Key to the City

At the inception of the American Revolutionary War, Tories (those loyal to the crown) fled from the rebellious colonies to the small coral island known as Key West. Unfortunately for the Bahamian locals that had already been inhabiting the area at that time, due to this new colonist presence the British government began to tax goods coming through Key West, just like they had in the thirteen colonies (one would think they would learn their lesson). Angered by this policy, the Bahamians declared they would rather eat conch (pronounced “conk”) than have their main foods taxed. Thus, the nickname for true Key West locals was born, named after the ocean sea snails that the resolute Bahamians learned to eat in 27 different ways.

Nowadays, locals lovingly refer to themselves as Conchs, and they can get even more specific when it comes to “true” natives. Locals born on Key West earn the title of “Saltwater Conchs,” while those who have taken up residence on the island for a few years are known as “Freshwater Conchs.” Ernest Hemingway, so famously tied to Key West, would fall into the latter category. Whether born into it or bestowed this nickname by local neighbors, becoming a Conch does officially make one a part of a unique republic.

In 1982, U.S. officials, concerned about drug trafficking and immigration, created a roadblock for inspections on the Overseas Highway. The only route for Conchs to commute to work and deliver goods from the mainland, it created great frustration on the island. In protest, the Key West municipal government voted to secede from the United States, dubbing itself “The Conch Republic.” Visitors today can purchase Conch Republic passports, license plates, flags, and even sing the nation’s very own national anthem written in 1994.

Walking to Key West’s famous red and black buoy, proclaiming to be the southernmost point in the continental United States, an onlooker might able to spot an insignia of a shell atop the wide painted structure. Now knowing the significance behind this curious Conch shell, you’re already on your way to becoming a real Freshwater Conch!