kids encyclopedia robot

Islamorada, Florida facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Islamorada, Florida
Village of Islands
One of a few beaches on the Atlantic side of Islamorada
One of a few beaches on the Atlantic side of Islamorada
Motto(s): 
"Village Of Islands"
Location of Islamorada, Florida
Location of Islamorada, Florida
U.S. Census Bureau map showing village boundaries
U.S. Census Bureau map showing village boundaries
Country  United States
State Florida
County  Monroe
Area
 • Total 6.70 sq mi (17.35 km2)
 • Land 6.45 sq mi (16.70 km2)
 • Water 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,107
 • Density 1,102.03/sq mi (425.48/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
33036, 33070
Area code(s) 305
FIPS code 12-34132

Islamorada (also sometimes Islas Morada) is an incorporated village in Monroe County, Florida, United States. It is located directly between Miami and Key West on five islandsTea Table Key, Lower Matecumbe Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Windley Key and Plantation Key—in the Florida Keys.

History

The name Islamorada, pronounced (Is-La-Moh-RA-Da) (Original meaning: "Island Home" after the Pinder family schooner of that name), newly nicknamed, "The Purple Isle," came from early Spanish explorers in the area. Its pronunciation has been anglicized to "eye-lah-moh-RA-da."

Islamorada was hit almost directly by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, causing 423 deaths. A memorial, including the ashes of over 300 victims, exists today at Overseas Highway mile marker 82.

Hall of Fame baseball player Ted Williams began visiting Islamorada in 1943 and for the next 45 years was the island's most well-known resident. After his retirement from baseball he became the national spokesman for Sears sporting goods and became renowned for his abilities as a fisherman. Over the decades, he hosted numerous celebrities at his Islamorada house and took them on local fishing trips. Williams’ residency in Islamorada ended in 1988 when he moved to Hernando, Florida. Williams cited the island’s increased development as his reason for leaving. He reportedly said that he knew it was time to leave when he could no longer make a left turn on to U.S. Route 1 because of the traffic.

The village was incorporated on November 4, 1997. Prior to this date, Islamorada was only considered to be on the island of Upper Matecumbe Key.

As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 6,119. As of 2009, the population recorded by the United States Census Bureau is 6,435.

Geography

Islamorada is located at 24°56′9″N 80°36′49″W / 24.93583°N 80.61361°W / 24.93583; -80.61361.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 7.2 square miles (19 km2), of which 7.1 square miles (18 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.93%) is water.

Islamorada is located approximately 1.5 hours driving time south of Miami and approximately 2 hours driving time northeast of Key West.

Climate

Islamorada has a tropical climate similar to the rest of the Florida Keys.

Climate data for Islamorada, Florida
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31)
88
(31)
90
(32)
93
(34)
93
(34)
97
(36)
97
(36)
99
(37)
99
(37)
93
(34)
90
(32)
90
(32)
99
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 75
(24)
75
(24)
79
(26)
82
(28)
84
(29)
88
(31)
90
(32)
90
(32)
88
(31)
84
(29)
81
(27)
75
(24)
82
(28)
Daily mean °F (°C) 69
(21)
69
(21)
71.5
(21.9)
76
(24)
78.5
(25.8)
82.5
(28.1)
84.5
(29.2)
84.5
(29.2)
82.5
(28.1)
78.5
(25.8)
75.5
(24.2)
69.5
(20.8)
76.8
(24.9)
Average low °F (°C) 57
(14)
57
(14)
68
(20)
71
(22)
73
(23)
75
(24)
76
(24)
76
(24)
75
(24)
73
(23)
61
(16)
58
(14)
70.7
(21.5)
Record low °F (°C) 36
(2)
39
(4)
39
(4)
52
(11)
63
(17)
64
(18)
70
(21)
66
(19)
66
(19)
57
(14)
43
(6)
36
(2)
36
(2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.47
(62.7)
1.9
(49)
2.14
(54.4)
1.99
(50.5)
3.73
(94.7)
6.90
(175.3)
3.2
(82)
5.20
(132.1)
6.72
(170.7)
5.40
(137.2)
3.08
(78.2)
2.02
(51.4)
44.8
(1,138)
Source: weather.com

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1970 1,251
1980 1,441 15.2%
1990 1,220 −15.3%
2000 6,846 461.1%
2010 6,119 −10.6%
2020 7,107 16.1%
source:

2020 census

Islamorada racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 5,763 81.09%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 39 0.55%
Native American 14 0.2%
Asian 49 0.69%
Other/Mixed 198 2.79%
Hispanic or Latino 1,044 14.69%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,107 people, 2,792 households, and 1,731 families residing in the village.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,119 people, 2,882 households, and 1,673 families residing in the village. The population density was 838.2 inhabitants per square mile (325.4/km2). There were 5,692 housing units at an average density of 767.7 per square mile (296.6/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.54% White, 0.72% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.63% of the population.

There were 2,882 households, out of which 17.04% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.13% were married couples living together, 5.76% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.95% were non-families. 31.78% of all households were made up of individuals, and 33.24% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.57.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 13.86% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 35.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $41,522, and the median income for a family was $56,118. Males had a median income of $31,339 versus $25,670 for females. The per capita income for the village was $29,519. 6.9% of the population and 3.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.0% are under the age of 18 and 4.5% are 65 or older.

Neighborhoods

Official neighborhoods within the village are:

In popular culture

Much of the action in the Netflix series Bloodline takes place in and around Islamorada:

  • In the season 1 premiere episode, Islamorada is the Academy Bus stop where John Rayburn is scheduled to pick up his brother Danny, and the station where John drops Danny off soon afterward. In both cases, the bus is a shiny-clean Academy Bus. In episode 11, John drives Danny to the bus stop in Islamorada again, and Danny finally boards a Miami-bound, dirt-encrusted Sunnyside Coaches bus.
  • John and his sister's boyfriend Marco Diaz are both detectives in the Monroe County Sheriff's Department; "Islamorada District" can be seen labeling their police boat.
  • In season 2, episode 6 (Park 19), Diana is running in Islamorada's Founders Park when she discovers her tire is flat; Danny's associate Ozzie Delveccio just happens to be nearby and changes her tire, leaving his prints on her tire iron. John notes the tire's been neatly cut, runs the prints, and confirms a connection between Ozzie and Danny.
  • In season 2, episode 7 (Part 20), Meg tells Marco that Sarah drowned in Whale Harbor, a very well known harbor in Islamorada.


Education

Residents are zoned to schools in the Monroe County School District.

  • Plantation Key School
  • Coral Shores High School
  • Treasure Village Montessori Charter School
  • Islamorada Public Library-Helen Wadley Branch is part of the Monroe County Public Library System in the Florida Keys. The first public library in the Keys opened in Key West in 1853, and today there are five locations throughout the Keys that serve over 350,000 young people and adults. The current Islamorada library is housed in a WPA building, built originally as the Matecumbe School in the late 1930s. It was designed to be hurricane proof. As the number of children attending the school increased, they were moved to a larger school and the building housed several other entities before opening as the Islamorada Branch of the Monroe County Library in 1966.It was not considered the “usual” library as it offered couches, tea and coffee. Today the building is a little bigger than it was when it first opened its doors in 1938. Two additions were made, one in 1983 and another in 1999. (Bertelli, 2015) The library was rededicated in 1983, in honor of Mrs. Helen Wadley, a true friend of the library.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Islamorada para niños

kids search engine
Islamorada, Florida Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.