Editing Key Biscayne (section)

===1920s to 1950s===
[[File:Crandon Park beach, FL.jpg|thumb|The beach at [[Crandon Park]] in Key Biscayne in February 2008]]
[[File:SEOpen.jpg|thumb|The [[Miami Open (tennis)|Miami Open]] tennis tournament was held at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne from 1987 until 2019 when it moved to [[Hard Rock Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, Florida|Miami Gardens]].]]
In February 1926, William Matheson entered into an agreement with D. P. Davis, a land developer unrelated to Waters Davis, to develop and re-sell the northern half of Key Biscayne, including all of what is now Crandon Park and about half the present Village of Key Biscayne. Davis had experience with turning submerged or partially submerged land into prime real estate, having created the [[Davis Islands (Florida)|Davis Islands]] in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] and Davis Shores near St. Augustine. Later in 1926, the City of [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]] incorporated with Key Biscayne, which was included in its boundaries. There were dreams of a bridge to the island, making Key Biscayne the seaside resort for Coral Gables, as Miami Beach had become for Miami.{{sfn|Blank|1996|pp=153–154}}

Obstacles to the project arose. In March 1926, the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]] auctioned off some lots on Key Biscayne that had been retained when the rest of the island was transferred to the State of Florida. The Mathesons wanted to have clear title to all of their land, and determined to outbid other interested parties for it. They ended up paying US$58,055 for a total of {{convert|6.84|acres|2|abbr=on}} of land, a record price per acre for the auction of U.S. government land up to that date.{{Sfn|Blank|1996|pp=154–155}} On September 18, 1926, the [[1926 Miami Hurricane|Great Miami Hurricane]] crossed over Key Biscayne on its way to Miami. Although there were no deaths on the island, most of the buildings were destroyed or badly damaged. Many of the plantings were lost, including half of the coconut trees.{{Sfn|Blank|1996|p=155}} The Mathesons rushed to restore their plantation, replanting and buying new equipment to replace what was lost. They soon had 30,000 coconut trees replanted on {{convert|900|acres|0|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|Blank|1996|p=157}} D. P. Davis could not meet his contract; he declared bankruptcy and disappeared en route to Europe by ship.{{Sfn|Blank|1996|p=156}}

The Florida land boom was over, and no bridge was built and no development took place on Key Biscayne for the next two decades. William Matheson died in 1930, leaving the island to his children. In 1939, the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] approved a proposal to develop [[Virginia Key]] as an air base and sea port. There was talk of putting an air base on the north end of Key Biscayne.{{Sfn|Blank|1996|p=155}}

In 1940, William Matheson's heirs donated {{convert|808.8|acres|1|abbr=on}} of land, including {{convert|2|mi|km|1|spell=in}} of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, on the northern end of Key Biscayne to Dade County to be used as a public park, later named [[Crandon Park]]. The county commissioner who negotiated the gift, Charles H. Crandon, had offered to have the county build a causeway to Key Biscayne in exchange for the land donation. As planning for the air and sea complex on Virginia Key was proceeding, construction on a causeway to Virginia Key started in 1941.{{Sfn|Blank|1996|p=158}}

The [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] and the entry of the United States into World War II stopped all work on the causeway and the development of Virginia Key. After the war, Crandon pushed on with the development project. He got financier [[Edward Ball (businessman)|Ed Ball]] to buy six million (U.S.) dollars worth of bonds financing construction of the causeway. The causeway was named for [[Eddie Rickenbacker]], a [[World War I]] [[flying ace]], and founder and president of the Miami-based [[Eastern Air Lines]].{{Sfn|Blank|1996|pp=159–160}}

Starting in 1951, the Mackle Construction Company offered new homes on the island for US$9,540, with just US$500 down. A U.S. Post Office contract branch was opened, the Community Church started holding services, and the Key Biscayne Elementary School opened in 1952.{{sfn|Blank|1996|pp=160–162}}

The residents of Key Biscayne successfully petitioned the [[Government of Miami-Dade County|Dade County Commission]] allow a referendum on incorporating the community. The referendum passed and the [[Key Biscayne, Florida|Village of Key Biscayne]] was incorporated in 1991, the first new municipality in the county in 30 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grossman |first=Hillard |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Key Biscayne First 30 Years |url=https://www.islandernews.com/islandlife/key-biscayne-first-30-years/article_21403f24-8865-11ec-bc9c-ff7fa5a0cbca.html |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=Islander News}}</ref>