Islamorada, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Islamorada, Florida
settlement_type = Village
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption = One of the many beaches on the Atlantic side of Islamorada


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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Islamorada, Florida

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mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = U.S. Census Bureau map showing village boundaries

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Monroe
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 18.8
area_land_km2 = 18.4
area_water_km2 = 0.4
area_total_sq_mi = 7.3
area_land_sq_mi = 7.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6,386
population_density_km2 = 371.6
population_density_sq_mi = 962.5

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
latd = 24 |latm = 56 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 80 |longm = 36 |longs = 49 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 33036, 33070
area_code = 305
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-34132GR|2
blank1_name =
blank1_info =
website =
footnotes =

Islamorada, "Village of Islands" is an incorporated village in Monroe County, Florida, on the islands of Lower Matecumbe Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Windley Key and Plantation Key in the Florida Keys.

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 2000 census, the village had a total population of 6,846. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,386. [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls] .

The name "Islamorada", meaning "purple island", comes from early Spanish explorers in the area. Its pronuciation has been Anglicized to "aisle-a-more-AH-dah".

Islamorada was hit almost directly by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, causing 423 deaths.

Islamorada is also home to the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base of the Boy Scouts of America.

According to the grand jury indictment of a group of paramilitary Christians of West Indian origin, [http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/images/06/23/cts.batiste.indict.pdf] , in January 2006 Islamadora was used as a meeting site by four of the group with an undercover FBI agent they believed to be an al-Qaeda representative.

Geography

Islamorada is located at coor dms|24|56|9|N|80|36|49|W|GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 18.8 km² (7.2 mi²). 18.4 km² (7.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.93%) is water.

Islamorada is located approximately two hours driving time south of Miami and approximately two hours driving time north of Key West.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,846 people, 3,174 households, and 1,853 families residing in the village. The population density was 371.8/km² (962.5/mi²). There were 5,461 housing units at an average density of 296.6/km² (767.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.84% White, 0.45% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.72% of the population.

There were 3,174 households out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.63.

In the village the population was spread out with 15.5% 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.

Formula Retail

A large part of the reasoning behind the incorporation of the Village was a proposal to place a McDonalds on Upper Matecumbe Key, considered to be "downtown Islamorada". This spurred incorporation and ultimately led to the passing of an ordinance which set strict limitations on the size and type of formula retail and restaurant establishments in the Village. Recently,when a Federal judge ruled that the ordinance violated the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution, despite an earlier Federal judge's ruling that found that the ordinance did not violate the Commerce Clause. The ruling could be beneficial to many developers and land owners supporting it. They will receive the added value that they desire for tourists passing through. The ruling could also be detrimental to long-time residents who believe that part of Islamorada's community character is the lack of a facade on US 1 like those found in Marathon, Key Largo or Florida City.

External links

*wikitravel|Islamorada
* [http://www.islamorada.fl.us/ Islamorada, Village of Islands] official site
* [http://www.keyshistory.org/islamorada.html Islamorada, History]
* [http://www.islamoradachamber.com/ Islamorada, Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.thefloridakeys-keywest.com A Complete Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West]