Upon leaving the Federal Court House , on the court house steps , Mayor Wardlow announced to the world, by way of the assembled TV crews and reporters, that ; "Tomorrow at noon the Florida Keys will secede from the Union!"

Conch Republic FAQ's:

Question: What is the conch republic?

Answer: It is a make believe nation in the Florida Keys.

Question: How did the republic come about?

Answer: In 1982 the U.S. Border Patrol began setting up road blocks on Highway 1 at Florida City just to the north of the Florida Keys. Vehicles were stopped and searched for narcotics and illegal immigrants. After the complaints from the Key West City Council went unanswered by the Federal Government and attempts to get an injunction against the "blockade" failed in court, Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow and the city council declared the independence of the Conch Republic on April 23, 1982.

Question: How long was the Conch Republic "independent?"

Answer: For less than a day.

Question: Does the Conch Republic have a have an independence day celebration?

Answer: Yes, every April 23rd. See the Conch Republic Independence Celebration page for further info.

Editors Choice:
Wikipedia Conch Republic
Wikipedia Encyclopedia, conch republic history, and general info.

Further Conch Republic Info:
Conch Republic.com
The Conch Republic's official page featuring it's history, independence celebration, and more.