[JazzmanLI]

I've been to Florida quiet a few times and have been to quiet a few parts of the state. I've been to the Florida Keys, the keys all on Overseas Hwy (US 1). Looking at a map I found there are other Keys in Florida like Longboat Key on the west coast. Are all islands within the state of Florida called Keys? I know random ques. but curious for my future travels throughout the state.

[FringedNFab]

Originally Posted by JazzmanLI

I've been to Florida quiet a few times and have been to quiet a few parts of the state. I've been to the Florida Keys, the keys all on Overseas Hwy (US 1). Looking at a map I found there are other Keys in Florida like Longboat Key on the west coast. Are all islands within the state of Florida called Keys? I know random ques. but curious for my future travels throughout the state.

No not all.

[jwolfer]

Key comes from the Spanish cayo, meaning small low lying island, usually sandy. The English word Quay comes from the same root word. The terms cayo, cay, key are used around the Carribean or Gulf of Mexico mainly

There are Keys in other parts of Florida,(ie Cedar Key-SW of Gainesville) but 95%( i would guess) are in the Florida keys. Some of the others keys I would suspect are called keys by developers of resorts.

As an aside.. Key West was called Cayo Hueso by the Spanish. Hueso means bone. The island apparently had lots of bones of animals on it, either from Native American hunters or animals that died there. Englsih speakers heard "west" for hueso It does happen to be near the western end of the archipelago, so the English Key West fits geographically as well.