Florida City | |
|---|---|
| City of Florida City | |
 City hall | |
| Motto(s): Gateway to the Florida Keys and the Everglades[1] | |
 Location inMiami-Dade County and the state of Florida | |
 U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits | |
| Coordinates:25°26′52″N80°29′04″W / 25.44778°N 80.48444°W /25.44778; -80.48444 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Miami-Dade |
| Incorporated | December 29, 1914 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.06 sq mi (15.69 km2) |
| • Land | 5.99 sq mi (15.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0.069 sq mi (0.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 13,085 |
| • Density | 2,184.6/sq mi (843.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 33034, 33035 |
| Area codes | 305,786,645 |
| FIPS code | 12-22975[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403622[3] |
| Website | www |
Florida City is a city inMiami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It is the southernmost municipality in theSouth Florida metropolitan area. Florida City is primarily aMiami suburb and a major agricultural area. As of the2020 census, it had a population of 13,085,[4] up from 11,245 in 2010.
The city lies to the south and west of, and is contiguous with,Homestead. Both cities suffered catastrophic damage in August 1992 whenHurricane Andrew struck South Florida.
The city originated as a land promotion named "Detroit". There were no buildings in the area when the first thirty families arrived in 1910, and they had to stay in Homestead until their houses could be built. The name was changed to "Florida City" when the town incorporated in 1914.[6] It has a small historic area, but much of the city is hotels and other tourist facilities.
The city is at the eastern end of theonly road running through theEverglades National Park, which terminates atFlamingo. Florida City is the southernmost city in the United States which is not on an island. It is also the last stop on the mainland north of theFlorida Keys. The southern terminus of theHomestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike where it ends at its junction withU.S. 1 is located in Florida City. Homestead is immediately north and east of Florida City, and these two cities comprise the greater Homestead-Florida City area. Some of the notable unincorporated communities in the area areRedland,Leisure City,Naranja, andPrinceton.
Florida City is situated mostly atop a limestone ridge called theMiami Rock Ridge[7] that extends south from present dayNorth Miami Beach[8] to a location inEverglades National Park.[9] The ridge, consisting of Miamilimestone,[10] serves as the higher ground within the community. The ridge extended from northeast to southwest across the city. The old location of the Florida East Coast Railway track marks the approximate boundary of the location of the limestone ridge south of Davis Parkway. The range of elevation of the ridge is from 5 to 8 feet (1.5–2.4 meters) above sea level.
Before settlement, the ridge was vegetated by South Florida Slash Pine trees, which were alternatively known asDade County Pine(Pinus elliottii var. densa). (Remnants of these pines can be seen today in local parks and in Everglades National Park at the Long Pine Key picnic area.) Thesepine rocklands[7] were crushed by equipment and converted to farmland during the 1900s.[11] Tomatoes, squash, and other truck crops were grown in the area during the winter months and packed at the Florida City State Farmers' Market[12] near Krome Avenue and Palm Drive, driving the local economy throughout the 1900s.
East of the natural ridge was a broad area of marshlands surrounding the area. Old timers of Florida City called these coastal glades the "East Glade".[11] This was an extension of Everglades that extended from areas west and south of Florida City to its east. East of the East Glade, marshlands gave way tomangrove swamp[13] prior to reaching Biscayne Bay.[14] Soils in the East Glade primarily consisted of a limey soil called Biscayne Marl.[15]
Development schemes in the East Glade led to the construction of canals in the early 1900s.[16] This led to a lowering of water tables. Although development the East Glade was not extensive prior to the 1980s, agricultural development did occur. Potatoes were the primary crop grown in the East Glade before the construction of extensive housing developments within the areas annexed by theCity of Homestead[17] in the late 1970s. Potatoes mostly were harvested from February to March.
Florida City was historically bisected by aslough. Sloughs commonly were found crossing the limestone ridge at a roughly perpendicular angle from Miami to Florida City. Florida City's slough (officially called "Long Slough" or "Long Glade Slough") entered the city near Redland Road and Lucy Street, and extended across the city to the southeast to a location near today's NW 3rd Street and NW 3rd Avenue. East of this point, the slough entered the East Glade.
Long Slough was a slow flowing body of water that originated in the Everglades just south of theMiami Homestead General Aviation Airport.[18] As canals were constructed in the 1900s, and especially the 1960s, the slough was drained and became a low valley in the limestone ridge. Roadways (such as Redland Road near West Homestead Elementary School,[19] NW 6th Avenue north of Davis Parkway, and NW 3rd Avenue about fifty feet north of NW 3rd Street) had culverts constructed under them to allow water to pass through the slough. NW 4th Street east of NW 5th Avenue dead ended near the approximate location where a fictional NW 4th Avenue would intersect that street. During the late 1980s, the street was constructed to reach NW 3rd Avenue since water in the slough had been drained away. Eventually fill was added to the slough and it was destroyed.
Extensive filling operations were conducted in Long Slough near NW 3rd Avenue in the late 1970s. Fill was obtained as waste rock from a nearby rock cutting operation (utilizing Key Largo Limestone,[20] a local coral rock) and was allowed to be dumped in the location by the landowners. Today, this portion of Long Slough serves as a housing development.
An additional natural feature existed along Davis Parkway, extending into the Florida City Camper Park. This feature was a live oakhammock.[21] The understory of the hammock was cleared for the camper park, but much of the hammock remained undisturbed to the south of Davis Parkway and NW 1st Road before the late 1970s.
Florida City today serves as the southern terminus of theHomestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike.[22] Motels and eateries are located along US 1 before taking the highway south into the Florida Keys. Along with serving as the mainland entrance to theFlorida Keys,[23] Florida City also serves as the gateway to the main section ofEverglades National Park.[24]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), of which 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2), or 1.14%, are water.[2]
TheKöppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is "Aw". (Tropical Savanna Climate) with long, hot summers and short, warm winters.[25]
| Climate data for Florida City | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 80 (27) | 82 (28) | 85 (29) | 88 (31) | 90 (32) | 91 (33) | 92 (33) | 90 (32) | 87 (31) | 83 (28) | 79 (26) | 85 (29) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 54 (12) | 56 (13) | 58 (14) | 61 (16) | 66 (19) | 71 (22) | 73 (23) | 73 (23) | 73 (23) | 69 (21) | 63 (17) | 57 (14) | 65 (18) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.6 (41) | 1.8 (46) | 2 (51) | 2.7 (69) | 5.9 (150) | 9.1 (230) | 7 (180) | 8.1 (210) | 8.7 (220) | 5.5 (140) | 2.3 (58) | 1.4 (36) | 56.1 (1,420) |
| Source: Weatherbase[26] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 355 | — | |
| 1930 | 452 | 27.3% | |
| 1940 | 752 | 66.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,547 | 105.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,114 | 165.9% | |
| 1970 | 5,133 | 24.8% | |
| 1980 | 6,174 | 20.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,806 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,843 | 35.1% | |
| 2010 | 11,245 | 43.4% | |
| 2020 | 13,085 | 16.4% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 12,644 | [27] | −3.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[28] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[29] | Pop 2010[30] | Pop 2020[31] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 549 | 625 | 498 | 7.00% | 5.56% | 3.81% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,374 | 5,674 | 5,786 | 55.77% | 50.46% | 44.22% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 5 | 6 | 13 | 0.06% | 0.05% | 0.10% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 45 | 36 | 24 | 0.57% | 0.32% | 0.18% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 18 | 24 | 56 | 0.23% | 0.21% | 0.43% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 333 | 113 | 182 | 4.25% | 1.00% | 1.39% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,519 | 4,763 | 6,523 | 32.12% | 42.36% | 49.85% |
| Total | 7,843 | 11,245 | 13,085 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 13,085 people, 3,050 households, and 2,247 families residing in the city.[32]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 11,245 people, 2,883 households, and 2,216 families residing in the city.[33]
Based on 2010 data, the ancestries of only the Hispanic and Latino population from highest to lowest were as follows:Mexicans made up the 42.52%,Cubans were at 19.13%,Central Americans accounted for 13.37%,Puerto Ricans totaled 12.87%, andSouth Americans were 3.74% of all residents.[34]
In 2000, 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 34.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.48 and the average family size was 3.95.
In 2000, the city population was spread out, with 39.7% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $14,923, and the median income for a family was $18,777. Males had a median income of $23,622 versus $20,060 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $8,270. 43.3% of the population and 41.7% of families were below thepoverty line. 57.1% of those under the age of 18 and 25.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
As of 2000,English was spoken as afirst language by 65.64% of the population,Spanish speakers made up 28.33% of all residents, andFrench Creole was spoken by 6.03% of the populace.[35]
As of 2020, Florida City was rated as the number one "most dangerous" city in the state of Florida. Within a population of 11,826, it had a violent crime rate of 2,908.8 per 100,000. The poverty rate of the city was listed at 14%.[36]
TheFlorida Department of Corrections operates theDade Correctional Institution and theHomestead Correctional Institution in anunincorporated area near Florida City.[37][38][39][40] The Dade CI was originally the Dade Correctional Institution Annex, and the Homestead CI was originally the Dade Correctional Institution; the two received their current names on July 1, 2003.[41]
TheUnited States Postal Service operates the Florida City Post Office.[42]
Florida City is a part of theMiami-Dade County Public Schools system.
Florida City is zoned to:
In additionRise Academy-South Dade Charter School is in the area.[43]
Florida City also has the followingCharter Schools:
Places adjacent to Florida City, Florida | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofMiami-Dade County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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