About Key West Map
This Key West map presents information about the principal neighborhoods, roads, islands, places of interest, hotels and resorts and other relevant information concerning Key West, Florida. The map of Key West shows areas such as Old Town, New Town, Bahama Village, Poinciana Plaza, Stock Island, Fleming Key, Dredgers Key, Sunset Key, Wisteria Island and others. Major roads and secondary roads are indicated, as well as the airport for Key West: Key West Airport. The principal points of interest are highlighted, such as Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Truman Little White House, Fort East Martello Museum, Southernmost Point, Straw Hat Beach and others. There are also indicated some of the principal hotels and resorts of Key West, like Ocean Key Resort & Spa, Margaritaville Beach House Key West, DoubleTree Resort, Hampton Inn and Coconut Palms. Natural and recreational areas of interest are also presented, including Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. The Key West map also includes an inset map showing location of Key West in the State of Florida, and a scale bar for miles and kilometers.
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city located in the American state of Florida, and is the county seat of Monroe County. It is located at the end of the Florida Keys chain, and is the only city in the United States that is located on an island, and is situated off the southern coast of the state of south Florida. Key West is the southernmost city in the United States, and the Key West Island where the city is located is one of the Florida Keys. Other areas of the city of Key West are Old Town, New Town, Bahama Village and waterfront area. The city of Key West has a population of 26,444 as of 2020 and the population is forecasted to decrease to 24,999 by 2025. Key West is a city of 5.60 square miles (14.5 km2) land area.
Key West is the central city of the Lower Florida Keys. Here tourism, hospitality, shipping, naval, government, recreation and military are combined in a unique mix to form the city’s economy. The city of Key West has historically been at the crossroads of the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. Today’s climate, architecture, waterfront and literary heritage make it a unique and ideal destination for tourists.
History
Indigenous Peoples and European Contact
The Native American peoples who resided in South Florida and were about to be removed from their lands by permanent European-American residents, were an Indigenous peoples. They resided in an economy that was closely associated with the coastal waters of South Florida. Their means of support were to include fishing, shell resources, maritime trade and the use of canoes for transportation.
The Florida Keys were first explored by the Spanish in the early part of the 16th century. The westernmost of the Keys was known by the Spanish as Cayo Hueso or “Bone Key”. The Spanish controlled all of Florida until 1763, when they gave it to the English. It was returned to the Spanish in 1783 and then given to the Americans in 1821 by virtue of the Adams–Onís Treaty, which was finally put into effect in 1821.
American Settlement and Incorporation
Key West was first settled by American citizens in 1821. In 1822 the United States Navy was established at Key West. A base of operations was to keep watch near the Florida Straits and to monitor the shipping in the Caribbean. The base of operations included the buildings of the Navy as well as other government buildings. The base also supported local maritime activities.
The Conchs (Bahamian immigrants) established Key West as a city which was incorporated on January 8, 1828. The wrecking and salvage of ships became a large industry as many ships ran aground on the Florida Reef. The other industries and sources of income for the city of Key West included: fishing, sponging, salt production, shipping and trade with Cuba.
Civil War and Late 19th Century
Although Florida became a Confederate state during the American Civil War, Key West was under the control of the Union. The naval facilities, and Fort Zachary Taylor, were used by the Union to monitor shipping and to blockade the ports of the Confederate States.
After the Civil War, Key West developed into a major center for the cigar manufacturing industry. Many of the cigar makers were Cuban immigrants as well as other Cuban merchants and politicians who supported the Cuban war for independence from Spain. A devastating fire burned over 50 acres of the historic district of Old Town in 1886 and destroyed hundreds of structures including several cigar factories.
Railroads, Highways, and the 20th Century
Key West, FL 1912: Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway arrives in Key West, although many miles of it were destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Today remnants of the old road can still be seen as sections were incorporated into the Overseas Highway.
As the other industries declined, tourism in the last century has become the leading industry in Key West. As with the others, military activities are ongoing. Key West played a significant role in World War II and the Cold War. Its proximity to Cuba, in particular, influenced the city during the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s, the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the Mariel boatlift of 1980.
Key West has long been a haven for writers and artists and is home to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. Although Hemingway lived in Key West in the 1930s, today his home is a world famous cultural attraction.
Geography and Climate
Location and Physical Geography
Key West is a city located in the western end of the Florida Keys. A chain of approximately 1,700 islands, in subtropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico, connecting to the mainland of Florida by a bridge across the Straits of Florida; which separates Florida from Cuba. Havana, Cuba is actually closer to Key West than many northern Florida cities.
The physical size of the city of Key West is 5.60 square miles of land; the land is low and situated near sea level. The geology of Key West consists of limestone; the same material that comprised the ancient coral reefs and marine environments that went through cycles of growth and erosion. There are thin soils upon the limestone, and there is saltwater intrusion into the freshwater aquifers. Furthermore, the geology of Key West is such that there are limited natural supplies of freshwater.
There are a few other larger islands to the east, like Stock Island, and to the north of Key West, like Fleming Key. Off the coast of Key West are a few small islands, like Wisteria Island and Sunset Key. Surrounding Key West are coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, and a variety of water ways including many channels and shallow banks in the waters of the Straits of Florida.
Climate
Key West is a tropical place, influenced by the ocean. Compared to the rest of the continental United States, temperatures do not vary a lot throughout the year. During winter it is dry and warm, during summer it is hot, humid and wet.
Late spring to early autumn is the wettest season in Key West. Most of the city’s annual precipitation occurs between June and October, the time of year when tropical storms and hurricanes occur. Frost, snow, and ice are very rare in Key West because of the city’s low latitude and its maritime climate.
Hurricanes, Sea-Level Rise, and Environmental Vulnerability
Key West is a low-lying, small land area, exposed coastal community. Such communities are highly vulnerable to hurricanes, storm surge and tidal flooding as well as to effects of on-going sea level rise.
Key West is addressing these issues through various on-going programs for adaptation and resiliency as well as other environmental issues including warming ocean waters, impacts to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass habitats.
Preserving natural resources at Key West is critical to the sustainability of the city’s environmental stewardship initiatives as well as other long-term economic development efforts. Coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass are key environmental features that support a host of activities, including commercial and recreational fishing and boating, as well as scuba diving, wildlife watching, and tourism.
Demographics and Population
Key West, Florida in 2020 had a population of 26,444 residents. The 2010 population for the island was 24,649 and is estimated to decline to 24,999 by 2025. This island is very densely populated with more than 4,700 people per square mile. The population density of Key West is greater than most of the communities in the Florida Keys.
The population of Key West includes long-time residents as well as people who have moved to Key West from all over the world including Cuba, the Bahamas, the Caribbean as well as from mainland Florida and the rest of the United States. The largest racial group is white followed by Black, Asian, multiracial, Hispanic and Latino of any race. There are more than one-fifth Hispanic or Latino residents in the population of Key West.
Although English is the predominant language used in government, business, education and public affairs, Spanish is also very commonly used by the residents of Key West. A significant number of the residents of Key West age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home in their residences.
Many residents are seniors. There are only a small percentage of children under the age of 18 in the population. Due to the limited land in Key West, unaffordable housing is an issue that plagues many residents. High property values, and a tourist-based economy create a highly competitive housing market.
Economy and Major Industries
As a major sector of the modern economy, tourism and hospitality has become the dominant industry in Key West. While many individual businesses make up the hospitality industry (hotels and guesthouses, restaurants and bars, museums, retail stores, charter boats and sightseeing), they all collectively employ a large number of people within the industry.
The activities of recreational fishing and other maritime-related activities create a source of income for the Key West economy. Port of Key West serves as a cruise ship and ferry port as well as other passenger-oriented maritime activities and for recreational boats.
In addition to local and county government, school, health care providers and federal agencies, many people are employed by the Naval Air Station.
Military Importance
Naval Air Station Key West, a military base established in the early 19th century, continues to play a role in the city’s history. The military base is located near the Straits of Florida, Cuba, the Caribbean and major world sea lanes.
The base supports military training, aviation readiness and homeland security. It supports other activities too, as part of federal and allied military operations. Military facilities at the base of NAS Key West affect local employment, housing, aviation, transport and other infrastructure.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Roads and Local Transportation
The main road that connects Key West to the rest of Florida is U.S. Route 1. The southern end of U.S. Route 1 is in Key West and continues as the Overseas Highway through the rest of the Florida Keys on mainland South Florida.
Major Streets in Key West include North Roosevelt Boulevard, South Roosevelt Boulevard, Truman Avenue, Flagler Avenue, Whitehead Street, Simonton Street and Duval Street. This network of narrow streets is specifically designed to allow for travel by pedestrians, as well as by bicycle, on foot by scooter or other small vehicles, and in cars. Old Town is served by these narrow streets.
Key West Transit provides transportation throughout the local area as well as to the surrounding communities of the Lower Keys. Services include local and regional buses as well as the famous Duval Loop.
Air Transportation
Key West International Airport (EYW) is a commercial passenger airport and serves as a general aviation airport. It is located on the southeastern side of Key West Island and provides connections to airports around the world. Traveling by air is an option instead of driving through the Keys.
The military is served by Naval Air Station Key West and related facilities.
Maritime Transportation
Key West has a long established harbor and is currently a major maritime destination. Cruise ships, ferries, fishing boats, charter boats, recreational boats and private yachts use the facilities along the waterfront.
The ferry service to the rest of Florida runs on a frequent daily schedule. Many of the visitors to Key West travel to Dry Tortugas National Park, which is located 70 miles west of Key West. The port is in close proximity to the major international shipping lanes but is focused on providing services to support passenger, tourism, recreational activities and military requirements.
Utilities
Most of the fresh water used in Key West is distributed by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. This regional system also supplies wastewater and a service using reclaimed water.
In addition to electricity, telecommunications, drainage, and other utilities, there are special challenges to delivering and managing stormwater and waste in the very small land area of Key West, in a saltwater environment, in a tropical climate, with frequent hurricanes.
Education and Public Services
Public education in Key West is provided by the Monroe County School District. For a list of the schools in Key West, please click here. Gerald Adams Elementary School, Poinciana Elementary School, Horace O’Bryant School and Key West High School are among the schools in the district.
The College of the Florida Keys offers a variety of academic programs including Marine Science, Marine Technology, Nursing, Hospitality, Business, Emergency Services and Public Safety.
Healthcare in Key West is delivered by a selection of hospitals, clinics, doctors and emergency services. Some very specialized healthcare may require patients to travel to mainland South Florida. The county’s seat of government, Key West is home to Monroe County’s Courts, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Planning Department and Municipal Services.
Culture and Community Life
Key West, Florida is influenced by the Bahamian, Cuban, Caribbean, American, maritime and military cultures. Key West’s historic Bahamian settlers are referred to as “Conch” today, and the unique culture of the entire Florida Keys is called Conch Culture.
In the historic district of Old Town, houses are made of wood, have porches, are elevated on foundations, and have shutters. Some of the houses are over a hundred years old and resemble houses found in the Bahamas as well as other parts of the Caribbean. Duval Street, with its restaurants, shops, galleries, hotels, etc., is Key West’s main commercial and entertainment street. There are nightspots galore on Duval Street.
Many of Key West’s historical sites and museums are listed as landmarks of Key West, such as Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Harry S. Truman Little White House, Key West Lighthouse, Key West Cemetery, Key West Historic Seaport, Fort Zachary Taylor, and Mallory Square. Bahama Village is a neighborhood in the city that reflects the Bahamian and Caribbean culture and influence of Key West.
Natural Areas and Marine Recreation
In terms of Recreation and Tourism the Waters surrounding the Island of Key West, Florida are what bring about activities like Fishing, Sailing, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving and even Kayaking. This will allow people to view the wildlife and animals that live in the Waters surrounding the Island of Key West, Florida.
Offshore coral reefs surround Key West. Seagrass beds and mangroves also exist in the area. Fish, sea turtles, birds, and other marine wildlife call the waters around Key West home. Historic Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is a great place to go to the beach and to engage in other activities and to see a historic fort.
From Key West you can depart to the Dry Tortugas National Park, a large park of over 70 miles of marine environment and historic 19th century coastal fortress of Fort Jefferson.
Urban Form and Neighborhoods
Key West is a chain of islands. The geography of the islands and the resulting layout of Old Town has greatly influenced the growth and development of the town.
New Town comprises the eastern portion of the Key West island. It has larger commercial establishments, single family dwellings in residential communities, schools, and shopping centers. The North Roosevelt Boulevard corridor is the major commercial area of the island. South Roosevelt Boulevard generally runs along the southeast coast of Key West. It is close to the Key West International Airport.
Stock Island, located east of Key West, is a relatively small island with a historic town. The island is home to military facilities and is prone to damage from hurricanes. Stock Island is also environmentally sensitive, thus growth is generally restricted to within the island. Nearby Fleming Key, Sunset Key and Wisteria Island, are urban in nature.
Present-Day Significance
Key West is the County Seat, tourist destination, military base, port of entry, historic city and maritime community. Located near the Florida Straits and Cuba, Key West is a Caribbean culture, historic architecture and maritime heritage driven city unlike other cities in Florida.
The City of Key West is a principal city in the Lower Florida Keys and a cultural, economic, military, and tourist destination in southern Florida. Its 25 or so permanent residents per square mile face a host of long-term problems: high cost of housing, lack of land, susceptibility to hurricanes, flooding, and sea level rise, as well as environmental degradation and heavy tourism.