Coral Gables, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Coral Gables, Florida | |||
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| Nickname: The City Beautiful, The Gables | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County | Miami-Dade | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Don Slesnick | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 37.2 sq mi (96.2 km²) | ||
| - Land | 24.1 sq mi (62.2 km²) | ||
| - Water | 13.1 sq mi (34.0 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 10 ft (2.8 m) | ||
| Population (2005) | |||
| - City | 42,871 | ||
| - Density | 3,216.9/sq mi (1,141.37/km²) | ||
| - Metro | 5,422,200 | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Area code(s) | 305 | ||
| FIPS code | 12-14250[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0280801[2] | ||
| Website: http://www.citybeautiful.net/ | |||
Coral Gables (sometimes referred to as The Gables) is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Miami, in the United States. The city is best known as the home of the University of Miami, and as an example of City Beautiful urban planning.
The population was 42,249 at the 2000 census. According to U.S Census estimates in 2005, the city had a population of 42,871.[3]
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[edit] History
Coral Gables was one of the first planned communities, and prefigured the development of the gated community and the homeowners association. It is notorious for its aesthetic regulations.[citation needed] The city was developed by George Edgar Merrick during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. The city's architecture is almost entirely Mediterranean Revival Style. By 1926, the city covered 10,000 acres (40 km²), had netted $150 million in sales with over $100 million spent on development.[4]
Merrick designed the downtown commercial district to be only four blocks wide and more than two miles (3 km) long. The main artery bisected the business district. Merrick could boast that every business in Coral Gables was less than a two-block walk. The old electric trolley system was replaced by the popularity of modern automobiles; today a new free circulator trolley system, initiated in November, 2003, that runs down Ponce de León Boulevard is in operation. Coral Gables is known as a pedestrian-friendly destination. Located only four miles from Miami International Airport, the "City Beautiful" boasts more than 140 dining establishments and gourmet shops, plus many notable international retailers. Among the beautiful and distinctive landmarks in Coral Gables are the Venetian Pool, Douglas Entrance, the Biltmore Hotel, and many fine residences.
In 1925, roughly simultaneous to the founding of Coral Gables, the city was selected as the home to the University of Miami, which was constructed that year on 240 acres (0.97 km²) of land just west of U.S. Route 1, approximately two miles south of downtown Coral Gables.
[edit] Geography
Coral Gables is located at (25.728228, -80.270986).[5].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 96.2 km² (37.2 mi²). 34.0 km² (13.1 mi²) of it is land and 62.2 km² (24.0 mi²) of it (64.64%) is water. Pearce Falcon is a pioneer of Coral Gables.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 42,249 people, 16,793 households, and 10,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,242.4/km² (3,216.9/mi²). There were 17,849 housing units at an average density of 524.9/km² (1,359.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.83% White (47.7% were Non-Hispanic Whites,)[6] 3.30% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.64% of the population.
There were 16,793 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $66,839, and the median income for a family was $98,553. Males had a median income of $66,178 versus $39,444 for females. The per capita income for the city was $46,163. About 4.3% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, Spanish spoken as a first language accounted for 51.05% of residents, while English was at 43.82%, French at 1.08%, Portuguese 0.79%, and Italian made up 0.72% of the population.[7]
As of 2000, Coral Gables had the eighteenth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 28.72% of the populace.[8] It also had the sixty-fourth highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 2.27% of the city's population,[9] and the sixteenth highest percentage of Venezuelan residents in the US, at 1.17% of it's population.[10]
[edit] Home to University of Miami
[edit] Academics
Coral Gables is best known as home to the University of Miami, a globally recognized university that ranks academically among the top tier of U.S.-based colleges and universities, with particular national status in the fields of business, law, medicine, and music, in which the university is considered among the best in the nation.[11][12] The University of Miami also has given birth to a number of notable alumni.
[edit] Collegiate athletics
The University of Miami also maintains one of the nation's most successful collegiate athletic programs. It has won repeated national championships in both Division I football (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2001) and baseball (1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001).[13] Over the past 30 years, the University of Miami has been the most successful Division I college football program in the nation; its five national championships since 1983 are the most of any Division I university during this time.[14]
The University of Miami also has graduated two Heisman Trophy winners, Vinny Testaverde (in 1986) and Gino Torretta (in 1992),[15] and four of its former football players--Ted Hendricks, Michael Irvin, Jim Kelly and Jim Otto--went on, following highly successful National Football League careers, to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the highest honor awarded a former NFL player. Currently, the University of Miami has more of its graduates playing in the NFL than any other U.S. college or university.
[edit] Media
Coral Gables is covered by several local and regional radio and television stations. Coral Gables is also covered by several weekly newspapers, but has only two newspapers with the city's namesake and main focus. The Coral Gables Gazette is the only award winning FPA (Florida Press Association) weekly newspaper serving Coral Gables. Covering local government, news, sports as well as community events. The Gazette is also the oldest weekly newspaper in Coral Gables. The Gables other newspaper, The Coral Gables News Tribune, is published twice monthly and is part of Miami's Community Newspapers, the Voice of the Community.
[edit] Additional items of interest
The city also has a sizable business district. Coral Gables residents include middle to upper class people. The city is well known for its restaurants, art galleries, unique shops and boutiques and live theater performances.
The median household income for a Coral Gables resident, as of the 2000 census, was $66,839.
Portions of the film Fair Game were filmed in Coral Gables.[16]
[edit] Public education
Coral Gables schools are part of the Miami-Dade School District, which serves almost all of metropolitan Miami. The district has one high school in Coral Gables, Coral Gables High School, which educates students in grades nine through 12.
[edit] Notable people from Coral Gables
- Frank Gore, professional football player, San Francisco 49ers.
- Mike Lowell, professional baseball player, Boston Red Sox, 2007 World Series Most Valuable Player.
- Marilyn Milian, television judge, The People's Court.
- Thurston Moore, lead singer and guitarist, Sonic Youth.
- Janet Reno, former U.S. Attorney General, Clinton administration.
- Mimi Rogers, actress and first wife of Tom Cruise.
- Jonathan Vilma, professional football player for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL.
[edit] Places of interest
- Biltmore Hotel
- Coral Way scenic drive
- DeSoto Fountain
- Miracle Mile
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
- John C. Gifford Arboretum
- Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
- Lowe Art Museum
- Montgomery Botanical Center
- University of Miami
- Venetian Pool
 Alhambra Water Tower |
 City Hall, with statue of Merrick in front. |
 The famous Biltmore Hotel |
 DeSoto Fountain sits in the center of a traffic circle in the city of Coral Gables, Florida. |
 Miracle Theater on Miracle Mile. |
 Scenic Coral Way. |
 Venetian Pool, the city of Coral Gables' public swimming pool. |
[edit] Sister Cities
- See also: List of sister cities in Florida
Coral Gables has seven sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
Aix-en-Provence, France
Cartagena, Colombia
Granada, Spain
Quito, Ecuador
Pisa, Italy- El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
La Antigua, Guatemala
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.csv
- ^ http://www.historical-museum.org/history/southfla.htm
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Demographics of Coral Gables, FL. MuniNetGuide.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ MLA Data Center Results of Coral Gables, FL. Modern Language Association. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Cuban Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Colombian Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Venezuelan Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ UM Featured in 2007 Edition of the Princeton Review Annual College Guide - "The Best 361 Colleges" | University of Miami
- ^ About the University of Miami | University of Miami
- ^ hurricanesports.com - University of Miami Official Athletic Site - Facilities
- ^ College Football: how many national championships did miami win
- ^ Miami Football History ::
- ^ Fair Game (1995) - Filming locations
[edit] External links
- City of Coral Gables
- Coral Gables profile, NNDB
- Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
- Pedestrian Pocket Guide to Coral Gables
- MyCoralGables.com - Coral Gable's Online Newsletter
- Coral Gables, Florida is at coordinates Coordinates:
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|---|---|
| Counties | Miami-Dade County | Broward County | Palm Beach County |
| 200,000–500,000 | Miami† | Hialeah |
| 100,000–200,000 | Fort Lauderdale† | Pembroke Pines | Hollywood | Coral Springs | West Palm Beach† | Miramar | Miami Gardens | Pompano Beach |
| 50,000–100,000 | Sunrise | Miami Beach | Boca Raton | Plantation | Davie | Kendall | Deerfield Beach | Boynton Beach | Delray Beach | Weston | Fountainbleau | Lauderhill | Tamarac | North Miami | Kendale Lakes | Wellington | Margate | Tamiami | Jupiter |
| 10,000–50,000 | Aventura | Belle Glade | Boca Del Mar | Brownsville | Coconut Creek | Cooper City | Coral Gables | Coral Terrace | Country Club | Country Walk | Dania Beach | Doral | Gladeview | Glenvar Heights | Greenacres | Hallandale Beach | Hamptons at Boca Raton | Homestead | Ives Estates | Kendall West | Key Biscayne | Kings Point | Lake Worth | Lake Worth Corridor | Lauderdale Lakes | Leisure City | Lighthouse Point | Miami Lakes | Miami Springs | North Lauderdale | North Palm Beach | Oakland Park |Olympia Heights | Opa-Locka | Ojus | Palm Beach Gardens | Palmetto Bay | Palm Springs |Palmetto Estates | Parkland | Pinecrest | Pinewood | Princeton | Richmond West | Riviera Beach | Royal Palm Beach | Sandalfoot Cove | South Miami | South Miami Heights | Sunny Isles Beach | Sunset | Sweetwater | The Crossings | The Hammocks | University Park | Vero Beach | West Little River | Westchester | West Park, Florida | Westwood Lakes | Wilton Manors |
| Sports | Florida Marlins (baseball) | Miami Heat (basketball) | Miami Dolphins (football) | Florida Panthers (ice hockey) |
| Airports | Miami International Airport (Miami-Dade) | Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (Miami-Dade) | Opa-locka Airport (Miami-Dade) | Opa-locka Executive Airport (Miami-Dade) |
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Broward) | Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (Broward) | Pompano Beach Airpark (Broward) | Palm Beach International Airport (Palm Beach) | Boca Raton Airport (Palm Beach) | Palm Beach County Park Airport (Palm Beach) | North Palm Beach County Airport (Palm Beach) |
| † - County Seat A list of cities under 10,000 is available here. |
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