55 Cool Key West Facts: You Should Know About 'Florida's Island City'

Known as the southernmost point of continental USA, Key West is located in western Florida.

Did you know that Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States? It's also the home of some amazing beaches, interesting history, and delicious food.

Whether it be the Seven Mile Bridge, Duval Street, or Old Town, you will always find new and exciting things to do in the Key West!

While Duval Street is known for its many pubs and restaurants, the Old Town is known for its alleged ghosts. Of all things, what makes the Key West special is the unity that its people show.

Tourists always find an unending list of things to do in Key West and if you're planning a trip, or if you just want to learn more about this fascinating city, keep reading!

Geographic Location And Weather of Key West

Key West is one of the most beautiful places to visit when in Florida. The friendly people, many pubs, and the delightful weather of the island make it impossible for tourists to not come back home with the fondest memories and an indescribable need to visit the place again.

One of the reasons why Key West is so great for tourists and inhabitants is its weather, which is largely dependent on the location. Let's dive into some facts about the location of Key West!

Key West is located in the western portion of Florida Keys.

In spite of what is often assumed, Key West is actually not the western-most key of the Florida Keys.

It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Key West is also the location where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico meet.

The area is known for being the third-largest coral barrier reef in the world. Understandably, some of the most exotic marine life can be observed near Key West.

The Sunset Key and Wisteria Island are not natural islets. They are in fact human-made.

Other islands that make up the Key West are Fleming Key and Dredgers Key.

The official name of Sunset Key is Tank Island and it was originally a fuel tank depot during the Cold War.

The Florida Keys are made accessible through the Overseas Highway.

There are around 42 bridges in the area, which also assist in connecting to the mainland.

In spite of being a part of Florida, Key West is farther from Miami as compared to Cuba.

However, the theories of being able to see Cuba from Key West are entirely false!

The Overseas Highway was opened in 1938.

It stretched over a length of 113 mi (182 km)!

It is a concrete roadway which is considered to be one of the most pleasant drives in the country!

The Overseas Highway connects Key Largo and Key West!

History Of Key West

As with any other place around the world, Key West also has a very rich history. While not all of the details of the history of the island have been recorded, the inhabitants are still proud of their heritage!

Key West was found by accident.

Christopher Columbus sure did discover America and Cuba, but the Key West area was found by a Spaniard named Ponce de Leone.

The Spaniard was struck by the bleached limestone rock formation on the island and named it Cayo Hueso or Bone Island in 1521.

When the English Settlers started making their way into the country and asked for the name of the area, they heard the name wrong.

The name that we use for the island is therefore a misnomer.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the island was inhabited by the Calusa Indians.

Whether or not other natives inhabited the area is not known.

In 1763, with the increase in powers gathered by the English settlers, the original inhabitants were forced to move away.

Key West was emptied of all its native Calusa Indians and Spanish people.

These natives were forced to go to Havana, Cuba, which happened to be very close by!

Key West has always held huge promise given its location and resources.

For this reason, a US businessman named John Simonton bought the island for just $2,000.

He undertook this exchange in 1822.

This amount is slightly over the average rent of a house on the island.

Key West has also witnessed a few pirate invasions in the 19th century.

The island was important during the Spanish-American Civil War and is close to a US naval air station.

The US Navy Pirate Fleet was also established in Key West.

Commodore David Porter took charge of the fleet shortly after John Simonton and was known for his harsh governing systems.

It is said that he established martial law and was staunch in his methods.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Key West became the richest city in Florida.

This wealth was brought when the locals started selling the treasures gathered from shipwrecks.

However, the shipwreck courts were closed in 1921, and the booming industry came to a standstill!

It was in none other than Key West that Pan American Airways was founded.

This took place in 1927 and the first flight went to Cuba.

Famous Places To Visit In Key West

Key West is a very famous Florida city and is known for its many tourist attractions. The beauty and charm of the island are such that even locals can't get enough of the wonderful locations. If you do happen to visit the Florida Keys or Key West in particular, here are some spots that you should definitely hit!

When in Key West, the first and foremost thing to do would be to enjoy each and every sunset.

Sunsets in the Key West are famous throughout the world and cannot be missed at any cost!

While this may sound like an odd suggestion, the Key West Cemetery is also an iconic place to visit.

Around 1,00,000 people are buried at the Key West Cemetery.

The Key West Aquarium is also a great place to visit when in the area.

The entry charges for the aquarium have increased from 15 cents to over $20 in recent years.

There are 42 bridges that connect Key West or the Conch Republic with the mainland, the longest of which is the Seven Mile Bridge.

It is 35,716 ft (10,886.2 m) in length!

The shortest one of the 42 bridges is the Harris Gap Bridge.

Sunset Key and Christmas Tree Island are two human-made islets that must be visited.

However, Sunset Key is home to some of the most expensive luxury resorts, which can be way over the budget.

The Christmas Tree Island is uninhabited.

They were built by the US Navy.

'Sunset at Mallory Square' is a very famous tourist attraction too.

Duval Street is lined with a number of pubs to eat at.

The most famous one of these pubs would be Sloppy Joe's!

Key West has the highest per capita number of bartenders, which means that you can always trust that the drink you choose will be top-notch!

When in Key West or the Conch Republic, having a key lime pie or two is an absolute essential!

There are many theaters in Key West to choose from.

Some of the famous ones are the Tennessee Williams Theater and Red Barn Theater.

There are three Civil War forts in the Key West that you can visit and indulge in a bit of the country's history!

Key limes are no longer harvested in Key West.

The southernmost point of the continental USA is located between South Street and Whitehead Street.

Fishing, sailing, and diving are some of the many activities that you can take part in when in Key West!

Key West is thought to be haunted and a tour to Old Town may be one of the most thrilling things to do!

Culture Of Key West

Key West is bathed in culture and the inhabitants are proud of their heritage!

The people of Key West refer to themselves as 'Conchs'.

People who have lived in Key West for more than seven years are called 'freshwater conchs'.

In 1982, Key West temporarily seceded from the USA based on some border regulation feuds that were creating massive traffic jams and hindering tourists from entering the island.

They formed the Conch Republic, whose flags can still be seen all over the island.

FAQs

How many miles wide is Key West?

Key West is not the largest, which is clear when we consider that in its widest parts, the width is only 2 mi (3.2 km)!

What does 'Key' mean in Key West?

The Key West area was first found by Spanish discoverers by accident and was named 'Cayo Hueso' for the number of limestone formations found on the island. Cayo Hueso stands for 'Bone Island' and the word 'Cayo' means 'Island'.

The 'Key' part of the name is derived from Cayo! When the English started visiting the area and asked for a name, they heard Cayo Hueso as 'Key West' and hence the name that the island now has!

How old is Key West?

Key West was accidentally discovered by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon when he was in search of the Fountain of Youth. The area struck him with its beauty.

In part, the reason why Ponce de Leone stuck around and bothered to name the area at all is thought to be the sheer number of bleached limestone formations that were scattered across the island. He discovered the island in 1521, however, there are hardly any records of how long the island has been inhabited!

What is unique about Key West Florida?

Key West, Florida, is made unique by several things. One of the most interesting facts about the island is that the people here are very united in their spirit and love their heritage.

The locals refer to themselves as 'Conchs'.

Anyone who has settled in Key West and has been living there for more than seven years may have the honor of being referred to as a 'freshwater conch' by the locals. This unified spirit is also one of the reasons why the island seceded, although not permanently, from the United States of America and formed the Conch Republic.

Is Key West expensive?

Located in one of the best areas of the country in terms of climatic conditions, Key West is a very popular tourist destination. For this reason, Bone Island boasts of some of the most expensive lodging facilities in the world.

In the peak seasons, vacationing on the island can become quite hefty on the pocket. While prices do reduce at some points of the year, they still remain quite high according to normal standards.

What celebrities live in Key West?

Owing to the very amicable climatic conditions and the sheer beauty of the island, Key West boasts of housing some very famous people from around the country. President Harry S. Truman had a house in the Key West, which is thought to have been more of a getaway destination.

Harry S. Truman's house was often referred to as the Winter White House since the president liked spending this time of the year in the warm embrace of Key West's climate!

On the other hand, Judy Blume still lives in Key West.

One of the greatest authors of all time, Ernest Hemingway, lived in the Key West and all of his work was also generated here. The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum are now frequented by many locals and tourists, but the fondest visitors and inhabitants are cats of some of the most exquisite varieties!