Key Colony Beach, Florida
Encyclopedia
Key Colony Beach is a city in the middle Florida Keys
, Monroe County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 788 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 852.
where the Sadowski Causeway (also 131st St Ocean on the Marathon, Florida
street grid), which is the only road entering the city, connects to U.S. 1
(the Overseas Highway
).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²). 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (23.88%) is water.
of 2000, there were 788 people, 422 households, and 253 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,549.8 inhabitants per square mile (596.6/km²). There were 1,293 housing units at an average density of 2,543.0 per square mile (978.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.11% White, 0.51% African American, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.44% of the population.
There were 422 households out of which 8.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
living together, 3.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 14.3% from 25 to 44, 36.8% from 45 to 64, and 37.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,577, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $28,654 versus $27,143 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $40,631. About 3.9% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Around 1956-1957, residents of nearby Marathon
began discussing incorporating the entire area. Sadowski was not keen to having his development swallowed up into Marathon, so he began the process of incorporating the island into its own city. The Florida Legislature
passed legislation in June 1957 allowing incorporation, which local residents passed unanimously in September, thus creating today's Key Colony Beach.
Incorporation would become a blessing in 1960, when much of the city was destroyed by Hurricane Donna
. As a separately incorporated city, Key Colony Beach received its own Federal grant to rebuild; nearby Marathon (not yet incorporated) had to settle for a portion of the grant given to Monroe County. However, the storm (and subsequent takeover of Cuba
by Fidel Castro
) caused a depression of real estate prices, which would take several years to stabilize.
on the east side of the city. It lies directly south of the City of Marathon, spanning a narrow cut.
Along the causeway are some charter fishing boats and a dockside restaurant called Sparky's Landing. At the base of the causeway, West Ocean Drive branches off first to the right and East Ocean Drive soon after branches to the left. On West Ocean Drive is the police station, along with the post office and town hall. In the same vicinity is a small park with a fountain and a gazebo. The entire ocean-facing side of West Ocean Drive is lined by various condominium
complexes, while the side facing Marathon houses the Key Colony Inn and a small par-3 golf course. Starting at the far end of East Ocean Drive, streets are numbered one to fifteen east to west, and run from south to north toward Shelter Bay. The most notable buildings along East Ocean Drive are the Key Colony Beach Motel and the Key Colony Beach Club. At the tip of West Ocean Drive is Sunset Park, the place closest to where a woman was fatally struck by a spotted eagle ray
. Many news reports were recorded from this park overlooking the very fertile shallows of where the Vaca Cut meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
, Monroe County
Monroe County, Florida
Monroe County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 788 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 852.
Geography
Key Colony Beach is located at 24°43′28"N 81°1′5"W (24.724515, -81.017928). Most of the city is located on an island formerly known as Shelter Key; a small part of the city is on Fat Deer KeyFat Deer Key
Fat Deer Key is an island in the middle Florida Keys.U.S. 1 crosses the key at approximately mile markers 53.5-56, between Long Point Key and Key Vaca....
where the Sadowski Causeway (also 131st St Ocean on the Marathon, Florida
Marathon, Florida
Marathon is a city on Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,255. As of 2005, the population estimated...
street grid), which is the only road entering the city, connects to U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in Florida
U.S. Route 1 in Florida runs along the state's east coast from Key West to its crossing of the St. Marys River into Georgia north of Boulogne, and south of Folkston. US 1 was designated through Florida when the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926.US 1 runs in the state of Florida, and...
(the Overseas Highway
Overseas Highway
The Overseas Highway is a highway carrying U.S. Route 1 through the Florida Keys. Large parts of it were built on the former right-of-way of the Overseas Railroad, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. Completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad was heavily damaged and partially...
).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²). 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (23.88%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 788 people, 422 households, and 253 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,549.8 inhabitants per square mile (596.6/km²). There were 1,293 housing units at an average density of 2,543.0 per square mile (978.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.11% White, 0.51% African American, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.44% of the population.
There were 422 households out of which 8.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 7.6% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 14.3% from 25 to 44, 36.8% from 45 to 64, and 37.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,577, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $28,654 versus $27,143 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $40,631. About 3.9% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
Prior to the early 1950s, Shelter Key (on which most of Key Colony Beach is located) was a 97 acres (392,545.4 m²) low-lying island. Then, Phil Sadowski began dredging around the island, adding to its size and increasing its height to six feet above mean sea level, and later built developments on the island.Around 1956-1957, residents of nearby Marathon
Marathon, Florida
Marathon is a city on Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,255. As of 2005, the population estimated...
began discussing incorporating the entire area. Sadowski was not keen to having his development swallowed up into Marathon, so he began the process of incorporating the island into its own city. The Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
passed legislation in June 1957 allowing incorporation, which local residents passed unanimously in September, thus creating today's Key Colony Beach.
Incorporation would become a blessing in 1960, when much of the city was destroyed by Hurricane Donna
Hurricane Donna
Hurricane Donna in the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season was a Cape Verde-type hurricane which moved across the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispanola, Cuba, The Bahamas, and every state on the East Coast of the United States...
. As a separately incorporated city, Key Colony Beach received its own Federal grant to rebuild; nearby Marathon (not yet incorporated) had to settle for a portion of the grant given to Monroe County. However, the storm (and subsequent takeover of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
by Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
) caused a depression of real estate prices, which would take several years to stabilize.
Geographical layout
Key Colony Beach is reached over the Sadowski Causeway, which connects Key Colony Beach to Marathon, FloridaMarathon, Florida
Marathon is a city on Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,255. As of 2005, the population estimated...
on the east side of the city. It lies directly south of the City of Marathon, spanning a narrow cut.
Along the causeway are some charter fishing boats and a dockside restaurant called Sparky's Landing. At the base of the causeway, West Ocean Drive branches off first to the right and East Ocean Drive soon after branches to the left. On West Ocean Drive is the police station, along with the post office and town hall. In the same vicinity is a small park with a fountain and a gazebo. The entire ocean-facing side of West Ocean Drive is lined by various condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
complexes, while the side facing Marathon houses the Key Colony Inn and a small par-3 golf course. Starting at the far end of East Ocean Drive, streets are numbered one to fifteen east to west, and run from south to north toward Shelter Bay. The most notable buildings along East Ocean Drive are the Key Colony Beach Motel and the Key Colony Beach Club. At the tip of West Ocean Drive is Sunset Park, the place closest to where a woman was fatally struck by a spotted eagle ray
Spotted eagle ray
The spotted eagle ray is a cartilaginous fish of the eagle ray family, Myliobatidae. It can be found globally in tropical regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, off the coast of West Africa, the Indian Ocean, Oceania, and on both coasts of the Americas at depths down to about . The rays...
. Many news reports were recorded from this park overlooking the very fertile shallows of where the Vaca Cut meets the Atlantic Ocean.
External links
- City of Key Colony Beach official site