As the largest island in Florida, Key West measures 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. The island represents the southernmost point in the continental U.S., and because of proximity to the Gulf Stream, enjoys a mild tropical climate.
Local Culture and Flavor
With its beautiful beaches, balmy weather, pristine natural settings and fetching old American architecture, it's no wonder Key West is a celebrated locale for world-class leisure, recreation and scintillating nightlife. The island also possesses a fascinating culture all its own.
The oldest part of the island includes the historic district and is known as "Old Town." Here, visitors can tour Mallory Square—where a street festival is held daily at sunset—and Duval Street, a popular destination for carefree dining and drinking. Old Town features distinct, Victorian mansions and many of the island's legendary establishments, dating as far back as 1886.
Past and Present
With so much of its original architecture still intact, it's clear that Key West is a settlement with a long history.
Once part of the Spanish-owned territory of Florida, it was transferred in 1815 by the governor of Havana to U.S. citizen John W. Simonton who bought the island on the recommendation of his friend, John Whitehead—a man who had been shipwrecked on the island once and had recognized its vast potential as a strategic harbor.
Positioned on the wide shipping lane of the Straits of Florida, Key West was known as the "Gibraltar of the West" for its mercantile and military value. Famous Commander Matthew C. Perry physically claimed the land as U.S. territory by planting an American Flag on its shores in 1822.
Early settlers farmed key limes here; later inhabitants salvaged cargo sunk on nearby reefs to eventually create young America's wealthiest city. Many initial residents of Key West were immigrants who traveled there from the Bahamas; their rich cultural influence is felt in Key West today. Because the island is situated closer to Havana than it is to Miami, a steady influx of Cuban immigrants transformed the population of the island throughout the last century.
Currently, you can tour streets that Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams called home, or choose to travel to the coasts for snorkeling adventures in the crystal-clear waters, as so many vacationers do happily year after year.
