Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a series of islands stretching more than 150 miles southeast from the Florida mainland--all located in Monroe County. They are joined by a causeway and also enjoy easy sea and air accessibility.

Although they're often known collectively as the Keys by outsiders, natives know that communities such a Key West, Key Largo, Marathon and Big Pine Key have distinctive histories and characters all their own. The fun comes in discovering their similarities and differences. Fascinating describes Key West's history of salvaging, shipbuilding and sponging, for instance. Once the largest city in Florida (mid-1800s) and home of Florida's first millionaire, a salvager, this little town played a big role in Florida's early history and is still one of the state's most famous destinations.

Home Sweet Home

Homes prices range from $90,000 to $1 million in the upper half of the Florida Keys, says the Florida Keys Board of Realtors. For a three-bedroom, two-bath waterfront home, expect to pay about $275,000 on the islands between Key Largo and Grassy Key, an area which includes Conch Key, Matecumbe Key, Islamorada, Plantation, Tavernier and several other small communities virtually surrounded by the sea. Condominiums are a major part of the housing market in the region, says El Koury: 46 percent, in fact. The remaining 54 percent--only a slight majority--is comprised of single-family homes. With warm, balmy weather virtually year-round and a multitude of water-related activities always at hand, people who live here love the lifestyle. If you yearn for waterfront property, it's here. Expect to pay a premium, of course. Consumers will probably find the best housing values with non-waterfront property, El Koury says.

A diverse population lives peaceably together amid architectural variety in colorful Key West. The residential real estate market is comprised of 54 percent single-family homes, 22 percent condominium units and 24 percent other types of housing. Prices reflect the prestigious location and shortage of development space. "Key West is divided into Old Town and New Town. The homes in the historic district are more valuable because of the shortage of remaining land and the heritage value. The lots are more available and larger in the New Town area," says the Key West Association of Realtors. Spirnak calculates that new and existing waterfront property and new golf course property sells for from $125 to $175 per square foot. No existing golf course property is available. The average price was $221,889 and consisted of an average 2.76 bedrooms and two bathrooms. Two bedroom homes averaged $246,139; three-bedroom homes averaged $293,897.

Climate and great water sports like diving, fishing and boating draw residents and newcomers to this area. Even the names of the islands served by the Marathon and Lower Keys Association of Realtors are colorful. Consider: Conch Key, Duck Key, Grassy Key, Coco Plum, Key Colony Beach, Marathon, No Name Key, Big Pine Key, Little Torch Key, Middle Torch Key, Big Torch Key, Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, Cudjoe Key and Sugarloaf Key. "Because of our unique island chain, our wonderful climate and the eco-tourism opportunities that abound here, we are drawing tourist and permanent residents from all over the world," says Lynn Goodwin, association president. In this section of the islands, $225,000 was the median sales price of an existing, single-family home. There's a wide price range, however: from $60,000 to $520,000 for interior properties to $90,000 to $5.9 million for waterfront property. Of the housing market, 65 percent is single-family, 12 percent condominium and 23 percent duplexes. Brigid Fowler, the association's executive officer, says waterfront residential properties are available for about $200 per-square-foot for new construction or $125 to $150 per-square-foot for existing homes.

Vital Stats

Numbers are for Monroe County, which is comprised of the Keys and a large mainland section of southwest Florida, most of which is in the Everglades.

Population: 81,203
Median age: 41.2
New citizens: 960
New job creation: NA
Unemployment rate: 1.9 percent in August, 1999
Cost of living: 110.47 percent
Per capita income: $28,959 (1998)
Median household effective buying income: $33,375

Rain & Shine

If you like a semi-tropical climate with balmy breezes and few sharp fluctuations in temperature, this is about as good as it gets. The average annual temperature in the Keys is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In January the average reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit; in August (the warmest month) it climbs to 84.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect average annual rainfall of 40 to 45 inches.

Job Market

Tourism is the leading industry throughout the Keys. But with a rapidly growing population, there's a solid employment base in various trades and services. The total civilian labor force encompasses 42,500 people, and the unemployment rate is extremely low.

In all, the county offers more than 7,500 rooms at hotels171 motels. The ancillary employment opportunities provide positions in all branches of the hospitality industry, including food service and entertainment.

The county's top private sectors employers (and number of employees), according to the Florida Department of Commerce, are: Lower Florida Keys Health System (600), Marriott's Casa Marina (450), Pier House Resort & Spa (255), Historic Tours of America (237), Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (150) and Hyatt Key West (126).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

Residents love both the seclusion and the accessibility of the Florida Keys. That may seem like a paradox, but in actuality the Keys enjoy an off-the-beaten-path image, yet offer a warm welcome for visitors.

By car, you can drive scenic U.S. Highway 1, called the Overseas Highway, 113 miles of highway and 43 bridges from the mainland all the way to the tip of the Keys at its county seat and the state's southernmost point--Key West. (When the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 destroyed Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, the entire future of the Keys was threatened. In 1938, U.S. Highway 1 was constructed along the route Flagler had pioneered.) Marathon, which is at the mid-point of the Keys, is about 120 miles south of Miami; Key West is about 180 miles away from Miami.

Both Key West and Marathon have regional airports with their own regularly scheduled air service; carriers include USAir Express, American Eagle Airlines and Delta's ComAir. Most flights link with the world at Miami's busy international airport, but some fly directly to the Caribbean. As you might expect in an island environment, boat transportation is also popular; marina dock space is abundant and boat owners use their vessels for both transportation and recreation.

Great Outdoors

Sportfishing. Scuba diving. Golf. And a host of other outdoor fun to enjoy in a climate that averages 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That's the Florida Keys, so it's no wonder that visitors from around the world come to savor a setting for a few days that residents can use all year.

The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State park includes a boardwalk through a mangrove thicket and 178 nautical miles of protected waters. It's land component can be located at Key Largo mile marker 102.5 on U.S. Highway 1. Key Largo has been called the Diving Capital of the World, but it doesn't hold a monopoly on the state's spectacular dive sites. Approximately 6,000 coral reefs can be found in the 200 miles of water between Key Biscayne to the north and the Dry Tortugas to the west. This natural treasure is a haven for marine life and those who respect its beauty and importance. From Key West alone there are more than 50 dive sites, ranging in depth from 20-120 feet and providing typical visibility of 50-80 feet. Winter water temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit; in summer it rises to the 80s and low 90s.

All the major communities in the Keys have numerous dive shops and sportfishing charters. For example, at Marathon Key--the heart of the Florida Keys--residents and visitors alike enjoy diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing and touring North America's only living coral reef, several miles offshore. You'll also find the old Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon, which resembles an enormous fishing pier jutting out into the water. Anglers, hikers and nature lovers all enjoy using this historic site adjacent to the new Seven Mile Bridge.

Good Sports

Land for golf courses is limited on the islands, but the facilities here are spectacular. Most notably, the Key West Golf Club is a public course open year round. Designed by Rees Jones, this lush 200-acre track features the notorious Mangrove Hole, a tricky par three that must be played over intertwined tropical mangroves. An 18-hole private championship course in Marathon is open to members of other country clubs. Key Colony Beach, near Marathon, sports a par-3 municipal course. And in the Islamorada area, a golf course is one of the many amenities at Cheeca Lodge, a luxury resort.

Running is popular, too, with lovely scenery providing a perfect backdrop. Each April, Marathon Key hosts an annual Seven Mile Bridge Run. It draws approximately 1,500 competitors.

Fishing tournaments abound in the Keys; in fact, Islamorada calls itself the Sport Fishing Capital of the World. There's powerboat racing and sailing regattas. Plus, you'll find competitions unique to the Keys: the Annual Swim Around Key West that's been held for two decades; and the Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, an island tradition for more than 35 years.

Hot Times in the City

Yes, Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in Key West--and spent leisure hours at the still-thriving Sloppy Joe's Bar. You can visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum on Whitehead Street. In fact, for generations countless writers and artists have called the Florida Keys home. Its literary and artistic panache enhances the region's intellectual vitality. Yet if you try to stereotype the residents of the Keys, you'll be missing one of its greatest strengths: an eclectic population with diverse interests and lifestyles.

In historic Key West, for example, there's an intermingling of cultures that's perhaps unique in all the United States. From Victorian mansions and Caribbean art galleries to the nightly sunset party at Mallory Square in Old Town, the living is invariably interesting.

The year begins with literary seminars and week of yacht races; it closes with a lighted boat parade and holiday house tours. In between, there's an International Gay Arts Festival; the Hemingway Days Festival; the Mardi Gras and Halloween inspired Fantasy Fest; fishing tournaments; motorcycle tours and dozens of other events that attract people from throughout the Keys and around the world. Parking is at a premium and ordinances strictly enforced. Residents know enough to leave the car parked and walk or ride a bike to many of the island's destinations. Visitors might be wise to try a walking tour, rent a bike or sign up for the Conch Tour Trains or the Old Town Trolley to do their initial explorations.

On Marathon Key you'll find a thriving modern community with the charm of a turn-of-the-century fishing village. You'll also enjoy Crane Point Hammock, a 63.5 acre conservancy located at mile marker 50 that is the last virgin palm hammock left in all of North America. It cradles exotic and tropical vegetation and at least 10 endangered species. Crane Point Hammock is also an interesting historical and archaeological site, complete with museums and educational centers. Pre-Colombian artifacts are on display at the Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys. The site's new project, the Children's Museum of the Florida Keys, offers kids 10 hands-on exhibits in an indoor/outdoor facility. Another popular Marathon attraction is the Dolphin Research Center.

Shop 'til You Drop

Much of the shopping in the Keys is oriented toward tourists. But locals, too, enjoy the boutiques, galleries and fresh seafood markets that add to the area's charm. Arts and crafts shows throughout the Keys provide excellent opportunities to find collectibles created by the large local artist community. Six convenient shopping centers are available where the staples of life can be purchased. On Key West, Duval Street's famous stores include Fast Buck Freddie's, offering unusual household articles and clothing.

Nightlife

Many residents are convinced they live in paradise. Dining and entertainment are two big reasons why. You'll enjoy some of the world's finest stone crabs, snapper, trout, conch and, of course, authentic Key lime pie at countless settings around the Keys. Continental cuisine and a slightly more formal atmosphere are also available at, for example, Cafes Des Artistes and The Buttery in Key West. Also in the city, Louie's Backyard, next to the recently restored Casa Marina hotel, offers gourmet dining on the water and is a popular hangout for locals. At the hotel itself, try Flagler's for memorable fare.

It's said that Key West has more bars and restaurants per capita than any city in the country. A sampling of saloons suggests that quality of fun is just as important as quantity. Along Duval Street you'll hear reggae, folk, jazz, country and rock music into the wee hours.

Clubs and saloons include Barefoot Bob's with live entertainment nightly, the Bull & Whistle for open-air partying, Ernest Hemingway's favorite Sloppy Joe's, the La-Te-Da piano bar, plus The Green Parrot, Hog's Breath Saloon (locals call it the Pig Pen) and the Schooner Wharf Bar. For New York caliber theater, there's The Red Barn Waterfront Playhouse and the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center. And to start the nights off right, with what many describe as the most spectacular sunsets anywhere, the Mallory Square sunset celebration brings visitors, residents and entertainers together for a delightful yet mostly unstructured party every day of the year. Tourists love it, but sometimes locals, too, use the daily happening as a pick-me-up.

College Scene

Florida Keys Community College in Key West and Miami/Dade Community College both draw students from throughout the Keys, although generally residents attend whichever is nearer. Both schools feature diverse academic programs and strong vocational offerings for individuals at various stages of their careers. The ITT Technical Institute also provides vocational training in numerous fields. Florida International University is a four-year, state school in Miami. There are several highly regarded private colleges in south Florida that are popular with residents of the Keys, including the University of Miami in Coral Gables and Barry University in Miami Shores. St. Leo's College, whose main campus is in west-central Florida, maintains a Key West center.

Just for Seniors

The enviable lifestyle in the Keys makes them a popular retirement destination. More than 16 percent of the population is 65 years or older. It should be noted that the cost of living in areas like Key West does tend to be high compared to some other Florida communities. But there are also advantages such as the lack of a state income tax and the absence of sales taxes on food and prescription drugs. Homeowners also enjoy a $25,000 homestead exemption on property taxes. For information and referral to the specialized services for seniors available in Monroe County and especially in the Keys, call the Senior Helpline at 800/273-2044 (in state only) or 305/292-4520.