Redland, Florida

Redland
—  Neighborhood of Miami-Dade County  —
Fruit and Spice Park in Redland
Nickname(s): The Redlands
Country United States
State Florida
County Miami-Dade
Government
 • Governing body Miami-Dade County
 • Mayor Carlos A. Giménez
Elevation 7 ft (2 m)
Population (2010[1])
 • Total 10,138
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s) 305, 786
FIPS code 12-36100[2]
GNIS feature ID 0285050[3]

Redland, sometimes pluralized The Redlands, is an agricultural community in metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States, about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Downtown Miami. Many farms, original clapboard homes of early settlers, u-pick'em fields and coral rock walls dot the landscape. It is named for the red clay that dominates the area, on top of a massive layer of oolite rock. The entire area is nourished with pure water from the Biscayne Aquifer.

It has been a source of amazement to agriculturalists, botanists, and naturalists around the world, including John James Audubon and David Fairchild.[4]

Some are referring to the area as the "New Hamptons", since there are many people from the northern states buying property and moving into the area.[4]

Many houses built in the area must be on a minimum of 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land, a law put into place to thwart development that has so far worked perfectly to preserve the area.[4]

Peacocks live abundantly and freely within the many groves. Redland has also been designated a Wild Bird Sanctuary.[4]

Contents

Geography

It is located at , its elevation 7 feet (2.1 m).[5]

Climate

With its tropical climate, many tropical fruit crops are grown in the Redland that cannot be grown commercially elsewhere in the United States but South Florida, such as mango, avocado, guava, passion fruit, lychee nut, jack fruit, canistel, sapodilla, longan, mamey sapote, black sapote ("chocolate pudding fruit"), miracle fruit, jaboticaba, cecropia ("snake fingers") and coffee beans, all of which can be sampled for free at the Fruit and Spice Park, a local attraction.

Florida is the only state in the United States where tomatoes are grown in the winter, and Redland supplies them, along with a variety of winter squash and vegetables.

History

Redland originated in anticipation of Henry Flagler's railroad when pioneer homesteaders in the early 1900s developed a way of working the difficult soil, called scarifying or plow-breaking. This revolutionary method of agriculture allowed the land there to develop into the "winter greenery basket of America" and the "garden capital of the world".[4] The center of town was located near Redland Road and Bauer Drive.

The area has many historic markers that tell the history of certain spots.[6]

Education

Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates public schools.

Points of interest in Redland

References

External links