History of Key West, Florida, USA

Controlled by the Union during the Civil War, the fort was the home base for a successful blockade of Confederate ships that some historians say shortened the conflict by a full year. The fort also was active during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.

Two major inlets on the Outer Banks of North Carolina were cut by a hurricane in September 1846. Later in the year, a severe hurricane struck the Florida Keys destroying or damaging all but eight of the 600 houses in Key West. Some experts say this hurricane was probably a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Hurricane timeline: The 1800s
Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
www.sun-sentinel.com

Key West City, a port of entry and capital of Monroe county, Florida, on a small island of its own name. It is the most populous town of the state, and occupies an import ant position as the key to the Florida Pass and the Gulf of Mexico. The island of Key West is 4 miles long by 1 mile wide, and elevated not more than 20 feet above the level of the sea. It is of coral formation, with little available soil. The name is said to be a corruption of Cayo Hueto, or Bone Key. and has no relation to the position of the island, which is not the most western of the reef. The town is laid out with streets 50 feet wide, crossing each other at right angles. It contains Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic churches, 5 schools, 26 stores, 10 warehouses, 650 houses, and about 3000 inhabitants. The marine hospital is a fine building, 100 feet long by 45 feet wide. The harbor is capacious, safe, and easily accessible for ships of 22 feet draught. The principal business of Key West is...

Key West, a city and port of entry, the capital of Monroe co, Fla., on Thompson's Island, or Bone Key (Sp: Cayo Hueso, ki’o wa'so, whence the name), a small island of coral formation in the Gulf of Mexico or Strait of Florida, about 55 miles S.W. of Cape Sable. Lat. 24°32' N.; lon. 81° 48' W. It contains 9 churches, a marine hospital, a custom-house, and printing-offices which issue 2 daily and 3 weekly newspapers. It has a safe harbor, the entrance of which is defended by Fort Taylor, a large and costly work. The harbor admits vessels drawing 20 feet or more of water. The inhabitants derive a large portion of their income from the salvage of the vessels which are wrecked on the adjacent islands. The steamers which ply between New Orleans and Havana, and New York and Galveston, touch at this port. It has extensive manufactures of cigars, important sponge-fisheries, and some salt-works. Pop. in 1880, 9890; in 1890, 18,080.

Great Damage Also Done at Havana and Over Island of Cuba by One of the Worst Storms Since the Disastrous Blow of 1906.

Key West, Fla. - As a result of the hurricane which struck the southern coast of Florida on Monday, Key West is a mass of wreckage, and the damage to property is estimated at $2 000 000. Martial law was proclaimed and the Key West guards took charge of the city.

The United States Government has been asked to dispatch troops here without delay. Chaos reigned on every hand and few people remained in their homes. Hundreds of houses were totally wrecked or damaged.

One hundred vessels were in the harbor, but five remained at anchor the others having gone to sea or being washed upon the beaches. Streets along the water front are a mass of wreckage.

Brick, as well as frame buildings throughout the city suffered from the hurricane, and many miraculous escapes from death have been reported.

Almost every nationality is represented among the city a population of...

Railroads expanded to Key West in 1912, opening new land for development.

Key West (officially, Keywest), a city, United States naval station, and port of entry, the capital of Monroe co., Fla., on Thompson's Island, or Bone Key, a small island of coral formation in the Gulf of Mexico or Strait of Florida, about 55 miles SW. of Cape Sable. Lat. 24° 32' N. ; Lon. 81° 48' W. It has a safe harbor, the entrance of which is defended by Fort Taylor, a large and costly work, and by other more modern fortifications. The harbor admits vessels drawing 20 feet or more of water. The city has extensive docks, repair-yards, marine railway, hospitals and barracks, and a number of prominent public buildings. Its mild climate has made it a popular health- and winter-resort. It has extensive manufactures of cigars (which employ upward of 6000 hands) and shell-work, and important industries in sponges, coral, and turtle-shell. Deep-sea fishing is extensively carried on. The range of temperature is from 50° to 97 , with a mean for the winter of 70°. Pop. in 1890, 18,080 ; in...