Marathon, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marathon, Florida
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
Location in Monroe County and the U.S. state of Florida
|
|
U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
|
|
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Florida |
| County |  Monroe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.28 sq mi (24.03 km2) |
| • Land | 8.45 sq mi (21.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.83 sq mi (2.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 9,689 |
| • Density | 1,147.17/sq mi (442.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
33050−33052
|
| Area code(s) | 305 |
| FIPS code | 12-43000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0286401 |
Marathon is a city spread over Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle of the Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 8,297. As of 2019, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was 8,581.
Contents
History
Though the area has been settled for some time, Marathon is a relatively new city, incorporated in 1999. The city's boundaries (according to both the city and a 2001 Rand McNally road map of the Keys) extend from the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge (Mile Marker 47) to the west end of Tom's Harbor Bridge (Mile Marker 61), excluding that portion of the area within the city limits of Key Colony Beach. Among the islands found within the city limits are Boot Key, Knight's Key, Hog Key, Vaca Key, Stirrup Key, Crawl Key, Little Crawl Key, East and West Sister’s Island, Deer Key, Fat Deer Key (excluding the portion in Key Colony Beach), Long Point Key, and Grassy Key.
The name Marathon dates back to the origin of the Florida East Coast Railroad. The name came about by the railroad workers who were working night and day to complete the railway – due to the unrelenting pace and struggle to complete the project, many of the workers complained that "this [the project] is getting to be a real Marathon", and was later used to name the local station along the railroad.
The late noted Keys historian Dan Gallager in his book "Florida's Great Ocean Railway" credits New York playwright Wiiter Bynner for naming Marathon. According to Gallager, J.R. Parrott, then Florida East Coast Railway's President and General Manager, invited Brynner to the Keys to 'plot stations for the railroad.' When asked to generate a name for the station at Key Vaca, Brynner proposed the name Marathon, inspired by the following passage from Byron: "The mountains look on Marathon -- and Marathon looks on the sea."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (25 km2), of which 8.6 square miles (22 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (10.37%) is water. Its city limits extend 1200' from land into the adjacent waters.
Boot Key Harbor is a natural body of water between Boot Key and Key Vaca, entirely within the Marathon city limits.
Climate
Marathon has a tropical climate (Aw in the Köppen and Trewartha climate classifications). There is no record of snow/frost/freeze in Marathon. Like much of south Florida and the Florida Keys, Marathon has two seasons; A hot and wet season from May through October, and a warm and dry season from November though April.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 4,397 | — | |
| 1980 | 7,568 | 72.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,857 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 10,255 | 15.8% | |
| 2010 | 8,297 | −19.1% | |
| 2020 | 9,689 | 16.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,058 | 62.52% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 365 | 3.77% |
| Native American | 16 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 84 | 0.87% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 256 | 2.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,904 | 29.97% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,689 people, 3,797 households, and 2,151 families residing in the city.
Economy
Marathon is a major sport fishing destination, with several charter fishing boats departing from local marinas every morning to both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Bountiful reefs around Marathon make it a popular diving, snorkeling, spearfishing, and lobster tickling area. One of the last untouched tropical hardwood hammocks in the Keys is found at Crane Point Museum, just a few miles west of Florida Keys Marathon Airport. The vicinity of the airport is one of the most reliable sites in the United States to see the hard-to-find Antillean nighthawk. As in the rest of the Keys in summer, gray kingbirds are often seen on telephone wires along US 1 and black-whiskered vireos incessantly sing in the hammocks. Marathon also hosts burrowing owls.
The Fisherman's Hospital is in the west end of the city. It is one of just three hospitals in the Florida Keys. Marathon is home to another "hospital", The Turtle Hospital, one of a handful of facilities in the United States that rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured sea turtles.
Marathon derives much of its livelihood from the ocean and seafood is a staple at most restaurants. There are many restaurants, including the Overseas Bar and Grill, The Island Tiki Bar and Grill, Lazy Days South, Burdines, Keys Fisheries, Castaway, The Sunset Grill, The Stuffed Pig and Marathon Bagel Shop.
Marathon has the tallest building in the Keys, Bonefish Tower at 143 feet (44 m) on Coco Plum, as well as Sombrero Country Club, the Keys' only country club. It was damaged by several recent hurricanes. With the redevelopment of the Faro Blanco property with a new Hyatt Place Hotel, restaurant and marina, and the redevelopment of the former Ramada Inn hotel into a new Hampton Inn and Suites hotel, Marathon is experiencing a social and economic rebirth.
Education
Residents are zoned to schools in the Monroe County School District.
Schools
- Stanley Switlik Elementary (K–5 center)
- Marathon Middle/High School
- Martin Luther Children's Day School
- Kreative Kids Christian Academy
Transportation
Highways
Marathon is served by U.S. Highway 1, known locally as the Overseas Highway. The Overseas Highway extends westward, connecting Marathon with Key West. To the northeast, the Overseas Highway connects Marathon to Homestead and Miami.
Airport
Marathon is served by the Florida Keys Marathon Airport (IATA: MTH, ICAO: KMTH).
Mass Transit
Metrobus Route 301 (Dade-Monroe Express) carries riders back-and-forth from Marathon to Florida City, with stops at Islamorada, Tavernier, and Key Largo. Key West Transit connects Marathon with Key West. Greyhound Lines buses run east and west from Marathon twice a day, stopping at the Marathon Airport.
Notable people
- Gary Burghoff (Radar from the TV series M*A*S*H)
- Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys member)
- Kenny G (musician)
- Bruce Willis & Demi Moore (actors)
- Tony Bryant (Former NFL player)
- Max Yasgur (Woodstock's farmer legend)
- Stanley Switlik (Switlik Parachute Company)
- Clarence Clemons (E Street Band saxophonist)
See also
In Spanish: Marathon (Florida) para niños
