About Marathon

The City of Marathon incorporated in 1999, which set its boundaries, “from the East end of the Seven Mile Bridge approximately Mile Marker (MM) 47 to the West end of Toms Harbors Bridge, approximately MM 60. Being about 1 hour from Key West and Key Largo, Marathon is the Heart of the Florida Keys.

The islands of Marathon are Boot Key, Knight Keys, Hog Key, Vaca Key, Stirrup Key, Crawl and Little Crawl Key, East and West Sister’s Island, Deer Key and Fat Deer Key, Long Pine Key and Grassy Key. These islands are steeped with the rich Florida history of Henry Flagler’s railroad days. The name Marathon came about by the railroad workers who were working night and day to complete the railway. Due to the unrelenting pace and struggle to complete the project, the popular exclamation, “This is getting to be a real Marathon”, is how the name originated. Vaca Key and Knights Key were actual railroad stations for the Overseas Railroad, as was the now named Marathon.

 Before the railroad, the settlers here were farmers, wreckers and fishermen. To this day, Marathon maintains its claim to some of the best fishing in the world. Great fishing, along with beautiful beaches, warm weather and residents proud to call Marathon home are some of the reasons many visitors from all over the world choose to spend time in Marathon, the Heart of the Florida Keys.