Marathon is a 10-mile-long family-oriented island community conveniently situated in the middle of the Keys island chain, in Monroe County, Florida, with a population of nearly 9,000.
Residents, snowbirds and visitors enjoy Marathon’s fishing heritage, an old-Keys lifestyle and seafaring traditions, a theme celebrated in the area’s accommodations, such as private waterfront vacation homes, small hotels, beachside inns and tropical, family-style resorts; and annual seafood festivals and waterside restaurants that harvest fresh fish, lobster and stone crab claws from local waters.
The city of Marathon boasts some of the best boating activities anywhere, including deep-sea, reef or flats fishing. It also is home to the Dolphin Research Center, Aquarium Encounters, Turtle Hospital, Crane Point Hammock and Nature Trail and Curry Hammock State Park, and a vibrant railroad history at Pigeon Key Island.
Marathon is accessible from the mainland only via the Overseas Highway, stretching 120 miles over other low-lying islands of the Florida Keys and 45 bridges. Most of these islands are 3-5 feet above sea level and because of the many hundreds of miles of shoreline, this region is considered by many to be ground zero for experiencing the impacts of sea level rise. Monroe County recently updated elevation maps that show the effects of local sea level rise, using sea level rise predictions provided from the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.
