1972 Map of Cottrell Key

About this map

Key West National Wildlife Refuge encompasses nearly the entire maritime landscape of this 1970s orthophotomap, where isolated islands rise from the shallow waters between the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. This specialized survey, compiled by the Geological Survey and the USC&GS, utilizes aerial photography to reveal the intricate topography of mangrove keys and tidal flats. From Cottrell Key in the north to the southern cluster of Woman Key, Man Key, and Boca Grande Key, the map details a delicate ecosystem defined by water depth and navigation channels. The presence of the Northwest Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway highlights the importance of this area for coastal transit even as it remained a protected wilderness. Smaller features like Joe Ingram Key, Crawfish Key, and Ballast Key serve as distinct landmarks for researchers and maritime historians studying the Lower Keys before modern environmental shifts.