island have some scenic, high elevations relative to the generally flat south Florida landscape. The island has a tropical climate; specifically a tropical wet and dry or savanna type (Aw under the Köppen system). It is known for its distinct wet and dry seasons, with most of the rainfall falling between the months of June and October. History The history of Marco Island can be traced as far back as 500 CE when the Calusa people inhabited the island as well as the rest of southwest Florida. A number of Calusa artifacts were discovered on Key Marco (an island then adjacent to, and since attached to Marco Island) in 1896 by anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing as part of the Pepper-Hearst Expedition. The most notable artifact discovered was the carved wooden "Key Marco Cat," which is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution. The artifact is featured on a 1989 postage stamp. When Spanish explorers came to the island in the mid-1500s, they gave the island the name La Isla de San Marcos after Gospel writer