Little Haiti

Little Haiti
La Petite Haïti
Neighborhood of Miami

Caribbean Marketplace
Nickname(s): Lemon City (historic name)

Little Haiti neighborhood within the City of Miami
Coordinates: 25°49′28″N 80°11′27″W / 25.824385°N 80.190711°W / 25.824385; -80.190711
Country United States
State Florida
County Miami-Dade County
City Miami
Government
 • City of Miami Commissioner Keon Hardemon
 • Miami-Dade Commissioner Audrey Edmonson
 • House of Representatives Daphne Campbell (D) and Cynthia Stafford (D)
 • State Senate Larcenia Bullard (D), and Oscar Braynon (D)
 • U.S. House Frederica Wilson (D)
Elevation 7 ft (2.1 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 29,760
 • Density 9,946/sq mi (3,840/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-05)
ZIP code 33127, 33137, 33138, 33150
Area code(s) 305, 786

Little Haiti (French: La Petite Haïti),[1] is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. It is also known as Lemon City, Little River and Edison. It is home to many Haitian immigrant residents, as well as many residents from the rest of the Caribbean.

Little Haiti is the best known neighborhood of Haitian exiles in the world.[2] The area is characterized by its French–Creole designations,[3] with its street life, restaurants, art galleries,[4] dance, music, theatre performances, family owned enterprises, and other cultural activities.[3][5][6]

Steeped in the complex and rich cultural histories of the Afro-Caribbean immigrants who brought life to its area, Little Haiti has evolved into a colorful beacon in Miami’s arts communities. Throughout the years, small businesses like celebrated record stores, kitsch bars, and authentic eateries have eased into the neighborhood, creating their own particular patchwork within the already distinct Little Haiti.

A bronze statue of General Toussaint L'Ouverture, the father of the Haitian Revolution, stands roughly at thirteen-feet on N Miami Avenue and 62nd Street at the heart of "La Petite Haïti."[3]

History

Portrait of Father Gérard Jean-Juste on a gable wall by Serge Toussaint in Little Haiti.

Viter Juste, a noted Haitian businessman, activist and respected community leader, came up with the name of Little Haiti. According to Jean-Claude Exulien, a retired professor of history and friend of Juste's since 1977, Juste wrote an article in the Miami Herald in which he first referred to the neighborhood as "Little Port-au-Prince." However, editors at the Miami Herald found the name, "Little Port-au-Prince," too long, so the newspaper shortened the term in the headline to Little Haiti.[7] Over the intense objections of historians, Bahamians and African-Americans in May 2016, Miami commissioners voted in favor of designating Little Haiti as an official neighborhood overlapping the historic Lemon City" and historic Little River'[8]

Borders

The southern border is North (NW/NE) 54th Street, west to Interstate 95 and north along the Miami city boundary on North (NW/NE) 80th Street. It then goes back down along East (NE) Second Avenue.[9]

Demographics

As of 2000, Little Haiti had a population of 3,365[10] and 1,983[11] residents, with 9,368 households, and 6,181 families residing in the neighborhood. The median household income was $18,887.49. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 64.92% Black or African American, 4.78% White (non-Hispanic), 14.74% was Hispanic or Latino of any race and 15.56% other races.[10] Hispanic people are the fastest growing group in the area.

The zip codes for the Little Haiti include 33127, 33137, 33138, and 33150. The area covers 3.456 square miles (8.95 km2). As of 2000, there were 14,708 males and 15,357 females. The median age for males were 31.0 years old, while the median age for females were 33.8 years old. The average household size had 3.0 people, while the average family size had 3.7 members. The percentage of married-couple families (among all households) was 27.6%, while the percentage of married-couple families with children (among all households) was 13.8%, and the percentage of single-mother households (among all households) was 20.7%. 2.1% of the population were in nursing homes. The percentage of never-married males 15 years old and over was 21.7%, while the percentage of never-married females 15 years old and over was 22.0%.[11]

Attractions

Food

Rooted in the Haitian immigrants that sought refuge here in the ’80s, today Little Haiti, became a bright celebration Afro-Caribbean culture mixed with global trends. Restaurants in this area showcase a diversity and mix of tastes and settings. From a humble family owned place serving typical Haitian food such as "Adolphe Take Out Restaurant" (64 NE 73rd St) to "Loba Restaurant" (7420 Biscayne Blvd) with its original Latin American fusion cuisine you will find a broad set of non traditional options.

Nightlife

Explore Little Haiti’s independent music and nightlife scene.

A vibrant and colorful cultural haven, Little Haiti is where you’ll find live music, book stores, art galleries, voodoo shops, wall murals and even a large cultural center. Go to this popular Miami neighborhood for a popular bar scene, laid-back pubs and good restaurants with global flavors.

Little Haiti’s dynamic impact in Miami’s thriving independent music scene centers around NE 2nd Avenue and NE 55th Street where Churchill’s Pub and Sweat Records are located.

BarMeli69

You’d think this tiny wine bar belongs in a Parisian alleyway. BarMeli69 is known for its friendly staff, live music and impressive wine selection. Owner Liza Meli showcases unusual wine blends to sip and savor with friends. A lively spot, this bar attracts a crowd, especially on nights with live music. When you go, pair your Mediterranean tapas with the owner’s personal red-blend sangria. It’s as refreshing and eclectic as the bar it is served in. 6927 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138

Sweat Records

There was a time when record shops were crucial to local music and people congregated over new vinyl releases. The shop owners knew every band you had to listen to. It’s gotten tougher to keep the magic of the record shop alive, but Sweat Records has proven it’s not impossible. Sweat Records is more than a record shop, it’s a café, music store, event space and hangout to Miami’s indie scene. Sweat Records is credited with organizing and spreading the word on the rise of the indie scene in Miami. While still cozy, the space has a small stage, a vegan café with delicious specialty coffee drinks (using soy and almond milk), free WiFi and space to use it, rows and rows of CDs and records with hand drawn labels, T-shirts and merchandise from local bands. Sweat puts on a yearly block-party called Sweatstock and has named a new holiday, Record Store Day.

Churchill’s Pub

A no frills hotspot, Churchill’s Pub is one of Little Haiti’s most popular bar and music venues. Head to this dive bar for cheap beer and a fun night out with friends. Around since 1979, this unpretentious spot has become a haven for everything from classic jazz and alternative rock bands, to football watch parties, casual get-togethers and more. Still as popular as it was when it first opened, go there for a stiff cocktail and a fun game of pool with your friends, and stay for the laid-back vibes and Scotch eggs. The latter is the most popular dish on the menu. 5501 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33137

Punch

A lively cocktail lounge, Punch is where you can go to nosh on Cuban food, sip mojitos and dance the night away. Known for its creative mojitos with a tropical twist, served in fishbowl-sized urns with spigots, this spot is both a throwback and a new find. American food is fused with traditional Cuban fare, and a new music style, RESASÓN (a mix of reggaetón, salsa and són) keeps everyone in high spirits. Punch is an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar, with an intimate interior and a 100-seat patio in the former space of News Lounge. 5580 NE 4th Court #6, Miami, FL 33137

Culture

Little Haiti is a small, non-touristy pocket in Miami where you can experience authentic Haitian culture and flavors. Go there for a real glimpse of life in the Afro-Caribbean culture and a taste of what the island’s unique ambiance and people have to offer.

Little Haiti’s main strip is NE 2nd Avenue. This region is “ripe for exploration” as one local activist in the area put it. Neighboring Wynwood and Design District have quickly become popular arts and culture havens with streets lined with galleries and commercial art storefronts. The whole area, in just a handful of years, has been overtaken by an artistic energy and an appreciation for high-design and street-art. It’s only natural that Little Haiti, nestled right between these two increasingly popular neighborhoods, deserves some attention of its own.

With the development of Wynwood and the Design District and the increasing prices for space in those areas, Little Haiti has emerged as an indie arts haven. Yo Space is a communal arts space where artists of different mediums can exhibit, work and collaborate all under one roof. Yo Miami, their umbrella organization, runs a blog and is the community force behind the Sunday Stroll initiative.

In another corner of Little Haiti’s side streets is the Moksha Family Artist Collective, a mixed use space bringing together musicians, artists, technicians, visionaries and creative individuals of all kinds, on the “quest for universal oneness.” This psychedelic space holds a variety of events, including live painting, video art, tribal music and electronic music. Expect to meet some unique characters, experience art that’s pretty different than the traditional spaces in the Design District and the street art phenomenon of Wynwood.

The eventful programming at the Little Haiti Cultural Center offers just some of the local community initiatives that visitors are welcome to enjoy. Located next door, The Caribbean Marketplace was designed by Charles Harrison Pawley in the style of the typical Haitian gingerbread architecture. The colorful pastel buildings with funky cutout shapes are a great place to stop and peruse local Haitian goods.

The Little Haiti Community Garden is a not for profit organization “dedicated to using traditional farming techniques.” The small space was once an empty and rundown urban lot. Today, the fresh produce that is grown there gives kids and local residents a reason to connect with the earth and provide the community with a gift. The fruits of their labor are for sale at the garden and at the Upper Eastside Farmers Market, a year-round market just a few blocks away.

Named after Jon Mapou, the man who owns and founded this quaint little bookstore, Liberei Mapou has been a cultural staple in Little Haiti since it first opened in the early 1990s. While it originally opened as a place to get books, newspapers and other critical reading materials and news sources to members of the Haitian community in Miami, today it’s both a library and a gathering place. With 3,000+ books in Haitian, Creole and English, this place isn’t just any library. Paintings by Haitian artists hang on the walls, live dance rehearsals and drum performances occur within its walls, and on Friday evenings, rumor has it visitors can come and take French and Creole lessons from the owner himself.

Little Haiti’s cultural scene promises a unique day in the Magic City.

Parks

Education

Miami-Dade County Public Schools runs area public schools. Schools within Little Haiti include:

Public schools

Historic Miami Edison Middle School in Edison.

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

Libraries

Lemon City Branch Library Miami-Dade Public Library operates all area public libraries:

Cultural institutions

See also

References

  1. ↑ Martone, Laura. "Moon Florida Keys". Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Fodor's Travel: Little Haiti
  3. 1 2 3 Nijman, Jan (2011). "Miami: Mistress of the Americas". p. 158. ISBN 9780812242980. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Sokol, Brett, ed. (23 November 2015). "Miami’s Art World Sets Sights on Little Haiti Neighborhood". New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Miami, Greater Miami and the Beaches: Little Haiti - La Petite Haiti
  6. ↑ Staff, ed. (27 April 2015). "Little Haiti: A Taste of Culture, Food And Art.". The Harlem Times. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Viter Juste, Haitian community pioneer and leader, dies at 87". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  8. ↑ Smiley, David, ed. (26 May 2016). "What’s in a name? Little Haiti boundaries now official". Miami Herald. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Vela, Hatzel, ed. (26 May 2016). "Miami commissioners vote in favor of designating area as Little Haiti". Local10. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Demographics of Little Haiti Miami, FL.". miamigov.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  11. 1 2 "Demographics of Little Haiti, Miami, FL.". city-data. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  12. ↑ Miami - Parks & Recreation: Athalie Range Park
  13. ↑ Miami - Parks & Recreation: Legion Park
  14. ↑ Miami - Parks & Recreation: Lemon City Park
  15. 1 2 3 Barber, Timothy A.; (adapted from Gepsie M. Metellus (eds.). "The Legacy of Lemon City/the Magic of Little Haiti". Miami Black Visitor Guide. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  16. ↑ Miami - Historic Sites and Districts Cushman School
  17. ↑ Jeannot, David, ed. (31 May 2012). "Elementary School Hosts White Hot Heat Party". NBC Miami. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  18. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Jesse J. McCrary Elementary School
  19. ↑ Klein, Lee, ed. (7 May 2010). "Fine Restaurants at Morningside Elementary Fundraiser Tonight (Updated)". Miami New Times. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  20. ↑ Hines, Bea L., ed. (3 December 2015). "Friends and Neighbors: Alvin Ailey director Robert Battle’s story told in children’s book". Miami Herald. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  21. ↑ Bramson, Dara (2011). "Insiders' Guide® to Miami". p. 280. ISBN 9780762764716. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  22. ↑ Staff, ed. (27 May 2016). "Lemon City? Make that Little Haiti – neighborhood lands designation". The Real Deal. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  23. ↑ Fleuranvil, Fabiola, ed. (16 July 2014). "Little Haiti's Caribbean Marketplace Reopens". Miami.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  24. ↑ Green, Nadege, ed. (5 May 2015). "The Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance Among 73 Knight Arts Finalists". WLRN. Retrieved 31 May 2016.

Coordinates: 25°49′28″N 80°11′27″W / 25.824385°N 80.190711°W / 25.824385; -80.190711

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