South Miami, Florida

::"For the High School, please see South Miami High School."Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of South Miami, Florida
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settlement_type = City
motto = The City of Pleasant Living


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map_caption = Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida

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map_caption1 = U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Miami-Dade
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Horace G. Feliu
leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
leader_name1 = Brian B. Beasley
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1897
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = June 24, 1927
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 6.0
area_land_km2 = 6.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.3
area_land_sq_mi = 2.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_percent = 0
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population_as_of = 2007
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population_total = 10,769
population_density_km2 = 1,811.0
population_density_sq_mi = 4,680.5
population_metro = 5422200
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timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 25 |latm = 42 |lats = 37 |latNS = N
longd = 80 |longm = 17 |longs = 42.61 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 3
elevation_ft = 10
postal_code_type = Zip Codes
postal_code = 33143
area_code = 305
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-67550GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0291395GR|3
website = http://www.cityofsouthmiami.net
footnotes =

South Miami is a 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. [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.xls]

History

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 higher-education theme that same year was the Cambridge Lawns neighborhood of South Miami, situated just convert|0.7|mi|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.

Geography

South Miami is located at coor dms|25|42|37|N|80|17|43|W|city (25.710279, -80.295170).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.0 km² (2.3 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 10,741 people, 4,301 households, and 2,593 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,811.0/km² (4,680.5/mi²). There were 4,457 housing units at an average density of 751.5/km² (1,942.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.84% White (38.9% were Non-Hispanic Whites,) [cite web |url=http://www.muninetguide.com/states/florida/municipality/South_Miami.php |title=Demographics of South Miami, FL |publisher=MuniNetGuide.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=67550&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r |title=MLA Data Center Results of South Miami, FL |publisher=Modern Language Association |accessdate=2007-11-02]

As of 2000, South Miami had the twenty-sixth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 19.58% of the populace, [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cuban.html |title=Ancestry Map of Cuban Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] 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.) [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Nicaraguan.html |title=Ancestry Map of Nicaraguan Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] 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.) [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Colombian.html |title=Ancestry Map of Colombian Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02]

Media

South Miami is served by the Miami market, for local Radio and Television. South Miami has its own newspaper, The South Miami News which is published weekly and is part of Miami's Community Newspapers, the Voice of the Community.

Education

Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves South Miami
*South Miami Elementary School
*South Miami Middle School
*South Miami High School

Government

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 makes appointments, with approval by the commission, to various city boards. 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.

South Miami City Government as of February 20th, 2008
* Mayor: Horace G. Feliu
* Vice Mayor: Brian Beasley
* Commissioner: Velma Palmer
* Commissioner: Randy Wiscombe
* Commissioner: Jay Beckman
* City Manager: W. Ajibola Balogun, REM, CFEA [ [http://cityofsouthmiami.net/clientuploads/Archive/CSM_Comm_AfterActionSum_2008/02.19.08AfterActionSummary.pdf Dear bernard: ] ]

Recent Election Results

Results of the Tuesday, February 12th, 2008, City Commission Election.

Mayor
*Horace G. Feliu(i) - 1,028
*Valerie Newman - 465

Commissioner - Group II
*Brian Beasley - 599(v)
*Yvonne Beckman - 413
*Marie Birts(i) - 470

Commissioner - Group III
*Rene W. Gene - 552
*Velma Palmer(i) - 576
*David Walker - 365(i) incumbent
(v) also elected Vice Mayor

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofsouthmiami.net/ City of South Miami] official website