Editing Key Biscayne (section)

===Early history===
The first known indigenous inhabitants of Key Biscayne were [[Tequesta]]s. Shells, bones and [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifact]]s found on the island indicate extensive use of it by the Tequesta. A large community appeared to inhabit the island between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago. In 1992 [[Hurricane Andrew]] scoured much of the vegetation from the southern end of Key Biscayne. An [[Archaeology|archaeological]] survey of the exposed ground found evidence of extensive habitation.{{sfn|Blank|1996|pp=5–6}}

[[Juan Ponce de León]] charted Key Biscayne on his first mission to the New World in 1513. He christened the island Santa Marta and claimed it for the Spanish Crown. He reported that he found a fresh water spring on the island.{{sfn|Blank|1996|p=9}} Ponce de León called the bay behind the island (Biscayne Bay) ''Chequescha'', a variant form of Tequesta.{{sfn|Blank|1996|p=13}}

The next European known to have visited the Key Biscayne area was [[Pedro Menéndez de Avilés]]. In 1565 his ship took refuge in Biscayne Bay from a storm. Relations were established with the Tequesta, and in 1567 a mission was established on the mainland across the bay from Key Biscayne. The mission was abandoned three years later in 1570. No other mission was established on the mainland until 1743, and that was withdrawn a few months later.{{sfn|Sturtevant|1978|pp=141–149}}

The first known European settlers on Key Biscayne were Pedro Fornells, his family and household. Fornells and his wife Mariana were [[Menorca]]n survivors of the [[New Smyrna Beach, Florida#History|New Smyrna colony]] in northern Florida. Pedro and Mariana had joined other Menorcans in seeking refuge at [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] after leaving New Smyrna. They stayed in the city after the Spanish regained Florida in 1783. Fornells received a Royal Grant for {{convert|175|acres|0|abbr=on}} on the southern end of Key Biscayne in 1805. The grant required Fornells to live on the island and establish cultivation within six months. He moved his household to the island, but after six months, the family returned to St. Augustine, leaving a caretaker named Vincent on the island.{{sfn|Blank|1996|pp=17–22}}