What happened in Miami and Key West during the U.S Civil War?

Miami? Not much. Most of South Florida was still a swamp without any strategic importance and hardly any people. There were a few fights over lighthouses but that was it. Key West was a different story. read more

Miami was essentially uninhabited during the time of the U.S. Civil War. Its previous inhabitants, the Seminoles, had been driven away, and white people had not yet established any kind of permanent settlement there. Key West was a naval depot, and the U.S. Navy kept control of it during the entire war. read more

Miami During the Civil War, 1861-65 by Col. James C. Staubach, U.S. Army (Retired) During the War Between the States the only inhabitants of the future Greater Miami area were a few hardy pioneers around the Miami River. Nevertheless, the isolated community got involved in the con-flict. read more

Key West was the only southern city to remain in Union hands throughout the Civil War. This was possible due to the geographic location of Key West and also to the independent actions of Captain Brannan. read more

from Miami, Key West was a fair sized port city in 1860 and the second largest town in Florida. It was culturally a southern city with a population of 2,862 people, including 451 slaves and 160 free blacks.3 Before the war a schooner, the Joshua Skinner, made one round-trip a month from Key West. read more