Goulds was developed originally as a stop on the Florida East Coast Railroad in 1903. The railroad depot was located near what is today Southwest 216th Street in Miami-Dade County. The community was named after its operator, Lyman Gould, who cut trees for railroad ties. The downtown had a post office, a all purpose store and a residential building (GCDC: Historical Background). Goulds’two oldest congregations are the Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1914, and the New Bethel A.M.E. Church, founded in 1917. The Hurricane of 1926 (unnamed Hurricane) devastated the original church buildings, along with many other buildings (GCDC: Historical Background). The former Goulds downtown area is now the Cauley Square shops (Wikipedia: Goulds). Today, “Goulds boundaries are defined by its Municipal Advisory Committee for purpose of incorporation” (James 2006) . It is not a certainty that Goulds will incorporate as a municipality with the boundaries drawn by the Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC).Goulds is adjacent to Islandia and Spicewood, two physically smaller and less populated communities where some residents would rather continue receiving Miami-Dade County services than incorporate with Goulds (Piedra, Feb. 5, 2006).In addition to this boundary dispute, both Goulds and Princeton are negotiating boundaries with the Redland MAC (Piedra, Dec. 15, 2005).
According to 2000 Census figures, 7,453 people, 2,214 households, and 1,762 families reside in Goulds. The population density is 972.2/km² (2,514.5/mi²). There are 2,367 housing units at an average density of 308.8/km² (798.6/mi²). The racial makeup of Goulds is 15.22% White, 78.13% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.48% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. 16.36% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race (Wikipedia: Goulds). There are 2,214 households out of which 45.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% are married couples living together, 41.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% are non-families. 15.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. Goulds’ population age distribution shows concentrations of younger aged populations than the US and the state’s; 32.7% under the age of 15, 16.6% from 16 to 34 years, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who are 65 years of age or older (Epodunk: Goulds). The median age in the neighborhood is 26 years. The median income for a household is $19,633, and the median income for a family is $21,728. The per capita income of Goulds is $8,649. 43.6% of the population and 37.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 56.6% of those under the age of 18 and 32.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line (Epodunk: Goulds/ Wikipedia: Goulds)
The educational attainment levels of residents age 25 and over in Goulds lagged behind the State average.About 49.3 percent of these adults had not completed high school compared to the County's 15 percent.Only 24.6 percent completed one or more years of college compared to 21 percent in Miami-Dade (Miami-Dade Department of Planning & Zoning, 2003).
Like other areas near US1 in south Miami-Dade, Goulds is served by the South Dade Busway.
Piedra, Jennifer Mooney.(Dec. 15, 2005).“Group court’s legal battle over cityhood”.Neighbors, 11kf., Miami Herald.
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