Cottrell Key facts for kids
 Cottrell Key
Location in Florida
Cottrell Key
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gulf of Mexico |
| Coordinates | 24°36′13″N 81°55′18″W / 24.603583°N 81.921583°W |
| Archipelago | Florida Keys |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Florida Straits |
| Administration | |
| State | Florida |
| County | Monroe |
Cottrell Key is a small, uninhabited island located in the beautiful Florida Keys. It's part of Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. This special island is also found within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, an area set aside to protect nature.
Discovering Cottrell Key
Cottrell Key is one of the many small islands that make up the Florida Keys. These islands are located off the southern coast of Florida. The word "key" comes from the Spanish word cayo, meaning small island.
Where is Cottrell Key Located?
Cottrell Key is part of a group of islands called the Mule Keys. These keys are found in the "Outlying Islands" area of the Florida Keys. It is the northernmost island in the Mule Keys.
The island is about 9 miles (or 15 kilometers) west of Key West. Key West is a well-known city at the very end of the Florida Keys. Cottrell Key sits in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Who Was Captain Cottrell?
Cottrell Key is named after a person named Captain Jeremiah Cottrell. He was a sea captain who lived in the early 1800s. Captain Cottrell was in charge of a "lightship" that was anchored near the key.
A lightship is like a floating lighthouse. It's a special ship with a bright light on it. These ships were used to guide other boats safely through the water. They helped sailors avoid dangerous reefs or shallow areas, especially at night or in bad weather.
