Coral Gables, Florida
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| Coral Gables, Florida | |||
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| Nickname: The City Beautiful, The Gables | |||
| Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States | ||
| State | Image:Flag of Florida.svg Florida | ||
| 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 | 12-14250GR2 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0280801GR3 | ||
| Website: http://www.citybeautiful.net/ | |||
Often called "The Gables," Coral 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.[1]
Contents |
[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. By 1926, the city covered 10,000 acres (40 km²), had netted $150 million in sales with over $100 million spent on development. [2]
Merrick designed the downtown commercial district to be only four blocks wide and more than two miles (3 km) long. The area is now serviced by a free trolley system that runs down Ponce de Leon Boulevard, the main artery disecting the business district. Merrick could boast that every business in Coral Gables was less than a two block walk. The old trolley system was replaced by the popularity of modern automobiles until a new free trolley system was initiated in November, 2003. Now, 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).GR1.
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 censusGR2 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,)[3] 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.[4]
As of 2000, Coral Gables had the eighteenth highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, with 28.72% of the populace.[5] It also had the sixty-fourth highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 2.27% of the city's population,[6] and the sixteenth highest percentage of Venezuelan residents in the US, at 1.17% of it's population.[7]
[edit] Home to University of Miami
[edit] Academics
Coral Gables is best known as home to the University of Miami, a 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, medicine, law, and music, in which the university is considered among the best in the nation.[8][9]
[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).[10] Over the past 25 years, the University of Miami has been amongst the most successful Division I college football program in the nation, as its five national championships since 1983 are the most of any Division I university of the past quarter century).[11]
The University of Miami also has graduated two Heisman Trophy winners, Vinny Testaverde (in 1986) and Gino Torretta (in 1992),[12] and three 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. For this reason, the "U" as its known to locals, will always be recognized for its athletics.
[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 ([www.cggazette.com]) 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 the oldest weekly newspaper in Coral Gables. The Gables also has another newspaper, The Coral Gables News Tribune, which 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.[13]
[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
- James Davison, political media strategist.
- Frank Gore, professional football player, San Francisco 49ers.
- Marilyn Milian, television judge, The People's Court.
- Thurston Moore, lead singer and guitarist, Sonic Youth.
- Mimi Rogers, actress and first wife of Tom Cruise.
- Jonathan Vilma, professional football player, New York Jets.
- Jorge Reyes, author and former employee of the City of Coral Gables accused of being the ringleader of a corruption scam at the City.
- Janet Reno, Former U.S. Attorney General Clinton Administation
- Mike Lowell, Professional Baseball Player-Boston Red Sox, 2007 World Series MVP
[edit] Places of interest
- Biltmore Hotel
- Coral Way scenic drive
- DeSoto Fountain
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
- John C. Gifford Arboretum
- Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
- Montgomery Botanical Center
- University of Miami
- Venetian Pool
Alhambrawatertower.jpg
Alhambra Water Tower |
Coralgablescityhall.jpg
City Hall, with statue of Merrick in front. |
Biltmore.jpg
The famous Biltmore Hotel |
Desotofountain.jpg
DeSoto Fountain sits in the center of a traffic circle in the city of Coral Gables, Florida. |
Miracle Mile.jpg
Miracle Theater on Miracle Mile. |
Coralway.jpg
Scenic Coral Way. |
Venetianpool.jpg
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:
- Image:Flag of France.svg Aix-en-Provence, France
- Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Cartagena, Colombia
- Image:Flag of Spain.svg Granada, Spain
- Image:Flag of Ecuador.svg Quito, Ecuador
- Image:Flag of Italy.svg Pisa, Italy
- Image:Flag of Spain.svg El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
- Image:Flag of Guatemala.svg La Antigua, Guatemala
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.csv
- ^ http://www.historical-museum.org/history/southfla.htm
- ^ 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.
- ^ http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2593-1;49348-3,00.html
- ^ http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2472-1,00.html
- ^ http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/facilities/mifl-arod-park-donation.html
- ^ http://experts.about.com/q/College-Football-2792/national-championships-miami-win.htm
- ^ http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aaa.html
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113010/locations
[edit] External links
- City of Coral Gables
- Coral Gables profile, NNDB
- Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
- Pedestrian Pocket Guide to Coral Gables
- Coral Gables, Florida is at coordinates Coordinates:
es:Coral Gables fr:Coral Gables io:Coral Gables, Florida lmo:Coral Gables, Florida nl:Coral Gables pl:Coral Gables (Floryda) pt:Coral Gables vo:Coral Gables
Categories: Wikipedia articles needing style editing from December 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since July 2007 | South Florida metropolitan area | Settlements established in 1925 | Cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida | Coral Gables, Florida | Planned cities | Planned communities | University of Miami
