Editing Monroe County, Florida

{{short description|County in Florida, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Update|rebuilding following [[hurricanes]], specifically the 2017 [[Hurricane Irma]], and developing discussions of [[urban resilience]], [[climate resilience]], and planning|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Monroe County
 | state               = Florida
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | seal                 = Seal of Monroe County, Florida.png
 | flag                 = Flag of Monroe County, Florida.png
 | founded year         = 1823
 | founded date         = July 3
 | named for  = [[James Monroe]]
 | seat wl            = Key West
 | largest city wl    = Key West
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 3738
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 983
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2754
 | area percentage      = 73.7%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 82874
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 80614 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = www.monroecounty-fl.gov
 | ex image             = Key West, FL, Courthouse, Monroe County, North Side, 11-22-2010 (15).JPG
 | ex image cap         = The Monroe County Courthouse in Key West
 | district             = 28th
 | time zone        = Eastern }}

'''Monroe County''' is the southernmost [[County (United States)|county]] of the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Florida]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/27/About-Monroe-County#:~:text=Monroe%20County%20is%20the%20southernmost,and%20Big%20Cypress%20National%20Preserve. | title=About Monroe County &#124; Monroe County, FL - Official Website }}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 82,874.<ref name=census/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Key West]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census Reporter Profile page for Census Tract 9800, Monroe, FL |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/14000US12087980000-census-tract-9800-monroe-fl/ |website=U.S. Census Bureau |publisher=American Community Survey 5-year estimates |access-date=March 30, 2020 |date=2018}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Key West, Florida|l1=Key West}}

Monroe County was created in 1823. It was named for [[James Monroe]], the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825.<ref>{{cite book|title=Publications of the Florida Historical Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA33|year=1908|publisher=Florida Historical Society|page=33}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|3738|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|983|sqmi}} (26.3%) is land and {{convert|2754|sqmi}} (73.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> 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|Census County Division]], is virtually uninhabited. This area has 87.4 percent of the county's land area (859.6 out of {{convert|983|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on}}), 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|Census Tract]] 9800 of Monroe County, Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/14000US12087980000-census-tract-9800-monroe-fl/|title=Census Tract 9800, Monroe, FL|website=Census Reporter|access-date=December 16, 2022}}</ref>

In mainland Monroe, the only three populated places appearing on detailed maps and in the [[USGS]] geographic name database are [[Flamingo, Monroe County, Florida|Flamingo]], [[Pinecrest, Monroe County, Florida|Pinecrest]], (not to be confused with much larger [[Pinecrest, Florida|Pinecrest]] of neighboring [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]]), and [[Trail City, Florida|Trail City]]. Flamingo, on the south coast and at the end of [[State Road 9336 (Florida)|State Road 9336]] (Flamingo Lodge Highway), is the location of the Flamingo Lodge and the Flamingo Ranger Station (with Visitor Center & Marina). {{convert|7|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} 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 in Florida|U.S. Highway 41]] further north), hosts the Loop Road Education Center. Trail City is {{convert|4|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} 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, Florida|Key Largo]] and [[Key West, Florida|Key West]] designated as [[Principal city|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Guidance on the Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=Executive Office of the President |page=103}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2020 |title=Metro Area History 1950–2020 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/geographies/reference-files/2020/historical-delineation-files/metro_area_history_1950_2020.xls |website=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 28, 2023 |at=Row 2549}}</ref> The μSA is part of the [[Miami metropolitan area#Miami-Port Saint Lucie-Fort Lauderdale Combined Statistical Area|Miami-Port Saint Lucie-Fort Lauderdale Combined Statistical Area]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Collier County, Florida|Collier County]] – north (on mainland)
* [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] – east (on mainland) and north (over water)

===Protected areas===
{{div col}}
* [[Bahia Honda State Park]]
* [[Big Cypress National Preserve]]
* [[Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Curry Hammock State Park]]
* [[Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park]]
* [[Dry Tortugas National Park]]
* [[Everglades National Park]]
* [[Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park]]
* [[Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Indian Key State Historic Site]]
* [[John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park]]
* [[Key West National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park]]
* [[Long Key State Park]]
* [[National Key Deer Refuge]]
* [[San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park]]
* [[Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 517
|1840= 688
|1850= 2645
|1860= 2913
|1870= 5657
|1880= 10940
|1890= 18786
|1900= 18006
|1910= 21563
|1920= 19550
|1930= 13624
|1940= 14078
|1950= 29957
|1960= 47921
|1970= 52586
|1980= 63188
|1990= 78024
|2000= 79589
|2010= 73090
|2020= 82874
|estyear=2023
|estimate=80614
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12087.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 15, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002653/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12087.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name=census>[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Florida]</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Monroe County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12087&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 54,731
| 66.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,517
| 5.45%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 169
| 0.2%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 1,137
| 1.37%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 61
| 0.07%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 2,827
| 3.41%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 19,432
| 23.45%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 82,874 people, 32,839 households, and 18,586 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/monroecountyflorida/PST045218|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Monroe County, Florida|website=www.census.gov|language=en|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> 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% [[Race (United States Census)|White]] (71.3% Non-Hispanic White), 5.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. 20.6% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR8"/> of 2000, there were 79,589 people, 35,086 households, and 20,384 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|80|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 51,617 housing units at an average density of {{convert|52|/mi2|/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.<ref>[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12087.html Monroe County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002653/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12087.html |date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=87&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r Modern Language Association for Monroe County, Florida, Census 2010]</ref>

==Transportation==

===Airports===
* [[Key West International Airport]]
* [[Florida Keys Marathon Airport]]

===Major highways===
* {{jct|state=FL|US|1|FL|5|name2=[[Overseas Highway]]}}
* {{jct|state=FL|SR|A1A|name1=Roosevelt Boulevard}}
* {{jct|state=FL|CR|905|county1=Monroe|name1=Key Largo Drive}}
* {{jct|state=FL|CR|905A|county1=Monroe|name1=[[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, Florida|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, Florida|Key Largo]].

'''Key West:''' The Key West Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services throughout [[Key West|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 town|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 Sherriff'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 Sherriff'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 Sherriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement within the community of Key Largo.

==Culture==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
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, [[Ernest Hemingway House|Hemingway House and Museum]], [[Old Post Office and Customshouse (Key West, Florida)|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 on-line 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 in 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, a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation in a public-private partnership with local county government since 1997 serves 76,329 local residents and three million visitors annually. A ten-member board of directors guides the council, assisted by three alternate directors, two directors Emeritus and twenty-five advisory board members.

==Education==
The [[Monroe County School District (Florida)|Monroe County School District]] serves the entire county,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st12_fl/schooldistrict_maps/c12087_monroe/DC20SD_C12087.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Monroe County, FL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 1, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st12_fl/schooldistrict_maps/c12087_monroe/DC20SD_C12087_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> 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 Party (United States)|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 Party (United States)|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 United States presidential election|1992]] to [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]], it was won by consistently narrow margins, such as 0.5% in [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] and [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]. [[Barack Obama]] in [[2008 United States presidential election|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 United States presidential election|1988]]. In [[2016 United States presidential election|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 United States presidential election|2020]], he won it by a still wider margin, and in [[2024 United States presidential election|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.
{{PresHead|place=Monroe County, Florida|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|26,064|17,933|505|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|25,693|21,881|561|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|21,904|18,971|2,102|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|19,234|19,404|516|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|18,933|20,907|563|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|19,467|19,654|414|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|16,063|16,487|1,345|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|12,076|15,251|5,217|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|9,898|10,450|8,441|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|15,928|10,157|320|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|16,332|7,774|9|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,644|7,920|2,242|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|8,232|11,079|446|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|11,688|4,469|36|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|5,094|5,534|4,271|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,842|8,936|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,416|6,972|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,337|4,327|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,943|4,941|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|548|3,759|196|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|566|3,882|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|463|4,102|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|282|2,605|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|336|2,838|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,142|1,899|51|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|262|835|135|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|510|979|258|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|345|730|356|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|414|1,023|399|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|227|630|309|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|287|680|144|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|252|747|128|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|369|452|85|Florida}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|0|767|76|Florida}}

Monroe County is politically divided by geography, with [[Key West, Florida|Key West]] voting reliably Democratic, [[Stock Island, Florida|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 Key, Florida|Big Pine]], [[Marathon, Florida|Marathon]], [[Key Largo]], and [[Islamorada]].<ref name="keyslibraries.org"/>

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.<ref name="keyslibraries.org">Monroe County Public Library, [http://www.keyslibraries.org/], 2010</ref><ref>Florida Keys Public Library Photostream, [https://www.flickr.com/photos/keyslibraries], 2013</ref>

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.<ref name="keyslibraries.org"/>

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 tourist industry. In 2016, tourism brought $2.7 billion to the county.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Alan | last=Gomez | title=Keys boat captains fear loss of income | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/15/irma-aftermath-florida-keys-boat-captains-fear-they-wont-stay-afloat-if-tourism-sinks/669019001/| newspaper=USA Today | location=Melbourne, Florida| pages= 1B | date=September 16, 2017 | access-date=September 16, 2017}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Monroe County Florida.svg|thumb|right|300px]]

===Cities===
* [[Key West]] (1)
* [[Marathon, Florida|Marathon]] (2)
* [[Key Colony Beach, Florida|Key Colony Beach]] (3)
* [[Layton, Florida|Layton]] (4)

===Village===
* [[Islamorada, Florida|Islamorada]] (5)

===Census-designated places===
* [[Stock Island, Florida|Stock Island]] (a)
* [[Big Coppitt Key, Florida|Big Coppitt Key]] (b)
* [[Cudjoe Key, Florida|Cudjoe Key]] (c)
* [[Big Pine Key, Florida|Big Pine Key]] (d)
* [[Duck Key, Florida|Duck Key]] (e)
* [[Tavernier, Florida|Tavernier]] (f)
* [[Key Largo, Florida|Key Largo]] (g)
* [[North Key Largo, Florida|North Key Largo]] (h)

===Other unincorporated areas===
* [[Flamingo, Florida|Flamingo]] (i)
* [[Bay Point, Monroe County, Florida|Bay Point]] (j)
* [[Sugarloaf Shores]] (k)
* [[Marquesas Keys]] (l)
* [[Bahia Honda Key]] (m)
* [[Everglades]] (n)

===Former communities===
* [[Chevelier, Florida|Chevelier]]
* Craig
* [[Fort Jefferson (Florida)|Fort Jefferson]]
* [[Indian Key, Florida|Indian Key]]
* [[Perky, Florida|Perky]]
* [[Poinciana, Monroe County, Florida|Poinciana]] 
* [[Pigeon Key]]
* [[Pinecrest, Monroe County, Florida|Pinecrest]]
* Snake Bight

==See also==
{{Portal|Florida}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, Florida]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Monroe County, Florida
|North     = [[Collier County, Florida|Collier County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Straits of Florida]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Monroe County, Florida}}
{{Florida Keys}}
{{Geography of Florida}}

{{coord|25.12|-81.15|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-FL_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Monroe County, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Florida counties]]
[[Category:1823 establishments in Florida Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1823]]
[[Category:Florida Keys]]