North: SW 64^th Street

South: SW 40^th Street

East: SW 67^th Avenue 

West: SW 87^th Avenue

The name of this neighborhood is derived from Lake Catalina; the largest of several lakes in the neighborhood is located at the southwestern corner of the area.  Catalina Lakes extends eastward from SW 87th Avenue to the railroad between SW 69^th Court and SW 69^th Avenue. 

Large fields for cultivation were laid out on the prairies surrounding the original settlement of Flagler, and its railroad. They were platted in long narrow strips (Trautman).  Whole tracts of the Catalina Lake’s agriculture were fenced with a common enclosure, using the lake as the main water source for irrigation. This irrigation and agricultural system was maintained in Catalina Lakes and the County until the late 1940’s, after World War II.  The fenced common lands were abandoned in favor of mixed-individual, privatized plots of land dedicated to specific crops (Trautman). Today’s houses are generally built with brick, standing two or three stories high and were built right up to the lake and sidewalk line.  Most houses have docks for their personal boats and some houses are of mansion-sized proportions in relation to the size of most other homes in the Miami-Dade County area (Trautman).

Catalina Lakes is communicating with County authorities concerning its major roadways. A nearby community, north of Bird Road (SW 40^th Street) , seeks a court injunction to block a Miami-Dade County Public Works project that would expand SW 82nd Avenue between Bird Road (SW 40th Street) and Miller Road (SW 56th Street). Jena Congdon, president of the Lake Catalina Homeowners Association, confirmed that attorney Andrew Dickman, representing area homeowners, will be asked to file an action in the 11th Circuit Court “because connecting the roadway will endanger the safety and security of homeowners in the area” (Yager September 05). Further, the residents and the homeowner association have suggested to the County that a traffic study be conducted in Catalina Lakes, so the Police Department can curtail drag racing and speeding along SW 82nd Avenue. The Homeowners Association and other residents, have submitted to the Public Works Department (PWD) a list of proposed mitigation measures and recommendations such as traffic calming devices and circles at specific locations (CITT).

Most residents believe unity among the “lakes” residents is strengthened by helping one another. "When I go grocery shopping I usually ask my neighbors if they want anything, it helps me keep in contact with them," said Trautman, a Catalina Lakes resident and treasurer of the homeowners association. 

Catalina lakes is a growing community in Florida with a per capita of $18,198, higher than the Counties, $15,065. The community is at the center of Miami-Dade County has been asked to incorporate with South Miami but the people of Catalina Lakes refused.  The homeowners prefer to remain an independent from other neighborhoods. The neighborhood of Catalina Lakes boast a population of 1,543 people, 770 households, and 560 families. In Catalina Lakes the population was spread out with 11.11% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.54. The racial distribution of Lake Catalina was 92.95% White, 0.79% African American. 76.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The neighborhood of Catalina Lakes has a higher income $44,602, then that of the County, $35,966 dollars, and a higher family income $46,262, compared to $40,260 for Miami-Dade County. The per capita income for Catalina Lakes was $ 39,011. 9.6% of the population and 7.4% of families were below the poverty line. 12.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line (Census 2000).

Yager, Richard. Frontage road could pave way for 82nd Avenue peace. Kendall Gazette. September 05. http://www.communitynewspaper.com. Online Version

U.S. Bureau of the Census.  (2000).  Statistical File 3, P31 and P32 for. Block Group 5, Census Tract 77.02, Miami-Dade County, Florida. <http://www.census.gov >

Trautman, David. Catalina Lakes Homeowners Association. Treasure. Phone Interview. Wednesday, 03, 2006.

Summary of Minutes. Citizen’s Independent Transportation Trust (CIT)Wednesday, November 10, 2004. Stephen P. Clark Center 111 NW 1st Street 10th Floor Conference Room.