Cape Coral is a city located on the Gulf of Mexico in Lee County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1957 and developed as a planned city, by 2018 the town grew to a population of 154,305. The city's total population was 165,831 in 2018 and 189,343 in 2018. And 120 square miles of surface area. The city is regarded as a "Waterfront Wonderland;" it has more than 400 miles of waterways. Cape Coral's economy is focused on health care, shopping, and real estate / building services. Interstate 75 passes 10 miles from Cape Coral and connects north to Tampa; and southeast to Miami / Fort Lauderdale.