Monroe County, Florida

Monroe County is the southernmost county of the state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 82,874. Its county seat is Key West. Monroe County includes the islands of the Florida Keys and comprises the Key West-Key Largo Micropolitan Statistical Area. Over 99.9% of the county's population lives on the Florida Keys. The mainland, which is part of the Everglades, comprises 87% of the county's land area and is virtually uninhabited with only 17 people recorded in the 2020 census. History Monroe County was created in 1823. It was named for James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,738 square miles (9,680 km2), of which 983 square miles (2,550 km2) (26.3%) is land and 2,754 square miles (7,130 km2) (73.7%) is water. It is the largest county in Florida by total area. More than 99.9 percent of the Monroe County population lives in the island chain known as the Florida Keys. Two thirds of the large area in what local residents call "mainland Monroe" is uninhabited by virtue of being part of the Everglades National Park, and the remainder by the Big Cypress National Preserve in the northeastern interior. The area, officially named Cape Sable Census County Division, is virtually uninhabited. This area has 87.4 percent of the county's land area (859.6 out of 983 sq mi (2,546 km2)), but it had only 0.022 percent of the county's population (18 out of 82,170) as of the 2021 American Community Survey. The Census Bureau defines this area as Census Tract 9800 of Monroe County, Florida. In mainland Monroe, the only three populated places appearing on detailed maps and in the USGS geographic name database are Flamingo, Pinecrest, (not to be confused with much larger Pinecrest of neighboring Miami-Dade County), and Trail City. Flamingo, on the south coast and at the end of State Road 9336 (Flamingo Lodge Highway), is the location of the Flamingo Lodge and the Flamingo Ranger Station (with Visitor Center & Marina). 7 mi (11 km) northeast on the highway is the West Lake Trail (station). Pinecrest, located in the northern interior of the county (in the Big Cypress National Preserve) on Loop Road (given that name since it forms a loop with U.S. Highway 41 further north), hosts the Loop Road Education Center. Trail City is 4 mi (6 km) west of Pinecrest on Loop Road. Loop Road can be found on most maps as CR 94, although the roadway no longer has a numbered designation and is now managed by the National Park Service. Between the south coast of Florida's mainland and the Florida Keys is Florida Bay, which is encompassed by the Everglades National Park and contains numerous islets or keys. The county is coterminous with the Key West-Key Largo, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), with Key Largo and Key West designated as principal cities. The μSA was first defined in 2003 as the Key West-Marathon, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area. The name was changed to Key West, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area in 2006, and to Key West-Key Largo, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area in 2023. The μSA is part of the Miami-Port Saint Lucie-Fort Lauderdale Combined Statistical Area. Adjacent counties Collier County – north (on mainland) Miami-Dade County – east (on mainland) and north (over water) Protected areas Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 82,874 people, 36,436 households, and 18,586 families residing in the county. The median age was 49.7 years; 14.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 107.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 107.7 males. The racial makeup of the county was 72.6% White, 5.8% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.7% from some other race, and 15.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 23.4% of the population. 86.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.1% lived in rural areas. Of those households, 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 46.0% were married-couple households, 22.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 53,961 housing units, of which 32.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.5% were owner-occupied and 39.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.1%. Racial and ethnic composition 2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 73,090 people, 32,629 households, and 18,219 families living in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White (71.3% Non-Hispanic White), 5.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 20.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 79,589 people, 35,086 households, and 20,384 families living in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile (31 people/km2). There were 51,617 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.65% White, 4.77% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. 15.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2005 Monroe County's population was 75.1% non-Hispanic white, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% African-American and 1.1% Asian. In 2000 there were 35,086 households, out of which 20.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.80% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.73. In the county, 17.10% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.30% was from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 30.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 113.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $42,283, and the median income for a family was $50,734. Males had a median income of $31,266 versus $25,709 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,102. About 6.80% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over. Languages As of 2010, 77.57% spoke only English at home, while 17.56% spoke Spanish, 0.96% French Creole (mainly Haitian Creole), 0.74% French, and 0.50% spoke Russian at home. In total, 22.43% of the population spoke a language other than English at home. Transportation Airports Key West International Airport Florida Keys Marathon Airport Major highways Due to the county being a national park on the mainland and a chain of islands, there are no interstates. US 1 / SR 5 (Overseas Highway) SR A1A (Roosevelt Boulevard) CR 905 (Key Largo Drive) CR 905A (Card Sound Road) Public safety The Monroe County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) is the law enforcement agency responsible for Monroe County and is the county's largest law enforcement agency. Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR) provides fire protection and emergency medical services throughout the county. Monroe County Fire Rescue has 9 stations placed around the county. Their headquarters, located in Marathon, holds the MCFR administration. Monroe County Fire Rescue conducts all fire inspections within the unincorporated portions of the county, with the exclusion of Key Largo. Key West: The Key West Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services throughout Key West, Florida. The Key West Fire Department has 4 stations placed throughout the city. The Key West Police Department is the responsible law enforcement agency within the incorporated City of Key West. Marathon: Monroe County Fire Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical services throughout Marathon, Florida. The Marathon Fire Department has 2 stations placed throughout the city. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement within the City of Marathon. Key Colony Beach: The Monroe County Fire Rescue Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services throughout Key Colony Beach, Florida. The Key Colony Beach Police Department is the responsible for law enforcement within the City of Key Colony Beach. Islamorada: The Islamorada Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services throughout Islamorada, Florida, with 1 station within the village. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement within the Village of Islamorada. Key Largo: Even as an unincorporated community, Key Largo, Florida, maintains their own fire district, with 2 stations placed around the community. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement within the community of Key Largo. Culture Monroe County cultural organizations include the Key West Literary Seminar, The Studios of Key West, the Red Barn Theatre, Key West Symphony, Sculpture Key West, Fantasy Fest, the San Carlos Institute, Hemingway House and Museum, Customs House Museum, and Key West Art and Historical Society. The Florida Keys Council for the Arts is the primary cultural umbrella for the Florida Keys, and serves the population from Key Largo to Key West. A non-profit local arts agency, it makes grants, operates the Monroe County Art in Public Places program, sponsors seminars, and manages the online cultural calendar for the region. It also manages the county's Tourism Development Council arts marketing grants and serves as a leading advocate for cultural tourism in lower Florida. In 1998, the Florida Keys Council of the Arts was designated by the Board of Monroe County Commissioners as the area's Local Arts Agency as provided by Florida Statute 286.011. Established in 1997 as the Monroe Council of the Arts Corporation, the name was changed to the Florida Keys Council of the Arts on 2 October 2001. Today the organization is the liaison among cultural organizations, all levels of government and the private sector in encouraging and promoting the arts throughout Monroe County. The council endeavors to make the arts a part of the fabric of daily life. From its inception through fiscal year end 2006, FKCA has awarded $433,916 in privately raised funds and grants to literary, visual and performing artists and cultural organizations. Add to that sum the Cultural Umbrella event funding, the South Florida Cultural Consortium Visual & Media Artists Fellowships and The Art in Public Places commissions, and the total distributed in the Keys cultural community through FKCA's efforts come to $2.5 million to date. The annual economic impact of the non-profit cultural community in the Keys is estimated at over $22 million. The Florida Keys Council of the Arts, with a 501 (c) (3) status in a public-private partnership with local county government since 1997 serves 76,329 local residents and three million visitors annually. Education The Monroe County School District serves the entire county, as well as several private schools for primary and secondary education. Florida Keys Community College is the primary college education provider with main campus in Key West, Florida. FKCC also operates two additional campuses in the Florida Keys; one in Marathon and another in Key Largo. Government Politics Like much of the Solid South, in the first two-thirds of the 20th century, Monroe was a solidly Democratic county, supporting landslide losers like James M. Cox and John W. Davis. However, unlike most Southern Democrats, Monroe County voters tended to be far more liberal on social issues such as civil rights and later gay rights, voting decisively for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and even supporting Hubert Humphrey in 1968, one of only three Florida counties to do so. Four years later, however, Richard Nixon easily carried the county in his 1972 landslide re-election, becoming the first Republican winner since 1888 by receiving over 70% of the vote. Since the 1970s, Monroe County has been a competitive swing county in presidential elections. Although Monroe voted for the Democratic candidate from 1992 to 2012, it was won by consistently narrow margins, such as 0.5% in 2004 and 2012. Barack Obama in 2008 was the first candidate for president to win a majority, 51.7%, of the vote since George H. W. Bush's national landslide victory in 1988. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to carry the county in almost three decades, winning a majority and winning it by an even larger margin than Obama had won it by in 2008. In 2020, he won it by a still wider margin, and in 2024 he won by double digits. Monroe County is home to a large LGBT community, particularly in Key West. Due to the influence of this community, Monroe County was the only county in Florida to reject 2008 Florida Amendment 2, which banned same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state. The amendment passed in the state with 60% of the vote. Monroe County is politically divided by geography, with Key West voting reliably Democratic, Stock Island a swing area, and the rest of the archipelago voting reliably Republican. The western part of Key West is more strongly Democratic than the eastern part of the island. On July 17, 2014, a county court judge ruled the state's ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional, ordering the county clerk of court to issue marriage licenses on July 22, 2014. Libraries The Monroe County Public Library system serves residents of the Florida Keys in five locations: Key West, Big Pine, Marathon, Key Largo, and Islamorada. The Monroe County Public Library provides various programs and services to the Monroe County community, including job finding tools. There is a program that preserves the history of the Keys for use by customers. In 2010 the library worked to digitize historical photographs of the Keys. Annual visitors cards can be purchased for $30. The library provides access to PCs with internet and word processing capabilities. The library also provides free Wi-Fi for all. The Monroe County Public Library is served by the Miami-Dade County subregional library of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library. Economy 54% of the people in the county work in the tourism industry. In 2016, tourism brought $2.7 billion to the county. Communities Cities Key West (1) Marathon (2) Key Colony Beach (3) Layton (4) Village Islamorada (5) Census-designated places Stock Island (a) Big Coppitt Key (b) Cudjoe Key (c) Big Pine Key (d) Duck Key (e) Tavernier (f) Key Largo (g) North Key Largo (h) Other unincorporated areas Flamingo (i) Bay Point (j) Sugarloaf Shores (k) Marquesas Keys (l) Bahia Honda Key (m) Everglades (n) Former communities Chevelier Craig Fort Jefferson Indian Key Perky Poinciana Pigeon Key Pinecrest See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, Florida Key West References External links Official website