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Why Key West?
That’s easy, the real question is when...
When will you finally make it down to the Keys, and how quickly you will return as a local.
Rather than give you the usual song and dance about a vacation destination,
we’ve compiled a list of Keys facts that we thought you might find interesting or helpful.
Keys “Top 10’s”:
Bahia Honda State Park was voted one of the top ten beaches in the USA by Conde Nast Traveler.
The Green Parrot Bar was voted top ten for bars in the USA by Playboy magazine.
Widely known as one of the top ten Sportfishing and Scuba Diving Spots in the Americas.
One of the top hangouts for famous (and infamous) people over the years.
More bars, churches, restaurants & law enforcement, per capita, than any other city in the country.
We are, of course the Southernmost City in the USA, being only 90 miles from Havana Cuba.
The 3rd longest barrier coral reef in the Western Hemisphere.
More shipwrecks than anywhere in the USA and the richest single shipwreck find in the History of the USA.
The Keys has the warmest, clearest coastal waters in the Continental USA.
We are the only frost-free city in the Continental USA, the lowest temp recorded was 41 degrees F in 1981.
Duval and Simonton Streets (our main streets) are the only streets to stretch from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico.
Key West was, more than once in history, the richest city in the U.S.
Key West has got to be the most tolerant city, culturally, on the planet much less the Country.
Key West is the exclusive place in the USA for bird watchers to see several species including the Antillean Nighthawk.
The largest City and County Governments per capita in the USA, It’s amazing how little taxes on $3 billion/yr. in sales, can buy.
The longest bridge in the USA is of course the famed 7 Mile Bridge (just South {West} of Marathon Key at MM 45 +/-).
O.K. locals... what did we leave out?
Geographical & Demographic Stats:
Average year round temperature 77 F, Record high was 98F (‘97) (avg. high is 91F in July/Aug), record low was 41F (‘81).
Average rainfall 40” (as opposed to 65” for the mainland)... we get lots of sun (better weather for charters).
Out of Florida’s 17 million inhabitants the Keys local population makes up 81k, and Key West’s local populace tallies at 26,000.
The average property sold in Key West this year will probably average well over $550,000.
The total surface area of dry land in the Monroe County (mostly the Keys) is 1,034 square miles.
Key West (including Stock) Island occupy 8,169 of the almost 30,000 acres that are the Keys
The Keys Mile Markers start at MM0 at the corner of Fleming & Whitehead St. in Key West and stretch up to MM 127 at Florida City.
... So yes, the Florida Keys are 127 miles long, with an average elevation of less than 6 feet.
There are a total of 42 bridges, amounting to 15% of the 2.5 hour long US1 drive down the Keys. Plan on at least 3.5 hrs from Miami.
There are over 100 islands which are referred to as “Keys” in the Florida Keys.
Over 2.5 million people will visit Key West in 2004, pretty much doubling the numbers for 2000 & ‘01.
The gargantuan increase can probably largely be accounted for through cruise ships, although there is a huge increase regardless.
Keys History (very abbreviated, this is a hand full of thousands of Notable events, reference material: Brooks White):
It is believed that the largely limestone, oolite & coral Florida Keys were formed at least 50,000 years ago.
1513 Ponce de Leon maps the Island of Key West, do you think it might look a bit different today?
1622 Hurricane sinks Spanish convoy headed to Havana from Spain; This would later be salvaged in the 1980’s by Mel Fisher.
1744 British man-o-war HMS Looe, wrecked on the section of reef that would later become known as Looe Key Reef.
1748 British Warship HMS Fowey wrecked near what is now known as Fowey Rocks.
1775 About 400 Frenchmen were reported cannibalized by Colosas Indians near Matacumbe Key (different than current Matacumbe).
1800 Captain Anthony Pent & his father William, both born on Vaca Key claim their ancestors settled there in 1800.
1815 Island of Key West is given to Juan Pable Salas by the Spanish Government.
1819 Spain agrees to cede Florida to the United States, US took formal possession in 1821.
1821 New Jersey trader John Simonton purchases Key West from Juan Salas in a Havana bar for $2,000.
1822 Florida’s territorial government established.
1822 Key West is named, actually a corruption of the Spanish “Cayo Hueso” (Bone Key)
1822 Matthew Perry, CO of US Schooner Shark, takes possession of the Island of Key West.
1823 US Government dipatches Commodore David Porter to the Keys to rid the coastline of pirates (Blackbeard, JeanLafitte).
1828 Census shows that there are 421 inhabitants of Key West & 30+ sloops were then employed by fishing industry.
1828 City of Key West official incorporates.
1832 John James Audubon arrives in Key West.
1844 US Marine Hospital is built in Key West & permanent Army quarters are established on South side of the island.
1844 A very destructive hurricane hits both Cuba & Key West; Losses include 158 vessels & 2,500 houses.
1846 The 66’ & then later 110’ Key West Lighthouse is built to replace earlier structures that were destroyed in hurricanes.
1860 The leading newspaper, “The Key of the Gulf” was forced to flee the island from Union forces for political reasons.
1860 Key West is the wealthiest town per capita in the United States.
1861 Fort Taylor completed and occupied in Key West.
1865 Dr. Samuel Mudd was imprisoned at Fort Jefferson, for allegedly being a “Lincoln Conspirator”
1868 Cuban revolution causes thousands of Cubans to emigrate to Key West, spurring cigar industry on the island.
1870 Monroe County’s first free pubic school is established in Key West.
1873 National recession causes a major wave of unemployment in Key West.
1876 Hurricane destroys Key West’s booming salt industry.
1878 Cuban Ten Year Civil War ends; Many Cubans return back to Cuba from Key West, leaving Key West a ghost town.
1880 Key West’s first Spanish language newspaper, El Yara is founded by Dorores Poyo.
1880 Key West is officially Florida’s largest City! (1880 census is reported at 9,890 people)
1886 More than 50 buildings are destroyed by Key West’s largest fire believed started by an arsonist at the San Carlos Theater.
1889 The third San Carlos building in completed in Key West.
1890 Cuban Revolutionary Jose Marti convinces local cigar makers to return to Key West from Cuba, he had union control by 1892
1891 Key West City Hall on Greene Street and Monroe County Courthouse at 500 Whitehead Street open.
1898 USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, beginning of Spanish American War, many of the dead are buried in KW Cemetary.
1907 Key West had 38 licensed saloons.
1912 Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad completed to Key West at a cost of $50 million.
1913 Native Key Wester Augustin Parla Orduna completes the first solo flight from Key West to Mariel Cuba.
1921 The Casa Marina Hotel in Key West was built by the Florida East Coast Railroad.
1927 The first commercial flight leaves Key West Airport (called Meacham Field). It was a Pan American Airways flight.
1931 Ernest Hemingway moved into the “Asa Tift” House on Whitehead Street.
1934 The City of Key West declares bankruptcy, indebtedness exceeded 5 million dollars.
1935 Fort Jefferson, at Dry Tortugas is declared a National Monument.
1935 The Great Labor Day Hurricane. The most powerful hurricane ever recorded in Northern Hemisphere at 200-250 mph.
1935 The Hurricane costs over a thousand lives and destroys the Railroad.
1938 The Overseas Highway opened under control of the Overseas Railroad and Toll Commission, $3.6 million price tag.
1940 City of Key West adopts it’s first zoning & land ordinances... “never been the same since”.
1941 The US Navy & FK Aqueduct Comm. sign agreement to build 130 mile pipeline from FL City to KW, replacing cisterns use.
1945 John M. Spottswood, former Sheriff & State Senator, launches WKWF, first commerical radio station.
1946 “Little Whitehouse” at Truman Annex in KEy West is converted into a retreat for President Truman (11 visits total)
1954 Tolls are removed from the Overseas Highway.
1974 The Key West Airport control tower is added.
1982 New Seven Mile Bridge opens with a span rising 65 feet over Moser Channel, replacing the damaged swing-bridge.
1986 Developer Pritham Singh buys Truman Annex property at federal auction for $17.25 million.
1992 Houseboat Row residents given the official eviction notice.
To Be Continued...
Remember when we said there are no dumb questions?... O.K. maybe there have been a few, here are some:
“Where can I catch the trolley to the reef?” (it’s 6 miles off-shore).
“Which way do I go to get to the water?” (we’re on an island).
“What other roads can I take when I drive back up to Miami?” (There is only one US Highway 1 and one 7 mile bridge).
Now then... see how nice we are?
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