Editing South Miami, Florida

{{For|the census-designated place|South Miami Heights, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                     = South Miami, Florida
| official_name            = City of South Miami
| other_name               = 
| native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname                 = SoMi
| settlement_type          = [[List of communities in Miami-Dade County, Florida|City]]
| motto                    = The City of Pleasant Living
| image_skyline            = Downtown Dadeland skyline from SR 826 ramp - from Panoramio.jpg
| imagesize                = 285px
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = Flag of South Miami, Florida.svg
| flag_size                = 
| image_seal               = Southmiamiseal.png
| seal_size                = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_size              = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = 
| blank_emblem_size        = 
| image_map                = Miami-Dade_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_South_Miami_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
| image_map1               = South_Miami.gif
| mapsize1                 = 250x200px
| map_caption1             = U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
| image_dot_map            = 
| dot_mapsize              = 
| dot_map_caption          = 
| dot_x                    = 
| dot_y                    = 
| pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type          = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name          = {{Nowrap|{{Flag|United States of America|size=23px}}}}
|subdivision_type1         = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1         = {{Flag|Florida|size=23px}}
|subdivision_type2         = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2         = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Miami-Dade County, Florida.png|size=23px}} [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade]]
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = 
| subdivision_type4        = 
| subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Council-Manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Javier E. Fernández
| leader_title1            = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1             = Lisa Bonich
| leader_title2            = [[Commissioner]]s
| leader_name2             = Steve Calle,<br/>Brian Corey, and<br/>Josh Liebman
| leader_title3            = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3             = Genaro "Chip" Iglesias
| leader_title4            = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name4             = Nkenga A. Payne
| established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
| established_date         = 1897
| established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2        = June 24, 1927
| established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3        = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_12.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=December 27, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 5.98
| area_land_km2            = 5.87
| area_water_km2           = 0.11
| area_total_sq_mi         = 2.31
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.27
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_blank1_title        = 
| area_blank1_km2          = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi        = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US1267550&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – South Miami city, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 27, 2022}}</ref>
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = 12026
| population_density_km2   = 2048.07
| population_density_sq_mi = 5304.81
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| population_metro         = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban         = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title  = 
| population_blank1        = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| coordinates              = {{coord|25|42|37|N|80|17|42.61|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m              = 3
| elevation_ft             = 10
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 33143, 33155 ([[Miami]])
| area_code                = [[Area code 305|305]], [[Area code 786|786]], [[Area code 645|645]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 12-67550<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0291395<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.southmiamifl.gov}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''South Miami''' is a [[city]] in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida]], United States. The city is part of the [[Miami metropolitan area]] of [[South Florida]]. The population was 12,026 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/>

==History==
South Florida had been roamed by Native Americans ([[Tequesta]], [[Calusa]], and [[Jaega]]), probably for centuries, before white pioneers advanced through Little Hunting Ground (later known as [[Miami]]'s [[Coconut Grove]] neighborhood) to Big Hunting Ground (now known as the [[Cutler, Florida|Cutler]] neighborhood of [[Palmetto Bay, Florida|Palmetto Bay]]).<ref name= "Hist SM">{{cite web |url= http://www.southmiamifl.gov/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=History&category=about |title= History of the City of South Miami |publisher=  City of South Miami|access-date= January 3, 2013}}</ref>

Wilson Alexander Larkins (1860–1946) was 36 years old when he, his wife (Katie Estelle Burtashaw) and five children, and their livestock arrived in Fort Dallas (now the [[Lummus Park Historic District]] of Miami) in 1896. He purchased property west of Red Road and Sunset Drive, where he built a home and barn. He also built the first general store east of that area in 1898 at what is known today as Cartagena Plaza or Cocoplum Circle<ref name= "Town">{{cite web |url= http://somimag.com/about/ |author= Shelley, Donna |title= South Miami Town Center |work= SOMI Magazine |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> (actually in [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]]). As the community grew, he established a post office in the community. Larkins became the first postmaster, a role he held for sixteen years;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/minister/LarkinsSamuelAlexander.htm |author= Fenner, Patricia Larkins |date= June 17, 2011 |title= Family Information, Samuel Larkins |publisher= Cumberland.org |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> he named the area "Manila", but the majority of the settlers, who began building homes around his store, preferred the name of "Larkins" in his honor.<ref name="Spec">{{cite web |url= http://www.library.miami.edu/specialcollections/collections/ohp/southmiami/chronology.html |author= Special Collections, University of Miami Libraries |title= University of Miami Oral History Program: South Miami Community |publisher= [[University of Miami]] Otto G. Richter Library Special Collections |access-date= December 29, 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120717094006/http://www.library.miami.edu/specialcollections/collections/ohp/southmiami/chronology.html |archive-date= July 17, 2012 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

A depot was placed along the [[Florida East Coast Railway]] in 1904, and in the same year, John Moses Dowling built the first house within what is now South Miami city limits. His son-in-law opened the first store on the west side of the tracks, called the White Palace Grocery.<ref name= "Spec" />

Other prominent historic families have historic buildings and streets named for them, such as Dorn Avenue (Southwest 59th Avenue) and the Shelley Building, among others.<ref name= "Town" /> Harold W. Dorn and his brother Robert moved to the area in 1910; their primary interest was growing [[mango]] and [[avocado]].<ref>{{cite journal |url= http://digitalcollections.fiu.edu/tequesta/files/1956/56_1_03.pdf |last= Dorn |first= Harold W. |title= Mango Growing Around Early Miami |journal= Tequesta |location= Florida |publisher= Historical Association of Southern Florida and [[Florida International University]] |number= 16 |year= 1956 |pages= 37–53}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last= Dorn |first= Harold W. |title= The Avocado Today in Dade County |journal= Proceedings of the ... Annual Meeting of the Florida State Horticultural Society |location= Florida |publisher= Florida State Horticultural Society |year= 1928 |pages= 161–170}}</ref> Mary E. Dorn was the first president of the Cocoplum Thimble Club, the first [[Women's club]] in Larkins.<ref name= "Spec" /> In 1925, the Dorn brothers built the Riviera Theatre at 5700 [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|South Dixie Highway]]; in 1934, Charles T. Fuchs moved his Holsum Bakery from Homestead to South Miami and turned the Riviera Theatre Building into a bakery.

The first African-American to purchase land in the Larkins area was Marshall Williamson, who moved there from [[Madison, Florida]]. He built his home at 6500 SW 60th Avenue and allowed it to be used for church services even before the construction was completed. In 1916, he donated land for the St. John's AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church, one of Larkins' first churches and the first church in the black community; it is located at 6461 SW 59th Place. Later, Williamson also donated land for the [[J. R. E. Lee]] School. Because of his generosity, the black neighborhood became known as Madison Square, after Williamson's hometown. Williamson died in 1972. Named after him is Marshall Williamson Park, at 6125 SW 68 Street.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.library.miami.edu/specialcollections/collections/ohp/southmiami/parks.html |author= Special Collections, University of Miami Libraries |title= University of Miami Oral History Program: South Miami Parks |publisher= [[University of Miami]] Otto G. Richter Library Special Collections |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.southmiamifl.gov/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Parks&category=ParksRec&submenu=about&wpos=3000,3000,4508 |author= City of South Miami |title= About South Miami |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref>

In 1926, area residents wanted to incorporate their area, and because of the booming city to the north of them, they chose the name of "Town of South Miami". The original town boundaries were Red Road on the east, Kendall Drive to the south, Palmetto Road to the west (now [[Palmetto Expressway]]), and Bird Road and Miller Drive to the north. The year 1926 also saw the first [[street light]]ing and the first incoming class of freshmen at the newly chartered [[University of Miami]] campus, which abuts the city of South Miami eastern boundary along Red Road (SW 57th Avenue). Also founded with a university theme that same year was the [[Cambridge Lawns]] neighborhood of South Miami, situated just {{convert|0.7|mi|km}} from the university campus. The neighborhood's Cambridge Lawns Historic District, some 30 homes in the Tudor Revival and Mediterranean revival style completed in 1928, were granted historic recognition by the City of South Miami in 2005.

Also in 1926, South Miami received extensive damage from the [[1926 Miami hurricane]]. The town's leaders asked Congress to "relieve the people of their income tax for the current year," but federal assistance was not forthcoming.<ref name= "Hist SM" /> The Florida East Coast Railway station burned down, leaving the town without a station for many years. Residents suffered storm damage again from [[Hurricane Andrew]] in 1992 and from [[Hurricane Bonnie (1998)]].

On June 25, 1927, W. A. Forster was sworn in as South Miami's first mayor.<ref name= "SOMI">{{cite web |url= http://somimag.com/article/south-miami-history-part-iii/ |last1= Shelley |first1= Donna |last2= Smith |first2= John Edward |title= South Miami History: Part III |work= SOMI Magazine |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref>

In 1933, the original six square miles of South Miami were reduced to just over three miles (5&nbsp;km) due to an effort to reduce municipal responsibilities. The city's size was reduced again in 1937, and many of the northern city residents sued to get out of the city. This is why the city of South Miami has the most irregular boundaries of any city in [[Miami-Dade County]] today.

Of mid-century South Miami, local historian Donna Shelley writes:

{{blockquote|In the mid-1950s, South Miami was at the crossroads between town and country. It was where you could buy hay for your horse and a tux for a social event. The economy was booming post [[World War II]]: a bank was established, the First National Bank of South Miami, new buildings were constructed, a hospital established (South Miami Hospital) and the community prospered. The Holsum Baking Company, which moved to South Miami from [[Homestead, Florida|Homestead]] in the 1930s was an important contributor to South Miami's growth. Many long-time residents recall waking up to the olfactory stimulation of bread being baked at the Holsum bakery on the corner of Sunset Drive and Red Road.<ref name= "Town" />}}

Construction of the current City Hall building was approved by referendum in 1955. Designed by architect Henry George Fink, the governmental seat on Sunset Drive was dedicated in October 1956 by Mayor Paul U. Tevis.

Jack Block was elected mayor of the city in 1968, and was thereafter re-elected every two years until 1984 when, as he told interviewer Gregory W. Bush, "I started to not enjoy it as much."<ref name= "Bush">{{cite web |url= http://www.library.miami.edu/specialcollections/collections/ohp/southmiami/block.html |author= Bush, Gregory W. |title= Jack Block |publisher= [[University of Miami]] Otto G. Richter Library Special Collections |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> In that interview, for the [[University of Miami]] Oral History Program, he gave snapshots of South Miami history when he told Bush (a history professor at the University of Miami),

{{blockquote|I moved here March 6, 1956, and lived in the same house. I love this city. There are times you get aggravated with what is going on. It's a friendly community. Do you remember when they had the riots down in [[Overtown (Miami)|Overtown]] back at [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]'s first inauguration. They had the [[Republican National Convention|Convention]] down here. Everywhere in town there were riots going on. In the city of South Miami we had a big [[Barbecue|barbeque]] which was held in the black area in one of the black parks. Where the [[United States Junior Chamber|Jaycees]] and myself, I cooked [[Ribs (food)|ribs]] all night long, and all the white people were there serving the black community. And we had no problems. When there were police problems the black community would get hold of me and tell me, "There's a car load of people coming in from [[Coconut Grove]]," and we could tell the police. That's the way this community is. It's a close-knit community. Black people living with white, you don't get that anywhere else.<ref name= "Bush" />}}

In 1990, Catherine (Rutherford) McCann (1933–2009) was elected as South Miami's first female Mayor, and was re-elected in 1992. She was responsible for the clean-up of South Miami after Hurricane Andrew; the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' wrote, "She had an encyclopedic knowledge of the South Miami city charter. She pushed for affordable housing and responsible development."<ref>{{cite news |last= Morales |first= Laura |title= City mourns passing of its first female mayor, Cathy McCann |work= [[The Miami Herald]] |location= Miami |publisher= [[The McClatchy Company]] |date= April 26, 2009 |url= http://www.southmiamirotary.org/newsletters/042809.html |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref>

In 2000, South Miami joined other municipalities in the country in forming city partnerships to help foster cultural and economic development between cities around the world. South Miami is a member of [[Sister Cities International]] and formed relationships with the cities of Grand Turk in [[Turks and Caicos Islands]] and [[Basseterre]] in [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]].

According to reporting by ''SOMI'' magazine, a local publication, during early October 2018, "[o]n August 21, 2018, in the City of South Miami Commission Chambers the forging of a 'Sister-City' between the City of South Miami, Florida, and the ''Municipio de Medellin'', Colombia, was formalized."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://somimag.com/sister-city-is-established/|title="SISTER-CITY" IS ESTABLISHED|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>

==Geography==
South Miami is located at {{coord|25|42|37|N|80|17|43|W|type:city}} (25.710279, −80.295170).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the east by the city of [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]], to the south by the town of [[Pinecrest, Florida|Pinecrest]], to the west by unincorporated [[Glenvar Heights, Florida|Glenvar Heights]], and to the north by unincorporated [[Coral Terrace, Florida|Coral Terrace]]. [[U.S. Route 1]] (South Dixie Highway) passes through the city, leading northeast {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Downtown Miami]] and southwest {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Homestead, Florida|Homestead]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], South Miami has a total area of {{convert|2.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.04|sqmi}}, or 1.78%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

===Surrounding areas===
<div style= width:1000px;">
:{{pad|10.8em}} [[Glenvar Heights, Florida|Glenvar Heights]] / Unincorporated [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] / [[Coral Terrace, Florida|Coral Terrace]]
:{{pad|17.7em}} [[Coral Terrace, Florida|Coral Terrace]] [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|30px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]]
:Unincorporated [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] / [[Glenvar Heights, Florida|Glenvar Heights]] [[Image:Left.svg|30px]] {{pad|1.5em}}[[Image:Right.svg|30px]] [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]], Unincorporated [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]]
:{{pad|11.8em}} [[Glenvar Heights, Florida|Glenvar Heights]], [[Pinecrest, Florida|Pinecrest]] [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|30px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]]
:{{pad|20.5em}} [[Glenvar Heights, Florida|Glenvar Heights]] / [[Pinecrest, Florida|Pinecrest]]
</div>
{{clear|left}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 1160
|1940= 2408
|1950= 4809
|1960= 9846
|1970= 11780
|1980= 10895
|1990= 10404
|2000= 10741
|2010= 11657
|2020= 12026
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''South Miami racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1267550&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2022-02-08|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|3,466
|28.82%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,424
|11.84%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|6
|0.05%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|493
|4.10%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|1
|0.01%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|96
|0.80%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|327
|2.72%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|6,213
|51.66%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''12,026'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], there were 12,026 people, 4,329 households, and 2,533 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: South Miami city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=South+Miami+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2010 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: left; margin-right: 2em; width: 35%; font-size: 75%;" 
!colspan=4|South Miami Demographics
|-
![[2010 United States census|2010 census]]||South Miami||Miami-Dade County||Florida
|-
|Total population||11,657||2,496,435||18,801,310
|-
|Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010||+8.5%||+10.8%||+17.6%
|-
|Population density||5,137.6/sq&nbsp;mi||1,315.5/sq&nbsp;mi||350.6/sq&nbsp;mi
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White or Caucasian]] (including [[White Hispanic]])||75.1%||73.8%||75.0%
|-
|([[Non-Hispanic Whites|Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian]])||35.4%||15.4%||57.9%
|-
|[[Black (U.S. Census)|Black or African-American]]||17.0%||18.9%||16.0%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino (of any race)]]||43.1%||65.0%||22.5%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]||3.9%||1.5%||2.4%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Native Alaskan]]||0.3%||0.2%||0.4%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]]||0.0%||0.0%||0.1%
|-
|[[Multiracial American|Two or more races (Multiracial)]]||2.0%||2.4%||2.5%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some Other Race]]||1.7%||3.2%||3.6%
|}

As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 U.S. census]], there were 11,657 people, 4,127 households, and 2,596 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: South Miami city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=South+Miami+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
In 2000, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.15.

In 2000, the city population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $42,488, and the median income for a family was $57,791. Males had a median income of $37,250 versus $29,772 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $24,526. About 8.9% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, speakers of [[English language|English]] as a [[first language]] accounted for 59.69% of residents, while [[Spanish language|Spanish]] speakers consisted of 37.45%, and speakers of [[French language|French]] made up 1.26% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=67550&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r |title=MLA Data Center Results of South Miami, FL |publisher=[[Modern Language Association]] |access-date=November 2, 2007}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Economy==
The South Miami business community is served by Chamber South with offices at 6410 S.W. 80 Street in South Miami, and by the Red Sunset Merchants Association of South Miami.

The Consulate-General of Mexico in Miami is located on the ground floor of the office building located at 5975 Southwest 72nd Street (Sunset Drive) in South Miami.<ref>[http://www.sre.gob.mx/miami/ Home Page]." ''Consulate-General of Mexico in Miami''. Accessed October 26, 2008.</ref>  Tech/automotive ecommerce startup company PartsHawk<ref>{{Cite web |title=PartsHawk {{!}} Performance & Replacement Car Parts Online |url=https://partshawk.com/home |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Main Website |language=en}}</ref> occupies the top floor of the same building.

The nine-acre property site of the [[Holsum Bread|Holsum Bakery]] was for decades afterward known as the [[Bakery Center]] to the local residents, and various businesses came and went on that site long after Holsum was gone.

A large complex called, in fact, the [[Bakery Center]], a $35 million project, was proposed in 1982. It was built and opened in 1985, but it was not popular and was demolished in 1996.<ref name="somi iv">{{cite web |url= http://somimag.com/article/south-miami-history-part-i/ |author= Shelley, Donna |title= South Miami History: Part IV |work= SOMI Magazine |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> South Miami residents complained about the architecture, which seemed closed from pedestrians, elitist, and far too tall for a town that liked small, homey buildings and [[Small business|mom-and-pop shops]]. (Historian Donna Shelley wrote an essay about it entitled "From Baking Dough, To Spending Dough, To Losing Dough";<ref name="somi iv" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote in 1996 that "few retail projects failed as badly as the Bakery Center".<ref>{{cite news |last= Boyd |first= Christopher |title= A failed luxury mall in South Miami, Fla., is demolished for a new mall with a new concept |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= December 18, 1996 }}</ref>) Perhaps the one admired feature was on the outside: an enormous mural by [[Richard Haas]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_workdetail.asp?aid=424207055&gid=424207055&cid=75564&wid=424258737&page=3 |author= Haas, Richard |author-link= Richard Haas |title= The Bakery Center, South Miami, Florida (no longer extant) |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> The investors were never able to find enough small businesses to rent all available spaces in the monolithic building. The consistently successful business, an [[IMAX]] theater, was undervalued and closed.<ref name="somi iv" />

In the 1990s, a large [[shopping mall]] called [[The Shops at Sunset Place]] was built on the site a retail/entertainment center with a wide, welcoming entrance. The mall had many anchor stores, a mega-plex movie site with 24 movie theaters, and restaurants but several of these places have closed. Food is available from restaurants (such as sidewalk [[crêpe]] makers), and it is a popular teenage hangout.

The mall has its detractors. Gabriel Lopez-Bernal, an [[Urban planning|urban planner]] praised by the ''[[Miami New Times]]'' for his blogging on "civic discourse",<ref>{{cite news |last= Alvarado |first= Francisco |title= Miami's best blogs: Honorable mention |work= [[Miami New Times]] |location= Miami |publisher= [[Village Voice Media]] |date= January 19, 2012 |url= http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2012-01-19/news/miami-s-best-blogs-honorable-mention/ |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> wrote: "Unlike its predecessor, Sunset Place was designed to be an open-aired Mediterranean community, incorporating former mall aspects like big boxed anchor tenants with street-level restaurants, faux cityscapes, and even a few residential units. The center was originally envisioned to be an entertainment center, but the quick failure of some of the theme restaurants and IMAX Theater, quickly changed intended target use. Since its inception, the mall has struggled to maintain a strong and lasting business base."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.transitmiami.com/places/miami/the-shops-at-wasted-space |author= Lopez-Bernal, Gabriel |date= December 12, 2006 |title= The Shops at Wasted Space |publisher= TransitMiami.com |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, The Shops at Sunset Place was acquired for $110.2 million by the joint venture of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), Coconut Grove-based Grass River Property, and Miami Beach-based Comras Co.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2017/10/23/more-on-shops-at-sunset-place-development-plan.html|title=More details unveiled for redevelopment of struggling mall as hearing looms (Renderings)|last=Bandell|first=Brian|date=October 23, 2017|website=www.bizjournals.com|publisher=South Florida Business Journal|access-date=2020-02-18}} [http://www.federalrealty.com/media/media_coverage/attachments/FRIT-venture-offers-details-on-redevelopment-at-Sunset-Place.pdf Alt URL]</ref> The mall is, thus, under new management<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://properties.federalrealty.com/cre/commercial-real-estate/south+miami+++++++++++++++++++/florida/theshopsatsunsetplace/overview|title=The Shops at Sunset Place|website=properties.federalrealty.com|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> and has been seeking to redevelop the site with plans for a new hotel and other improvements.

==Transportation==
South Miami is served by [[Miami Metrobus|Metrobus]] throughout the area, and by the [[Miami Metrorail]], connecting the city to [[Dadeland, Florida|Downtown Kendall]], [[Greater Downtown Miami|Downtown Miami]], and the [[Miami Intermodal Center]] at [[Miami International Airport]]. Metrorail is available at:

*{{rcb|system=Miami-Dade Transit|line=Green|inline=box}} {{rcb|system=Miami-Dade Transit|line=Orange|inline=box}} [[South Miami (Metrorail station)|South Miami]] (SW 72nd Street and U.S. 1)

The city provides a free shuttle service with nine designated stops on a two-mile loop within the city's Downtown area during specified hours on Tuesdays to Saturdays (no service on Sundays and Mondays).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southmiamifl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3549/Bus-Shuttle-Flyer---Updated-12-11-2018|title=SOMI Shuttle Service flyer|website=City of South Miami, FL website|access-date=February 17, 2020}}</ref>

== Culture ==
The city has numerous parks and a vibrant downtown filled with historic buildings, restaurants and unique shops.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.southmiamifl.gov/ |author= City of South Miami |year= 2012 |title= Welcome to South Miami |publisher= City of South Miami |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> Much of South Miami stretches down U.S. 1, along which it features a wide variety of retail stores and restaurants on long-owned real estate or in newer [[Strip mall|shopping plaza]]s. The South Miami Branch library of the [[Miami-Dade Public Library System]] is open 6 days a week and offers a large [[Children's literature|children's room]], as well as (for a small branch) an extensive collection of DVDs and [[large-print]] books.
===Parks===
South Miami has a number of parks, including:

*All-America Park, a passive park providing a natural setting with native trees and picnic tables
*Brewer Park, which has tennis, handball, and basketball courts, as well as a playground area and picnic area
*Dante Fascell Park
*Dog Park
*Fuchs Park, a natural area with a fountain in the pond, where the ducks are friendly and pleased to be fed 
*Jean Willis Park (sometimes also referred to as the Jean H. Willis Flowering Tree Park), a small area next to the South Miami Police Department featuring a gazebo, [[picnic table|picnic bench]]es and a variety of native flowering trees<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.locationshub.com/Slideshow.aspx?lid=029-10000203&id=7666 |author= Belz, Dorothea |date= December 15, 2006 |title= Jean H. Willis Flowering Tree Park (Slideshow) |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> and for which [[South Miami Senior High School]] students constructed a pair of trellises to anchor both ends of the park in 2013;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://smshs.enschool.org/m/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=267464&type=d&pREC_ID=video&showMore=1&titleREC_ID=60883|title=South Miami Senior High School|website=smshs.enschool.org|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>
*Marshall Williamson Park, which has [[tennis court]]s and a [[gazebo]] 
*Murray Park (adjacent to the Gibson-Bethel Community Center),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southmiamifl.gov/facilities/facility/details/GibsonBethel-Community-Center-12|title=Gibson-Bethel Community Center|website=South Miami, FL|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> which has lighted basketball courts, a T-ball field, two soccer fields, and a flag football field
*Palmer Park, with fields for playing baseball and T-Ball (including through an organized league, the [http://smybaseball.com/ South Miami Youth Baseball League]), softball, flag football, and soccer
*Paseo Park 
*South Miami Park
*Van Smith Park, a natural hammock park
*Veterans Park
*Vice Mayor Robert C. Welsh, Jr. Park

In 2017, the City of South Miami adopted a Parks and Recreation Master Plan which is a long-range planning document that is meant to help shape the direction, development and delivery of the city's parks and recreation system over an 8- to 10-year period from adoption.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.southmiamifl.gov/511/Master-Plan|title=Master Plan {{!}} South Miami, FL - Official Website|website=www.southmiamifl.gov|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> According to the City of South Miami's website, "[t]he purpose of this plan is to advance the mission and vision of the Parks and Recreation Department to further the establishment of a high quality parks system and maximize the effectiveness of the department and its resources."<ref name=":1" />

===Media===
South Miami is served by the [[Miami]] market for local radio and television. Three newspapers in South Miami include the hyperlocal ''South Miami News'', which is part of the Community Newspapers chain, the ''[[Miami Herald]]'', which publishes a weekly zoned "Neighbors" section serving South Miami and adjacent communities, and the weekly ''[[Miami New Times]]''. Long-time South Miami resident John Edward Smith (image marketing and business development consultant) publishes ''SOMI Magazine'' every two months, whose "About SOMI" web page states "balances hometown interest while promoting the many businesses located in the South Miami Town Center."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://somimag.com/about/|title=SOUTH MIAMI TOWN CENTER|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
South Miami has a diverse offering in its restaurants. Dara Smith and Olee Fowler wrote in January 2020, "Not historically top of mind as one of the city's major food destinations, South Miami's culinary scene is slowly taking shape. From fine dining to fast casual, [there are] can't miss food and drink spots."<ref>{{cite news |title= Where to Eat and Drink in South Miami: There's so much more than Sunset Place |work= Miami Eater |location= Miami |publisher= [[Eater (website)|Eater]] |date= January 8, 2020 |url= https://miami.eater.com/maps/south-miami-dining-map-guide |access-date= May 24, 2020}}</ref> There are many Japanese restaurants with [[sushi]] bars. Italian, American and Cuban restaurants are also easy to find.

== Education ==
[[Miami-Dade County Public Schools]] serves South Miami. 
* South Miami K–8 Center<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smk8center.org/|title=South Miami K-8 Center|website=www.smk8center.org|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> (an expressive arts magnet school)
* [[South Miami Middle Community School]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southmiamimiddle.org/|title=South Miami Middle School|website=southmiamimiddle.org|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> (Center for the Arts)
* [[South Miami High School|South Miami Senior High School]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southmiamiseniorhigh.org/|title=South Miami Senior High School|website=www.southmiamiseniorhigh.org|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> (Unincorporated Miami-Dade County)

South Miami is also home to the [[Miami Conservatory]] (now known as the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://taybballet.org/about-us/|title=About Us - Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, Teaching Since 1949|website=Thomas Armour Youth Ballet|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref>). Founded in 1949, it is Miami's oldest and best known [[ballet]] school.

== Government ==
=== Structure ===
South Miami uses a City Manager form of government. The Commission sets the policies and the City Manager acts as the chief executive officer. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms and the Mayor is elected to a two-year term. The Mayor is the Chair of the City Commission meetings.

South Miami City Government as of November 2022 includes:

* Mayor: Javier E. Fernandez 
* Vice Mayor: Lisa Bonich 
* Commissioner: Steve Calle 
* Commissioner: Brian Corey 
* Commissioner: Josh Liebman
* City Manager: Genaro "Chip" Iglesias (As of January 2023)

=== Recent election results ===
[https://enr.electionsfl.org/DAD/3267/Summary/ Elections Results for November 8, 2022 ]

*'''Mayor of South Miami'''
Javier E. Fernandez 2,833

Horace G. Feliu 1,652

*'''Commissioner Group I'''
Steve Calle 2,126

Luis Joseph Gil 2,026

*'''Commissioner Group IV'''
Lisa Bonich 2,230

Michelle Readon 2,025

*'''Charter Amendment'''
Amend Charter Required Commission Meetings

Yes 2,518

No 1,833

Amend Charter Four-Year Term City Mayor

Yes 2,167

No 2,278

Amend Charter City Ofc/Dept Internal Fund Transfer

Yes 2,670

No 1,603

Amend Charter Installation Elected Official

Yes 3,444

No 862

Lisa Bonich was appointed as the Vice Mayor until the next City elections.

== South Miami Hospital ==
South Miami Hospital, located at 62nd Avenue (Paul Tevis Road) and [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. Route 1]], opened in 1960 as a 100-bed hospital and currently serves 467 beds. It is one of seven hospitals in the Baptist Health South Florida system. The hospital was recognized as a [[Magnet Recognition Program|Magnet Hospital]] for Nursing Excellence in 2004 and again in 2008, by the [[American Nurses Credentialing Center]].<ref name= "smh">{{cite web |url= http://baptisthealth.net/en/facilities/south-miami-hospital/Pages/About.aspx |title= About South Miami Hospital |publisher= Baptist Health South Florida |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> It was also on Solucient's list of top 100 hospitals in the country and earned the Florida Governor's Sterling Award in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.floridasterling.com/performance-improvement-sterling-award-recipients.php |author= Florida Sterling Council |title= Sterling Award |publisher= Florida Sterling Council |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> It was named the No. 1 hospital in South Florida by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' in 2012, and ranked No. 42 in the country in [[geriatrics]] and No. 47 in [[orthopedics]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Dorschner |first= John |title= South Miami No. 1 hospital in Region |work= [[The Miami Herald]] |location= [[Miami]] |publisher= [[The McClatchy Company]] |date= July 17, 2012 |url= http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/17/2899841/south-miami-no-1-hospital-in-region.html |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> The Hospital features an [[addiction treatment]] program, a [[cardiac catheterization]] lab, a [[diabetes]] program and a full [[oncology]] department as well as the center for [[Robotic Surgery]], the Center for Women and Infants, South Miami Heart Center and a Level III [[Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]].<ref name= "smh" /> The Hospital earned $35.5 million in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last= Bandell |first= Brian |title= Baptist Health profit doubles in fiscal 2012 |work= [[South Florida Business Journal]] |publisher= American City Business Journal |date= December 18, 2012 |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/12/18/baptist-health-profit-doubles-in.html?page=all |access-date= December 29, 2012}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Rodney Mandelstam]], [[1960 Wimbledon Championships – Boys' singles|1960 Wimbledon Boys]] tennis champion

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|South Miami, Florida}}
* {{Official website|www.southmiamifl.gov}}

{{Dade County, Florida}}
{{Miami metropolitan area}}
{{Greater Miami}}
{{Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:South Miami, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1927]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]