Miami Lakes, Florida. USA
Miami Lakes is a former
census-designated place and
incorporated town located in
Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the former CDP had a total population of 22,676. As of
2004, the population recorded by the
U.S. Census Bureau is 22,688
[1].
The development was constructed by Sengra, now known as
The Graham Companies starting in 1962 on land that was formerly occupied by the
dairy of
Florida State Senator Ernest 'Cap' Graham. The Grahams stated for many years that it would be a 30-year development but they are still developing 43 years later. The original Miami Lakes development, east of the Palmetto Expressway, was master planned by Lester Collins with curving tree-shaded roadways and numerous curving lakes which are unusual compared to most surrounding areas with treeless streets on a square grid and rectangular lakes. This original development, which is on the east side of the more recently designated Town of Miami Lakes, has neighborhood shopping centers, tot-lot parks, and a town center named Main Street. A significant portion of Miami Lakes is still owned by the Grahams, mostly apartment buildings, shopping centers, office buildings and still undeveloped land. Former U.S. Senator
Bob Graham, younger step-brother of family patriarch
William "Bill" Graham, is one of the owners, and the late publisher of the
Washington Post,
Katharine Graham, had a share by marriage. Philip L. Graham even had a Miami TV station (WPLG) pick their station call letters after his name.
Geography
Miami Lakes is located at
25°54′42″N, 80°19′30″W (25.911672, -80.325067)
GR1.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 16.5
km˛ (6.4
mi˛). 15.4 km˛ (6.0 mi˛) of it is land and 1.1 km˛ (0.4 mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 6.73% water.
Demographics
of 2000, there were 22,676 people, 8,248 households, and 6,111 families residing in the CDP. The
population density was 1,469.0/km˛ (3,806.4/mi˛). There were 9,000 housing units at an average density of 583.0/km˛ (1,510.7/mi˛). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.25%
White, 2.80%
African American, 0.14%
Native American, 2.20%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander, 2.86% from
other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. 66.52% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There were 8,248 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were
married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,147, and the median income for a family was $68,431. Males had a median income of $45,759 versus $31,656 for females. The
per capita income for the CDP was $28,867. 4.9% of the population and 3.8% of families were below the
poverty line. 4.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Notable Miami Lakes natives Robert Van Winkle (aka
Vanilla Ice),
rapper
K.C. of K.C. and the Sunshine Band
Senator Bob Graham