Big Pine Key, Florida
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| Big Pine Key, Florida | |
|---|---|
| Census-designated place (CDP) & Unincorporated community | |
 Location in Monroe County and the state of Florida | |
 U.S. Census Bureau map showing CDP boundaries | |
| Coordinates: 24°41′10″N 81°21′40″WCoordinates: 24°41′10″N 81°21′40″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Monroe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10 sq mi (25.8 km2) |
| • Land | 9.8 sq mi (25.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 5,032 |
| • Density | 503.2/sq mi (195/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 33043 |
| Area code(s) | 305 |
| FIPS code | 12-06425[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0294394[2] |
Big Pine Key is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Monroe County, Florida, on an island of the same name in the Florida Keys. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 5,032.
Contents
[hide]Geography[edit]
U.S. 1 (or the Overseas Highway) crosses the key at mile markers 29.5—33, one of the few places on the Keys where the road orients north-south (along the eastern edge of the Key).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 25.8 km² (9.9 mi²). 25.3 km² (9.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.81%) is water.
Demographics[edit]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,032 people, 2,247 households, and 1,420 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 198.9/km² (515.3/mi²). There were 3,153 housing units at an average density of 124.6/km² (322.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.83% White, 1.09% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.19% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.72% of the population.
There were 2,247 households out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.63.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,514, and the median income for a family was $47,639. Males had a median income of $31,552 versus $28,021 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,169. About 5.6% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
The Blue Hole[edit]
The Blue Hole is an abandoned rock quarry that was used for nearby road fills and Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad.[3] The water it contains is mostly fresh and is used by various wildlife in the area, such as birds, snakes, alligators and feral Green iguanas. It is part of the National Key Deer Refuge.[4]
Shopping, Dining, Commerce & nightlife[edit]
The primary grocery store is the Winn-Dixie, located in a shopping center just north of US 1. This same shopping center contains several restaurants, a Beall's Outlet, a well stocked Super RadioShack store, the visitor's center for the National Key Deer Refuge, and a branch of the Monroe County Library (with WiFi internet access). Walgreens and CVS pharmacies are located along US 1 as well as a shoe store, a tropical decor store and a bait and tackle shop. A small hardware store in this same area sells typical paint, hardware, tools and other goods needed to build/repair items around the home. They also carry a limited selection of parts for boat repair. For a good time in the evening join up with the Big Pine Key Drinking team at one of the local watering holes and enjoy an evening of great laughter and hilarity. Local resident Mike Piekenbrock, a self-proclaimed "movie buff" and "facial hair enthusiast", can often be found frequenting these local establishments.
Several bars and restaurants are available along the US 1 corridor, Good Food Conspiracy has served healthy, organic food for over two decades and the No Name Pub is located near the bridge to No Name Key in the NE part of the island. The nearest city of note is Marathon, approximately 23 miles (37 km) "north" on US 1. Key West, a major shopping and cultural hub for the area, is about 30 miles (48 km) "south" on US 1.
Accommodations are limited, though RV/camping and a small number of motel-style units are available at the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge on the far Southeast side of the island.
Key Deer[edit]
The island of Big Pine Key is home to the National Key Deer Refuge, this island is where the majority of the Key Deer population can be found.
As Key deer are endangered, many precautions have been taken to preserve as much Key Deer habitat as possible:
- Signs are prominently placed along U.S. 1 (the Overseas Highway) to inform drivers that they are entering Key deer habitat, and warning them that feeding Key deer is prohibited
- Approximately two miles of US 1 on the eastern end of Big Pine Key are elevated and fenced off to allow Key deer to pass under the road
- The stretch of US 1 in Big Pine Key has a night-time speed limit of 35 miles per hour (as Key deer are most active at night) and the speed limits (45 MPH in the day) are "strictly enforced" according to signage
Photo gallery[edit]
In fiction[edit]
Big Pine Key is featured prominently in the 1966 spy novel Danger Key.
The protagonist of Carl Hiaasen's Bad Monkey lives on Big Pine Key.
The No Name Pub (with a fictionalized set of regulars) is featured in the novel Torpedo Juice by Tim Dorsey.
Big Pine Key is featured throughout BP Pryor's Tactical series of novels
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