Key West, FL
Music connected to Key West
About Key West
- • Singer Jimmy Buffett lived in Key West and helped popularize the island lifestyle.
- • Key lime pie, a tangy dessert, originated in Key West, using local limes.
- • Salvaging shipwrecks made Key West wealthy in the 19th century, drawing many settlers.
- • Roosters roam freely because cockfighting was once legal, and the birds stayed.
- • The Great Fire of 1886 destroyed much of the city, leading to new construction.
- • Cayo Hueso, Spanish for "Bone Island", became Key West in 1822.
- • With about 25,000 residents, it's smaller than many mainland Florida cities.
- • At roughly 18 feet, its highest point is lower than a two-story house.
- • Tourism is the dominant industry, employing the majority of Key West residents.
- • Key West feels like a laid-back escape, radiating warmth and vibrant energy.