It is the home of Long Key State Park, a favorite of campers and nature lovers despite the lack of a beach and the proximity of noisy U.S. 1. It is smaller and less developed than the neighboring incorporated village of Islamorada to the northeast and city of Marathon to the southwest.
Long Key was called Cayo Vivora (Rattlesnake Key) by early Spanish explorers, a reference to the shape of the island, which resembles a snake with its jaws open, rather than to its denizens.
It was visited by C.W. Pierce in his boat, Bonton (1885). He stopped at the lower end of the key where there was a house with a cistern and replenished his water supply. This key was a depot site during the railroad years, and was also the site of the well known Long Key Fishing Camp.
The 965-acre (3.9 km2) state park (3.9 km²) was dedicated October 1, 1969.
Gallery
Bridge over channel #5, connecting Long Key with Craig Key. The eastern end of Long and Fiesta Keys are in the background.
