Monroe County, FL FAQs

Is Monroe County, Florida A Good Place to Live?

Monroe County, FL

Monroe County is located in South Florida, and with its total area of 3,738 square miles, it is the Sunshine State’s largest county. Much of the county’s territory though is water which accounts for 73.7 percent or 2,754 square miles of its territory.

The main reason for this sort of oddity is that the chain of islands of the Florida Keys, spreading 126 miles south toward Cuba, are part of Monroe County. The Everglades constitute 87 percent of the county’s acreage on the mainland, but this area is largely uninhabited. This being so, nearly all of Monroe’s population reside in the Florida Keys.

Home Buying Spots

Monroe County was created in 1823 and named after the fifth U.S. President James Monroe, who served 1817‒1825.The island-city of Key West is the county seat and Monroe’s largest city. Other promising destinations in the county for home buyers include Marathon, Key Colony Beach and Layton, as well as the village of Islamorada. Census-designated places in Monroe, like Big Pine Key, Stock Island, Big Coppit Key, Duck Key, and Key Largo, offer home-buying opportunities as well.

Those moving to Monroe County would have to prepare to embrace or at least understand the locals’ distinctive “conch culture.” Locals refer to themselves a conch, a takeoff from the snail native to the Florida Keys and an important element in Monroe’s economy. The hallmarks of the conch culture include an intimate knowledge of the sea, particularly the local waters, and overall, a non-conformist stance to most mainland standards and an openness to alternative lifestyles.

Much of the conch culture revolves around fishing an important economic activity in Monroe Charter fishing and similar tourism-based businesses have grown in importance in the county, overshadowing commercial fishing. Visitors looking for the joys of the sea that Monroe County provides can find rewarding trips not only to Key West but also to Key Largo, Islamorada, and Marathon.

Arts and Culture Strength

Notwithstanding Monroe’s maverick conch character, traditional arts also thrive in the county. Making this possible is the nonprofit agency Florida Keys Council for the Arts serving local communities from Key Largo to Key West. Its operations include running the Monroe County Art in Public Places program as well as other activities promoting arts a part of the daily life in the county’s various islands. Monroe’s academe plays a key role as well, with the county’s primary college education provided by the Florida Keys Community College with its main campus in Key West and additional facilities in Marathon and Key Largo.

Notably too, the island chain of Monroe County is woven as one via the Overseas Highway. Covering the southernmost segment of Highway 1, it runs for 113 miles in a spectacular stretch linking together Monroe’s islands and atolls between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. Also under development as a complement to this highway is the 106-mile, multi-use Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail for bikers and pedestrians that upon completion will link Key West and Key Largo. Two international airports—Key West International and Florida Keys Marathon Airport—serve Monroe County to further sharpen its marketability to home buyers.

References:

Monroe County

Key West

Overseas Highway Trail

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

Find Nearby Foreclosures

South Florida’s coastal area has a hidden story beneath its surface. The region spans 3,738 square miles, from the Everglades to the Florida Keys. It sits on ancient limestone, perfect for karst formation.

Karst is formed when acidic water dissolves rock over time. This process is key to the area’s unique landscape.

Recent data from the FDEP shows 126 subsidence incidents in the area. About 28% of these are not caused by karst. Instead, they come from soil compaction or construction.

FCIT mapping points to areas like Key West and Big Pine Key. Here, saltwater intrusion speeds up erosion of the bedrock.

Three main factors increase the risk of sinkholes. These are a high water table, frequent tropical storms, and the type of rock. The rock, made of carbonate, is very reactive to acidic water.

This reaction creates cavities in the rock. When the surface collapses into these cavities, sinkholes form. They can be small or big enough to block roads.

Knowing about these factors helps us understand why some places are more at risk. For example, Marathon and Big Pine Key have unique conditions that affect sinkhole formation. By monitoring the ground and using satellite data, we can spot changes before sinkholes appear.

Recent & Notable Sinkhole Incidents / Case Studies

Monroe County has seen 15 sinkhole events verified by 2003. The patterns show 60% of them near limestone bedrock. The other 40% were caused by human mistakes in infrastructure.

Year	Location	Primary Cause	Verified Impact
2008	Marathon (FCIT Site)	Karst Collapse	8-foot depression requiring $1.2M road repairs
2011	Cudjoe Key	Septic System Failure	Contaminated 2-acre residential zone
2015	Key Colony Beach	Water Main Break	15-foot-wide cavity disrupting traffic for 72 hours
2003	Big Pine Key	Natural Karst Weathering	Protected wildlife habitat preservation
2020	Duck Key	Construction Overload	Structural damage to 3 commercial properties

The 2008 Marathon sinkhole was a major event. It was caused by limestone dissolving naturally. It took six months to stabilize the area.

In 2011, a septic system failure in Cudjoe Key caused a big problem. It took two years to clean up the mess.

In 2015, a water main break in Key Colony Beach caused a big sinkhole. It showed how old pipes can damage the ground.

FDEP has strict rules for checking sinkholes in Monroe County. They use radar, core samples, and look at land use history.

Ground-penetrating radar scans
Core sample analysis
Historical land use review

Most natural sinkholes heal in a year. But human-made ones need constant care. Now, they’re working on better building rules.

Risk Factors & What Homeowners Should Do

Monroe County in Florida faces unique sinkhole risks due to its geology. The area’s limestone bedrock, 15-90 feet below, is unstable when water dissolves it. Rainfall changes throughout the year make these risks worse by speeding up erosion.

Properties built on shallow limestone layers are at a higher risk of sinking. This is because the ground can collapse more easily.

Homeowners should call the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s helpline if they see ground depressions or cracks. State law requires experts to check these areas with special tests. If a sinkhole is found, insurance claims can be made through the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Monroe County aims to prevent sinkholes by detecting them early and planning better. The Florida Geological Survey suggests using special surveys before building in risky areas. Homeowners should also keep their drainage systems in good shape to avoid water buildup.

The FDEP has a sinkhole FAQ database with construction tips. These tips follow FGS Leaflet 20 guidelines.

Insurance policies need to be checked every year to make sure sinkhole coverage is enough. Homeowners should take photos of any land changes and talk to certified engineers about how to protect their homes. By watching for changes through the FDEP’s Karst Feature Inventory, communities can plan for upgrades and stay safe.

FAQ

What geological factors make Monroe County susceptible to sinkholes?

Monroe County’s 3,738-square-mile area has porous carbonate rocks. These rocks are found in the Florida Keys and Everglades. Acidic groundwater and limestone bedrock create karst landscapes. This makes the area prone to subsidence, with 126 incidents recorded by FDEP/FGIS.

How can residents distinguish natural sinkholes from human-made subsidence?

FDEP uses criteria to tell karst formations from human causes. For example, septic system collapses or water main failures are different. Cudjoe Key’s 2011 septic collapse and Key Colony Beach’s 2015 failure are examples. These make up 27.6% of non-karst incidents.

Which areas in Monroe County experience the highest sinkhole activity?

FCIT’s 2008 data shows high activity along Overseas Highway and developed islands. Key West, Marathon, and Big Pine Key are among the most affected. The 2008 Marathon event needed major road repairs, showing infrastructure risks.

What immediate steps should homeowners take upon suspecting ground subsidence?

Homeowners should 1) Report concerns to FDEP’s 24-hour helpline 2) Get professional geological assessments 3) File claims with Florida Department of Financial Services. FDEP suggests void detection surveys before building and following FGS Leaflet 20 for risk reduction.

How does limestone depth variation affect sinkhole risks in the Florida Keys?

Karst formation risks depend on limestone depth. Depths range from 15 feet in lower Keys to 90 feet in upper areas. Seasonal water table changes speed up dissolution, more so in areas with poor drainage or altered water patterns.

What resources exist for Monroe County residents seeking sinkhole prevention strategies?

FDEP offers updated sinkhole FAQs and guidelines through 2022. Recommended steps include maintaining surface drainage, conducting geotechnical surveys before construction, and watching for structural cracks or groundwater changes near karst formations.

Sinkholes in Monroe County, FL | Florida Sinkholes