Dade County, Florida 1860 Federal Census Transcribers notes: Sandra Willis The 1860 Dade County Florida Federal Census was taken on the 24th and 25th of August by Fernando J. Moreno. He wrote this at the end of the census. Southern District of Florida Key West September 10th 1860 I hereby certify that the foregoing Schedules Numbered from 1 to 67 contained a true and correct Enumeration of the Free Inhabitants in the Counties of Monroe and Dade, in the Southern District of Florida made by me in Accordance with my oath of office and the Instructions of the Department of the Interior to the best of my Knowledge and belief. Fernando J. Moreno US Marshal For the Southern Dist. Of Florida This explains why the census starts on Page 65 with Dwelling and Family numbers of 538 and 520. The previous numbers and pages had been used for Monroe County Florida. On Page 237b the Settlement of Indian Key ends on line 13 and the Settlement of Matacumbia Key begins on Line 25 of the same page. In the blank space between these two areas the Enumerator has hand written in the following: The Inhabitants in the Settlement of Matacumbia Key in the County of Dade, State of Florida, Enumerated by me, on the 24th day of August 1860. Post Office Key West Fernando J. Moreno Marshal Matacumbia Key goes from Line 25 to Line 38. In 1860 Dade County covered about half of the present day Palm Beach County, all of present day Broward and Dade Counties, part of present day Monroe and Collier Counties, plus all the Islands in the Keys- almost to Key West. Key West was part of Monroe County. It is difficult to believe that in all those square miles, there were only 81 people!