Key West is known far and wide as the “Conch Republic.” It’s a brand touted as an independent state of mind, spiked with some silliness, a farcical military force and its own flag.

proclaiming the independent Conch Republic and raising its royal blue flag. “We made the announcement that if we’re going to be treated as a foreign country, then we will become a foreign ...

Figuring the Keys were being treated as a foreign country, local officials protested by staging the secession and raising the royal blue flag of the Conch Republic. Swift and other founders took ...