West Miami, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of West Miami
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida

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map_caption1 = U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Miami-Dade
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area_total_km2 = 1.8
area_land_km2 = 1.8
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.7
area_land_sq_mi = 0.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 5,863
population_density_km2 = 3188.3
population_density_sq_mi = 8241.5
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 25.757177 |latm = 45 |lats = 26 |latNS = N
longd = 80.296772 |longm = 17 |longs = 48 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = cite web |url=http://www.city-data.com/city/West-Miami-Florida.html |title=West Miami, Florida (FL) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders |accessdate=2007-06-29 |format=HTML |work= ] 1
elevation_m = 3
elevation_ft = 9
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 33144
area_code = 305
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-76525GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0293093GR|3
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West Miami is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,863 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 5,925.

Geography

West Miami is located at coor dms|25|45|26|N|80|17|48|W|city (25.757177, -80.296772)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²), all land.

History

Nestled between Calle Ocho and Coral Way, and only three-quarters of a mile is the city of West Miami.

In 1947 four businessmen decided to incorporate the city when Miami-Dade County wanted to reduce the cocktail hours and ban gambling rooms. The four businessmen, along with a group of residents, decided they didn't want to lose their extended cocktail hours and gambling rooms. They each invested approximately $400 then debated on a name for the city.

Among the suggested names were West Haven, West Gate and West Miami.

However, these businessmen weren't the only ones that contributed to the birth of the city. Towards the end of World War II, when Florida was beginning to develop, land was being given away by the government as an incentive for people to settle there. Many soldiers returning from the war took advantage of the free lots and built their homes in West Miami.

Incorporated as a town with only 700 residents, West Miami now stands as a city with 6,132 residents, a 4% increase since the 2000 census. Like the Little Havana neighborhood of the city of Miami, the majority of the city of West Miami, 84% according to the U.S. census, consists of Hispanics.

Since its modest beginnings, West Miami has maintained a high standard for residential and business community.

“The city is unique because of its residential component and family atmosphere,” said Yolanda Aguilar, a City Manager.

Though a small city, during the 1990’s West Miami accomplished many capital projects such as sidewalk replacement projects, tree beautification projects, new parking in front of City Hall and the purchase of a new storm water truck.

The small city is surrounded by the larger neighbors: Coral Gables, Hialeah and Miami Lakes.

[ [http://www.miamiherald.com/724/ Community Links: Coral Gables & South Miami Area - MiamiHerald.com ] ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,863 people, 2,062 households, and 1,587 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,188.3/km² (8,241.5/mi²). There were 2,112 housing units at an average density of 1,148.5/km² (2,968.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.98% White (15% were Non-Hispanic White,) [cite web |url=http://www.muninetguide.com/states/florida/municipality/West_Miami.php |title=Demographics of West Miami, FL |publisher=MuniNetGuide.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] 0.82% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 3.41% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.04% of the population.

There were 2,062 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,910, and the median income for a family was $39,000. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $26,013 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,850. About 7.6% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, Spanish as a first language was at 87.38% of residents, while English spoken as the mother tongue was 12.61% of the population. [cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=place&zip=&place_id=76525&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r |title=MLA Data Center Results of West Miami, FL |publisher=Modern Language Association |accessdate=2007-11-02]

As of 2000, West Miami had the fourth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 61.61% of the populace. [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cuban.html |title=Ancestry Map of Cuban Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] It had the tenth highest percentage of Nicaraguan residents in the US, at 2.98% of the city's population, [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Nicaraguan.html |title=Ancestry Map of Nicaraguan Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] and the eighty-first highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 1.91% of its population (tied with Palm Springs, FL.) [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Colombian.html |title=Ancestry Map of Colombian Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] It also had the thirty-first most Hondurans in the US, at 1.25%, [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Honduran.html |title=Ancestry Map of Honduran Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02] while it had the fifty-eighth highest percentage of Peruvians, at 1.04% of all residents. [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Peruvian.html |title=Ancestry Map of Peruvian Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2007-11-02]

Leadership

City Mayor: Cesar CarasaVice Mayor: Juan M. BlanesCity Commission:
Jesus SantanaLuciano SuarezEduardo Muhina

City Manager: Yolanda Aguilar
City Clerk: Felix Diaz
[ [http://www.miamiherald.com/724/ Community Links: Coral Gables & South Miami Area - MiamiHerald.com ] ]

Crime

The number of violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 22. The number of murders and homicides was 0. The violent crime rate was 3.6 per 1,000 people. [ [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9002 West Miami, Florida FL, city profile (Miami-Dade County) - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk ] ]

Travel Information

West Miami City Hall. [phone]. 901 Sw 62nd Ave

References

External links

* [http://www.city-data.com/city/West-Miami-Florida.html City-data.com Profile]