Miami Lakes, Florida

The development was constructed by Sengra (now the The Graham Companies) beginning in 1962 on land that was formerly owned by 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. The Town is an early model of the New Urbanism movement with shopping and services located in walking distance of residences as well as narrow walkable streets and plenty of neighborhood parks. 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.

[edit] 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 km² (6.4 mi²). 15.4 km² (6.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (6.73%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 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/km² (3,806.4/mi²). There were 9,000 housing units at an average density of 583.0/km² (1,510.7/mi²). 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 66.52% of the population.

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. About 3.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.