Reso 2006-959 - Laserfiche WebLink

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During the 1960s, the major increase in Miami-Dade County's population was due to the large immigration of Cubans. Today, Cuban and other Spanish speaking people comprise approximately 57% of Miami-Dade County's population. The increase in Hispanic population has had favorable effects on the local economy and has helped to create a multi-national cultural environment in the area. The recent influx of political and economic refugees from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua has put an abnormal strain on public services and has affected the population data in a dramatic manner. However, a recent increase in population growth of people from Latin American, as well as from Europe and Canada, coupled with the increases in population from those people leaving the northern sections of the United States, indicate a positive prospect for the Miami-Dade County area in the future. The overall population of Miami-Dade County is well dispersed throughout the entire area, yet has several key areas of concentration. During the 1960s, several sub-areas accounted for approximately 70% of the growth. These areas include Hialeah, northern Miami-Dade County, the Beach area, the Miami River area, the area southwest of Miami International Airport, as well as the Kendall and Cutler Ridge areas. In the first half of the 1970s, population growth continued in an uneven fashion especially in the urban fringes. Since 1970, approximately three-fourths of the total population growth for the County has occurred in the unincorporated areas. The older centrally located cities such as Miami, Miami Beach and Coral Gables have grown at modest rates from 1970 to 1990. Unincorporated Miami-Dade County has evidenced the most rapid growth which continues to occur in areas in northeast Miami-Dade County (Aventura), as well as the currently expanding $outhwest area, especially in sections of Flagler Street, S.W. 8th Street and North Kendall Drive. Population trends indicate that most of the population growth in Miami-Dade County during the second half of the 2000s will occur in outlying areas such as North Miami Beach, the Kendall area west of the Florida Turnpike, the S.W. 8th Street area west of the Florida Turnpike, the Hialeah-Miami Lakes area, as well as those areas both east and west of U.S. Highway I between Cutler Ridge and Florida City. Employment Trends The dominant characteristic of Miami-Dade County is that it is primarily trade and service based. Personal, business and repair services have had a substantial increase in importance in the economic base over the last decade. The major sectors of the economy include services, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, communications, public utilities, government and manufacturing. The most dominant industries which form the County's economic base are construction and tourism. QUINLIVAN APPRAISAL 10