. KEY WEST, Fla., city, port of entry, county-seat of Monroe County; about 60 miles southwest of Cape Sable and nearly 100 miles north by east of Havana, Cuba. The city is on Key West Island, one of a group of coral islands, called Florida Keys. It is the farthest south of any city in the United States. The first permanent settlement was made in 1822 and the city received its charter in 1832. Key West Island is covered by only a thin layer of soil upon which vegetation grows luxuriantly. The island averages about 11 feet above the sea. The harbor is excellent; at the main entrance, on an artificial island, is located Fort Taylor. The city has regular steamer communication with the large cities on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and with the West Indies and Central America. It is on the Florida East Coast Rail road and is the terminus of the ocean ferry to Havana. There is through passenger and freight car service between Havana and New York via Key West. It is a United States naval station, with machine shops, dock, marine rail way, hospital, barracks, etc., and during the war with Spain, it was the rendezvous of the United States navy. The chief industries are manufac
turing of cigars, gathering sponges and fishing. There is a large trade in fish, fruit, vegetables, turtles, turtle-shell ornaments, salt, tobacco, both raw and manufactured. In connection with the naval station there are barracks, machine-shops, marine hospital, docks, etc. Some of the chief public buildings are the government buildings, post-office and custom-house, county court house, city-hall, and the Martello towers. The principal educational institutions are a Meth odist Seminary and the Holy Name Academy. The convent of the Holy Name was used as a hospital for soldiers during the Spanish War. The free public library and the public and parish schools are excellent. There are two banks with a combined capital of $150,000. The gov ernment has erected two light-houses in the harbor and others among the islands; but still many wrecks occur each year. The city owns and operates the waterworks. Key West in 1890 was the largest city in the State. Pop. 21,150.