Miami Gardens is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. Since the start of the 21st century, there has been a movement in several unincorporated places, also known as census-designated places (CDP's) throughout Miami-Dade County to incorporate as cities, often due to a perceived lack of attention or services from the Miami-Dade Metro government. Residents in Miami-Dade county who lived on the Broward County line in the former CDP's of Andover, Bunche Park, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Norland, Opa-Locka North, and Scott Lake voted to incorporate as the city of Miami Gardens in 2003, although some of those CDP's were entirely incorporated. According to the 2004U.S. Census Bureau's Estimates, the newly-created city had a population of 100,887; however, current estimates of the city government place the 2005 population at 106,566. Miami Gardens is the largest city in Florida that has a majority of black residents.
Miami Gardens is located at 25°56'32" North, 80°16'12" West (25.942121, -80.269920)1.The city is roughly bound by the Broward County border on the north, N.W. 151 Street on the south, North Miami Avenue on the east, and N.W. 57 Avenue on the west.
According to the City of Miami Gardens, the city has a total area of 51.8 km² (20 mi²).
Demographics
Because the city was incorporated in 2003 and many of the CDP's comprising the current city of Miami Gardens were only partially incorporated, much of the demographic information is either incomplete or indeterminable. Please see the individual listing for the former CDP's of Andover, Bunche Park, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Norland, Opa-Locka North, and Scott Lake for more in-depth demographic data. The estimated population is 105,414 (2005). The population density is 5,328.41/mi² (2,057.25/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 14.68% White, 79.07% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. 16.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The age distribution is 16.05% under the age of 10, 26.6% from 10 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The population is 47% male and 53% female. There are 3.3 members per household.
Government
Miami Gardens is governed by a seven member City Council. Members include the mayor and six Council members, four of whom are elected from districts and two who are elected city wide.
