Cedar Key is a municipality in Levy County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had 687 residents.
Cedar Key is made up of a group of islands located just off the mainland. Much of the city’s development has occurred on Way Key since the late 19th century. The name “Cedar Key” comes from the eastern red cedar tree Juniperus Virginiana, which was once abundant in the area.
Cedar Key has significant historical significance in the state of Florida, with a history dating back to approximately 1000 BC, when the region was inhabited by pre-Columbian peoples.
This historical significance was officially recognized by the federal government on October 3, 1989, when approximately 32 km2 of land in and around the city was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Cedar Keys Historic and Archaeological District.
The Cedar Key Museum State Park provides insight into the town’s 19th-century history and displays a collection of shells and Indian artifacts from St. Clair Whitman.
Visitors can tour the restored 1920s Whitman home during museum hours. As evidenced by the construction of the museum, the building was designed to withstand the periodic hurricanes that hit the city.