City of Key West
Aerial photo of downtown Key West, looking north. March 2001.
Seal
Nickname: The Conch Republic, Margaritaville, Southernmost City In The Continental United States
Location in Monroe County and the state of Florida
U. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Monroe County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 79589 Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
Coordinates: 24°33′33″N 81°47′2.51″W / 24.55917, -81.7840306
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Monroe
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	Morgan McPherson
Area
- Total	7. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the ImageFlorida counties mappng|thumb|right|400px|Florida counties (clickable map poly 42 38 86 40 79 44 74 47 71 55 69 69 74 72 76 87 77 90 87 97 87 102 87 108 78 111 77 115 80 117 Monroe County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 79589 In the council-manager form of government an elected city council (typically between five and 11 people is responsible for making Policy, passing Ordinances voting Appropriations A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Election In 2005 Morgan McPherson narrowly defeated incumbent Mayor Jimmy Weekley for the city job in a shocking upset Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 4 sq mi (19. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 2 km²)
- Land	5. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 9 sq mi (15. 4 km²)
- Water	1. 5 sq mi (3. 8 km²)  19. 73%
Elevation	3 ft (1 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	25,478
- Density	4,285. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 0/sq mi (1,654. 5/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	33040, 33041, 33045
Area code(s)	305
FIPS code	12-36550[1]
GNIS feature ID	0294048[2]
Website: http://www.keywestcity.com

Key West is a city and an island of the same name near the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys in Monroe County, Florida, United States. UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area code 305 was the single original Area code in the state of Florida, and still currently serves all of Miami-Dade County and the part of Monroe Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant The Florida Keys are an Archipelago of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. Monroe County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 79589 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The city encompasses the namesake island, the part of Stock Island north of US-1 (the Overseas Highway) (east), Sigsbee Park (north, originally known as Dredgers Key), Fleming Key (north), and Sunset Key (west, originally known as Tank Island). Stock Island is an island in the lower Florida Keys immediately east of Key West (separated from Key West by Cow Key Channel which is only about 75 yards (70 US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. The Overseas Highway is a long road carrying US Route 1 through the Florida Keys. Sigsbee Park, also known as Dredgers Key, is an island about a half mile north of Key West island in the lower Florida Keys; administratively Flemingkeynorthjpg|thumb|300px|right|The northern portion of Fleming Key as seen from the east showing several NAS structures]] Fleming Key is an island off the northwest corner of the Sunset Key is a 27 acre exclusive resort island in the city of Key West, Florida, United States located about off the coast of the island of Key West Nearby Key Haven (northeast), the part of Stock Island south of US-1 (east) and Wisteria Island, better known as Christmas Tree Island (northwest), are in unincorporated Monroe County. Wisteria Island, also known as Christmas Tree Island, is a privately-owned man-made and uninhabited island in the lower Florida Keys 645 yards (590 m northwest In Law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any Municipality. Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of the NAS Key West and are inaccessible by civilians. Naval Air Station Key West, is a Naval air station and military airport located four miles (6 km east of the Central business district of Key

Key West is the county seat of Monroe County. A county seat is a term for an Administrative center for a County, primarily used in the United States. ^[3]

Key West is known as the Southernmost City in the Continental United States. The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District It is also the southern terminus of U.S. Route 1, State Road A1A and the East Coast Greenway. US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. The East Coast Greenway, or ECG is a project to create a nearly 3000-mile (4828 km urban path linking the major cities along the Atlantic coast of the United States

Key West is 129 miles (207 km) southwest (229. 9 degrees) of Miami, Florida,^[4] (about 160 driving miles) and 106 miles (170 km) north northeast (21. This article describes the unit of angle For other meanings see Degree. 2 degrees) of Havana, Cuba. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la ^[5] Cuba, at its closest point is 98 statute (85 nautical) miles due south. ^[6]

Key West is a seaport destination for many passenger cruise ships. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo A cruise ship or cruise liner is a Passenger ship used for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience The Key West International Airport provides airline service. Key West International Airport is a county-owned public Airport located two miles (3 km) east of the Central business district of Key West An airline provides air transport services for Passengers or Freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license Hotels and guest houses are available for lodging. A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging usually on a short-term basis Bed and breakfast, also known as B&B, is a term originating in the United Kingdom, but now also used all over the world for an establishment that offers accommodation Lodging or a holiday accommodation is a type of residential Accommodation.

Naval Air Station Key West is an important year round training site for naval aviation due to the superb weather conditions. Naval Air Station Key West, is a Naval air station and military airport located four miles (6 km east of the Central business district of Key Naval Aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies It is also a reason the city was chosen as the Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman. The Harry S Truman Little White House in Key West Florida was the winter White House for President Harry S

The central business district primarily comprises Duval Street, and includes much of the northwest corner of the island along Whitehead, Simonton, Front, Greene, Caroline, Eaton Streets and Truman Avenue. A central business district ( CBD) is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city Duval Street is a famous downtown commercial zoned street in Key West, Florida, running north and south from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic

The official town motto is "One Human Family. "

History

Key West, ca. 1856

In Pre-Columbian times Key West was inhabited by the Calusa people. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences The Calusa, sometimes spelled Caloosa, Calos, Carlos or Caalus, were a Native American group that lived on the coast and along The first European to visit was Juan Ponce de León in 1521. Juan Ponce de León ( IPA: /xwan'ponʒedele'on/ (1460 – July 1521 was a Spanish Conquistador. As Florida became a Spanish colony, a fishing and salvage village with a small garrison was established here. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Cayo Hueso

Cayo Hueso (pronounced [ˈkáh-yo ˈgue-so]) is the original Spanish name for the island of Key West. Spanish-speaking people today also use the term Cayo Hueso when referring to Key West. Key West is a city in Monroe County Florida, United States. The city encompasses Key West, the namesake island the part of Stock Island It literally means "bone key". It is said that the island was littered with the remains (bones) from an Indian battlefield or burial ground. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The most widely accepted theory of how the name changed to Key West is that it is a false friend anglicization of the word, being that the word "hueso" (pronounced [ˈweso]) sounds like it could mean "west" in English. False friends (or faux amis) are pairs of Words in two Languages or Dialects (or letters in two alphabets that look and/or sound similar but differ Anglicisation or anglicization (see -ise vs -ize) is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English ^[7] Other theories of how the island was named are that the name indicated that it was the westernmost Key,^[8] or that the island was the westernmost key with a reliable supply of water. ^[9]

Many businesses on the island use the name, such as Casa Cayo Hueso, Cayo Hueso Resorts, Cayo Hueso Consultants, Cayo Hueso y Habana Historeum, etc.

In 1763, when Great Britain took control of Florida, the community of Spaniards and Native Americans were moved to Havana. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading Florida returned to Spanish control 20 years later, but there was no official resettlement of the island. Informally the island was used by fishermen from Cuba and from the British Bahamas, who were later joined by others from the United States after the latter nation's independence. A fisherman or fisher is someone who gathers Fish, Shellfish, or other animals from a body of water The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and The United States of America —commonly referred to as the While claimed by Spain, no nation exercised de facto control over the community there for some time.

Matthew C. Perry and the opening of "Thompson's Island"

In 1815 the Spanish governor in Havana, Cuba deeded the island of Key West to Juan Pablo Salas, an officer of the Royal Spanish Navy Artillery posted in Saint Augustine, Florida. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant St Augustine is the County seat of St Johns County, Florida, in the United States. After Florida was transferred to the United States, Salas was so eager to sell the island that he sold it twice - first for a sloop valued at $575, and then to a U. S. businessman John W. A businessperson (also businessman or businesswoman) is someone who is employed at usually a profit-oriented enterprise, or more specifically someone Simonton, during a meeting in a Havana cafe, for the equivalent of $2,000 in pesos in 1821. The sloop trader quickly sold the island to a General John Geddes, a former governor of South Carolina, who tried in vain to secure his rights to the property before Simonton, with the aid of some influential friends in Washington, was able to gain clear title to the island. John Geddes ( December 25, 1777 March 4, 1828) was an Antebellum Democratic-Republican Governor of South South Carolina ( is a state in the southern region ( Deep South) of the United States of America. Simonton had wide-ranging business interest in Mobile, Alabama. He bought the island because a friend, John Whitehead, had drawn his attention on the opportunities presented by the island's strategic location. John Whitehead had been stranded in Key West after a shipwreck in 1819 and he had been impressed by the potential offered by the deep harbor of the island. A shipwreck can refer to a wrecked ship or to the event that caused the wreck such as the striking of something that causes the ship to sink the stranding of the ship on rocks A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored The island was indeed considered the "Gibraltar of the West" because of its strategic location on the 90-mile (140 km) wide deep shipping lane Straits of Florida between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Of Mexico. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a Strait located south-southeast of the North American Mainland, generally accepted The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world On March 25, 1822, Matthew C. Perry sailed the schooner Shark to Key West and planted the U. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Matthew Calbraith Perry ( April 10, 1794 &ndash March 4, 1858) was the Commodore of the U History Shark sailed from the Washington Navy Yard on 15 July for New York, where she received Dr S. flag, physically claiming the Keys as United States property. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification Perry reported on piracy problems in the Caribbean. Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Perry renamed Cayo Hueso (Key West) to "Thompson's Island" for the Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson and the harbor "Port Rodgers" for War of 1812 hero John Rodgers. Smith Thompson ( January 17, 1768 New York City - December 18, 1843) was a United States Secretary of the Navy and The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies John Rodgers ( July 11, 1772 - August 1, 1838) was an American naval officer who served in the United States Navy from its organization Neither name was to stick. In 1823 Commodore David Porter of the United States Navy West Indies Anti-Pirate Squadron took charge of Key West, which he ruled (but, according to some, exceeding his authority) as military dictator under martial law. Please see " Commodore " for other uses of this rank Commodore is a rank of the United States Navy with a somewhat For the American Civil War naval hero see David Dixon Porter, for other persons see David Porter. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking A dictator is an Authoritarian ruler (eg Absolutist or autocratic) who assumes sole and absolute power without hereditary ascension such as an Absolute Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect when the military takes control of the normal administration of justice

First developers

Soon after his purchase, Simonton subdivided the island into plots and sold 3 undivided quarters of each plot to:

• John Mountain and U. S. Consul John Warner who quickly resold their quarter to Pardon C. Greene who took up residence on the island
• John Whitehead, his friend who had advised him to buy Key West
• John Fleeming (nowadays spelled Fleming)

John Simonton spent the winter in Key West and the summer in Washington where he lobbied hard for the development of the island and to establish a naval base on the island, both to take advantage of the island's strategic location and to bring law and order to the town. He died in 1854.

Pardon C. Greene is the only one of the 4 "founding fathers" to establish himself permanently on the island where he became quite prominent as head of "P. C. Greene and Company". He also served briefly as Mayor. He died in 1838 at the age of 57.

John Whitehead lived in Key West for only eight years. He became a partner in the firm of "P. C. Greene and Company" from 1824-1827. A lifelong bachelor, he left the island for good in 1832. He came back only once during the Civil War in 1861 and died the next year.

John W. C. Fleeming was English born and was active in mercantile business in Mobile, Alabama where he befriended John Simonton. Fleeming spent only a few months in Key West in 1822 and left for Massachusetts where he married. He returned to Key West in 1832 with the intention of developing salt manufacturing on the island but died the same year at the young age of 51.

The names of the 4 "founding fathers" of modern Key West were given to main arteries of the island when it was first platted in 1829 by William Adee Whitehead, John Whitehead's younger brother. That first plat and the names used remained mostly intact and is still in use today. Duval street, the island's main street is named after Florida's first territorial Governor who served between 1822 and 1834, the longest serving Governor in Florida's U. S. history.

William Whitehead became chief editorial writer for the "Enquirer" a local newspaper in 1834. He had the genius of preserving copies of his newspaper as well as copies from the "Key West Gazette", its predecessor. He later sent those copies to the Monroe County Clerk for preservation which gives us a precious view on life in Key West in the early days (1820-1840).

List of mayors of Key West

Main article: List of mayors of Key West

Mayors of Key West have reflected the city's cultural and ethnic heritage. Mayors of Key West Florida have reflected the city's cultural and ethnic heritage Among its mayors are the first Cuban mayor and one of the first openly-gay mayors.

Conchs

Many of the residents of Key West were immigrants from the Bahamas, known as Conchs (pronounced 'conks') who arrived in increasing numbers after 1830. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and Conch (ˈkɒŋk conk) is a Slang term for native Bahamians of European descent Many were sons and daughters of Loyalists who fled to the nearest crown soil during the American Revolution. ^[10] In the 20th century many residents of Key West started referring to themselves as "Conchs", and the term is now generally applied to all residents of Key West. Some residents use the term "Conch" to refer to a person born in Key West, while the term "Fresh Water Conch" refers to a resident not born in Key West but who has lived in Key West for seven years or more. ^[11] However, the true original meaning of Conch applies only to someone with European ancestry that immigrated from the Bahamas. ^[12] It is said that when a baby was born, the family would put a conch shell on a pole in front of their home.

Many of the Bahama immigrants live in an area of Old Town next to the Truman Annex called "Bahama Village. Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S Bahama Village is a section of Key West, Florida southwest of downtown in Old Town. "

Major industries in Key West in the early 19th century included fishing, salt production, and salvage. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants In 1860 wrecking made Key West the largest and richest city in Florida and the wealthiest town per capita in the U. Wrecking is the practice of taking valuables from a Shipwreck which has foundered near or close to shore Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' S. A number of the inhabitants worked salvaging shipwrecks from nearby Florida reefs, and the town was noted for the unusually high concentration of fine furniture and chandeliers which the locals used in their own homes after salvaging them from wrecks. A shipwreck can refer to a wrecked ship or to the event that caused the wreck such as the striking of something that causes the ship to sink the stranding of the ship on rocks In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water Furniture is the Mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body (seating furniture and beds, provide storage or hold objects on horizontal A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights

Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West, active during the Civil War, contains the largest collection of Civil War cannons ever discovered at a single location. | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural

See also: Wrecking (shipwreck)#Wrecking in the Florida Keys

U. Wrecking is the practice of taking valuables from a Shipwreck which has foundered near or close to shore S. Civil War

During the American Civil War, while Florida seceded and joined the Confederate States of America, Key West remained in U. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 S. Union hands because of the Naval base. However, most locals were sympathetic to the South and many flew Confederate flags over their homes. ^[13] Fort Zachary Taylor, constructed from 1845 to 1866, was an important Key West outpost during the Civil War. The Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site, better known simply as Fort Taylor, (or Fort Zach to locals is a Florida State Park and National Construction began in 1861 on two other forts, East and West Martello Towers, which served as sidearms and batteries for the larger fort. When completed, they were connected to Ft. Taylor by railroad tracks for movement of munitions. ^[14] Fort Jefferson, located about 68 miles (109 km) from Key West on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas, served after the Civil War as the prison for Dr. Samuel A. Mudd convicted of conspiracy for setting the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Dry Tortugas National Park preserves Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas section of the Florida Keys. The Dry Tortugas are a small group of islands located at the end of the Florida Keys, USA, about west of Key West, and west of the Marquesas Keys Samuel Alexander Mudd I ( December 20, 1833 &ndash January 10, 1883) was a Maryland physician implicated and imprisoned for In the Criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between Natural persons to break the law at some time in the future and in some cases with at least one overt act Abraham Lincoln assassination John Wilkes Booth (May 10 1838 – April 26 1865 was an American stage actor who assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal

In the late 19th century, salt and salvage declined as industries, but Key West gained a thriving cigar making industry. A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented Tobacco which is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the smoker's mouth

By 1889 Key West was the largest and wealthiest city in Florida. ^[15]

Many Cubans moved to Key West during Cuba's unsuccessful war for independence in the 1860s and 1870s. Cubans (Cubanos are people inhabiting or originating from Cuba. War is an international relations Dispute, characterized by organized Violence between National Military units Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising

Florida Florida East Coast Railway train traveling on an Overseas Railroad (Key West Extension) railroad bridge. The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U

Overseas by rail and road

Main articles: Overseas Railway and Overseas Highway

Key West was relatively isolated until 1912 when it was connected to the Florida mainland via Overseas Railway extension of Henry M. Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). Rc02968jpg|275px|right|thumb| Florida East Coast Railway train traveling on an Overseas Railroad (Key West Extension railroad bridge The Overseas Highway is a long road carrying US Route 1 through the Florida Keys. Rc02968jpg|275px|right|thumb| Florida East Coast Railway train traveling on an Overseas Railroad (Key West Extension railroad bridge Henry Morrison Flagler ( January 2 1830 &ndash May 20 1913) was an American tycoon, Real estate promoter The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U Flagler created a landfill at Trumbo Point for his railyards. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed much of the railroad, and killed hundreds of residents, including around 400 World War I veterans who were living in camps and working on federal road and mosquito-control projects in the Middle Keys. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 was the strongest tropical cyclone during the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The FEC could not afford to restore the railroad.

The United States Federal Government then rebuilt the rail lines as an automobile highway, completed in 1938, which became an extension of United States Highway 1. The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. The portion of US 1 through the Keys is called the Overseas Highway. The Overseas Highway is a long road carrying US Route 1 through the Florida Keys. Franklin Roosevelt toured the road in 1939.

Winter White House

Main article: Truman Annex

Several Presidents have visited Key West. Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S Harry Truman visited for 175 days on 11 visits during his Presidency and visited several times after he left office (see Truman Annex)

Key West was in a down cycle when Franklin D. Roosevelt visited in 1939. Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S The build up of military bases on the island occurred shortly thereafter.

In addition to Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower stayed in Key West following a heart attack. Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general In November of 1962, John F. Kennedy visited Key West a month after the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States, the Soviet Union, and Cuba during the Cold War. Jimmy Carter held a family reunion in Key West after leaving office. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002

Famous Sloppy Joe's Bar at night

The Silver Slipper dance hall adjacent to Sloppy Joe's, painted in the 1930s by Waldo Peirce

The Ernest Hemingway House, a popular tourist attraction in Key West. Waldo Peirce ( December 17, 1884 – March 8, 1970) was an American painter, born in Bangor Maine. The Ernest Hemingway House was the residence of author Ernest Hemingway in Key West, Florida, United States.

One of the over 50 polydactyl cats that live at the Hemingway house. A polydactyl cat is a Cat with a congenital physical anomaly, with more than usual number of toes on one or all of its Paws as a result of a cat body This particular cat has 7 (2 extra) toes on each paw.

A typical Cuban mix that can be found in many cafés and restaurants in and around the island

Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams

Numerous artists and writers have passed through Key West but the two most associated with the island are Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese originally created by Cuban workers either in Cuba or in the immigrant community of Ybor City Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21 1899 — July 2 1961 was an American novelist short-story writer, and Journalist. Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26 1911 &ndash February 25 1983 better known as Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright who received many of the top theatrical

Ernest Hemingway

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms while living above the show room of a Key West Ford dealership at 314 Simonton Street [4] while awaiting delivery of a Ford Roadster purchased by the uncle of his wife Pauline in 1928. A Farewell to Arms is a semi-autobiographical Novel written by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1929 A roadster, also known as a spyder or spider, is a two-seater car traditionally without a roof (or with a detachable roof and no side or rear windows

Hardware store owner Charles Thompson introduced him to deep sea fishing. Among the group that went fishing was Joe Russell (also known as Sloppy Joe). Sloppy Joe's Bar is an historic US bar in Key West, Florida. It is now located on the north side of Duval Street at the corner of Greene Russell was reportedly the model for Freddy in To Have and Have Not. Portions of the original manuscript were found at Sloppy Joe’s Bar after his death. The group had nicknames for each other and Hemingway wound up with "Papa".

Pauline's rich uncle Gus Pfeiffer bought the 907 Whitehead Street house [5] in 1931 as a wedding present. The Ernest Hemingway House was the residence of author Ernest Hemingway in Key West, Florida, United States. Legend says the Hemingways installed a swimming pool for $20,000 in the late 1930s (equivalent in 2006 to $250,000). It was such a high price that Hemingway is said to have put a penny in the concrete saying "Here, take the last penny I've got!" The penny is still there.

During his stay he wrote or worked on: Death in the Afternoon, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber. Death in the Afternoon is a non-fiction book by Ernest Hemingway about the ceremony and traditions of Spanish Bullfighting. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940 "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is a Short story by Ernest Hemingway. "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" is a Short story by Ernest Hemingway. He used Depression-era Key West as the locale for To Have and Have Not — his only novel set in the United States.

Pauline and Hemingway divorced in 1939 and Hemingway only occasionally visited while returning from Havana until his suicide in 1961.

The six or seven-toed polydactyl cats descended from Hemingway's original pet 'Snowball' still live on the grounds and are cared for at the Hemingway House, despite complaints by the U. A polydactyl cat is a Cat with a congenital physical anomaly, with more than usual number of toes on one or all of its Paws as a result of a cat body S. Department of Agriculture in which the Key West City Commission exempted the home from a law prohibiting more than four domestic animals per household.

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams first became a regular visitor to Key West in 1941, and is said to have written the first draft of A Streetcar Named Desire while staying in 1947 at the La Concha Hotel. Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26 1911 &ndash February 25 1983 better known as Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright who received many of the top theatrical A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize He bought a permanent house in 1949 and listed Key West as his primary residence until his death in 1983. In contrast to Hemingway's grand house in Old Town, Williams home at 1431 Duncan Street [6] in the "unfashionable" New Town neighborhood is a very modest bungalow. The house is privately owned and not open to the public. The Academy Award–winning film version of his “The Rose Tattoo” was shot on the island in 1956. The Tennessee Williams Theatre is located on the campus of Florida Keys Community College on Stock Island. [7]

Williams had a series of rentals all over the U. S. but the only home he owned was in Key West.

Even though Hemingway and Williams were in Key West at the same time, they reportedly only met once -- at Hemingway's Cuba home Finca Vigia.

Cuban Presence

Key West is much closer to Havana than it is to Miami. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading

In 1890 Key West had a population of nearly 18,800 and was the biggest and richest city in Florida. Half the residents were said to be of Cuban origin and Key West regularly had Cuban mayors, including Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Father of the Cuban Republic, who was elected mayor in 1876. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (born Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo on April 18 1819 in Bayamo, in Oriente, province of Cuba, —February [8] Cubans were actively involved in reportedly 200 factories in town producing 100 million cigars annually. José Martí made several visits to seek recruits for Cuban independence starting in 1891, and founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party during his visit to Key West. José Julián Martí Pérez ( January 28, 1853 &ndash May 19, 1895) Born in Havana from Spanish parents his short life was dedicated to gaining [9]

The Battleship USS Maine sailed from Key West on its fateful visit to Havana, where it blew up, igniting the Spanish-American War. "The Maine" redirects here For the pop punk band see The Maine (band. Crew men from the ship are buried in Key West and the Navy investigation into the blast occurred at the Key West Customs House.

Pan American Airlines was founded in Key West originally to fly visitors to Havana in 1926.

John F. Kennedy was to use "90 miles from Cuba" extensively in his speeches against Fidel Castro. John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13 1926 is a Cuban revolutionary leader who was prime minister of Cuba from December 1959 to December 1976 and then president until Kennedy himself visited Key West a month after the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States, the Soviet Union, and Cuba during the Cold War.

Prior to the Cuban revolution of 1959, there were regular ferry and airplane services between Key West and Havana. The Cuban Revolution refers to the revolution that led to the overthrow of the United States proxy ruler General Fulgencio Batista 's regime on January 1,

Key West was flooded with refugees during the Mariel Boatlift. The Mariel Boatlift was a mass movement of Cubans who departed from Cuba 's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15 and Refugees continue to come ashore and on at least one occasion, most notably in April 2003, flew hijacked Cuban Airlines planes into the city's airport. [10].

Conch Republic

Main article: Conch Republic

In 1982 the city of Key West briefly declared its "independence" as the Conch Republic in a protest over a United States Border Patrol blockade. History In 1982 the United States Border Patrol set up a roadblock and inspection point on US 1 just north of the merger of Monroe County Road 905A/Miami-Dade Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising History In 1982 the United States Border Patrol set up a roadblock and inspection point on US 1 just north of the merger of Monroe County Road 905A/Miami-Dade The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U A blockade is any effort to prevent supplies Troops information or aid from reaching an opposing force This blockade was set up on U. S. 1 where the Northern end of the Overseas Highway meets the mainland at Florida City. Florida City is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. This blockade was in response to the Mariel Boatlift. The Mariel Boatlift was a mass movement of Cubans who departed from Cuba 's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15 and A seventeen mile (27 km) traffic jam ensued while the Border Patrol stopped every car leaving the Keys supposedly searching for illegal aliens attempting to enter the mainland United States. The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U This paralyzed the Florida Keys, which rely heavily on the tourism industry. The Florida Keys are an Archipelago of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. Flags, T-shirts and other merchandise representing the Conch Republic are still popular souvenirs for visitors to Key West, and the Conch Republic Independence Celebration--including parades and parties--is celebrated every April 23. History In 1982 the United States Border Patrol set up a roadblock and inspection point on US 1 just north of the merger of Monroe County Road 905A/Miami-Dade

Key West Naval Air Station

The Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29) as seen at sunset in Key West on July 22, 2007. This ship is typical of the frigates, destroyers, and smaller military vessels that call at the port. Larger ships, such as aircraft carriers, are prohibited due to their deep draft and the shallowness of the harbor.

Key West was always an important military post since it sits at the northern edge of the deep water channel connecting the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (the southern terminus 90 miles (140 km) south is Cuba) via the Florida Straits. The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a Strait located south-southeast of the North American Mainland, generally accepted Because of this Key West since the 1820s had been dubbed the "Gibraltar of the West. " Fort Taylor was initially built on the island. The Navy added a small base from which the USS Maine sailed to its demise in Havana at the beginning of the Spanish-American War. Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Maine, named for the 23rd state. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading

At the beginning of World War II the Navy increased its presence from 50 acres to 3,000 acres (12 km²) including 1,700 acres (7 km²) of all of Boca Chica Key and the construction of Fleming Key from landfill. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Boca Chica Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys approximately 3 miles east of the island of Key West. Flemingkeynorthjpg|thumb|300px|right|The northern portion of Fleming Key as seen from the east showing several NAS structures]] Fleming Key is an island off the northwest corner of the The Navy built the first water line extending the length of the keys. At its peak 15,000 military and 3,400 civilians were at the base. Included in the base are:

• NAS Key West - This is the main facility on Boca Chica where the Navy trains its pilots. Staff are housed at Sigsbee Park. In 2006 there were 1,650 active-duty; 2,507 family members; 35 Reserve; and 1,312 civilians listed at the base. In the 1990s the Navy worked out an agreement with the National Park Service to stop sonic booms near Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation The term sonic boom is commonly used to refer to the shocks caused by the Supersonic flight of an aircraft Dry Tortugas National Park preserves Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas section of the Florida Keys. The Dry Tortugas are a small group of islands located at the end of the Florida Keys, USA, about west of Key West, and west of the Marquesas Keys Many of the training missions are directed at the Marquesas "Patricia" Target 29 nautical miles (54 km) due west of the base. The target is a grounded ship hulk 306 feet (93 m) in length that is visible only at low tide. Bombs are not actually dropped on the target.

• Truman Annex - The area next to Fort Taylor became a submarine pen and was used for the Fleet Sonar School. Harry S. Truman was to make the commandant's house his winter White House. The Fort Taylor Annex was later renamed the Truman Annex. Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S This portion has largely been decommissioned and turned over to private developers and the City of Key West. However there are still a few offices including the new NOAA Hurricane Forecasting Center there. The Navy still owns its piers.
• Trumbo Annex - The docking area on what had been the railroad yard for the Flager Overseas Railroad is now used by the Coast Guard.

Port of Key West

The Navy Mole pier in Key West showing two cruise ships docked.

The first cruise ship was the Sunward in 1969, which docked at the Navy's pier in the Truman Annex or the privately owned Pier B. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL is a company operating Cruise ships headquartered in Miami, Florida. Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S The Navy's pier is called the Navy Mole. A mole is a massive structure usually of stone, used as a Pier, breakwater, or junction between places separated by water

In 1984 the city opened a pier right on Mallory Square. Mallory Square is a Plaza located in the city of Key West, Florida, United States. The decision was met with considerable opposition from people who felt it would disrupt the tradition of watching the sunset at Mallory Square.

Cruise ships now dock at all three piers.

Cruise Ship Statistics for 1994^[16]

• Number of visits: 368
• Passenger count: 398,370
• City revenues from docking charges: $852,887

Geography and climate

Key West Cemetery near Solares Hill, the highest point of land on the island. The Key West Cemetery is a 19- Acre cemetery on Solares Hill on the island of Key West, Florida, United States. Solares Hill is the name of the highest point of land on the island of Key West in the lower Florida Keys in Monroe County Florida. The cemetery was moved to the high spot in 1847 after an 1846 hurricane washed corpses out of the beach cemetery. The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 was a powerful late season hurricane that caused extensive damage and up to 255 deaths as it moved across Cuba, Florida

Key West from space, October 2002

Geography

Key West is located at 24°33′33″N, 81°47′03″W (24. 559166, -81. 784031). ^[17] The maximum elevation above sea level is about 18 feet (6 m), a one acre area known as Solares Hill. Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface Solares Hill is the name of the highest point of land on the island of Key West in the lower Florida Keys in Monroe County Florida. ^[18] Key West Island is about 4 miles (6 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide; since the late 20th century it has been artificially expanded to the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 2 km² (7. 4 mi²). The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 15. 4 km² (5. 9 mi²) of it is land and 3. 8 km² (1. 5 mi²) of it (19. 73%) is water.

Old Town/New Town

Old Town

The original Key West neighborhood in the west (although perceived as south) is called "Old Town" and comprises the Key West Historic District. The Key West Historic District (also known as Old Town of the City of Key West is a U It includes the major tourist destinations of the island including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor. Mallory Square is a Plaza located in the city of Key West, Florida, United States. Duval Street is a famous downtown commercial zoned street in Key West, Florida, running north and south from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S The Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site, better known simply as Fort Taylor, (or Fort Zach to locals is a Florida State Park and National It is where you find the classic bungalows and guest mansions.

Generally, the structures date from 1886 to 1912. The basic features that distinguish the local architecture include wood frame construction of one to two-and-a-half story structures set on foundation piers about three feet above the ground. Exterior characteristics of the buildings are peaked "metal" roofs, horizontal wood siding, gingerbread trim, pastel shades of paint, side-hinged louvered shutters, covered porches (or balconies, galleries, or verandas) along the fronts of the structures, and wood lattice screens covering the area elevated by the piers.

New Town

The island has more than doubled in size via landfill. The new section on the east (perceived as north) is called "New Town. " It contains shopping centers, retail malls, residential areas, schools, ball parks, Key West International Airport. Key West International Airport is a county-owned public Airport located two miles (3 km) east of the Central business district of Key West

According to the Key West Association of Realtors (KWAR), Key West can be divided into four distinct areas: Old Town, Casa Marina, Mid-Town and New Town with various neighborhoods in each area.

Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic

Key West (and most of the rest of the keys) are on the dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world The two bodies have different currents with the calmer and warmer Gulf of Mexico being characterized by great clumps of sea grass. The area where the two bodies merge between Key West and Cuba is called the Straits of Florida. The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a Strait located south-southeast of the North American Mainland, generally accepted

Southernmost City

Key West monument marking the southernmost point in the continental United States accessible by civilians, is located in Key West, Florida, at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street

One of the biggest attractions on the island is a concrete replica of a buoy at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets that claims to be the southernmost point in the contiguous 48 states (see Extreme Points for more information. The Southernmost point in the continental United States is claimed to be located in Key West Florida, at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street This is a list of the extreme points of the United States, the points that are farther north south east or west than any other location in the country ) The point was originally just marked with a sign, which was often stolen. In response to this, the city of Key West erected the now famous monument in 1983. ^[19] Brightly painted and labeled "SOUTHERNMOST POINT CONTINENTAL U. S. A. ", it is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Key West. ^[20] Land on the Truman Annex property just west of the buoy is the true southernmost point, but it has no marker since it is U. Truman Annex is a neighborhood in Old Town, Key West Florida where the winter White House for President Harry S S. Navy land and cannot be entered by civilian tourists. The private yards directly to the east of the buoy and the beach areas of Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park also lie farther south than the buoy. The Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site, better known simply as Fort Taylor, (or Fort Zach to locals is a Florida State Park and National The farthest south location that the public can visit is at the end of the White St. Pier, located off the intersection of White St. and Atlantic Boulevard. Florida's southernmost point is Ballast Key, a privately owned island just south and west of Key West. Ballast Key Florida ( is the southernmost point of land in the Continental United States. Signs on the island strictly prohibit unauthorized visitors. The claim "90 Miles to Cuba" on the monument isn't entirely accurate either, since Cuba at its closest point is 94 statute miles from Key West. ^[21]

Climate

Frost free zone

Key West claims to be the only city in the lower 48 states never to have had a frost. Because of the proximity of the Gulf Stream in the Straits of Florida, about 12 miles (19 km) south and southeast, and the tempering effects of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and north, Key West has a notably mild, tropical climate,^[22] (Koppen climate classification Aw, similar to the Caribbean islands), in which the average temperatures during winter are about 14 degrees lower than in summer. The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a Strait located south-southeast of the North American Mainland, generally accepted The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world A tropical climate is a kind of Climate typical in the Tropics. The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Cold fronts are strongly modified by the warm water as they move in from northerly quadrants in winter. The average low and high temperatures in January are 67 °F/ 75 °F. There is no known record of frost, ice, sleet, or snow in Key West. Frost is the solid deposition of Water vapor from saturated air Ice is a Solid phase, usually crystalline, of a Non-metalic substance that is liquid or gas at Room temperature, such as Ammonia "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Key West was 41 °F (5 °C) on January 12, 1886, and on January 13, 1981. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 ^[23] Prevailing easterly tradewinds and sea breezes suppress the usual summertime heating. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator. The average low and high temperatures in July are 81 °F/ 90 °F. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Key West was 97 °F (36. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature 1 °C) on July 19, 1880, and on August 26, 1956. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[24]

Wet and dry seasons

Precipitation is characterized by dry and wet seasons. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric The period of November through April receives abundant sunshine and slightly less than 25 percent of the annual rainfall. This rainfall usually occurs in advance of cold fronts in a few heavy or light showers. May through October is normally the wet season, receiving approximately 53 percent of the yearly total in numerous showers and thunderstorms. A wet season or rainy season is a Season in which the average Rainfall in a region is significantly increased Rain falls on most days of the wet season. Early morning is the favored time for these showers, which is different from mainland Florida, where showers and thunderstorms usually occur in the afternoon. Easterly (tropical) waves during this season occasionally bring excessive rainfall, while infrequent hurricanes may be accompanied by unusually heavy amounts. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding At any rate, Key West is the driest city in Florida. ^[25]

Hurricanes

Flooding caused by Wilma on Key Haven, island suburb of Key West, Florida. 10/24/2005

Hurricanes rarely hit Key West and the island has been relatively lucky. Locals say that Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005, was the worst storm in memory. Hurricane Wilma was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The entire island was told to evacuate. Business owners were forced to close their businesses. After the hurricane had passed, a storm surge sent 8' of water inland, completely inundating a large portion of the lower Keys. Low-lying areas of Key West and the lower Keys, including major tourist destinations were under up to 3' of water. Sixty percent of the homes in Key West were flooded. ^[26] The higher parts of Old Town, such as the Solares Hill and cemetery areas, did not flood due to their higher elevations of 12-18'. Solares Hill is the name of the highest point of land on the island of Key West in the lower Florida Keys in Monroe County Florida. The Key West Cemetery is a 19- Acre cemetery on Solares Hill on the island of Key West, Florida, United States. ^[27] The surge destroyed tens of thousands of cars throughout the lower Keys, and many houses were flooded with 1-2 feet of sea water. A local newspaper referred to Key West and the lower Keys as a "car graveyard. "^[28] The peak of the storm surge occurred when the eye of Wilma had already passed over the Naples, area, and the sustained winds during the surge were less than 40 mph (64 km/h). Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, USA. As of 1 July 2006, the U ^[29] The storm destroyed the piers at the clothing optional Atlantic Shores Motel and breached the shark tank at the Key West Aquarium, freeing its sharks. A nude beach (British English naturist or nudist beach) is a Beach where users are legally at liberty to be nude. Damage postponed the island's famous Halloween Fantasy Fest until the following December. Fantasy Fest is a Street party held annually on the last week of October in Key West, Florida. MTV's The Real World: Key West was filming during the hurricane and deals with the storm. The Real World Key West is the seventeenth season of MTV 's popular Reality television series The Real World, which focuses on seven

In March 2006, the NOAA opened its National Weather Forecasting building on White Street. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA) is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the The building is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and its storm surge.

The most intense previous hurricane was Hurricane Georges, a Category 2, in September 1998. Hurricane Georges (ʒɔʒ was the seventh tropical storm fourth hurricane and second major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm damaged many of the houseboats along Houseboat Row in the Cow Key channel on the northwest corner.

Attractions, events, recreation, and culture

Sunset seen from Key West; September 2005

One of the many private beaches on the island, the Casa Marina, Flagler's grand hotel resort.

Free roaming chicken family as typically seen on the streets of Key West.

A float during the 2007 Fantasy Fest parade, the culminating event of the week-long event. In the background is the La Concha Hotel.

Sunset at Fort Zachary Taylor

Many visitors rent a bicycle and explore the history and architecture of Old Town Key West. Walking tours, including a tour of the unusual Key West Cemetery, are available. The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is a daily spectacle for visitors and residents. Boat excursions and tours provide a great way to view Key West from the water.

The Duval Street bar and restaurant district includes many different entertainment options, all within walking distance of each other. Duval Street is a famous downtown commercial zoned street in Key West, Florida, running north and south from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic

The Studios of Key West, founded in 2006 and based at the island's historic Armory building, was established as a new model for an artist community. The Studios of Key West was founded as a Non-profit cultural organization in 2006 with a mission to support the island's creative community the development of artists It comprises a dozen working studio spaces, a main exhibition hall, sculpture garden, and several adjoining residencies and cottages. Its programming continues to grow, and includes an extensive series of creative workshops, free humanities lectures, cultural partnerships, and innovative ideas for artist and audience.

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts serves as the primary cultural umbrella for Monroe County, from Key Largo to Key West. Monroe County is a County located in the state of Florida. As of 2000 the population was 79589 A non-profit local arts agency, it makes grants, operates the Monroe County Art in Public Places program, sponsors seminars, and manages the on-line cultural calendar for the region. It also manages the County's Tourism Development Council arts marketing grants and serves as a leading advocate for cultural tourism in lower Florida.

The Tennessee Williams Theatre is a performing arts center, a civic center, and a community center. It is based at the Florida Keys Community College. Florida Keys Community College is the southernmost college in the United States.

The Key West Literary Seminar, a celebration of writers and writing held each January, attracts an international audience to hear such writers as Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, Billy Collins, and Joyce Carol Oates. The Key West Literary Seminar is a Writers conference and festival held each January in Key West, Florida. Ian McEwan, CBE, FRSA, FRSL, (born June 21, 1948) is a Booker Prize -winning English Novelist Margaret Eleanor Atwood, CC (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian Writer. William A ("Billy" Collins (born March 22, 1941) is an American poet. Joyce Carol Oates (born June 16 1938) is an American author and the Roger S

The Key West Botanical Forest and Garden is an excellent, frost-free arboretum and botanical garden containing a number of "champion tree" specimens. The Key West Botanical Forest and Garden 11 acres (45 hectares is a frost-free Arboretum and Botanical garden containing a fine collection of trees shrubs and An arboretum is a collection of trees Related collections include a fruticetum (from the Latin frutex, meaning shrub and a viticetum a collection of vines Botanical gardens grow a wide variety of Plants primarily to categorize and document for scientific purposes

Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden is a one acre (4,000 m²) garden resembling a lush, predominantly green, rainforest. It is an exhibit of wild nature’s artistry in a woodland garden.

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory features a 5,000 square foot (460 m²) glass-domed tropical butterfly habitat.

A permanent AIDS Memorial is at the White Street Pier.

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum showcases gold, silver, and treasure recovered from shipwrecks around the world. The Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum is located at 200 Greene Street Key West, Florida.

Some tourists mingle with the locals, shop, and dine at the Key West Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight.

The Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum preserves the history of the Key West Lighthouse built in 1847. The Key West Light is located in Key West Florida. The first Key West lighthouse was a 65-foot tower completed in 1825

Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway's former home is now open to the public as a museum, populated by as many as sixty descendants of his famous polydactyl cats. The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature A polydactyl cat is a Cat with a congenital physical anomaly, with more than usual number of toes on one or all of its Paws as a result of a cat body [11]

PrideFest is seven days of events, presented by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West the first week in June. The schedule includes the Pride Follies talent extravaganza; contests to select a Mr. , Ms. and Miss PrideFest; parties, a tea dance; and the PrideFest Parade down Duval Street.

In 1979 the Key West Tourist Development Association, Inc. started Fantasy Fest to attract tourists at the traditionally slow time at Halloween, which is at the end of the hurricane season. Fantasy Fest regularly attracts approximately 80,000 people to the island, and has become a huge success.

In June 2006 the Key West Gay & Lesbian Museum & Archive opened at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center at 513 Truman St. Featured exhibits include a Tennessee Williams typewriter as well as an extensive collection of memorabilia and papers of Richard A. Heyman who was one of the first openly gay mayors before dying in 1994 of AIDS.

Popular annual events

• Key West Race Week - international sailing event – January
• Key West Literary Seminar – January
• Conch Republic Independence Celebration – April 23
• Taste of Key West - April
• Red Ribbon Bed Race – April
• Survivors Party – May
• Queen Mother Pageant – May
• PrideFest – June
• Cuban-American Heritage Festival – June
• Hemingway Days Festival – July
• WomenFest – September
• Fantasy Fest – October
• Goombay Celebration – October
• Robert the Enchanted Doll Day – October 24th
• Parrot Heads in Paradise Convention (aka Meeting of the Minds) – November
• Boat and Holiday Parade – December

Media

The television stations received in Key West are the stations in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Designated Market Area (DMA) (defined by Nielsen Media Research) with rebroadcast transmitters in Key West and Marathon, Florida. Fantasy Fest is a Street party held annually on the last week of October in Key West, Florida. A television station is a type of broadcast station that broadcasts both audio and Video to Television receivers in a particular area A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area, DMA or simply market is a region where the Population Nielsen Media Research ( NMR) is an American firm that measures media Audiences including Television, Radio Marathon is a City on Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Comcast provides cable television service. Comcast Corporation ( is the largest Cable television company the second largest Internet service provider and (according to the company the fourth largest telephone DirecTV and Dish Network provide Miami-Fort Lauderdale local stations and national channels. DirecTV (trademarked as "DIREC' TV' " is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service based in El Segundo California, USA, that was founded Not be confused with Indian Service Dish TV DISH Network is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service that provides Satellite television

See also: List of television stations in Key West

The Key West area has 11 FM radio stations, 4 FM translators, and 2 AM stations. The Television stations received in Key West Florida are the stations in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Market, with rebroadcast transmitters in Key West and Marathon

See also: List of radio stations in Key West

The Florida Keys Keynoter and the Key West Citizen are published locally and serve Key West and Monroe County. The Florida Keys Keynoter is a twice-weekly tabloid format Newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and is a sister newspaper to the Miami Herald The Key West Citizen is a daily newspaper published in Key West Florida. The Southernmost Flyer, a weekly publication printed in conjunction with the Citizen, is produced by the Public Affairs department of Naval Air Station Key West and serves the local military community. Naval Air Station Key West, is a Naval air station and military airport located four miles (6 km east of the Central business district of Key ^[30]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 25,478 people, 11,016 households, and 5,463 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 1,653. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 3/km² (4,285. 0/mi²). There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 863. 4/km² (2,237. 9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84. 94% White, 9. 28% African American, 0. 39% Native American, 1. 29% Asian, 0. 05% Pacific Islander, 1. 86% from other races, and 2. 18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16. 54% of the population.

There were 11,016 households out of which 19. 9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37. 7% were married couples living together, 8. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50. 4% were non-families. 31. 4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8. 1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 23 and the average family size was 2. 84.

In the city the population was spread out with 16. 0% under the age of 18, 8. 4% from 18 to 24, 37. 1% from 25 to 44, 26. 7% from 45 to 64, and 11. 7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 122. 3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126. 0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,021, and the median income for a family was $50,895. Males had a median income of $30,967 versus $25,407 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,316. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 5. 8% of families and 10. 2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 5% of those under age 18 and 11. 3% of those age 65 or over.

The ancestries most reported in 2000 were English (12. 4%), German (12. 2%), Irish (11. 3%), Italian (6. 8%), United States (6. 0%) and French (3. 6%).

Population History of Key West (U. S. Census Bureau)

• 1840. . . . 688
• 1850. . . . 2,367
• 1860. . . . 2,832
• 1870. . . . 5,016
• 1880. . . . 9,890
• 1890. . . . 18,080
• 1900. . . . 17,114
• 1910. . . . 19,945
• 1920. . . . 18,749
• 1930. . . . 12,831
• 1940. . . . 12,927
• 1950. . . . 26,433
• 1960. . . . 33,956
• 1970. . . . 29,312
• 1980. . . . 24,292
• 1990. . . . 24,832
• 2000. . . . 25,478
• 2006. . . . 23,262

The number of families (as defined by the Census Bureau) declined dramatically in the last four decades of the 20^th century. In 1960 there were 13,340 families in Key West, with 42. 1% of households having children living in them. By 2000 the population has dwindled to 5,463 families, with only 19. 9% of households having children living in them. ^[31]

Languages

As of 2000, 76. 66% spoke English as a first language, while Spanish was 17. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth 32%, 1. 06% spoke Italian, 1. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. 02% spoke French, and German spoken as a mother tongue was at 0. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. A first language (also mother tongue, native language, arterial language, or L1) is the language a human being learns from birth 94% of the population. In total, other languages spoken besides English made up 25. 33% of residents. ^[32]

Notable Key West natives

• Bronson Arroyo, Baseball player
• Stepin Fetchit, Comedian
• George Mira, Football player
• Quincy Perkins, Film director
• David Robinson, Basketball player
• Mario Sanchez (painter), Woodcarver-painter

Notable Key West non-natives

• Elizabeth Bishop
• Judy Blume
• Jimmy Buffett
• Meg Cabot
• Hart Crane
• Pat Croce
• Laurent de Brunhoff
• Annie Dillard
• Barbara Ehrenreich
• Mel Fisher
• Nancy Friday
• Khalil Greene
• Louis Harris
• Ernest Hemingway
• Jerry Herman
• John Hersey
• David Noyes Jackson
• James Kirkwood
• Calvin Klein
• Seward Johnson
• Alison Lurie
• Terrence McNally
• Jeff MacNelly
• Stephen Mallory
• Thomas McGuane
• James Merrill
• Boog Powell
• Shel Silverstein
• Wallace Stevens
• Keith Strickland
• Carl Tanzler
• President Harry S. Truman
• Richard Wilbur
• Tennessee Williams

References

External links

• Official City Website
• Chamber of Commerce Website
• Monroe County School District Key West Public Schools
• Oldest Hotel in Key West
• Key West Art Galleries
• A Complete Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West
• A photographic tour of Key West
• Sanborn Insurance Historical Maps of Key West

• Key West, Florida is at coordinates 24°33′33″N 81°47′03″W / 24.559166, -81.784031 (Key West, Florida)Coordinates: 24°33′33″N 81°47′03″W / 24.559166, -81.784031 (Key West, Florida)