The Calusa and Tequesta tribes were the original inhabitants of the Florida Keys, and famous Spanish explore Juan Ponce de León chartered them in 1513. He dubbed the islands Los Martires (“The Martyrs”), as they appeared like suffering when viewed from a distance. “Key” comes from the word cayo, which translates to small island in Spanish. Key West has been Florida’s main town for several years, and it experienced wealth on wrecking revenues. For trade with Cuba and the Bahamas, the remote outpost was ideally situated. Improved shipping resulted in a reduction in shipwrecks, and in the late nineteenth century, Key West went through a slump.
Originally, the Keys could only be accessed via water but this changed once the Overseas Railway by Henry Flagler was built in the early 1900s. The railroad bridges, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge, were turned into vehicle roadways after the devastation of the Keys railway by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. This carriageway, U.S. The Overseas Highway that passes from Key Largo south to Key West has become Highway 1. Nowadays, this special highway makes it possible to fly through the Florida Keys tropical islands and see native plants and animals seen nowhere else on the US mainland and the longest coral reef chain in the country.
Are you ready to experience the Florida Keys? Contact us to find vacation rental opportunities.
This update is by SoFLA Vacations. We are a South Florida vacation rentals company, and we have lived the unique South Florida experience our entire lives. Our commitment is to make your vacation or business trip to Greater Miami or the Florida Keys special, affordable, and unforgettable. In addition to vacation rentals, we also offer property management, sales, and marketing services to vacation rental property owners. For more information on South Florida vacation rental properties including Downtown Miami vacation rentals, please call 786-545-2204.