DADE COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS
1968
[REFERENCE:
THE DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT
CIVIL DISORDER 1968
AFTER ACTION REPORT
PART I
PROLOGUE
THE COMMUNITY
METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA]
Dade County covers a land area of approximately 2,090 square miles, and
is located about 25 degrees north of the equator at the southeastern
corner of the State of Florida. It is the largest county in the
southeastern United States in terms of both land area and
population. In 1962 census showed one million, however there are,
now, closer to over two million in the metropolitan area, with an
annual influx of tourists in the neighborhood of seven million.
Dade County is a flat porous limestone plain, almost devoid of rivers
and streams and with a shallow soil cover. The average elevation
is five to ten feet above sea level, the highest point not exceeding 25
feet. Geologically, south Florida is one of the most stable areas
in the nation and has little chance of experiencing earthquakes.
This Greater Miami Area, as it is sometimes called, had a subtropical
marine climate and enjoys one of the most pleasant climates in the
continental United States. This explains the fast growing
population and huge tourist industry.
Dade County receives money from basic economic sources, thus enabling
it to buy the goods and services it cannot produce locally, from the
rest of the nation. These sources are basic economic activity and
external funds.
Money is brought into the area from the export of goods produced
locally, sales and services to other local basic activities and
services performed for non-residents.
THE ECONOMIC BASE
External Funds
1. External investment
2. Property income
3. Transfer payments
TOTAL approximately 36%
Basic Economic Activities
1. Tourism 20%
*2. Manufacturing of all kinds, approx. 10%
3. Aircraft maintenance & overhaul 5%
4.
Wholesaling
4%
5.
Agriculture
2%
6. Air
freight
1%
7. Other transportation and
Other basic
activities
22%
*There are 3300 manufacturing plants of all types and sizes in Dade County
Although Dade County, in past years, was almost solely dependent upon
the tourist industry, Metropolitan Dade County has, and continues to
refute the belief that no other industry can develop in the area.
The climate seems to also be an asset to industrial growth. Dade
County led the country in industrial growth in recent years, and
according to the United States Department of Labor's reports, from 1960
through 1965 the manufacturing force grew 28.3% ahead of second place
Dallas and third place Atlanta. Annually, up to 300 new business
firms locate or relocate in the Greater Miami area.
The social composition of the people of Dade County is
cosmopolitan. They came from all over the United States and
Canada, as well as South America, and Puerto Rico, and especially is
recent years, Cuba.
There have been integrated in the "melting pot" of this urban area
large numbers of farm people from other areas of Florida, Alabama,
Georgia, and urban dwellers from New York, New Jersey, Illinois,
Pennsylvania and Michigan.
These areas supplied the bulk of the initial influx of population into
the area, however, people from every state in the Union are to be found
in Dade County.
After Castro seized power in Cuba, this area became the refuge for
thousands of Cubans who came as political refugees. The Cubans,
who because of their difference in language, their initial economic
state and the fact that they were strangers in a new, and to them,
foreign country tended to settle in the same areas of the county.
They have consequently populated a large portion of the southwest
section of the City of Miami and formed what is being popularly called
"Little Cuba." This is perhaps comparable to the Ybor City area
in our sister city of Tampa. The approximate total population of
Cubans in Dade County now equals at least 100,000.
We have in Dade County approximately 1,000 Seminole Indians, mostly in
Indian villages. Other groups consist of Japanese, Chinese and
Filipinos. These people, along with those of German, Hungarian,
Russian, Italian, Polish, Greek and other descent are usually second
and third generation Americans who are integrated economically and
socially into the county's population.
There is in addition to these population segments already mentioned
another significant social group, the county's Jewish people.
Many of them, like the earlier Cuban residents, are scattered
throughout the area and have partly intermarried with the Anglo-Saxon
majority of the population. However, a large concentration of
elderly retired persons of the Jewish faith is found on the southern
half of Miami Beach.
The 1960 Census showed 137,299 Negroes in Dade County, approximately
15% of the county's population. The Negro represents the largest
of the "visible" minority groups. They are widely spread
throughout all of the county, however, they have not been absorbed or
integrated as have most other ethnic groups but have formed "Negro"
communities such as in Miami, the "Central Negro District", in the
unincorporated areas, "Liberty City", Bunche Park, Goulds with its
Dixie Pine and Sugar Hill areas, Richmond Heights, plus several
others. The present estimate, using the 15% figure, is that the
Negro today comprises approximately 183,750 persons of the total
population of Dade County.
All things considered, the Dade County area is a large sprawling giant
with many diverse types of endeavors available for its cosmopolitan
population to engage itself.
This sprawling giant is growing in every direction and in every way;
business and industry, cultural, recreational and educational
activities are available. With this growth often comes growing
pains as its people seek the level of existence and the type of
community they wish.
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