Key West, Florida

Chapter 3 - Foundations of Human Activity

Population

ey West can boast of the most unusual and eclectic population of any American city. "Key West isn't Florida," says a young boy in Joy Williams' short story, "The Blue Men." And it's true. With its cosmopolitan and well-educated population, its something of a cultural Noah's Ark adrift in the Gulf of Mexico-sending out white doves which always seem to loop back and nest in the branches of its own sturdy banyan trees.

The native population, those born on the island, refer to themselves as "Conchs" and represent a unique mix of Bahamian, Cuban, and New England seafaring heritage. Many well-known Conch families have been here for seven or more generations. Some confess to having never been off the island.

It has also attracted generations of artists and writers who popularized the mythology of the island. Key West has been home to Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, John Ciardi, John Hersey, Richard Wilbur, Philip Caputo, Alison Lurie, James Merrill, and Thomas McGuane, among many others. More Pulitzer Prize winners have lived in Key West per capita than in any other city.

Key West is also known for its sizable, accepted, and openly gay population which has contributed greatly to the island's burgeoning tourism and business community.

Despite its reputation for being "laid-back," Key Westers are hard-working people. They have to be. Virtually everything on the island has to be imported on a one-way truck. Add to that the desirability of island property and it is easy to understand why the cost of living is the highest in the state. With tourism as its only true economic base, and relatively low-paying tourism related jobs as the most common denominator, it is clear why many members of the working population hold two or more jobs in order to live in, what they consider paradise.

Source:http://www.key-west.com/people.htm

The population of Key West, Florida is approximately 23,935.

Ancestries: English (12.4%), German (12.2%), Irish (11.3%), Italian (6.8%), United States (6.0%), French (3.6%).

Current Local Time: 9:07:20 PM EST time zone

Elevation: 8 feet

Land area: 5.95 square miles.

Population density: 4146 people per square mile

For population 25 years and over in Key West:

High school or higher: 84.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.8%
Unemployed: 3.0%
Mean travel time to work (commute): 12.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Key West city:

Never married: 33.8%
Now married: 43.3%
Separated: 2.3%
Widowed: 5.4%
Divorced: 15.2%

4,014 residents are foreign born (8.8% Latin America, 4.9% Europe).

This city:	15.8%
Florida:	16.7%

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida

Religion

Religion	Key West, FL	United States
Percent Religious	3.39%	49.19%
Catholic	16.87%	13.08%
LDS	0.29%	1.85%
Baptist	3.38%	13.66%
Episcopalian	1.09%	0.55%
Pentecostal	1.01%	1.84%
Lutheran	0.62%	4.91%
Methodist	1.86%	6.08%
Presbyterian	0.31%	1.22%
Other Christian	1.72%	5.60%
Jewish	0.70%	0.25%
Eastern	0.11%	0.06%
Islam	0.00%	0.09%

3.39% of the people in Key West, FL are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 16.87% are Catholic; 0.29% are LDS; 1.72% are another Christian faith; 0.70% in Key West, FL are Jewish; 0.11% are an eastern faith; 0.00% affilitates with Islam.

Florida Keys & Key West appeal to visitors through a varied cultural menu. The islands' creative community is vibrant and varied, overflowing with an energy and enthusiasm that has drawn visitors for decades.
Today this community is attracting a growing national and international market of people interested in heritage and cultural tourism and who want to experience the arts, with events ranging from an annual literary seminar to a professional symphony orchestra series.
Many elements weave together the Keys' creative tapestry.

Chapter 4 - "Megaisland"

The population of Key West, Florida is approximately 23,935.
The population of Key West was 24,853 in 1990 and 25,478 in 2000.
The population growth percent was 2.5% from 1990-2000 and -6.1% from 2000-2005.

The city of Key West is the county seat of Monroe County. The county consists of a section on the mainland which is almost entirely in Everglades National Park, and the Keys islands from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas.

Old Town and New Town

Old Town
The original Key West neighborhood in the west (although perceived as south) is called “Old Town” and comprises the Key West Historic District. It includes the major tourist destinations of the island including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor. It is where you find the classic Key West bungalows and guest mansions.
Generally, the wooden structures date from 1886 to 1912. The basic features that distinguish the local architecture include wood frame construction of one to two-and-a-half story structures set on foundation piers about three feet above the ground. Noteworthy exterior characteristics of the buildings are peaked “metal” roofs, horizontal wood siding, gingerbread trim, pastel shades of paint, side-hinged louvered shutters, covered porches (or balconies, galleries, or verandas) along the fronts of the structures, and wood lattice screens covering the area elevated by the piers.
New Town
The island has more than doubled in size via man made landfill. The new section on the east (perceived as north) is called “New Town.” It contains modern shopping centers, retail malls, residential areas, schools, ball parksand the Key West International Airport.

Port Of Key West

Port Information
Port Code:	5202
Location Address:	301 Simonton Street Room 105 Key West, FL 33040

Most ships will dock at Mallory Square or the Truman Annex. Both are within easy walking distance of Old Town. Duval Street is only 2 blocks from the pier. Some ships, however, dock at the closed US Naval Base on the outskirts of town. If your ship docks there, trolleys will shuttle you off the base and into Old Town. Metered taxis are available in town, but unless you are traveling to the beach, most things are within walking distance in this compact town.

Overseas Railway

The Keys were long accessible only by water. This changed with the completion of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railway in the early 1910s. Flagler, a major developer of Florida's Atlantic coast, extended his Florida East Coast Railway down to Key West with an ambitious series of over-sea railroad trestles. Three hurricanes disrupted the project in 1906, 1909, and 1910.

Bicycle Town

Key West is a small island and a bicycle is all you need to get around. Even the public busses and some of the taxis have bike carriers for when you get tired of pedaling or to impaired to ride. The City Busses only cost two dollars (multi trip passes available) and will carry your bike on a rack on the front, 305-292-8160 or 305-293-6426. The Five Sixes Cab Co. has bike racks on most of their cabs. 305-296-6666 and they now have a fleet of Hybrid SUV cabs.

Source: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Florida/Key_West-763140/Transportation-Key_West-Transportation_Options-BR-1.html

The Conch Tour Train and the Trolley Tour both provide an excellent narrated overview of the city.

Chapter 5 - The Economy

Economy in Key West, Florida

Fishing and tourism are important to its economy

Economy	Key West, FL	United States
Unemployment Rate	6.40%	8.60%
Recent Job Growth	0.79%	0.35%
Future Job Growth	35.18%	32.10%
Sales Taxes	7.50%	5.00%
Income Taxes	0.00%	4.70%
Income per Cap.	$32,958	$26,154
Household Income	$53,237	$50,935
ESTIMATED HOUSEHOLDS BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Income Less Than 15K	11.09%	12.37%
Income between 15K and 25K	8.67%	10.53%
Income between 25K and 35K	10.46%	10.88%
Income between 35K and 50K	16.44%	15.37%
Income between 50K and 75K	21.94%	20.14%
Income between 75K and 100K	12.92%	12.41%
Income between 100K and 150K	10.88%	11.27%
Income between 150K and 250K	5.32%	5.01%
Income between 250K and 500K	2.09%	1.86%
Income greater than 500K	0.18%	0.16%
POPULATION BY OCCUPATION
Management, Business, and Financial Operations	14.81%	14.04%
Professional and Related Occupations	15.11%	20.61%
Service	26.55%	14.45%
Sales and Office	26.09%	26.75%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry	2.31%	0.70%
Construction, Extraction, and Maintenance	9.14%	9.42%
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving	6.00%	14.05%

The unemployment rate in Key West, FL, is 6.40%, with job growth of 0.79%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 35.18%.

Key West, FL Taxes

Key West, FL,sales tax rate is 7.50%. Income tax is 0.00%.

Key West, FL Income and Salaries

The income per capita is $32,958, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $53,237.

The City of Key West is one of the world's most remarkable urban environments. Its historic streets capes, unique culture, and beautiful environment are a magnet for residents and visitors. Maintaining and improving the fabric of the City is one of the Planning Department's most important tasks. The Department works with the community to craft policy documents, such as the adopted Comprehensive Plan, which guides future actions. We also work to create regulations to implement policy directives through our adopted Land Development Regulations. On a day to day basis, our staff meets with the public to help interpret regulations, explain development approval processes, and discuss specific projects.

Source: http://www.keywestcity.com/department/?fDD=11-0