Just leaving Miami, the first Key the visitor finds driving along the "Overseas Highway" U.S. Highway 1 is Key Largo, known as the Diving Capital of the World, with an exciting underwater world.

Key Largo honors its name: Largo is Spanish means large, and it is indeed the largest, longest and easternmost island of the Florida Keys archipelago. Like many other cities, Islands and territories in the southern United States, the island kept in its name part the Spanish origin after Florida's discovery during the 16th century.

The island territory lies in Monroe County. However, Key Largo is also near to mainland in Miami-Dade County by the Card Sound Bridge that connects the northern part of the island across Biscayne Bay.

Although the island is 33 miles long, in the housing marketing it is usually referred to by the official Florida Keys measurement of Mile Markers (MM), Key Largo extends to the north of from MM 90 to MM 106.

Scuba diving and fishing are the major tourist attractions of the island. Key Largo's living reef, stunning scuba diving and its proximity to the Everglades contribute to attract visitors from all over the world.

Ecotourism is another attraction in most of the Florida Keys. Key Largo’s privileged location has no parallel. The Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge comprises 6800-acre hardwood hammock, home to the endangered American crocodile.

However, the unsettled land where this Refuge is located, in the upper Key Largo, is protected land and closed to the public. On the rest of the island, there are many types of accommodations, from luxury hotels and resorts, to small inns and guesthouses.

Real estate in Key Largo offers vacation rentals and many other locally owned properties for better convenience. Cost of living on this island is high due to its closeness to the mainland, but not too expensive that it is not affordable in the short term, including some low-income housing.

Whether renting an apartment, condo or a home it could be a nice way to go for vacation time. Buying or building a house is easy, not to mention the numerous commercial properties and facilities to relocate. In Key Largo, there is an accommodation option for all budgets.

Key Largo has many attractions, including the John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park, which is one of the most prestigious worldwide, when it comes to diving and waterpark attractions. This park became the first underwater park in the United States, established in 1963.

Visitors can also enjoy the 178 nautical square miles Marine Sanctuary, encompassing mangrove swamps, coral reefs and seagrass beds. This sanctuary serves as protection to the living coral reef, unique in the continental United States.

Just within 55 minutes south of the Miami International Airport, Key Largo has been a gathering place and inspiration for many celebrities and renowned people, including former President George Bush, often seen fishing around the area.

First time when Key Largo was introduced in the arts was in 1939 when playwright, author Maxwell Anderson wrote the play Key Largo in blank verse. Later, in 1948, John Huston turned this play into the "Key Largo", the movie starring by Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

Filmed in the Caribbean Club at Rock Harbor, this movie catapulted the island to international dimensions. Throughout time, Key Largo has remained in the arts. In 1982 singer, songwriter Bertie Higgins hit the top-ten with a song named "Key Largo", and in 2005 a Key Largo game was also launched.

Geographically speaking, there are 3 census-designated places on the island: North Key Largo, housing the protected land near the Card sound Bridge; Key Largo, the portion 8-9 miles from the southern end of the island, and Tavernier, located in the southern end of the island.

North Key Largo is also home to the Ocean Reef Club, a private community located 50 miles south of Miami, surrounded one side by protected lands under federal and state ownership, and 3 sides by water.

There are many canals, cuts and marinas along Key Largo, besides the Florida Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Charter fishing boas are available in most resorts and marinas, as well as countless amenities to enjoy your stay on the island.

Closer to Florida City, and situated close by the Everglades National Park in the northwest, Key Largo properties offers water view and tropical grounds at many places. Resorts such as the Holiday Inn Resort & Marina, Kona Kai Resort & Gallery, Marina Del Mar Resort & Marina, Marriott’s Key Largo Bay Beach Resort, and Sheraton Beach Resort Key Largo

For conventions, meetings, and special events, these resorts also offer facilities to accommodate from small groups to large receptions holding over 500 people. As an interesting fact, Holiday Inn's Marina is also home of the original “African Queen”, a famous movie boat.

There are many tours and excursions, whether for snorkeling, kayaking, diving or just getting airboat rides or glass bottom boat rides. Some of the most popular are Capt Sterlings Everglades Ecology Tours, Caribbean Watersports, Coral Reef Park Co., Dolphin Cove Research & Education Center, Everglades Alligator Farm, Florida Bay Outfitters, Key Largo Princess, SunCruz Casino Boat and the Theater of the Sea.

Information brochures and maps for Key Largo and all the Florida key are available at the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce Florida Keys Visitor Center, located just entering Key Largo, at mile marker 106.

Estimated population in Key Largo in 12,886 people within the island's total area of 14.4 square miles 5,186 acres and 8' average elevation. Median household income is $42,577, against $38,819 state income average. The per-capita Income is $25,441 while the state average remains in $21,557

Average price of a 1-bedroom home is $403,450, as of September 2006, while a 2-bedroom home has an average sale price of $660,871, $1,088,593 for 3 bedrooms, and $1,438,792 for 4 bedrooms.

Comparing the figures of the first week of September 2006, with the second week's figures, there has been -1.3% demand on 1 bedroom homes, +0.3% in 2 bedrooms, +2.3% in 3 bedrooms, and -9.4% in 4 bedrooms homes.