Key West

United States

The closest American city to Cuba and the northern anchor of the Florida Straits corridor — a Cuban-Bahamian, cigar-making, shipping and military town.

CubaAtlas maps Cuba as a historic and potential future crossroads of the Americas. History gives geographic logic, relationship evidence and market narratives — it does not guarantee outcomes. Nothing here promises that trade, routes, or investment conditions will return; this is informational research, not legal, tax, or investment advice, and not a booking or transaction.

Connection to Cuba — evidence

Key West had substantial Cuban and Bahamian populations, frequent communication with Cuba, a major cigar industry, shipping activity and military functions.
Sources: Library of Congress — Chronicling America✓
50,000–100,000 Cubans moved among Havana, Tampa and Key West every year at the start of the 20th century.
Sources: Library of Congress — Classroom Materials✓
Key West lies on the Florida Straits, ~90 miles from Cuba, astride the Gulf entrance.
Sources: Library of Congress✓

Corridors

Florida Straits Corridor

Connected Cuban ports

Port of Havana Port of Mariel

Modern relevance (hypotheses)

diaspora heritage, tobacco history, family travel, maritime history

Part of the Cuba ↔ United States relationship.

All sources: Library of Congress — Chronicling America✓ · Library of Congress — Classroom Materials✓ · Library of Congress✓

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