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WELCOME TO MARATHON

Marathon City Offices
9805 Overseas Highway
Marathon 305-743-0033
https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/

Monroe County Offices
1100 Simonton Street
Key West 305-294-4641
https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
2222 Overseas Highway
Marathon 305-743-5417
https://floridakeysmarathon.com/

The enchanting city of Marathon is set on 13 islands in the Florida Keys known for their pristine beaches and barrier reef. Centrally located in the Keys approximately an hour’s drive from Key West to the south and Key Largo to the north, the city’s boundaries extend from the east end of Seven Mile Bridge to the west end of Toms Harbors Bridge. The collection of islands encompassed within the municipality include Boot Key, Knight Keys, Hog Key, Vaca Key, Stirrup Key, Crawl and Little Crawl Key, East and West Sister’s Island, Deer Key and Fat Deer Key, Long Pine Key and Grassy Key.

Although the city was incorporated in 1999, the area’s history dates back to Henry Flagler’s railroad days. The very name Marathon was coined by railroad workers whose relentless struggle in completing the Overseas Railroad felt like “a real marathon.” Today’s Overseas Highway, also known as US Route 1, stretches for 113 miles between metropolitan Miami and Key West, the southernmost point in the nation. Serving as the major Florida Keys thoroughfare, this coastal highway showcases a tropical savanna and provides access to the nation’s largest section of coral reefs. Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is available locally for general aviation and charter air service. The closest commercial airline service is at Key West International Airport with expanded services and facilities at Miami International Airport.

Services

First-rate educational opportunities from preschool through graduate and professional studies are close to home, including choices for alternative educational environments in private or parochial schools. Distinguished as one of Florida’s “A” school districts, Monroe County School District serves nearly 8,500 students in the upper, middle, and lower Keys. Boasting one of Florida’s highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools, the district is dedicated to creating a welcoming, safe, healthy and respectful learning environment. Two-year postgraduate studies are available in Key West at the College of the Florida Keys (CFK). Taking advantage of its Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary setting, CFK maintains departments for marine science and engineering, management and seamanship, diving and underwater technology, hospitality and ecotourism, culinary arts, business, nursing/health sciences, public safety, engineering technology/renewable energy, and construction apprenticeships. Marathon is home to one of two CFK centers, the other located in Tavernier. Nearby colleges and universities in Southern Florida include the University of Miami in Coral Gables, home to the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and 13 colleges that confer certificates as well as bachelor, master, doctoral, and first professional degrees. Barry University in the city of Miami Shores is one of the largest Catholic universities in the Southeast. With its flagship campus in Miami, the public research institution of Florida International University is true to its name with a total enrollment of 54,000 students from more than 140 countries. The largest public college in Florida is Miami Dade College, with 8 campuses and 21 outreach centers conveniently located throughout Miami-Dade County.

Access to premier healthcare begins in Marathon, home to the all-new $40 million Fishermen’s Community Hospital—one of several outstanding facilities in the Baptist Health system serving Southern Florida and the Florida Keys. This state-of-the-art facility offers 22 patient treatment positions, 8 inpatient beds including two intensive care beds with 24/7 monitoring, 9 emergency department beds, and 5 additional recovery beds. Services include surgical specialties, advanced diagnostics and imaging, and full clinical support from laboratory and pharmacy to cardiopulmonary, patient support, and an on-site helipad. Built to Category 5 hurricane standards, the hospital has sufficient power to operate independently for as long as four days. Should the need for advanced or highly specialized care arise, Homestead Hospital in Homestead provides a full-service 147-bed facility with private rooms, an emergency center with 44 treatment rooms and a trauma room, a Children’s Emergency Center, a critical care unit, and home-like birthing suites. Homestead Hospital is also the site of the new Baptist Health Rehabilitation for adults and children. South Miami Hospital adds a regional 453-bed facility with comprehensive services that include specialties in robotic surgery, cardiovascular services, burn care, Level II and III Neonatal Intensive Care, and award-winning maternity services.

Lifestyle

Small in size but expansive in amenities, Marathon welcomes newcomers to an environment beyond comparison and a relaxed lifestyle removed from urban bustle and traffic. Hosting some of the finest fishing opportunities in the world, the Marathon islands have long provided inspiration for marine adventurers, artists, poets, novelists, and playwrights along with scientists, researchers, and political leaders. Breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, pristine beaches, balmy tropical weather, and fresh sea breezes endear this paradise to residents and visitors from around the globe. In the very heart of the Florida Keys, Coco Plum Beach protects nesting loggerhead turtles while Crane Point offers a tropical forest, a bird-rescue center, and a natural history museum near the City Marina. Adults and families can interact with marine life at the Dolphin Research Center or Aquarium Encounters, visit the Turtle Hospital, explore Curry Hammock State Park, and learn about the area’s railroading history at Pigeon Key Island. The list of Florida Keys attractions seems endless, including Dry Tortugas National Park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Theater of the Sea dolphin adventures, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

A world of cultural enrichment reflects the area’s rich history and the creative flair of the people who call it home. The local treasure of Marathon Community Theater hosts special events and concerts in addition to “keeping drama on the stage since 1944.” Key West serves as a cultural hub, anchored by the 500-seat Truman Waterfront Park Amphitheater and a variety of entertainment that includes South Florida Symphony concerts. Audiences also enjoy live-stage productions at Key West Theater, Waterfront Playhouse, The Red Barn Theatre, and Tennessee Williams Theatre along with Mallory Square street performances. Key West Dance presents original work at local venues and parks, while Key West Fringe Theater produces “immersion” experiences at various non-theater locations. Closer to Marathon, Islamorada Community Entertainment hosts musical concerts and festivals at Founders Park. Fine galleries for the visual arts are strung like pearls from one end of the Florida Keys to the other. The Art Studio in Marathon offers workshops and classes in a wide variety of media from watercolor and acrylic painting to throwing clay, fusing glass, and creating jewelry. Several communities offer neighborhood art strolls that spotlight the work of established and emerging talent. Historic treasures are equally abundant, including the Keys History & Discovery Center, the History of Diving Museum, the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens, Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, and the Key West Art & History Museum.

Surf and turf recreational activity and outdoor enjoyment are as much a part of a Florida Keys life as sunshine, from exceptional golf and tennis venues to every imaginable water sport. In addition to deep-sea, reef or flats fishing, the Marathon area is well known for delightful waterfront restaurants and premier boating activities that include jet-skiing, kayaking, and paddle-boarding. Even the housing selection reflects a love of nature with properties that offer breathtaking ocean views, private pools and hot tubs, adjoining boat docks, and well-appointed homes featuring tropical décor. Architectural features like view decks and walls of glass, charming patios, and luxurious outdoor living spaces take full advantage of the area’s stunning natural features and beauty. For a truly unparalleled quality of life that remains remarkably affordable, Marathon offers an idyllic hometown setting in the incomparable Florida Keys.