Ramrod Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys.[1][2][3] Originally named Roberts Island, Ramrod Key was renamed for a ship named Ramrod, which was wrecked on a reef south of there in the early nineteenth century.

Ramrod Key
The west side of Ramrod Key as seen from the Niles Channel Bridge
Ramrod Key is located in Florida
Ramrod Key
Ramrod Key
Ramrod Key
Ramrod Key is located in Caribbean
Ramrod Key
Ramrod Key
Ramrod Key (Caribbean)
Geography
LocationGulf of Mexico
Coordinates24°39′24″N 81°24′48″W / 24.6568°N 81.4132°W / 24.6568; -81.4132
Administration
StateFlorida
CountyMonroe

Description

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Until the construction of U.S. Route 1 in the 1920s, the only building on Ramrod was a post office that was alongside the train tracks. U.S. 1 (or the Overseas Highway) crosses Ramrod Key at approximately mile markers 26–27.5, between Summerland Key and Middle Torch Key.

Ramrod Key is a popular tourist site due to the short distance between the island and Looe Key. Current (2014) commercial enterprises of visitor interest include a dive shop-hotel-bar/restaurant complex, numerous sport fishing charters[4] ,a bar/restaurant and miniature golf complex, a gas station-grocery, and a Cuban deli/grocery.

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ramrod Key
  2. ^ "Ramrod Key". Key Names. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  3. ^ Embassy Cruising Guide Florida, 6th edition: Waterways of Florida's East Coast, Keys, Okeechobee, and West Coast to Mobile Bay, Alabama. Ebooks2go, Incorporated. 2015. p. 691. ISBN 978-0-7436-1141-1. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  4. ^ "Ramrod Key 2021: Best of Ramrod Key, FL Tourism". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2021-10-13.