Opa-locka, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Opa-Locka, Florida | |||
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| Country State Counties |
United States Florida Miami-Dade |
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| Incorporated | 1926 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Joseph L. Kelley | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 11.6 km² (4.5 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 11.2 km² (4.3 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 0.4 km² (0.1 sq mi) 3.13% | ||
| Population (2005) | |||
| - City | 15,327 | ||
| - Density | 1,333.2/km² (3,451.9/sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 5,422,200 | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Zip Codes | 33054 | ||
| Area code(s) | 305, 786 | ||
| Website: http://www.opalockafl.gov/ | |||
Opa-locka is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the reported population was 14,951; as of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,327.[1]
Opa-locka was named the city with the highest violent crime rate in the United States by the FBI in 2003 and 2004[2] Despite major drops in crime, it still remains among the most dangerous places in the United States. Opa-locka also gained notoriety when it was discovered that the 9/11 Hijackers trained there[3].
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[edit] Description
Opa-locka has an area of 4.2 square miles and is located in the north western area of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city was developed by Glenn Curtiss and was based on the Arabian nights theme with streets that have names like Sabur Lane, Sultan Avenue, Ali Baba Avenue, and Sesame Street. The name Opa-locka is a contraction of the Native Americans' name for the area, “Opa-tisha-woka-locka”, meaning "The high land north of the little river on which there is a camping place.".[4] Opa-locka has the largest collection of Moorish architecture in the Western hemisphere.[5]
[edit] History
Amelia Earhart launched her historic trip around the world from Miami Municipal Airport, just south of Opa-locka.[6] The Graf Zeppelin, the second largest airship ever, visited the NAS Miami, which later became Opa-locka Airport, as a regular stop on its Germany-Brazil-United States-Germany scheduled route[7].
[edit] Geography
Opa-locka is located at (25.901218, -80.250824)[8].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 km² (4.5 mi²). 11.2 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.13%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 14,951 people, 4,890 households, and 3,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,333.2/km² (3,451.9/mi²). There were 5,407 housing units at an average density of 482.1/km² (1,248.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 22.83% White (3.1% Non-Hispanic Whites,)[10] 69.64% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.60% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.55% of the population.
There were 4,890 households out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.4% were married couples living together, 35.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.52.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,631, and the median income for a family was $22,742. Males had a median income of $22,347 versus $19,270 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,538. About 31.5% of families and 35.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 40.8% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 68.44%, while Spanish made up 28.29%, French Creole 2.77%, and French was at 0.47% of the population.[11]
As of 2000, Opa-locka had the forty-sixth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 9.58% of the US populace.[12] It had the forty-ninth highest percentage of Dominican residents in the US, at 2.59% of the city's population,[13] and the fifty-second highest percentage of Haitian residents in the US, at 2.9% of the it's population (tied with four other areas, including Palm Springs, Florida.)[14] It also had the forty-third most Jamaicans in the US, at 3% (tied with Margate,)[15] while it had the nineteenth highest percentage of Nicaraguans, at 2.22% of all residents.[16]
[edit] Crime
Opa-locka is consistently ranked among the highest violent crime rates in the United States, and in 2003 and 2004 had the highest violent crime rate in the United States according to the FBI. The crime data per 100,000 as of 2005 is as follows:[17]
| Crime | Opa Locka | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 51 | 6.9 |
| Forcible Rape | 25.52 | 32.2 |
| Robbery | 1123 | 195.4 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1046.4 | 340.4 |
| Burglary | 4485.4 | 814.5 |
| Larceny Theft | 3994.1 | 2734.7 |
| Vehicle Theft | 1276.1 | 526.5 |
However, in 2005, East Saint Louis, Illinois ranked higher for Murder, Rape, Assault, and Auto Theft.
The Opa-locka Triangle is an area known for violence and drug use. The Triangle is bounded by State Road 9 on the south, Northwest 17 Avenue to 22 Avenue on the east and west portions and Northwest 151 Street on the north in the City of Opa-locka.[18]
Vice Mayor Terence K. Pinder, who campaigned against the city's crime rates, was arrested in November of 2006 for Official Misconduct, Grand Theft, and other charges[19].
[edit] Education
Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Opa-locka.
[edit] Public High Schools
- Miami Carol City Senior High School Serves most of Opa-Locka
- Miami Norland Senior High School serves portions of Opa-Locka
- Miami Central High School in Miami serves most of southern Opa-Locka
- Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School in Hialeah serves Western Opa-Locka.
[edit] Private Schools
- Monsignor Edward Pace High School-a prominent Catholic school located in Opa-Locka.
[edit] In popular culture
- Opa-locka is featured in the landmark documentary film Salesman.
[edit] Notable Residents
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls
- ^ cbs4.com - Opa-Locka Vice Mayor Arrested
- ^ Opa-Locka Florida - For Those Seeking Florida Living and Visiting Info
- ^ Miami Herald | Special Sections | Where We Live Miami Gardens - Opa Locka | Page 6
- ^ History of Opa-locka Architecture
- ^ History of Miami area airports - URL retrieved April 8, 2006
- ^ Miller, Alicia Momsen. From Rio to Akron aboard the Graf Zeppelin, 1933: A flight aboard a dirigible, as seen through the eyes of an eight year old girl. - URL retrieved April 8, 2006
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Demographics of Opa-Locka, FL. MuniNetGuide.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ MLA Data Center Results of Opa-locka, FL. Modern Language Association. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Cuban Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Dominican Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Haitian Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Jamaican Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Ancestry Map of Nicaraguan Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Crime Rate Comparison: Opa Locka Vs. Opa Locka
- ^ Opa-locka triangle home repair
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opa-locka%2C_Florida&action=submit
[edit] External links
- Opa-locka, 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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