The City of Miami and Little Havana

The City of Miami was incorporated in 1896 and contains a current population of approximately 362,470 inhabitants according to the 2000 census. Within the City of Miami is a a community known as “Little Havana” that stretches along S.W. 8^th Street, approximately one mile northwest of the Orange Bowl Stadium. Landmark sites and attractions within the Little Havana area include the Orange Bowl, home of the University of Miami Hurricanes football team, the 2506 Brigade Memorial, in honor of the Cuban patriots who fought in the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Màximo Gomez Park, better known as Domino Park where people meet over a traditional game of dominoes.

Little Havana is known regionally, nationally and internationally because of the different cultural and social activities such as the “Calle Ocho Carnaval”, parades and folklore that attract millions of people every year. Little Havana’s population is over 50,000 and has the highest residential density in the City of Miami. This residential area is comprised of a combination of single-family, duplex and medium density multi-family structures but the majority of the housing units are apartments. A section of Little Havana (east of S.W. 8^th Avenue and north of S.W. 6 Street) has been designated as part of the Empowerment Zone which will bring numerous economic benefits to the area.

With in the City of Miami, Little Havana has the highest concentration of Hispanics (98%). The Cuban population has experienced a substantial decrease from 84% in 1979 to 58% in 2000, however, groups of Hispanics from other countries, especially Nicaragua, have substantially increased in the last 10 to 15 years (according to the Miami-Dade County census).