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.

In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Paul Menta hoists a Conch Republic flag to formally begin the 10-day Conch Republic Independence Celebration marking the 40th anniversary of ...

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 ...

so they staged the lighthearted secession and declared themselvess the Conch Republic, complete with a flag, passports and its own uniformed officers. After carrying out an act of war - hitting a ...

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 ...