South Miami, Florida
-
- For the High School, please see South Miami High School.
| City of South Miami, Florida | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
|
|||
| Motto: The City of Pleasant Living | |||
 |
|||
 |
|||
| Coordinates: 25°42′37″N 80°17′42.61″W / 25.71028°N 80.2951694°WCoordinates: 25°42′37″N 80°17′42.61″W / 25.71028°N 80.2951694°W | |||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Florida |
||
| County | Miami-Dade | ||
| Settled | 1897 | ||
| Incorporated | June 24, 1927 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Philip K. Stoddard | ||
| • Vice Mayor | Brian B. Beasley | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) 0% | ||
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| • City | 10,769 | ||
| • Density | 4,680.5/sq mi (1,811.0/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 5,422,200 | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Zip Codes | 33143 | ||
| Area code(s) | 305 | ||
| FIPS code | 12-67550[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0291395[2] | ||
| Website | http://www.cityofsouthmiami.net | ||
South Miami is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,741 at the 2000 census and as of 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,769.[3]
South Miami's central business district is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at the South Miami on Sunset Drive, connecting the suburb to downtown Kendall, Downtown Miami, and Miami Central Station at Miami International Airport in 2012.
Contents |
[edit] History
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2007) |
An early land owner of the area, W.A. Larkins owned property west of Red Road and Sunset Drive. He built the first grocery store in the area, and as the community grew, a post office was placed in the community. Larkins became the first Postmaster, and the community took the name of "Larkins". A depot was placed along the Florida East Coast Railway.
In 1926, area residents wanted to incorporate their area, and because of the booming city to the north of them, they chose the name of "South Miami". The original town boundaries were Red Road on the east, Kendall Drive to the south, Palmetto Road to the west (now Palmetto Expressway), and Bird Road to the north. The year 1926 also saw the first incoming class of freshmen at the newly chartered University of Miami campus, which abuts the city of South Miami eastern boundary along Red Road (SW 57th Avenue). Also founded with a university theme that same year was the Cambridge Lawns neighborhood of South Miami, situated just 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the university campus. The neighborhood's Cambridge Lawns Historic District, some 30 homes in the Tudor Revival and Mediterranean revival style completed in 1928, were granted historic recognition by the City of South Miami in 2005.
In 1933, the original six square miles of South Miami were reduced to just over three miles (5 km) due to an effort to reduce municipal responsibilities. The city's size was reduced again in 1937, and many of the northern city residents sued to get out of the city. This is why the city of South Miami has the most irregular boundaries of any city in Miami-Dade County today.
[edit] Geography
South Miami is located at 25°42′37″N 80°17′43″W / 25.71028°N 80.29528°W (25.710279, -80.295170).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.
[edit] Surrounding areas
- Glenvar Heights, Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Coral Terrace
- Coral Terrace
Coral Gables - Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Glenvar Heights
Coral Gables, Unincorporated Miami-Dade County - Glenvar Heights, Pinecrest
Coral Gables - Glenvar Heights, Pinecrest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,741 people, 4,301 households, and 2,593 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,680.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,811.0/km²). There were 4,457 housing units at an average density of 1,942.2 per square mile (751.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.84% White (38.9% were Non-Hispanic Whites,)[5] 24.70% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.37% of the population.
There were 4,301 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,488, and the median income for a family was $57,791. Males had a median income of $37,250 versus $29,772 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,526. About 8.9% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 59.69% of residents, while Spanish speakers consisted of 37.45%, and speakers of French as the mother tongue made up 1.25% of the population.[6]
As of 2000, South Miami had the twenty-sixth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 19.58% of the populace,[7] while it had the fortieth highest percentage of Nicaraguan residents in the US, at 1.04% of the city's population (tied with Richmond Heights, FL and Lake Butler, FL.)[8] It's also home to the ninety-third highest percentage of Colombians, which was 1.77% of all residents (tied with Princeton, FL and Westchester, FL.)[9]
[edit] Economy
The South Miami business community is served by Chamber South, with offices at 6410 S.W. 80 Street in South Miami, and by the Red Sunset Merchants Association of South Miami.
The Consulate-General of Mexico in Miami is located at 5975 Southwest 72nd Street (Sunset Drive) in South Miami.[10]
[edit] Transportation
South Miami is served by Metrobus throughout the area, and by the Miami Metrorail at:
- South Miami (SW 72nd Street and U.S. 1)
[edit] Media
South Miami is served by the Miami market, for local Radio and Television. South Miami is served by two newspapers: the daily Miami Herald, which publishes a weekly zoned "Neighbors" section, serving South Miami and adjacent communities; and, the weekly The South Miami News, part of the Community Newspapers chain.
[edit] Education
Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves South Miami
South Miami is also home to the Miami Conservatory. Founded in 1949, it is Miami's oldest and best known ballet school.
[edit] Government
[edit] Structure
South Miami uses a city manager form of government. The Commission sets the policies and the City Manager acts as the chief executive. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms and the Mayor is elected to a two-year term. The Mayor heads the meeting and previously made appointments, with approval by the commission, to various city boards; however this provision was modified to give all commissioners the right to appoint with consent of the board on February 9, 2010. Elections are held on the second Tuesday in February in even numbered years for the Mayor and half of the Commissioners. The Commissioner receiving the most votes is also given the title of Vice Mayor for the first two years of the term. The next election is scheduled for Valentine's Day, 2012.
South Miami City Government as of February 9, 2010
- Mayor: Philip Stoddard [11]
- Vice Mayor: Valerie Newman (Vice Mayor till 2012, Commissioner until 2014)
- Commissioner: Velma Palmer (Election 2012)
- Commissioner: Brian Beasley (Election 2012)
- Commissioner: Walter Harris (Election 2014)
- Acting City Manager: Buford R. "Randy" Witt [12]
[edit] Recent Election Results
Elections Results for February 9, 2010[11]
Mayor of South Miami
Horace G. Feliu(i) 634
Philip K. Stoddard 910
Commissioner Group I
Levy Kelly 484
Valerie Newman(i) 914
Commissioner Group IV
Javier Baños 301
Walter A. Harris 806
Janet Launcelott 383
Charter Amendment
Changing the process by which members of boards and committees are chosen:
Yes 1037
No 346
Also, Valerie Newman was also appointed as the Vice Mayor until the next General Election, scheduled for February 14, 2012, because she was elected with the most votes.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.xls
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Demographics of South Miami, FL". MuniNetGuide.com. http://www.muninetguide.com/states/florida/municipality/South_Miami.php. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ "MLA Data Center Results of South Miami, FL". Modern Language Association. http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=67550&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Ancestry Map of Cuban Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cuban.html. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Ancestry Map of Nicaraguan Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Nicaraguan.html. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ "Ancestry Map of Colombian Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Colombian.html. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ Home Page." Consulate-General of Mexico in Miami. Accessed October 26, 2008.
- ^ a b http://cityofsouthmiami.net/index.php?src=news&srctype=detail&category=Main&refno=147
- ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/06/1616160/ex-general-named-acting-south.html
[edit] External links
- City of South Miami official website
- South Miami Green Task Force South Miami Green Task Force
