MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA

:''This article is about the city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. For the census-designated place in Broward County, Florida, please see Miami Gardens, Broward County, Florida''.
'Miami Gardens' is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. Since Key Biscayne was incorporated in 1991, there has been a movement in several unincorporated areas, also known as census-designated places (CDPs) throughout Miami-Dade County to incorporate as cities, often due to a perceived lack of attention or services from Miami-Dade County government. Residents in Miami-Dade county who lived on the Broward County line in the former CDPs of Andover, Bunche Park, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Norland, Opa-Locka North, and Scott Lake voted to incorporate as the city of Miami Gardens in 2003, although some of those CDPs were not entirely incorporated. The city was incorporated on May 13, 2003. According to the 2004 U.S. Census Bureau's Estimates, the newly-created city had a population of 100,887; however, current estimates of the city government place the 2005 population at 106,566. Miami Gardens is the largest city in Florida that has a majority of black residents.
The city is home to the Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins, both of whom play in Dolphin Stadium on land that was in Lake Lucerne. Dolphin Stadium also hosts the annual college football game Orange Bowl. Calder Race Course is located in the city.

Contents

Demographics

Government

Education

External links

Demographics

Because the city was incorporated in 2003 and many of the CDP's comprising the current city of Miami Gardens were only partially incorporated, much of the demographic information is either incomplete or indeterminable. Please see the individual listing for the former CDP's of Andover, Bunche Park, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Norland, Opa-Locka North, and Scott Lake for more in-depth demographic data. The estimated population is 105,414 (2005). The population density is 5,328.41/mi² (2,057.25/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 79.39% African American, 18.86% White, 0.30% Native American, 2.30% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. 13.30% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The age distribution is 16.05% under the age of 10, 26.6% from 10 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The population is 47% male and 53% female. There are 3.3 members per household.

Government

Miami Gardens is governed by a seven member City Council. Members include the mayor, who is currently Madame Shirley Gibson (since 2003), and six Council members, four of whom are elected from districts and two who are elected city wide.
The Mayor recommends, and the City Council hires, the City Manager, City Attorney and the City Clerk.
The City Manager, currently, Dr. Danny O. Crew, is responsible for the day-to-day management of all City employees and the City's $116 million annual budget. The City Manager is assisted in his duties by three Assistant City Managers. Currently the City has 265 FTE employees.
In July 2006, the City Council voted to initiate its own police department, Previously, the City had contracted with Miami-Dade County for patrol services. The City anticipated hiring 150 sworn officers with a start-up date of December 1, 2007.

Education

Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Miami Gardens.

★ Miami Norland Senior High School

★ Miami Carol City Senior High School
'Universities'

★ St. Thomas University

★ Florida Memorial University

External links

★ City of Miami Gardens official website

★ Miami-Dade County

★ Tropical Plant

★ Miami Gardens News