Today in Keys History – November 3, 2024
1828 – The first term of the Superior Court Southern Judicial District of the Territory of Florida was held in Key West.
1953 – A record number of Key West voters reelected Mayor C.B. Harvey over three opponents. Delio Cobo and Louis Carbonnell were elected to the City Commission. Two other commission seats were decided in a runoff election.
1964 – A record 70.95% of registered Monroe County voters cast ballots in the day’s elections. Democrats ruled the day, and Lyndon Johnson garnered 8,287 votes over Barry Goldwater’s 4,604 in the county’s presidential tally.
1970 – Bill Carter of Marathon was elected to the Monroe County Commission.
1974 – October high tides put low-lying areas of Card Sound Road under as much as three feet of water for prolonged periods, undermining some of the pavement. Ocean Reef residents were frustrated by the damage, but a prolonged oil crisis had diminished toll revenues, forcing the county to seek alternative funding for repairs.
1981 – A 2 percent tourist tax for Key West was approved by the voters. It was estimated that the tax would bring in $425,000 to $450,000 annually to be used to promote Key West as a tourist attraction.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: A Key West voting precinct, 1964. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.