Miami Gardens is a city in north-central Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is located north of Greater Downtown Miami, Downtown Miami with city boundaries that stretch from Interstate 95 in Florida, I-95 and Northeast 2nd Avenue to its east to Northwest 47th and Northwest 57th Avenues to its west, and from the Broward County, Florida, Broward County line to its north to 151st Street to its south. The city's name originated from Florida State Road 860, a major roadway through the area also known as Miami Gardens Drive. Miami Gardens had a population of 111,640 as of 2020. It is Florida's most populous city with a List of U.S. cities with large Black populations, majority African American population and also home to the largest percentage of African Americans (66.97 percent) of any city in Florida, according to the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau. It is a principal city within the Miami metropolitan area, the metropolitan statistical area, nation's ninth largest and List of largest cities, world's 65th largest metropolitan area with a population of 6.158 million people as of 2020. Miami Gardens is the home of Hard Rock Stadium, a 64,767 capacity multi-purpose stadium that serves as the home field for both the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League and the Miami Hurricanes football, Miami Hurricanes, the University of Miami's NCAA Division I Miami Hurricanes football, college football team, which has won five national championships since 1983.

History

In the wake of the construction of Interstate 95 in Florida, I-95 in the late 1960s, many middle class, middle- and upper class, upper-income African American and West Indian American families black flight, migrated from Miami neighborhoods like Liberty City (Miami), Liberty City to what became Miami Gardens (also called Carol City, Florida, Carol City, Norland or Norwood) as race-based covenant (law), covenants were outlawed with the Fair Housing Act, and mostly American lower class, lower income blacks moved into the Liberty City and Little Haiti neighborhoods surrounding Liberty Square (Miami), Liberty Square and Edison Courts. Miami Gardens was incorporated on May 13, 2003. The city's neighborhoods of Andover, Florida, Andover, Bunche Park, Florida, Bunche Park, Carol City, Florida, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Florida, Lake Lucerne, Norwood, Florida, Norland, Opa-locka North, Florida, Opa-locka North, and Scott Lake, Florida, Scott Lake were previously unincorporated areas within Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County. In 2007, Mayor Shirley Gibson said that the city would no longer allow any low-income housing developments; many residents blamed the developments for spreading crime and recreational drugs throughout the city. Around that time, the city's tax revenues dropped to the third-lowest in Miami-Dade County.Garcia-Roberts, Gus. "The Curse." ''Miami New Times''. February 10, 2009

. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2018. In 2012, Oliver Gilbert, only the second mayor the city has had, proposed forming a community redevelopment agency (CRA).Oliver Gilbert's Issues
" Retrieved on October 22, 2018. CRAs are formed to remove "slum and urban blight, blight", to improve the physical environment of the city and to combat the social and economic problems typical of slum areas. CRAs are funded with property tax increases, which funds are used, in part, to stimulate private investment in the rehabilitation of the community.

Demographics

The city was incorporated in 2003, but various parts of the city appear as census designated places in the 2000 United States Census, 2000 census and previous censuses. They now make up the neighborhoods of Andover, Florida, Andover, Bunche Park, Florida, Bunche Park, Carol City, Florida, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Florida, Lake Lucerne, Norwood, Florida, Norwood, Opa-locka North, Florida, Opa-locka North, and Scott Lake, Florida, Scott Lake. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Miami Gardens was 111,640 per the 2020 U.S. Census, 2020 census.

2020 census

''Note: the U.S. Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race''

Hispanic population

2010 Census

In 2010, there were 34,284 housing units of which 6.0% were vacant. As of 2016, the age distribution was 5.6% under the age of 5, 6.7% from 5 to 9, 6.5% from 10 to 14, 15.5% from 15 to 24, 14.6% from 25 to 34, 12.7% 35 to 44, 13.1% 45 to 54, 12.6% 55 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The population was 46.9% male and 53.1% female. Families made up 72% of households, while 28% were non-families. The average household size was 3.52 members, and the city covered .2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
." Retrieved on October 22, 2018.

2000 Census

As of 2000, the Bunche Park neighborhood of Miami Gardens had the ninth highest percentage of black people, African-American and black residents in the US, with 96.5% of the populace. It also was the most The Bahamas, Bahamian place in the United States, as well as having the highest percentage of British West Indies, British West Indians in the US, at 1.8% (which tied with Brentwood, Maryland.) It was also home to the fifty-third highest percentage of Haitians in the US, at 2.8% of all residents (which also tied with Sunrise, Florida, Sunrise, Lake Alfred, Florida, Lake Alfred and Brentwood, New York.) As of 2000, the Carol City section of Miami Gardens had the twenty-seventh highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 18.75% of the populace. It had the nineteenth highest percentage of Jamaican residents in the US, at 5.80% (which tied with Lake Park, Florida,) and the thirty-ninth highest percentage of Dominican Republic, Dominican residents in the US, at 3% of its population. It also had the fifty-sixth most Haitians in the US, at 2.50% (tied with five other areas in the US, including Plantation, Florida, Plantation and Taft, Florida) while it had the twentieth highest percentage of Nicaraguans, at 2.20% of all residents. The Carol City Neighbourhood, neighborhood of Miami Gardens is also home to the seventieth highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 2.15% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexation#Subnational annexation, annexed to Miami Gardens, the Andover neighborhood had English language, English as a first language accounted for 74.96% of all residents, while Spanish language, Spanish accounted for 17.91%, Haitian Creole, French Creole accounted for 4.61%, French language, French made up 1.58%, Niger-Congo languages, West African Niger-Congo languages (Kru language, Kru, Igbo language, Igbo and Yoruba language, Yoruba) were at 0.52%, and Yiddish language, Yiddish was the mother tongue for 0.39% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexed to Miami Gardens, the Bunche Park neighborhood had English as a first language accounted for 95.97% of all residents, while Spanish was at 3.07%, and French Creole as a mother tongue made up 0.94% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexed to Miami Gardens, the Carol City neighborhood had English as a first language accounted for 53.73% of all residents, while Spanish accounted for 43.16%, and French Creole as a mother tongue made up 2.15% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexed to Miami Gardens, the Lake Lucerne neighborhood had English as a first language accounted for 82.27% of all residents, while Spanish accounted for 14.16%, French Creole was at 2.55%, and French as a mother tongue made up 1.00% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexed to Miami Gardens, the Norland neighborhood had English as a first language accounted for 74.87% of all residents, while French Creole accounted for 12.92%, Spanish was at 10.19%, and French as a mother tongue made up 1.02% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexed to Miami Gardens, the Opa-Locka North neighborhood had English as a first language accounted for 75.24% of all residents, while Spanish was spoken by 21.04%, French Creole was at 3.27%, and Jamaican Creole as a mother tongue made up 0.44% of the population. As of 2000, before being annexed to Miami Gardens, the Scott Lake neighborhood had English as a first language accounted for 85.76% of all residents, while 6.81% spoke Spanish, French Creole accounted for 5.83%, French was at 0.93%, and Jamaican Creole as a mother tongue made up 0.64% of the population.

Crime rates

According to City Rating, Miami Gardens crime statistics have decreased in the past 13 years. The crimes that have decreased the most are property crimes and violent crimes. The crime rate for Miami Gardens for 2018 is expected to be lower than in 2016. Miami Garden's 2016 violent crime rate was 63.64% higher than the national violent crime rate, and the property crime rate was 30.99% higher than the national property crime rate.Miami gardens Crime Statistics
." Retrieved on October 22, 2018 In 2016, Miami Gardens' violent crime rate was higher than that in Florida by 50.99%, and the property crime rate was 19.49% higher. In 2016, there were 432 reported cases of aggravated assault, 22 reported cases of arson, 509 reported cases of burglary, 24 cases of forcible rape, 2,743 cases of larceny and theft, 419 reported cases of motor vehicle theft, 22 reported cases of murder and manslaughter, and 265 cases of robbery. The projected 2018 crime data is as follows: 286 reported cases of aggravated assault, 26 reported cases of arson, 435 reported cases of burglary, 7 cases reported of forcible rape, 2,139 cases reported of larceny and theft, 205 cases reported of motor vehicle theft, 18 reported cases of murder and manslaughter, and 102 reported cases of robbery.Miami gardens Crime Statistics
." Retrieved on November 18, 2012

Sports facilities

The Calder Race Course opened in 1971. Miami Gardens is home to the Miami Dolphins, who play in Hard Rock Stadium on land that was part of the Lake Lucerne, Florida, Lake Lucerne census-designated place, CDP. This stadium also hosts the annual Orange Bowl college football game, and is the home field for the University of Miami Miami Hurricanes football, Hurricanes football team. The Miami Open (tennis), Miami Open tennis tournament is held on the grounds of the stadium. The Miami Marlins, Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball shared Hard Rock Stadium with the Dolphins for almost two decades until, in 2012, they relocated to Miami and changed their name to the Miami Marlins. In 2022 Miami Grand Prix, 2022, the Miami International Autodrome hosted the Miami Grand Prix for Formula One.

Healthcare

The city of Miami Gardens has several health care clinics and facilities that offer medical care and support to its residents. Although the city has no hospital directly within its limits, Jackson North Medical Center, Concentra Urgent Care, and, Chen Medical Center provide medical services to the residents of Miami Gardens. Supplementing this, several health care clinics and facilities provide medical services that include general medicine, urgent care, walk-in/urgent care, Dentistry, dental services, gynecology, physical therapy, chiropractor services, laboratory tests, x-rays, Medical ultrasonography, sonograms, osteoporosis screening, vaccinations, and health and exercise programs.

Government

Miami Gardens is governed by a seven-member city council. Members include Mayor Oliver Gilbert (since 2012), and six council members, four elected from districts and two elected citywide. The mayor recommends – and the city council hires – the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk. These are 17 of the many departments for which the City Manager of Miami Gardens creates a budget.

Mayors

*Shirley Gibson, 2003–2012 *Oliver G. Gilbert III, 2012–2020 *Rodney Harris, 2020–Present

Police

The Miami Gardens Police Department is the lead law enforcement agency for the 110,000 residents living within the city's . The department operates under a unified command structure with its headquarters located at 1020 NW 163 Drive, Miami Gardens, Florida 33169. The department became operational on Sunday, December 16, 2007 with 159 sworn officers. Since then, the department has grown to 259 members consisting of 201 sworn positions with 58 non-sworn support positions.

Police controversy

In 2013, law enforcement abuses were alleged regarding the Miami Gardens Police Department by several news outlets. The abuses were first uncovered when it became public that a convenience store employee, Earl Sampson was arrested 27 times for trespassing, while working at and around the store at which he was employed. Video evidence was gathered by the owner of the store, Ali Saleh, showing Miami Garden police involved in clear and repeated misconduct involving his employee, and customers. According to the ''Miami Herald''s Julie K. Brown: "The videos show, among other things, cops stopping citizens, questioning them, aggressively searching them and arresting them for trespassing when they have permission to be on the premises". It appeared Sampson had been arrested in this way due to police quotas, a department culture, and that Sampson was easy to arrest. Sampson always pleaded guilty so they would let him out almost immediately, with one exception where he pleaded not guilty, and he was jailed for 20 days. The guilty plea would validate the officers' improper arrest and increment their quota, so he became a continuous target.

Volume of stops

It was reported that, between 2008 and 2013, 99,980 stops occurred in Miami Gardens, involving 56,922 people, over half of the city's population. In the City of Miami, 3,753 stops occurred during the same period, with four times the population. Some stops involved children aged 5 to 7, totaling more than 1,000 children. These numbers were compiled after news regarding Earl Sampson.

Resignation and lawsuits

Following these reports, the police chief resigned. Civil rights lawsuits have been filed against the Miami Gardens Police Department by the store owner and others who were illegally detained and/or arrested. A police officer filed a lawsuit claiming that he had been fired for reporting abuses.

Education

Public schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates area public schools. Norland Middle School, in the Miami Gardens area, has a magnet program in dance, music, theatre and art, which began in 1985. The young actors Alex R. Hibbert and Jaden Piner, who starred in the Oscar-winning film ''Moonlight (2016 film), Moonlight'', were trained at this school.

Private schools

The Archdiocese of Miami operates area Catholic schools. Monsignor Edward Pace High School is in the Miami Gardens city limits. The archdiocese formerly operated Saint Monica School in Miami Gardens.

Colleges and universities

* St. Thomas University (Florida), St. Thomas University * Florida Memorial University * Sullivan and Cogliano Training Centers

Public libraries

Miami-Dade Public Library System operates the North Dade Regional Library, which opened in September 1979.North Dade Regional
." Miami-Dade Public Library System. Retrieved on September 28, 2009.

Notable people

* Denzel Curry, rapper and songwriter * Diamante (female wrestler), Diamante, professional wrestler known also known as "Angel Rose" * Andre Johnson, retired professional NFL football player for Houston Texans * Trayvon Martin, shooting victim of George Zimmerman * Peter O'Brien (outfielder), Peter O’Brien, professional baseball player * Jo Marie Payton, actress and singer * Smokepurpp, Omar Jeffery Pineiro, rapper, songwriter and producer known by his stage name "Smokepurpp" * Lil Pump, rapper and songwriter * Flo Rida, rapper and songwriter * Rick Ross, rapper and songwriter * Earl Sampson, convenience store worker notable for being arrested 288 times in five years

Surrounding areas

* Broward County, Florida, Broward County (Miramar, Florida, Miramar) *Broward County, Florida, Broward County (Miramar, Florida, Miramar) Up arrow left

Broward County, Florida, Broward County (West Park, Florida, West Park) *Country Club, Florida, Country Club, Miami Lakes, Florida, Miami Lakes Left

Ives Estates, Florida, Ives Estates, Ojus, Florida, Ojus, North Miami Beach, Florida, North Miami Beach, Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County * Miami Lakes, Florida, Miami Lakes Down arrow left

Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County * Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County, North Miami Beach, Florida, North Miami Beach

References

External links

City of Miami Gardens
official website
Miami-Dade County
{{Authority control Miami Gardens, Florida, Miami Gardens 2003 establishments in Florida Cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida Populated places established in 2003 Cities in Florida Cities in Miami metropolitan area