Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S. Census Bureau had the city's population reduced to 218,896, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Hialeah is part of the Miami metropolitan area and the Greater South Florida metropolitan area.The city's name is most commonly attributed to Muskogee origin, 'Haiyakpo' (prairie) and 'hili' (pretty) combining in 'Hialeah' to mean 'pretty prairie'. Alternatively, the word is of Seminole origin meaning 'Upland Prairie'. The city is located upon a large prairie between Biscayne Bay and the Everglades.Hialeah has the second highest percentage of Cuban and Cuban American residents of any city in the US. Hialeah is also the densest American city in terms of population not to feature a skyscraper.Hialeah is served by the Miami Metrorail at three stations: Okeechobee Station, Hialeah Station, and Tri-Rail Transfer Station. The Okeechobee and Hialeah stations serve primarily as park-and-ride commuter stations for Downtown Miami and Brickell commuters. The Tri-Rail Transfer Station allows easy connections to Tri-Rail to Miami International Airport and West Palm Beach. Besides the Metrorail, Hialeah also has two Tri-Rail stations: the Hialeah Market Station and one at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer Station.
History
The Seminole interpretation of its name, 'High Prairie', evokes a picture of the grassy plains used by the native Indians coming from the everglades to dock their canoes and display their wares for the new comers of Miami. This 'high prairie' caught the eye of pioneer aviator Glenn Curtiss and Missouri cattleman James H. Bright who saw great potential in 1921.In the early 'Roaring 20’s', Hialeah produced significant entertainment contributions. Sporting included the Spanish sport of jai-alai and greyhound racing, and media included silent movies like D.W. Griffith’s The White Rose which was made at the Miami Movie Studios located in Hialeah. However, the 1926 Miami Hurricane brought many of these things to an end.In the years since its incorporation in 1925, many historical events and people have been associated with Hialeah. The opening of the Hialeah Park Race Track in 1925 (which was nicknamed the 'Grand Dame') as a horse track received more coverage in the Miami media than any other sporting event in the history of Miami up to that time and since then there have been countless horse racing histories played out at the world famous 220-acre (0.89 km2) park. It was considered one of the most grand of thoroughbred horse racing parks with its majestic Mediterranean style architecture and was considered the Jewel of Hialeah at the time.The Park’s grandeur has attracted millions, included among them are names known around the world such as the Kennedy family, Harry Truman, General Omar Bradley, Winston Churchill, and J.P. Morgan. The Hialeah Park Race Track also holds the dual distinction of being an Audubon Bird Sanctuary due to its famous pink flamingos and being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart in 1937 said her final good-byes to the continental U.S. from Hialeah as she left on her ill-fated flight around the world in 1937.While Hialeah was once envisioned as a playground for the elite, Cuban exiles, fleeing Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution as well as World War II Veterans and city planners transformed the city into a working-class community. Hialeah historian Fernandez-Kelly explained 'It became an affordable Eden.' She further describes the city as '...a place where different groups have left their imprint while trying to create a sample of what life should be like.' Several waves of Cuban exiles, starting after The Cuban Revolution in 1959 and continuing through to the Freedom Flights from 1965–1973, the Mariel Boatlift in 1980, and the Balseros or boat people of the late 1990s, created what at least one expert has considered the most economically successful immigrant enclave in U.S. history as Hialeah is the only American industrial city that continues to grow.From a population of 1,500 in 1925, Hialeah has grown at a rate faster than most of the ten largest cities in the State of Florida since the 1960s and holds the rank of Florida’s fifth-largest city, with more than 236,000 residents. The city is also one of the largest employers in Dade County. Predominantly Hispanic, Hialeah residents are characterized as having assimilated their cultural heritage and traditions into a hard-working and diverse community proud of its ethnicity and family oriented neighborhoods.On January 2009 Forbes Magazine listed Hialeah as one of most boring cities in the United States citing the city's large population and anonymity in the national media.
Economy
The City of Hialeah is significant commercial center in Miami-Dade County. The city is host to national retailers such as Starbucks, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, The Home Depot as well as homegrown business such as Navarro and Sedano's.Hialeah is also home to vibrant community of mom and pop stores which actively and successfully compete against national name brand retailers, outfitters, and franchises. In order to remain competitive national businesses have altered their traditional business strategy to meet the demands of the local community. Publix supermarkets opened a Publix Sabor along one of the city's main streets which caters exclusively to Latin American and Hispanic clientele. Moreover, while most of the manufacturing and cloth industry that made Hialeah an industrial city in the 1970s-1980s have disappeared, new electronics and technology businesses have reinvigorated the local economy.Westland Mall also known as Westfield Westland provides residents with over 100 stores and several eateries. Macy's, J.C. Penney, and Sears are the main anchor stores located at Westland Mall. Visitors can dine at Fuddrucker's, Chili's, Manchu Wok, McDonald's, and Edy's among other eateries.Telemundo, the second largest Spanish language TV network in the United States is headquartered at 2290 West 8th Avenue in Hialeah.
Demographics
As of the census of 2006, there were 209,971 people, 69,700 households, and 54,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,543.7/km² (11,767.3/mi²). There were 72,142 housing units at an average density of 1,447.7/km² (3,749.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.01% White (4.1% were Non-Hispanic White,) 2.41% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.47% from other races, and 3.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 92.17% of the population.There were 70,704 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.39.The population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.The median income for a household in the city was $29,492, and the median income for a family was $31,621. Males had a median income of $23,133 versus $17,886 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,402. About 16.0% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.As of 2008, Hialeah had the second highest percentage of Cuban and Cuban American residents in the US, with 75.12% of the US populace (with Westchester, Florida at 75.69%, the highest in the US.) It had the forty-third highest percentage of Colombian and Colombian American residents in the US, at 3.16% of the city's population, and the eighty-fifth highest percentage of Dominican residents in the US, at 1.81% of the its population. It also had the thirty-eighth highest percentage of Hondurans in the US, at 1.15%, while it had the eighth highest percentage of Nicaraguans, at 4.07% of all residents.Hialeah ranks #2 (nearby Hialeah Gardens ranks as #1) in the list of cities in the United States where Spanish is most spoken. As of 2000, speakers of Spanish as a first language accounted for 92.14%, while English made up 7.37% of the population. All other languages spoken were below 1% of the population.
Religion
Hialeah is the headquarters of the Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, a Santería church. Hialeah contains the largest Santero Community outside of Cuba. A city ordinance restricting the Santería practice of animal sacrifice was ruled unconstitutional in Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah. Roman Catholicism is overwhelmingly the majority religion of city residents.
Politics
Hialeah is located within Florida's 21th Congressional District. It is currently represented in the House of Representatives by Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Republican. According to the nonpartisan Bay Area Center for Voting Research (BACVR) Hialeah, Florida is the fourth most conservative city in the United States.
Geography
Hialeah is located at 25°51′38″N 80°17′38″W / 25.86056°N 80.29389°W / 25.86056; -80.29389 (25.860474, -80.293971).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.7 mi² (51.1 km²). 19.2 mi² (49.8 km²) of it is land and 0.5 mi² (1.3 km²) of it (2.53%) is water.
Surrounding areas
UnincorporatedMiami-Dade County,Miami Lakes,Opa-locka
UnincorporatedMiami-Dade CountyWestview
Hialeah Gardens,Medley,Miami Springs Westview,West Little River,Gladeview,Brownsville,Miami
Miami SpringsMiami
Hialeah Gardens,Medley,Miami Springs
Transportation
'All Ways Lead to Hialeah' was one of the city’s first slogans. At the time, Glenn Curtiss and James Bright could not have imagined the important link in the transportation chain provided by Hialeah’s location. Sitting in the heart of northwest Dade, Hialeah has access to every major thoroughfare linked by:I-75
Palmetto Expressway (SR-826)
Florida Turnpike
US 27
Hialeah also provides direct economical access to bothOpa-Locka AirportandMiami International Airport
Amtrak
Tri-Rail
Metro-Rail3 stations located in the city
Major Thoroughfares
In parenthesis are the names or numbers for the thoroughfares these streets may coincide with in Miami-Dade County, as Hialeah has its own numbering and naming system for streets.
North
84 St (NW 138th Street)
68 St (NW 122nd Street)
60 St
49 St (NW 103rd Street)
44 St
37 St
33 St
29 St
25 St (NW 79th Street)
21 St (NW 74th Street)
Hialeah Drive (NW 54th Street, separates South Hialeah from North Hialeah)
East
E 8 Ave (NW 42nd Avenue, Le Jeune Road)
E 4 Ave
Palm Avenue (separates East Hialeah from West Hialeah)
West
Palm Avenue (separates East Hialeah from West Hialeah)
W 4 Av (NW 57th Avenue, Red Road)
W 8 Av
W 12 Av (NW 67th Avenue, Ludlam Road)
W 16 Av
W 28 Av (NW 87th Avenue, Galloway Road)
South
Okeechobee Road(US 27)
Hialeah Drive (NW 54th Street, separates South Hialeah from North Hialeah)
9 St (NW 62nd Street)
Public schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Hialeah. Two high schools serving the Hialeah community, Mater Academy Charter High School and Miami Lakes Educational Center, were named as 'Silver' award winners in U.S. News & World Report's 'Best High Schools 2008 Search'.
Elementary Schools and K-8 Centers
Amelia Earhart Elementary School
Ben Sheppard Elementary School
Bob Graham Education Center
Ernest R. Graham Elementary School
Flamingo Elementary School
Hialeah Elementary School
Hialeah Gardens Elementary School
James H. Bright Elementary
James W. Johnson Elementary School
Joella Good Elementary School
John G. Dupuis Elementary School
M. A. Milam k-8 Center
Mae M. Walters Elementary School
Meadowlane Elementary School
Miami Lakes Elementary School
North Hialeah Elementary School
North Twin Lakes Elementary School
Palm Lakes Elementary School
Palm Springs Elementary School
Palm Spring North Elementary School
South Hialeah Elementary School
Twin Lakes Elementary School
Middle schools
Henry H. Filer Middle School
Hialeah Middle School
Jose Marti Middle School
Lawton Chiles Middle School
Miami Lakes Middle School
Palm Springs Middle School
High schools
American Senior High School
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
Hialeah High School
Westland Hialeah High School
Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School
Miami Douglas MacArthur Senior High School North
Miami Lakes Education Center
Charter Schools
Mater Academy Charter School
Private schools
Champagnat Catholic School- Serves mainly southern and south-central Hialeah
Our Lady of Charity School- A private Catholic school not formally associated with theRoman Catholic Church, is located in Hialeah.
St. John the Apostle School- Serves mainly southern and south-central Hialeah
Immaculate Conception School
Community Colleges
Miami-Dade College Hialeah Campushas served as the city's academic center since 1980. Besides its academic mission, the campus also sponsors numerous cultural and community events.
Private Colleges and Universities
College of business and technology
Florida National College
Recreation
On March 2009, it was announced that a $40–$90 Million restoration project was set to begin within the year on the Hialeah Park Race Track. On May 7, 2009 the Florida legislature agreed to a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that allowed Hialeah Park to operate slot machines and run Quarter Horse races. The historic racetrack reopened on November 28, 2009 but only for quarter horse races. The park installed slot machines in January 2010 as part of a deal to allow for two calendar seasons of racing. The races went on all the way until February 2, 2010. Only a portion of the park has been restored and an additional $30 million will be needed to complete this first phase of the project. The full transformation is expected to cost $1 billion since the plan includes a complete redevelopment of the surrounding area including the construction of an entertainment complex to include a hotel, restaurants, casinos, stores and a theater. On June 2010 concerns were raised over the preservation of Hialeah Park's historical status as the planned development threatens to hurt Hialeah Park's status as a National Historic Landmark.The City of Hialeah boasts 3 tennis centers, more than 5 public swimming pools and aquatic centers, and more than 14 public parks totaling more than 100 acres (0.40 km2) combined. Furthermore, 'Milander Park features a municipal auditorium and a 10,000 seat football stadium.'Amelia Earhart Park also serves the Hialeah community.
Pools and Aquatic Centers
Babcock Pool
Bright Pool
Buck Dent Aquatic Center
McDonald Aquatic Center
Milander Aquatic Center
Reid Pool
Walker Pool
Parks and Facilities
Babcock Park
Bright Park
Bucky Dent Park
Casa Park
Cotson Park
Goodlet Park
McDonald Park
Milander Park
O'Quinn Park
Palm Lakes Park
Slade Park
Southeast Park
Sparks Park
Walker Park
Wilde Park
Passive Parks
Ethel Primus Park
Hialeah Drive Park
Ken Mattingly Park
K.C. Park
Three Friends Park
Timothy H. Artman Park
Triangle Park
Adult Centers
Goodlet Adult Center
Villa Aida Adult Center
Wilde Adult Center
Notable people
Raul L. Martinez, formermayorof Hialeah, Florida and longest mayor in Hialeah history (1981–2005).
Bucky Dent, professional baseball player for theMLBNew York Yankeesand graduate of Hialeah High School.
Devin Bush, professionalNFLFS for theAtlanta Falcons(1995–1998), theSt. Louis Rams(1999–2000) and theCleveland Browns(2001–2002).
Greg Jackson, professional football player for theNational Football League.
Harry Wayne Casey, lead singer ofKC and the Sunshine Bandand graduate of Hialeah High School.
Pedro Zamora, MTV'sThe Real Worldcast member.
Rene Sedano, founder ofSedano'ssupermarket chain.
Rene Capo, United States Olympic representative as ajudoka.
Chris Corchiani, professionalNBAguard forOrlando Magicafter being picked in the second round of the1991 NBA DraftfromNorth Carolina State Universityand later on theBoston Celticsas well as theWashington Bullets.
Vincent D'Onofrio, actor and producer, known for stage, film and television work. Best known for his role as DetectiveRobert GoreninLaw & Order: Criminal Intent.
Rohan Davey, professionalNFLquarterback for theNew England Patriots(2002–2004), switched on to theArizona Cardinals, also helped lead the win of theNFL EuropeWorld Bowlfor theBerlin Thunder.
Dennis Kneale, Media and Technology Editor,CNBC.
Melissa A. Juarez, Assistant DASuffolk County,Boston, Massachusettsfrom October 2000 - July 2005.
Maria Canals Barrera, actress
Jill Michelle Meleáncomedienne and actress. Alumni cast member of FOX sketch comedy seriesMADtv.
Julio Robaina, Mayor of the city of Hialeah, Florida as of 2005.
Michael Timpson, professionalNFLwide receiver for theNew England Patriotsfor six seasons (1989–1994). Alumnus of the Lakes class of 1985.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, nominated to be the next U.S. attorney for theSouthern Districtof Florida by PresidentBarack Obama
Rene Garcia, former City of Hialeah Councilman and Florida State House Representative.
David Freeman, 2008 Beijing Olympian
Ted Hendricks, former professional football player.
Charlie Hough, former professional baseball player.
Richard Hough, former professional baseball player.
Roell Preston, former professional football player.
Ricardo 'Rock' Preston, former football standout atFlorida State University.
Rick Sanchez,CNNanchor/correspondent.
Jon Secada,Grammy Award-winning musician.
Mayra Veronica, singer, actress, model (FHM100 sexiest in the world, Maxim's sexiest music artist alive)
Gio Gonzalez, Baseball Player - Drafted by Chicago White Sox in the 1st Round, Made MLB Debut in 2008 with the Oakland A's against the Toronto BlueJays
Catherine Keener,Oscar-nominated actress