ISLAMORADA
Many Keys,
many names
Islamorada is made up of four separate and inhabitable
islands: Plantation Key (southern end), Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key (the original
community), and Lower Matecumbe Key. Dissatisfied with the County’s bias toward Key
West’s financial interests, the residents of the area voted for self-incorporation
in 1997 and officially renamed the area the "Village of Islands".
Legend has it that "Islamorada" means "Purple
Isle", and that the name was given to the area by Spanish explorers who noticed
a purple hue to the coastline. While the area is still affectionately referred to as such
by some, the truth is the Islamorada was originally named "Island Home", after
the Pinder Family’s sailboat. They settled here in the 1870s after the area was
homesteaded. Even though Islamorada has changed since the days of pineapple plantations
and turtle farming, it is still a quaint fishing village in many ways.
Islamorada is also known as the "Sport Fishing Capital of the
World" because of the huge variety of game fish that call the local waters home.
With fishing in the backcountry, on the reef and offshore, the most world fishing records
have been set in Islamorada. It’s no wonder that the Village supports the largest
concentration of charter fishing boats in the entire Florida Keys (ca. 400 offshore
captains and 150 backcountry guides) as a result. For more than 100 years,
"real" anglers have known about the Islamorada. Fishing fans—past and
present -- include Presidents Bush, Carter, Truman and Hoover, Zane Grey, Ted Williams,
and Lou Gehrig.
Many things to do
Islamorada is
also a destination point for divers because of the abundance of tropical marine life, the
islands' proximity to the largest living reef in the contiguous US, and the variety of
underwater attractions including shipwrecks and artificial reefs. Recently, the Florida
Keys were awarded the title of "America’s #1 Dive Destination".
Islamorada residents also swim, beach comb, snorkel, golf, hike, bike and
parasail as the mood strikes. The area is home to four public beaches (some of the
loveliest in the Keys), four state parks and one city park with an Olympic-size swimming
and diving pool. During September and October, the Village’s Heritage Days include
historic reenactments, a golf tournament, and the Indian Key Festival. Islamorada has
plentiful restaurants, unique shops and other attractions, such as the "Theater of
the Sea", and the "Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geologic Park".
Several competitions are held in the area each year, from fishing
tournaments to boat, jet-ski and windsurfing races. Well-attended festivals include the
Nautical Flea Market, the Taste of Islamorada, and the Islamorada Home Tour. A performing
arts center hosts a cultural series and the community theater produces half a dozen shows
annually.
On top of everything else, Islamorada is also known for some
of the best restaurants in the Keys. Serving everything from local delicacies to classical
gourmet cuisine, the area can satisfy every palate appetite and budget. And then there are
the charming island stores, galleries and boutiques...
Many
sunsets
With virtually no pollution or high-rises to obstruct views, the
sunsets in Islamorada are a spectacular sight not to be missed. Most residents agree, they
are still best reason to live in here...
For free information about
Islamorada properties and the local real estate market, just Email Me or call (305)852-0400.
More Islamorada information
Islamorada
Chamber of Commerce
Village of Islamorada: The Official
Village Website
Islamorada Geographic &
Demographic Information
History of Islamorada
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