North: Southwest 40^th Street

South: Southwest 88^th Street (North Kendall Drive)

East: Southwest 57^th Avenue

West: Southwest 69^th Avenue

            The history the City of South Miami, like Miami-Dade County, is tied to the extension of the Florida East Coast Railway in 1906.  It was during that time that W.A. Larkins bought the property around the railroad, establishing a general store and post office to service a community that eventually grew to 350 people by 1917.  In 1926 the residents of Larkins voted to incorporate and the Town of South Miami was born.  During that year the town was devastated by the hurricane of September 1926, and lost its major lifeline, the Florida East Coast railroad.  In 1927, the Town of South Miami had its status changed by the Florida State Legislature to become the City of South Miami.

            The next decade was a turbulent time for the City of South Miami, facing bankruptcy, and dwindling support for its continued existence, there was some doubt that the city would continue.  Following World War II, South Miami, like most of Miami-Dade County, witnessed a boom.  Since the 1950s, South Miami has experienced growth in both the residential and business sectors.

            South Miami is a very diverse community, it contains large Hispanic, black and white communities.  The average age of South Miami residents, 37.4 years, is slightly higher then the county average, 35.6 years, while the average household and family size is slightly smaller.

            The median income in South Miami is higher than the county average, but the percentage of residents living below the poverty line is not much lower.  Property values in South Miami are also greater then the county average.  South Miami has seen several major developments since the 1950s, most notably the Bakery Center and the Shops at Sunset Place.  With more new developments planned in South Miami, the city is trying to work with developers to provide more parks and low income housing for the city’s residents.

            The closest major city to South Miami is the City of Miami.  South Miami has a higher median and median family income than the city of Miami.  South Miami also has a slightly smaller average household and family size than the city of Miami.

            The City of South Miami has several completed and ongoing major transportation and waste disposal projects.  The city operates a trolley for its residents and visitors to the city.  As of June 2005, the city is constructing several storm water catch basins, and is conducting a water main extension project that will begin August of 2005.  The city has also dredged and cleaned its canals, and strengthened the embankments along those canals.

http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en (2000) United States Census Bureau

Wikipedia. 2005. 24 April 2005. www.wikipedia.org.

City of South Miami. 2005. 08 June 2005. http://www.cityofsouthmiami.net/

City-Data.com. 2005. 14 June 2005 http://www.city-data.com/city/South-Miami-Florida.html.

Baier, Elizabeth.  “Plan To Build Complex Near UM Approved.”  The Miami Herald, April 14, 2005, final: 3GS

Baier, Elizabeth.  “Project Expected To Revitalize Downtown.”  The Miami Herald, March 20, 2005, final: 6GS