key island located florida united_states atlantic_ocean bay southernmost barrier islands atlantic coast florida lies south southeast miami key connected miami causeway originally built northern portion home county park middle section island consists incorporated village key southern island protected florida state park adjacent national parks geography named key barrier island composed sand eroded carried coast rivers moved coast north coastal currents hard bedrock near surface island layers weak sandstone depths feet coastal transport sand southward ends key 1850s noted cape florida sand seen beaches florida keys contrast consist primarily finely shells believe island emerged bce soon sea level stopped rising sand built form new barrier islands southern florida coast elongated north south direction tapering point end approximately miles long miles wide northern end island separated barrier island virginia key southern end island cape florida separates island shallow flats cut tidal channels extends southward miles northern end florida keys soldier key approximately yards yards wide lies ragged keys feet half meters deep feet little meter deep deepest natural channels provided access ocean going vessels artificial channels starting early 20th century island fine sandy beach east west average elevation island feet sea level people known located history early history known indigenous inhabitants shells bones artifacts found island indicate extensive use large community appeared inhabit island years ago hurricane andrew vegetation southern end archaeological survey exposed ground found evidence extensive charted mission new world christened island claimed spanish crown reported found fresh water spring island called bay island bay variant form european known visited area ship took refuge storm relations established mission established mainland bay mission abandoned years later mission established mainland withdrawn months later related sailor called lived lower east coast florida 17th century map shows probable origin known european settlers family household wife survivors new colony northern florida joined seeking refuge leaving stayed city spanish regained florida received royal grant acres southern end grant required live island establish cultivation months moved household island months family returned leaving vincent island territorial years following war treaty spain florida territory pressure settlers began migrate central southern florida early nineteenth century african american slaves escaped bahamas including hundreds 1820s evade american mary ann moved husband bought claim heirs mary husband deputy probably aware plans build lighthouse florida coast key west knew likely location mary william sold acres quarter hectares newly acquired land southern tip island cape florida government federal government built cape florida lighthouse land early 1820s estimated black found passage bahamas boats traveler reported seeing indians runaway slaves boats preparing leave cape florida suitable departure point lighthouse built bahamas remained haven escaping slaves notorious case caught sight cape florida seven runaway slaves boat punishment included having hand branded initials slave poem branded hand inspired incident citizens permanent residence captain wife margaret children keeper new cape florida light post held lighthouse burned family accompanied slaves margaret brother household grew time reported consist whites tenure lighthouse keeper received hundreds plants seeds mexico planted island major hurricane struck island damaging lighthouse keeper house putting island feet water killed plants sent mexico war attacked burned cape florida lighthouse severely wounding assistant lighthouse keeper charge black assistant died wounds lighthouse repaired commission military post established key march commander col fort initially known fort eventually renamed captain killed ambushed boats february summer total soldiers sailors stationed fort russell captured war held fort russell placed ships removed hospital established fort russell navy marine_corps personnel august army surgeon hospital treated patients including fever leading cause death fort followed malaria tuberculosis gunshot wounds alcoholism colonel replaced lieutenant colonel colonel earlier encounters battle chief capture second escaped shirt early morning attack camp led chief light experiences instituted intensive training program swamp jungle warfare men led raid indian key august set killed camp war active pursuit ending remained hidden war continued mary plans develop town town plan printed philadelphia pennsylvania island touted ideal destination recovery health indian key named seat newly created county provided county court meet annually key late united_states general approved post office lots new town sold col total evidence post office opened general noted appointed completed requirements opening post office sales town lots purchase arose purchased half share old grant surviving heir lived havana feud quickly developed demanding division property refusing acknowledge claim island hoped restored lighthouse centerpiece town attempts repair lighthouse failed war shortly end war gave moved texas older son eventually elected governor surveys numerous ship occurred southeast coast florida cause concern late 1840s late 1850s ships wrecked florida reef assistant united states coast surveyor reported period million united_states dollars worth vessels lost reef conducted preliminary survey coast florida report written lieutenant colonel board recommended military reservation united_states secretary war ordered march later year set camp astronomical magnetic station serve base survey survey conducted men detailed approximately men based working survey superintendent went charge survey eventually covered florida keys south keys florida bay survey base marker ended water south end island eroded seen low tide late base marker recovered water installed near cape florida lighthouse north base marker discovered workers clearing land mistaken named learn great florida reef invited study sent key wrote detailed report reefs stretching keys congress appropriated rebuild cape florida lighthouse work completed confederate lighthouse guide union sailors blockade confederate florida lighthouse repaired lit replaced seven miles southeast response growing tension spain cuba led spanish american war cape florida lighthouse briefly gulf_coast maine texas established provide early warning approach spanish fleet cape florida lighthouse leased united_states secretary treasury total cents use headquarters listed southernmost yacht club united_states tallest world lease expired yacht club moved continues development developed cultivation earliest mention spanish account reference mature trees cape florida 1830s likely grown sent mexico lighthouse keeper 1880s new_jersey started enterprise develop florida coast clearing native vegetation indian beach dunes planting field imported caribbean planted key shoots key eaten rats marsh rabbits result efforts field allowed purchase land cents acre bought grant died galveston texas son waters smith davis began taking steps assert family title island purchased rights davis heirs received new deed clear title claimed half share grant town lots sold field deed davis received field lots unable settle finally received patent united_states government land davis bought abandoned lighthouse united_states treasury davis started plantation acres half hectares cleared planted davis directed plant half acre tenths tenths great variety tropical fruit trees planted island davis large dwelling built use story cottage sides raised feet ground protect storm late 1890s davis hired oversee key property begun visiting bay soon built home land mainland bought keeper light engaged waters built worked pilot opened davis sent mail service miami area improved camp key tuesday evening sail edge early wednesday morning retrieve package newspapers magazines dropped passing steamship founding members brought miami dreamed building city son waters retired millionaire interested preserving quiet retreat family arrival quiet brought approaches mouth clear waters bay soon shorter route ocean miami southern end allowed return natural state plantation resort fortune business visited yacht soon built winter home overlooking bay began buying property key north davis holdings way hectares acres created plantation community employing workers later included housing workers families packing houses docks school big barn miles roads plantation trees variety tropical fruits introduced united_states common variety found florida lethal killed trees varieties plantation twice large united_states world price products dropped level plantation stopped shipping decided sell key property died following year appointed act broker bid property arranged sale international heir owner miami decided develop new land island tropical resort felt cape florida future lies making sales homes prepare land cleared marshes filled built ocean belief protect beaches erosion found erosion stipulated sale cape florida lighthouse restored wrote government seeking specifications guidelines lighthouse government officials taken request wondering federal lighthouse passed private hands act congress reserved island federal lighthouse military purposes patient legal work eventually convinced president agree recognize ownership heirs filed lawsuit claiming undivided half interest property brought development resort cape florida halt legal battles suit finally decided favor decision came late died previous year 1920s 1950s february entered agreement land developer related develop sell northern half including park half present village key davis experience turning submerged partially submerged land prime real estate having created tampa near later incorporated included boundaries dreams bridge island making seaside resort miami obstacles project arose march government auctioned lots key retained rest island transferred state florida wanted clear title land determined interested parties ended paying total acres land record price acre auction government land date september crossed way miami lives lost island buildings destroyed badly damaged lost including half trees rushed restore plantation buying new equipment replace lost soon trees acres meet contract declared bankruptcy disappeared route europe ship bridge built development key decades died leaving island children approved proposal develop air base sea port talk putting air base north end heirs donated acres land including miles beach atlantic_ocean northern end public park later named park county commissioner negotiated gift offered county build causeway exchange land donation planning air sea complex virginia key proceeding construction causeway started attack pearl harbor entry united_states world war stopped work causeway development virginia key war pushed development project got buy million dollars worth bonds financing construction causeway causeway named world war flying ace founder president miami based starting offered new homes island contract branch opened started holding services opened cape florida state park fled cuba wake scandals surrounding service education minister bought property estate offer donate lighthouse acres hectares land national_park_service accepted announced plan build highway connecting project envisioned bridges connecting artificial islands built safety valve existing small keys expected donate right way road running middle island bridge prospect major highway passing property rushed prepare development completely cleared leveled filled constructed western bay cape florida property died county soon backed road bridge plan widow added cape florida property buying ocean bay strip property included canal dug 1920s extending bay island land north canal developed present day village key sold cape florida property million buyer died year sold property million development started model community luxury homes resort properties new developers financial trouble property reverted began considering purchase acres cape florida lighthouse park editor campaigned cape florida property preserved park interior secretary inspected property recommended preserved federal funds deal state florida florida bought property million million came government land named bill cape florida state park opened january sign installed commemorate site escaped bahamas demographic small intimate community majority families live known generations kids grew island known
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