#077 Miami Beach 1960's statistics & history from 1400
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MIAMI BEACH
1. . AREA
An island just off the southeast coast of Florida. Land area 7.1 square
miles, water area 10 square miles. Total water frontage 63.26 miles,
including ocean frontage and public:beaches. 5 feet above sea level.
Latitude 25.47'N, Longitude 80018'W.
Located 562 miles south of Los Angeles and )00 miles south of Cairo,
Egypt.
The island is about ten miles long in a north-south direction and a mile
or less wide.
It is separated from the mainland by Biscayne Bay, which varies in width
from one to three miles.
Former peninsula
"The former peninsula, which comprises the entire city of Miami
Beach save for the outlying islands included within the city limits,
has been made into an island by the cutting of a channel through the
narrowest neck of land to the north, a strip known as Baker's Haulover. n
--From Magic of Miami Beach, p. 14
CLIMATE
Average temperature in 1960 76.2 degrees
In 1960 on only 8 days did the temperature reach 90 degrees or
above. 91 on September 12
1960
Average Daily Maximum
Average Daily Minimum
January
April
June
September
December
74.5
79.4
85.1
86.0
74.0
63.1
69.9
77.8
77.3
61.5
Relative humidity average (taken over 17-year period)
1:00 A.M. 85%
7:00 A.M. 85%
1:00 P.M. 60%
7:00 P.M. 74%
66% per year
Cle ar
155
Cloudy
11.4
(19-year
average)
Partl~ Cloudy
90
Percent possible sunshine (18-year average)
Me an No. days
\
....
MIAMI BEACH
2. POPULATION
Resident Population
Winter Peak Estimates
63,145
644
6,494
28,012
46,282
(1960 Census)
150,000
1920
1930
1940
1950
35,000
75,000
107,200
.% increase from 1950-1960
% population under 18
36.4%
13.4%
28.2%
58.5%
% population over 65
% population 18-64 yrs.
Number of households
Population per household
29,684
2.11
Population in group
quarters
647
0.9%
(1%)
Non-white population
(From Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
"Let' s Look at the Facts" 1961)
Median school years completed,
persons 25 years old & over 10.7
% having completed 4 yrs. h.s.
or more 43.2%
% employed persons in white
collar occupations 64.7%
Median income
% families with income
under $3,000
% families with income
over $10,000
$4,411
36.4%
18.4%
(From U.S. Census 1960
Florida. General Social and
Economic Characteristios)
MIAMI BEACH
2.' POPULATION (Continued)
% population foreign born
'"
32.9%
% population native (residing
in state of birth) 10.0%
Foreign born population
(Largest groups)
Yiddish
Russian
German
Polish
Hungarian
Spanish
Rumanian
Total foreign stock
Country of origin of the
foreign stock
(Largest groups)
U.S.S.R.
Poland
Austria
Germany
Hungary
Rumania
United Kingdom
3. INCORPORATION
20,787
9,451
2,622
1,471
1,358
787
735
438
Total
42,000
17,791
6,027
4,199
1,855
1,670
1,633
1,549
(From u.s. Census 1960
Florida. General Social and
Economic Characteristics)
March 26, 1915 Town of Ocean Beach
May 25, 1917 City of Miami Beach
4. NAME ORIGIN
Miami (means sweetwater)
MIAMI BEACH
5.' . HISTORY
1400 Indian town in mangrove jungle that is now Miami Beach.
Tequesta tribe. Related in language and customs to the
Calusa, the principal tribe of Southern Florida during
the Spanish occupation
1567 Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles built a Spanish mission here
to Christianize the Indians, establish a port of call and
exploit the area for the SpaniSh Crown
1850 Are~ described as inaccessible to ordinary tourist and un-
opened for the settler. A few remaining Seminole Indians
lived here, having supplanted the Tequestas.
1870 Henry Lum and his son visited the island, a waste of palmettos
and mangroves; a haven for rattlesnakes, mosquitoes, wildcats,
racoons, oppossum, rabbits and bears,
The Lums bought a tract 01" beach land 1"rom the government at
35~ an acre. They planned a coconut plantation and interested
Ezra Osborn and E. T. Field of Middletown, N. J. in the venture.
The latter formed a company and bought 6) acres 1"rom the govern-
ment north of the Lum holdings. The Lum holdings extended south
from what is now 14th street. This 1"irst venture failed
because wild rabbits ate the young plants before they could
mature.
1896 John S. Collins, a ~ew Jersey merchant and horticulturist, and
a member of the group that had invested in the enterprise came
to check on nis investment. In spite of the failure, he felt
that the land had unlimited possibilities. After several
years Collins bought Osborn's share and became Field's partner.
1907 Collins and Field began clearing the land in order to plant a
grove of avocados. The grove was about 1000 feet from the
ocean, a mile long and about. 700 i"eet wide. About. JOW
avocado trees were planted. The r~st season's crope was
killed by salt and spray from the ocean. Field then sold his
holdings to Collins, who became the sole owner of 1,670 acres
of oceanfront land.
Collins plau\:.ed a screen 01' Australian Pines to protect his
fruit from the salt spray and soon had a thriving grove of
avocados. Many 01' tbese pines still remain on }fuami Beach's
Pine Tree Drive.
MIAMI BEACH
,.
S. HISTORY (CONTINUED)
1911
Collins Canal was begun to facilitate transportation.
were approximately It) carl-oads a year)
(There
Thomas J. Pancoast, Collin's son-in-law, came down to check
for the family, which was skeptical about Collin's venture.
Pancoast, too, b~came enthusiastic.
1912 On "Tune 3 Collins formed the Miami Beach Improvement Company
with P&!coast as secretary, treasurer and manager.
Two days later the Ocean Beach Realty Company was chartered.
It was headed by John Newton Lummus and began developing the
area south of 14th street, the holdings that had been those
of the Lums.
1912 In July construction began on Collins Bridge.
When t~ey ran out of money, Carl G. Fisher of the Prest-O-Lite
Company, who had built the Indianapolis Speedway, became
interested and loaned Collins $50,000 to complete the b~idge.
1913 June 12 Collins Bridge was formally opened to the public.
Fisher received as a bonus for his loan 200 acres of land
running through the island. He formed the Alton-Beach Realty
Company (name from Chicago, Northwestern and Alton Railroad),
and purchased another' 200 acres. He later combined with
Collins and Pancoast in the Miami Beach Bay Shore Com;pany
which was formed to buy up more land for development purposes.
Fisher also loaned money to Lummus to help develpp the Beach
south of 14th street.
These pioneers began clearing and filling in the land. They
employed an army of men, pwnping boats, dredges, barges and
set an 18-inch pipeline over a mile long before they succeeded
in pumping enough sand from the bottom of Biscayne Bay to
cover the mangrove roots on the land. Then soil was brought
in from the Everglades, grass sown, trees, flowers and shrubs
transplanted to the island.
Fisher installed an electrical power plant and water system. He
built golf courses, polo fields, bathing casinos and hotels.
He launched an advertising campaign. J.N. Lummus and his brother
spend large sums advertising Miami Beach in other cities during
the years 1913-1916.
"-
MIAMI BEACH
5. HISTORY (CONTINUED)
Much of the landscape gardening in Miami Beach was done by one man.
Kotaro Suto, a gardener for Carl Fisher, did much to transform a
wasteland into a tropical garden: and paradise. For more than 35
years, he went around beautifying public grounds and private lawns.
When people tried to pay him, he said, "Suto not need money. City
must be pretty."
The Fishers sent Suto buck to Japan in 1920 to find a wife . Finally,
he returned with Masa, the daughter of a Kanagewa silk merchant.
Carl Fisher gave them a small tract of land and Suto started his own
nursery business. He grew thousands of trees and plants, but for
every one he sold, he planted dozens more along the city's streets.
When Miami Beach grew Suto took on the plans as personal projects and
donated his plants and talent to beautify them. He planted the entire
length of Lincoln Road with flowering oleanders. His business prospered
and he trained dozens of gardeners and soon was serving some 100 estates.
During the depression, after the public library had been built, Suto
stepped jn, since there were no funds for it, and transformed the grounds
surrounding the building into a lovely park.
When Kotaro Suto was 70 in 19.50 he planned to return with Masa to
Japan to live. He was honored at the Miami Beach City Hall and
Mayor Katzentine gave him a re-entry permit obtained from Washington in
case he changed his mind.
After a short stay in Japan the Sutos were homesick. They returned
and Katzentine coached Suto_for his citizenship papers.
"
1915 On March 26 town of Ocean Beach was incorporated. ~.N. LUJlU11US
was the first mayor.
MIAMI BEACH
6. GOVERNMENT
Form - Ci ty Manager
Officials
City Hall 1130 Washington Ave.
O.M. Pushkin (Voted in by City Council
March 7, 1962 following resigna-
tion of Morris N. LiJ2p. To be
effective in 60 days)
Ci t)' Manager
Hayer
Vice-Mayor
Kenneth Oka June 1965
Mal vin Englander June 1965
Councilmen
D. Lee POlfell
Bernard Fr ank
Marcie Lieberman
Melvin Richard
Wolfie Cohen
June
June
June
June
June
1903
1965
1963
1963
1963
City Clerk and Taz Collector
Auditorium and Convention Hall
Hanager
City Attorney
Dir. of Convention Bureau
Police Chief
Fire Chief
Park Superintendent
General Recreation Officer
Personnel Director
Municipal Golf Course Manager
Manager Parking Meter System
R.\-Jm L. Johnson
Claude D. Ritter
Joseph Wanick
Thomas F. Smith
Hichael Fox
D.C. Kennett
John Poulos
Jack Woody
Tom Womble
Arthur Gleason
O.T. Rothwell'
Miami Beach 9ity FinMCOJl
Budget for Oct. 1, 1961 - Oct. 1, 1962 Est. $14,000,000
Increase of about! million dollars over last year's budget
Tax rate $19.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation (19 mills)
Sources of income
59% from real and property taxes
Operations of city departments
licenses, utility
franchises, vehicle
inspections, use of
Use of money and property
State cigarette tax revenue
Various funds for specific purposes
Assessed valuation of city property 1960 $455,268,950
MIAMI BEACH
7. EDUCATION
The public school system is controlled at the county level. Miami Beach
does not maintain a separate system. The boundaries of districts served
by each school do not in every instance correspond with the physical
boundaries of Miami Beach. Treasure Island Elementary School is located
in North Bay Village and serves part of Miami Beach and part of Normandy
Island.
Miami Beach Junior and Senior High School serves all districts immediately
north of the city--Bal Harbour, Surfside and the Sunny Isle District.
Miami Beach has 9 public schools
7 parochial schools
9 private schools
Public Schools
Bay Harbor Elementary
Biscayne Elementary
Central Beach Elementary
North Beach Elementary
South Beach Element ary
Treasure Island Elementary
Enrollment in Public Schools Sept. 1961
3,452 Elementary (incl. Kindergarten)
1,937 Nautilus and Ida M. Fisher Jr.
Ida M. Fisher Jr. H.S.
Nautilus Jr. H.S.
Miami Beach Junior-Senior H.S.
H.S.
1,847 Miami Beach Senior H.S.
7,236 Total enrollment (6,817 in 1960)
Normandy Prep School opened Sept. 13, 1961
Only co-educational private school in So. Florida
devoted to a junior-senior high school program
Talmudic Theological College of America planned for Miami Beach
Dr. Isaac Hirsh Ever
Purpose - college for Rabbis operated soley on the basis of
scholarships so that no Jewish youth would be
denied this career for lack of money
ADULT EDUCATION
Adult programs are carried on in community centers by the Miami Beach
Recreation Department Information Je 1-0271
MIAMI BEACH
8. TRANSPORTATION
Air There is no airport in Miami Beach. Miami International Airport
is 12 miles west of Miami Beach and can be reached in 15 minutes
on the new expressway.
Railroad There is no railroad in Miami Beach. Two trunk line railroads
have stations in Miami.
Bus .Subsequent to this report Metro bought the bus lines and a labor
strike ensued. It has been announced that Miami Beach service
was restored on all lines~a
Miami Beach Railway provides intra-city and to-and-from Miami
service. 90 buses including 10 express buses. 9 routes totaling
254.9 miles, including 1 to Miami express route. Coast Cities
Coach line has 1 route of 18 miles. Two regularly scheduled
intercit~T bus lines with terminals in Miami, one wi"\ih Miami Beach
terminal.
cJitneys
that used to operate between Miami and Miami Beach were discon-
tinued when tlleir franchise was transferred to the bus lines
and an express air-conditioned bus service was established
instead.lI
HighwaE
u. S. 41, Florida AlA, Florida 195 and Florida 828. other
hi~lways to Greater Miami include U. S. 1, U. S. 27, u. S. 441,
Florida 7, Florida 9, Florida 25A, Florida 815 and Florida 826.
Also Sunshine State Parkway.
Limousines provide service to the Miami International Airport.
Taxis number 204 licensed by the City of Miami Beach. cIt may be inter-
esting to note that taxis are licensed by the municipalities and
can pick up passengers only in their individual municipality..
Rental ~ are available from many companies.
Sightseeing buses
3 companies operate a number of buses.
Water Boat dockage facilities at private basins and at some hotels,
motels and aparunents. Boat rental and charter fishing boats.
Port of Miami nearby.
(From "Let's Look at the Facts" about Miami Beach, Florida, April 1961
and other sources)
(Continued)
MIAMI BEACH
8. TRANSPORTATION (Continued) - CAUSEWAYS
VENETIAN CA USEltlA Y (toll)
Formerly Collins Brid~e which was opened to the public on June 12, 1913.
This first bridge was expanded into the Venetian Causeway and was opened
to the public March 1, 1926. It cost $2,505,300 and is now owned by the
Dade County Port Authority.
It extends from Dade Boulevard (17th & Alton) in Miami Beach to 15th
street in Miami. It crosses the following islands, east to wests Belle
Isle, Rivo Alto, Di Lido, San Marino (within Miami Beach city limits)
and San Marco and Biscayne Islands (within Miami city limits). It is
called the "Short Way" to the central and northern part of Miami Beach.
MacARTHUR CAUSEWAY (free)
Formerly Count}'" Causeway which was opened to the .pub1ic February 1920.
It was renamed in 1942 for General Douglas MacArthur. Recent major
improvements have eliminated use of drawbridges for small vessels.
It extends from 5th Street in Miami Beach to 13th Street in Miami.
JULIA TUTTLE (J6th STREET) CAUS~AY (free)
This causeway, which is part of the federal Interstate Highway system,
connecting with the expressways, was opened in December 12, 1959. It
was named in honor of Mrs. Julia Tuttle, Miami pioneer.
It extends from 41st Street in Miami Beach to 36th. Street in Miami.
NORTH BAY CAUSETNAY (free)
This causeway extends from 1lst Street in Miami Beach to 79th Street
in Miami. It crosses Normandy Isle in Miami Beach and Treasure and
North Bay Islands comprising the municipality of North Bay Village.
BROAD CAUSETtlAY (toll) extends from 96th Street in Bay Harbor Islands
(or from 96th Street in Surfside) to 124th Street in North Miami. It
is outside the city limits of Miami Beach but is used by Beachites as
are other facilities "up the line" - extending Miami Beach to the
Gold Coast.
MIAMI BEACH
. 9. ,INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS
Retail Trade
Total
Establishments
1958
1,385
Sales
1958
~160,027,OOO
28,027,000
Establishments
1954 \)
1,312
Food Stores, Total 161
Eating, Drinking Places,
Total 315
Gen'l Merchandise, Total 41
Apparel, Accessories,
Stpres, Total 359
Furniture, Home Furnish-
ings, Equipment
Store s, Total 41
174
Sales
1954
$121,040,000
23,540,000
35,898,000
8,689,000
268
28
29,195,000
2,380,000
39,593,000
367
34,879,000
Other Retail Stores,
Total 255
:L2,351,000 50 3,541,000
10,246,000 10 4,335,000
5,832,000 39 3,993,000
4,435,000 19 1,458,000
9,699,000 57 6,825,000
14,173,000 247 10,720,000
Source: U.S. Census of Business
1954 and 1958
Automotive Dealers,
Total 18
Gasoline Service Sta-
tions, Total 46
Lumber, Bldg. Materials,
Hardward, Total 26
Drug & Proprietary
Stores, Total 55
MIAMI BEACH
9. INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS
Belected SerYioes
Establishments
1958
1,374
Receipts
lY5l:S
~120,794,000
Establishments
1954
1,140
Total
Hotels, Motels, Tourist
Courts, Camps, Total 417
Personal Services, Total 452
92,609,000 336
8,896,000 408
6,600,000 130
3,015,000 50
1,034,000 40
3,406,000 )
) 148
)
5,234,000 )
Establishments
1958
Miscellaneous Business
Services, Total 146
Auto Repair, Auto Services,
Garages, Total 60
Miscellaneous Repair
Services, Total 58
Motion Pictures, Total 20
Amusements, Recreation Ser-
vices, (except motion
pictures) Total 221
Kinds of Business
Hotels
Motels, Tourist Courts
Trailer parks
Sporting, recreational
Camps
362
53
o
)
)
)
)
2
Rece~4ts
19
$82,369,000
62,596,000
6,273,000
3,732,000
2,443,000
705,000
6,620,000
Establishments
1954
336
34
Source: U.S. Census of Business
1954 and 1958
10. AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
No figure available
Median income $4,411 (U.S. Census 1960
Florida. General Social and Economic
Characteristics)
MIAMI BEACH
li. RADIO AND TV STATIONS
Radio
WFUN 790 kilocycles
WKAT 1360 II
WMET 1490 "
WMET-FM 93.9 megacycles
Television (Miami)
WTHS-TV
WTVJ
WCKT
WPST-TV
Channel 2
Channel 4
Channel 7
Channel 10
Educational
CBS
NBC
ABC
12. NEWSPAPERS
Miami Beach Sun (daily) (evening and daily racing ed. during season)
Miami Beach Times (weekly)
Miami Beach Reporter (weekly)
13. TRENDS AND ~l DEVELOPMENTS
City of Miami Beach expenditures for public improvements
in past ten years, 1951-1960 $31,000,000
Completed within the last five years
Miami Beach Senior H.S.
Lincoln Road Mall
Convention Hall
Major improvements authorized by the city for the near future
Widening and paving Collins Ave. approx.
$100,000
525,000
164,000
600,000
1.50,000
1,175,000
Enlargement of fire statio'n and ne\oT equj.pment
Development of Oceanfront Park
Youth Center (North Shore Park)
New library building
Garden Center
Garden Center and Conservatory to be located
between Washington and Meridian on south bank
of Collins Canal close to the Convention Hall
To be opened Fall 1962
To be used by school ehildren, garden club members
and the gener~l public. Lectures on different
types of exotic plants. Plants from center will
be used for landscaping and for exchange with
botanical gardens throughout the world
MIAMI BEACH
14. CONVENTION FACILITIES
In 1959-60 more than 279,000 convention delegates and visitors spent
nearly $50,000,000
2 municipally owned auditoriums (total seating cap. 4,069)
and 3 meeting rooms
1 municipal convention hall (15,900)
with 10 meeting rooms accomodating from 70 - 825 persons eaoh
Hotels (April 1961) 372
Hotel rooms
29,967
Motels, tourist courts 53
Apartment buildings 2,312
15. LIBRARIES
Miami Beach Public Library
2100 Collins Avenue
Branch: 707 71 st.
Bookmobile
Book Collection about 83,000 vols. Staff
Reference about 6,000 vols.
Librarian Oscar C. Everhart
Budget 1960-61
Budget 1961-62
$159,460
170,378
Per capita income
1962
%)2.74
Department Heads
Children's Kathryn Lower,y
Circulation Evelyn Hawkins
Reference Jean Yardley
Technical
Processes Ruth Perry
Boo lanob ile
Branch
Sue Burns
Elaine Pehr
Miami Beach Law Library (AUXiliary Law Library
420 Lincoln Road of Dade County)
Librarian
Louie C. Sneeden
MIAi'11 BEACH
i6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Miami Beach Retirement Hotels
Blackstone
Boulevard
Fleetwood
li'loridian
Helene
Lavin Monterey
President Madison
Wofford Beach
(See also Burt Garnett's list
''It/hat Price Retirement?", a list
of low-cost residential hotels
for senior citizens in Florida)
Lincoln Road Mall
$600,000 shoppers mall
8 blocks long Washington Ave. to Alton Road
100 ft. wide
Dedicated Monday, November 28, 1960
First permanent shopping promenade in America (Miami Beach Bulletin,
Dec. 1960)
History of Lincoln Roa~
Mr. Carl Fisher called the island "'Alton Beach" named for
the Chicago, Northwestern and Alton Railroad. I But, when Mr.
Fisher began to pave Lincoln Road, he changed the name of the
island to Miami Beach.
The first building to go up on Lincoln Road was the Shadows,
FiSher's horoo, in 1917.
Idea for a "mall" on Lincoln Road was first mentioned in 1942.
~The Lincoln Road Progress Association renewed interest in it. On
June 2, 1959 voters of Miami Beach amended the city charter, granting
the city power to construct malls on city streets as assessable
projects. On November 3, 1959 the free-holders approved a bond
issue for a mall on Lincoln Road between Alton Road and Washington
Avenue.
--From article by Morris N. Lipp,
"A DOlmtOl'ffi Pedestrian Mall" in
the Municipal South, Nov. 1960.
MIAMI BEACH
16. ADDITIONAL INFOR}~TION (CONTINUED)
Parking Meter System
Miami Beach is a pion€ler in off-t.he-.l:treet parking. The
purpose is lito prevent the city's tourist economy from
suffering traffic strangulation and congestion. II
Claude A. Renshaw, former city manager, conceived the city's
parking plan in the late 1930' s and Morris Lipp, city engineer,
helped him devise the plan.. They began with the purchase of
about 200 meters in 1938. In 1940 the first off-street lot
was devloped on cityo-owned land to serve Lincoln Road shopping.
In 1942 an area was developed for accomodation of bathers at
the south end of the city with an ocean front tract. These
two areas were financed with current funds.
An enabling act was adopted by the state legislature in 1949 and
in 1950 the first revenue bond issue was validated and approved
by the courts. ~7~0,000 in term bonds was due in 1975. (Last
of these bonds were paid off Jan. 1, 1961)
During 1958 parking revenue bonds were sold to finance the
double-decking of the Lincoln Lane parking area and some other
expansions. (Last of these bonds will be due in lY78. At
the present rate they should be redeemed before 1970)
When the whole parking system is debt-free the city fathers oan
use the revenue for many years for improvements and extension
of the syst.em.
Community Leaders and Officials
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
Parks Rusk, President 1962-63
Leonard A. Baker, General Manager
(See also the Chamber of Conooerce List of Organizations)
FLORIDA
1.
AREA:
Land and Water -
Land
Water -
58,560 sq. miles
54,282" "
4,298 " "
Florida lies between the 31st & 24th parallels, North Latitude
2. POPULAT ION s 1960 Census 4,951,560
% Over 65 11.2%
Gain Over 1950 - 78.7%
Rank among states, 1960 10th
3. ADM! TTED TO UNION: March 3, 1845
4. NAME ORIGIN: Ponce de Leon, in search of the "Fountain of Youth"
in 1513, discovered land on Easter Sunday (Pascua Florida),
and so, christened the land, Florida, land of flowers.
5.
HISTORY:
1513:
Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, joined Columbus' second
voyage to the New World, and in 1513 sailed in command of a
three-ship expedition from Puerto Rico and landed near Ponte
Vedra Beach, ,just north of St. Augustine on April 2, 1513.
1539: Hernando de Soto, Governor of Cuba and Adelantado of Florida,
landed near Tampa Bay with six hundred men. For years the
explorers wandered allover Spanish Florida (the southeastern
U.S.) and across the Mississippi searching for gold. DeSoto
died in 1542 near the Mississippi.
1565: The Spanish nobleman, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, sailed June 29,
1565, with 34 ships and finding a suitable harbor on August 28,
1565, on the feast day of St. Augustine, named the place
St. Augustine. This settlement is the oldest within present-
day United States.
1649: Mission work flourishing in Christianizing Indians.
1698: The Spaniard D' Ariola established Pensacola.
1761-1763: War between Spain and England; Havana captured by the
British, but restored to Spain in exchange for Florida.
1763-1783: Under British rule, and in 1783 Florida exchanged with
Spain for the Bahamas.
1819: Treaty signed; Florian transferred to the United States.
1821: Treaty became effective and Andrew Jackson became Military
Governor, East and West Florida.
1822: Congress established civil government and William P. DuVal
became the first Territorial Governor.
Florida - Page 2
1835-1842: Seminole Wars. General Zachary Taylor, later President,
led troops.
1845: Florida became a State, with the first State Governor being
William D. Moseley.
1861: Florida seceded from the Union on January 11th, but Union forces
held Fort Taylor at Key West; Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugae
in the Keys; and Fort Pickens at Pensacola.
1876: Florida's electoral vote was decisive in making Republican
Rutherford B. Hayes President when both sides claimed victory.
1914: World's first scheduled airline began January 1st, St. Petersburg
to Tampa.
1920'S: The greRt Florida land boom.
1926s Devastating hurricane.
1933s Mayor Anton Cermak of Chicago wounded fatally when assassin
fired at President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Miami's
Bayfront Park.
6.
GOVERNMENT:
Governor - Farris Bryant Term expires January
(The Governor may serve four years and is
not eligible for a regular successive
term. )
Secretary of State - Tom Adams "
Attorney General - Richard W. Ervin "
Comptroller - Ray E. Green "
Treasurer - J. Edwin Larson "
Supt. of Public Instruction - Thomas D. Bailey
Commissioner of Agriculture - Doyle Conner
5, 1965
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CAPITOL: Tallahassee, Florida
LEGISLATUREs Meets every two years; next session: Spring, 1963
7. EDUCATION: See "Florida Handbooky 1961-62, p. 340
8. TRANSPORTATION: ~ "Florida Handbook", 1957-58 (orange), p. 212
Flori da - Page :3
9. INDUSTRIES: The TouriRt Trade is Florida's Number 1 Industry.
Tourists: 1929 1,925,000
1961 12,000,000
About 10% of State's income is derived from tourists.
PERSONAL INCOME IN FLORIDA, 1959:
Retail & Wholesale Trade
Service Trades & Professions
* Manufacturing
Government (Civilian)
Construction
Communications & Utilities
Agriculture
Finance, Real Estate & Ins.
Other
$1,593,000,000
1,063,000,000
913,000,000
846,000,000
771,000,000
549,000,000
520,000,000
512,000,000
76,000,000
* MANUFACTURING includes the following major types:
Food & Kindred Products 16.4 % of Income
Fabricated Metal Products 12.9
Paper & Allied Products 10.4
Che~icals & Allied Products 10.3
Printing, Publishing 9.2
Transportation Equipment 6.8
L\rmber & Wood Products 6.7
Stone, Clay & Glass 6.3
Other (includes Furniture,
Garment, Machinery, and
Tobacco industries) 20.9
23.3 tf,
15.5
13.3
12.4
11.3
8.0
7.6
7.5
1.1
19.3 % of Employment
7.6
7..5
8.1
7.5
8.1
9.1
6.3
26.5
Source: University of Florida. State Economic Studies No. 13, June,1961)
10 . AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS:
Factory Workers: $83.69 (National average is $95.99)
Average Hourly Wage: Florida: $1.96
11. RADIO & TV STATIONS:
12. NEWSPAPERS:
Daily - 56; Weekly & Other - 203;
Total: 259
13. TRENDS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
CUBAN REFUGEES: AddreRs of Centers: -501 N.E. l~t Avenue; FR 4-7466
-S.w. 12 Avu. & Coral Way
Avg. Weekly Registration: 2000
No. Registered: 102,400 (N 3-9-62)
AIR FORCE MISSILE TEST CENTER, Cape CanAveral, is a little over
11 years old. The Government to AuguRt, 1961, has poured
$688 millions into land, buUdings, equipment,etc. The yearly
payroll of whole operation now is t136 million.'
Per'3or..el Income in Brevar& County: 1950 $25 million
1~60 $275 million
Between 1950 and 1960 Brevard County vms the fastest growing county
in the entire United St1'\tes. Population: 1950 23,653
1960 111,435
% IncreaRe: 371.1 ~
14. CONVENTION FACILITIES:
15. LIBRARIES:
See "Florida Library Directory".
CORAL GABLES
1 . AREA
About l~ square miles of land area
Southwest of Miami
Elevation 11 feet
Coral Gables is about six miles from downtown Miami.
It is bordered on the east and north by Miami; on the
west by West Miami and South Miami; and on the south-east
by Biscayne Bay.
2. POPULAT ION
1960 Census 34,793
(Winter population estimated at 50~000)
Characteristics of population:
(1960 Census)
Per cent employed in white collar occupations
(Florida 42.5%)
74.1%
Per cent with income over $10,000
(Florida 11.1%)
38.3%
Median income
(Florida $4,722)
$7,993
Per cent completed 4 years high school or more
(Florida 25.1%)
70.9%
Median school years completed
(Florida 10.9 yrs)
12.8
Foreign born population
Per cent . (Of Coral Gables population)
(Florida 5.5%)
3,459
9.9%
Largest group --
Next largest
Spanish 784
Norwegian 749
3. INCORPORATION
April 29, 1925 Incorporated as a city
4. NAME ORIGIN
Named for the homestead built by George Merrick's father, the
Reverend Solomon Merrick, around the turn of the century. Construc~~d
of coral rock with a gabled roof, it was called Coral Gables.
5. HIsrORY
1921 The first streets laid out and the first lots sold.
... But for almost ten years before this, the vital work
of planning and designing had been going on. Coral Gables
was planned completely on paper before a single street
was laid out or a lot sold. The three men most responsible
for this planning were:
George Merrick, the founder of Coral Gables, poet, dreamer
and builder
Denman Fink, Merrick's uncle, artist and designer
H. George Fink,architect
(For more about George Merrick, see last page of Coral
Gables section.)
1925 Incorporated as a city, April 29, 1925.
Building permits amounted to more than $25 million.
Charter for the University of Miami granted.
1926-
1927
Disastrous hurricane, followed by:
Financial collapse.
1930
With a population of only 5,697, the city was $9,000,000
in debt.
1932
Building virtually at a standstill.
1935 A new lease on life: Building permits up to nearly $500,000.
1937 Refunding plan adopted.
A refunding plan had been worked which would repay 94% of
the city's total debt. On January 1st, 1937, this plan
was adopted. It provided that half of the debt be paid by
means of refunding bonds and that Tax Participation
Certificates be issued to cover the remaining fifty per
cent. The debt would be paid from city taxes with fixed
millages beginning (in 1937) with 6 mills and increasing
(HISTORY - Continued)
to 8 mills in 1957. The Tax Participation Certificates
were scheduled to expire in 1977 regardless of any unpaid
balance then remaining.
When this plan was adopted in 1937, the debt (with the
accumulated interest) amounted to over eleven million
dollars. (Financial experts of that day agreed that a
city the size of Coral Gables could never hope to repay
such a gigantic debt in full. However, this story has a
happy ending. With the influx of northerners after World
War II, the population of Coral Gables grew very rapidly
and there was a corresponding increase in building. As a
result of this (combined with honest government and good
business methods) the Tax Participation Certificates were
actually paid in full on August 1st, 1961, sixteen
years before their expiration date.)
1940 Population 8,294
1950 Population 19,867
1960 Population 34,797
With the inrush of northerners seeking sunnier climes
after World War II, the population more than doubled
between 1940 and 1950; and in 1960 the population was
more than four times the 1940 figure.
1961 Tax Participation Certificates paid in full.
The City Commission now turned its attention to certain
needs for capital improvements which had had to be
deferred during the years of debt service struggle. One
major improvement was completed in 1961, - the new,
modern (and somewhat spectacular) fire station on Dixie
Highway.
1962 Coral Gables looks to the future.
Another urgent need to be filled in the near future is
a new Public Library. Construction is expected to start
in 1962. The new Library will be centrally located,
next to the City Hall.
The undeveloped section of the City, about four square
miles along Biscayrre Bay, is in the process of development
with approximately 17% already filled and subdivided. It
is adjacent to Matheson Hammock and Fairchild Tropical
Garden.
.........
6. GOVERNMENT
Form of government:
Council - Manager
Five-man Commission (council), one of whom is
mayor.
City Manager appointed by the Commission
City Commission:
Robert L. Searle, Mayor
Joseph H. Murphy, Vice Mayor
J.G. Dressel
Franklin J. Evans, M.D.
George M. Wilson
Term expires 1963
1965
1965
1963
1963
Cit Y Manager:
L.W. Robinson, Jr.
7. EDUCATION
Number ofopublic Schools
Public School Enrollment (Dec.1961)
Number of Private Schools
Number of Universities
University of Miami Enrollment (Dec. 1961)
5
6502
7
1
14,419
Public Schools
The public schools of Coral Gables are part of the Dade
County system, one of the best in the nation. Within this
system Coral Gables High School is recognized as outstanding
in its scholastic standards. (In the National Merit
Scholarship Program it ranked in 1961 among the top 16
schools, out of 15,000.)
The University of Miami
The University of Miami, founded in 1925, is located in
Coral Gables. The land for its main campus (160 acres) was
donated by George Merrick who, from the beginning, had
envisioned in his plan for Coral Gables a great university
linking the cultures of the Americas.
8. TRANSPORTATION
Bus System
Coral Gables has its own bus system, city-owned and operated,
which includes express service to downtown Miami.
Airport
Miami International Airport is ten minutes' drive from the
business district.
~
9. INDUSTRIES
Light industry:. Industrial plants of a clean, "smokeless" type
operate in a section of the city zoned for such purposes. They
include communications and radio systems, awnings, venetian blinds,
wrought iron, house furnishings, clothing, cosmetics and novelties.
10. AVERAGE EARNINGS
Median income
Per cent with income over $10,000
$7,993
38.3%
(1960 Census)
(1960 Census)
Annual average effective buying income per household
(From Sales Management Survey of Buying Power, 1961)
$8,566
11. RADIO STATION
WVOG Radip Station
377 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables
12. Newspapers
Coral Gables Times (weekl y)
364 Sevilla Avenue, Coral Gables
Rolfe Neill, Editor & Publisher
13. Trends and New Developments
See 1962 under Histo~.
14. Convention facilities -- None
15. Libraries
Coral Gables Public Library
University of Miami Library
Coco Plum Woman's Club Library
Approx.
Approx.
Approx.
40,000 volumes
500,000 volumes
8,000 volumes
"SIGHrS TO SEE" IN CORAL GABLES
City Hall and the Miracle Mile
The Venet ian Pool
The University of Miami
Fairchild Tropical Garden
The New Fire Station on Dixie Highway
The Sewage Treatment Plant (With Murals)
TOUR
A Tour of Coral Gables will be among the tours
scheduled for Thursday afternoon, June 21st.
GEORGE MERRICK, FOUNDER OF CORAL GABLES
1898 1942
1886 Born in Springdale, Pennsylvania, son of a Congregational minister. '.
1898 Came to Florida with his family; helped his father start the fruit
and vegetable plantation which was to become the largest one in South
Florida.
1907 Entered Rollins College.
1908 Entered New York Law School.
1911 At his father's death, returned to manage the plantation.
1914 Started in the real estate business.
1916 Married Eunice Peacock, daughter of one of the founders of Coconut Grove.
1921 With 1600 acres and $500,000 in cash, and with a city plan already
fully developed on paper, he began to sell lots for his "dream city",
Coral Gables.
"Merrick brought together expert architects, city planners and
engineers of national prominence and he constantly asked the counsel
of Mr. Denman Fink (later Professor of Painting at the University of
Miami), who ... did the original designing of such notable Coral Gables
landmarks as Venetian Pool, City Hall, entrances, plazas and public
buildings. Fink was the artist who conceived design and Phineas Paist,
A.I.A., was supervising architect who carried out the plans to their
completion. Frank Button was the first landscape architect. Tropical
plants were inported from various points around the globe.
uFor two years Merrick sent his architects to the Mediterranean islands
and to the South Seas to study designs which he believed were the ones
best adaptable to South Florida. ... Originally all construction in
Coral Gables: was of a mixed Spanish and Italian design which Merrick
called Mediterranean... Perhaps unique among the fabulous real estate
developers of his day was Merrick's intense desire to create not for
profit but to give all spiritual and educational advantages so necessary
to the well-rounded community.
"Gradually, more modern architecture has been permitted but always
strictly supervised by the architectural board. ... Coral Gables has
never relaxed its ri~id zoning, architectural and building standards
set up by Merrick."
*Quoted from "Coral Gables History" by Mary T. Moore, Coral Gables Chamber 'of
Commerce, March, 1950.