Islandia, Florida

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Islandia is a former city located on Totten Key, south of Elliott Key in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6 residents, making it the smallest incorporated city in Florida. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 66.4 square miles; but only 6.4 square miles of it is land and and the rest of it is water.

During the middle of the 20th Century, the coral reef islands east of Homestead were seen as potential high-income development. Monroe County was so sure that this would be the next boom area that they offered all of mainland Monroe County in exchange for these islands. Dade County, as Miami-Dade County was known then, declined the offer. At the same time, many Florida environmentalists were lobbying to avoid what happened to other sensitive areas in South Florida happening to these sensitive coral reefs. The state legislator allowed the town to become incorporated, but did not allow any further development until the issue could be resolved. As the decades passed, the concept of Islandia being a resort town waned, and the laws to protect the reefs increased. Eventually Biscayne National Monument became Biscayne National Park and any hope of an Islandia boom disappeared. The town is unincorporated.
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Coordinates:   25°26'28"N   80°12'52"W
This article was last modified 11 years ago