Overview
Description of the Community
History
South Miami was founded in 1897 by W.A. Larkins and his family. The Larkinses established a dairy farm in the wildlands. After the Florida East Coast Railroad has been created, the settlement turned into a community. By 1917, 350 people dwelled in South Miami, which was then called Larkins. A small settlement grew into a town with its municipal administration. In 1926, a great hurricane almost ruined the community. However, it was rebuilt and a year later proclaimed a city (History of South Miami, n.d.).
Type of community
South Miami is an urban community. It is referred to as the City of South Miami.
Physical Environmental Considerations: The Community As a Place
Description: General Identifying Data
Location
South Miami is located in the middle of Miami-Dade County, state of Florida. It has no access to the sea.
Topographical features
South Miami has a rather plain topography. Its relative height is less than five feet above sea level, which poses a danger of being swallowed by the sea. The city lies on a limestone plateau.
Climate
The climate of South Miami is the tropical monsoon one. It is defined by long hot summers and warm, short winters. In summer, thunderstorms and afternoon breezes are common.
Boundaries, Area in Square Miles
South Miami possesses a territory with a square of 2.3 square miles. It borders Corral Terrace in the north, north-west, and south-west; Coral Cables in the north-east, east, and south-east; Glenvar Heights in north, west, south-west, and south; and Pinecrest in the south-east.
Environment
Sanitation: water supply, sewage, garbage, trash
The city has a stable water supply and a reliable sewage system, according to the municipal authorities. All garbage is recycled to ensure the minimum harm to the environment (City recycling program, n.d.).
Pollutants, toxic substances, animal reservoirs or vectors, flora, and fauna
The flora and fauna are common in tropical climates. Typically, a wide variety of reptiles and insects can be found here, often to the disturbance of the citizens. The most common tree here is the palm tree. A rich variety of birds also characterizes the community’s fauna. Animal reservoirs, vectors, toxins, and heavy pollutants were not discovered.
Air quality: color, odor, particulates
The air has a good quality index, is transparent, and is odor-free (South Miami, 2016).
Food supply: sources, preparation
Food comes mostly from local sources and is prepared in South Miami.
Potential disaster in the population
Currently, no potential disaster can be discovered.
The extent of disaster preparation in the population
The entire county is well-prepared for potential disasters in the population. The necessary resources are allocated, and the plans of action are developed (Miami-Dade county roadmap for adapting to coastal risk, 2016).
Housing
Types of housing (public and private)
Condition of housing. In South Miami, housing is in generally good condition.
Percent owned, rented. 65% of the population lives in rented houses (Munzenrieder, 2015).
Housing for special populations
Near homeless. No information was obtained.
Homeless. 5562 placements were provided to the homeless by the city council (City of Miami homeless assistance program, n.d.).
Frail elders. No information was obtained.
Leading Industries and Occupations
The economy of South Miami relies heavily on the revenue and job positions provided by the sector of tourism. The fact that South Miami is situated in a place between North American and Latin America and the Caribbean allows it to use its strategic location for the sake of international trade. Its well-developed infrastructure and several trades and business centers serve this purpose. International banking also plays a considerable role in the city’s economy and employs the citizens.
The People of the Community
Population Profile
The total population for 2010. In 2010, the total population was 11,657 (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Population density. The population density is 5,137.6 per square mile (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Population changes in the past 10 years. The population has increased by 8.5% from 2000 to 2010 (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Population per square miles. The figure is 5,137.6 (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Mobility. No information was obtained.
Types of Families. In South Miami, families are mostly nuclear.
Biological Considerations/Vital and Demographic Population Characteristics
Age composition. In 2010, 22.7% were younger than 18, 8.2% were aged between 18 and 24, 31.8% were aged between 25 and 44, 23.7% between 45 and 64, and 13.6% were 65-year-olds or older (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Sex distribution. In 2010, there were 92.8 male citizens for every 100 female citizens (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Race distribution. In 2010, whites were more than 35% of the population, and Hispanic people were 39% of the population. 17% were black, and the rest were Native Americans or Islanders and other races (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Ethnic group composition and distribution. In the city, it is common to have racial identities rather than ethnic ones. For this reason, no information regarding the ethnic distribution of the citizens was obtained.
Mortality Characteristics
Annual birth and crude death rates
Age-specific death rate. No information was obtained.
Infant mortality rate. No information was obtained.
Maternal mortality rate. No information was obtained.
Cause-specific death rate (specific health area). No information was obtained.
Leading causes of morbidity
Incidence rates (specific diseases). No information was obtained.
Prevalence rates (specific diseases). No information was obtained.
Psychological Considerations
Significant historical events. In 1897, the community was founded. In 1903, the Florida East Coast Railroad was created, which was an important milestone in the development of the city since it ensured that new inhabitants would arrive. In 1926, it was almost destroyed by a hurricane, and in 1927, it was proclaimed a city (History of South Miami, n.d.).
Future economic prospects. South Miami is likely to continue flourishing, using its attractiveness for tourists and its favorable location between North and South America.
Formal and informal communication network. South Miami has a well-developed formal network initiated by the municipal authorities. It also has an informal communication network created by its citizens. Both networks use the Internet acts as a means of communication.
Rates of suicide and homicides. No information was obtained.
Adequacy of protective services. No information was obtained.
Common sources of stress. In South Miami, the common sources of stress are unemployment, homelessness, and weather specifics such as storms.
Sociocultural Considerations: The Community As a Social System
Socioeconomic status
The income of the family. The median income for a family is above $50,000 (City of South Miami comprehensive plan, 2010).
Major occupations. Most parts of citizens work in the tourism and business sectors.
Estimated level of unemployment. The estimated level of unemployment in South Miami in 2016 is 5.6% (Quick facts: South Miami City, Florida, 2010).
Percent below poverty level. 14.8% of South Miamians live below the poverty level (Quick facts: South Miami City, Florida, 2010).
People retired. No information was obtained.
Educational level
Religious distribution. In South Miami, around 40% of citizens are religious. Nearly 22% of South Miamians are Catholic. Less than 1% are LDS. Almost 6% are Christians of other denominations. 1.13% are Judaic. Around 1% are Muslims. 0.18% of South Miamians are of eastern faith (South Miami, Florida, 2010).
Marriage and divorce rates. No information was obtained.
Language. In 2000, almost 60% of South Miamians were English-speaking. Around 38% considered Spanish their first language. Less than 1.5% were French-speaking (Quick facts: South Miami City, Florida, 2010).
Government and Leadership
Type of government
South Miami has a council-manager type of government. It has a mayor and a vice mayor, a board of commissioners, a city manager, and a city clerk. The mayor and commissioners compose a five-member legislative and executive body of Sout Miami. They establish policies, manage lands, and adopt the annual budget. They are responsible for taxation, preparations for natural disasters (hurricanes), maintaining utilities in good condition, charging fees for governmental services, generating local laws, and hiring other members of the government, including the city clerk. The commissioners serve for four years, and the mayor serves for two years. All officials have to be city residents (Your government, n.d.).
City offices
The address of the Mayor, the Board of Commissioners, City Manager, and City Clerk in City Hall, first floor, 6130 Sunset Drive. The governors are accessible by phone, fax, and email (Your government, n.d.).
Education
Public educational facilities
In South Miami, seven public schools are included in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. Among them, there is a J.R.E. Lee Opportunity Center that provides an alternative education that corresponds with the grades 6 to 12 in common education. The Miami conservatory is also located here. Overall, South Miami has three elementary schools, an academy, a middle school, and a senior high school. One of them is dual language, and another one is language magnet. For post-secondary education, the residents go to Florida International University, Miami-Dade Community, and the College University of Miami, which are located nearby (Schools, n.d.).
Private educational facilities
Nine private schools exist in South Miami, including one Montessori school. Two schools are pre-K-7, another one is pre-K-8, one (a children’s house) is pre-K-5, and one is pre-K-K. The Our Lady of Lourdes Academy is for girls only, and it provides education from 9th to 12th grade. (Schools, n.d.).
Libraries
The South Miami Library is open to the citizens. It is included in the Miami-Dade Public Library System, which contains over 50,000 books and gives users 24/7 internet access to its materials. The library provides free public computers and also free Internet access. It also has an E-book collection, a music collection, and a collection of videos. The songs and video can be downloaded, as well as books and movies (We are your library, 2015).
Services for special populations
No information was obtained.
Transportation
In South Miami, there is a Metrobus and Metrorally. The citizens mostly use private automobiles and taxis.
Behavioral Considerations
Consumption patterns. No information was obtained.
Leisure pursuit. In South Miami, a well-developed recreation system is used by citizens for leisure. The city has 15 parks, public tennis courts, jogging trails, athletic facilities, playgrounds, tot lots, training fields at each school campus, dog parks, environmental places, aquatic facilities, and sports and fitness programs for citizens. Parkland occupies around 45 acres. In addition, South Miami offers vast opportunities for shopping. It also has plenty of restaurants, in which citizens spend their time (Parks & recreation., n.d.).
Other health-related behaviors. No information was obtained.
Health System Considerations
Identify existing services. South Miami has hospitals, mental health services, and recreational facilities.
Assessing current level of performance. No information was obtained.
Availability and accessibility of specific types of health care services. No information was obtained.
Health needs lacking services. In the city, the needs of diabetics are not addressed sufficiently.
The extent to which health care services are overused and underused. No information was obtained.
Financing of health care. No information was obtained.
References
City of Miami homeless assistance program. (n.d.). Web.
City of South Miami comprehensive plan. (2010).
City recycling program. (n.d.).
History of South Miami. (n.d.).
Miami-Dade county roadmap for adapting to coastal risk. (2016). Web.
Munzenrieder, K. (2015). 65 percent of Miamians live in rentals, most of any major American city. Miami New Times.
Parks & recreation. (n.d.).
Quick facts: South Miami City, Florida. (2010) Web.
Schools. (n.d.).
South Miami, Florida. (2010).
South Miami. (2016). Web.
We are your library. (2015).
Your government. (n.d.).