Monroe County was created in 1823. It was named for James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825.

The Monroe County Public Library was South Florida's first public library. By September 1892, the new library was established. The original Key West library had 1,200 volumes, and it was funded by the dues and fees of its members.

The Key West Library Association rescinded its charge of the library in 1896, and the library was run by various civic groups for the next nineteen years. In 1915, the Key West Women's Association took charge of the library. This club ran the library for 44 years. Through fundraising activities, this group was able save enough money to build a new library that opened in November 1959. The new library was the official Monroe County Public Library, and it serves as the Key West branch of the Monroe County Public Library.

--Wikipedia

Addditional info an timeline can be found in Guide to Key West prepared by the Works Progress Administration, Part 3

Home of Ernest Hemingway in Key West, Florida  - The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum 

907 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040 |  (305) 294-1136