Alva and Buckingham are rural communities in the northeastern section of Lee County. Driving through these communities is like a trip down a country road lined with old, gnarled oak trees and pastures with grazing cattle and horses.
Alva residents know their quaint lifestyle will change as more people move into Lee County and learn of its country charm. For this reason, residents of Alva have put together a community plan describing their vision of how the community, which is divided by the Caloosahatchee River, should look in the future.
Buckingham's development is controlled by a special rural community preserve land-use plan. Buckingham was the site of a World War II U.S. Army base where airplane gunners were trained, and it is now the home of the Lee Country Mosquito Patrol District. For the aviation buff, Buckingham also has its own fly-in community.
Though both are small communities, they have a special place in Lee County history. Alva, founded in 1882, was one of the first communities to be established in the county - named after a small white bloom found by Capt. Peter Nelson.
Though there are no movie theaters or nightclubs in Alva or Buckingham, there are still plenty of things to do. The Alva Community Park features a boat launch, baseball fields and tennis courts, the Caloosahatchee Regional Park on North River Road offers hiking, horseback riding, off-road bicycling, picnicking and camping. In one of Lee County's original schools, you can find the Buckingham Community Center, which also has baseball diamonds, football fields and a place for owners to walk their pets.
