Bal Harbour, Florida
Encyclopedia
Bal Harbour is a village in Miami-Dade County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 3,305 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²). 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (42.37%) is water.
Bal Harbour Florida is located on the northern tip of the barrier island commonly referred to as Miami Beach; it is the northern-most barrier island in a chain that extends southward up to and including Key West, Florida
.
The main traffic corridor running south to north through Bal Harbour is Collins Avenue, also demarked as Florida State Highway A1A.
A channel between the north end of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic ocean runs across the northern end of Bal Harbour.
A bridge, maintained by the State of Florida connects Bal Harbour to Haulover Park, to the north. Haulover Park is maintained by the Miami Dade Parks Commission.
(Haulover Park
) Biscayne Bay
Atlantic Ocean
of 2000, there were 3,305 people, 1,908 households, and 812 families residing in the village. The population density
was 9,791.4 inhabitants per square mile (3,753.1/km²). There were 3,150 housing units at an average density of 9,332.2 per square mile (3,577.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.46% White (73.4% were Non-Hispanic White,) 1.63% African American, 0.00% Native American
, 0.82% Asia
n, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. 23.00% of the population are Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,908 households out of which 9.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.4% were non-families. 50.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.73 and the average family size was 2.49.
In the village the population was spread out with 10.2% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 37.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females there were 75.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $47,148, and the median income for a family was $83,570. Males had a median income of $51,227 versus $44,500 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $67,680. About 5.6% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. This data only reflects reported income, not overall wealth.
As of 2000, speakers of English
as a first language
accounted for 58.29% of residents, while Spanish
was at 35.13%, Polish
at 2.62%, French
2.13%, Portuguese
0.98%, and Russian
made up 0.82% of the population.
& Associates were called in to design the Village. The company made several plans and they were submitted for review to Miami Beach Heights.
In 1940, World War II began and the plans were put on hold. As a goodwill gesture to the government, Robert C. Graham rented the land to the United States Air Corps for $1 per year. The Air Corps used this land to train their soldiers and established a Prisoner of War camp. The ocean front area was used as a rifle range and the barracks were set up on the west side of Collins Avenue. The camp for prisoners was located where the Bal Harbour Shops are presently.
In 1945, the war was over in both Germany and Japan. The Air Corps left the barracks buildings as a thank you to the owners of the property. These barracks were converted into apartment homes by Mr. Graham in 1946.
In order to incorporate a city in 1946, there had to be at least 25 male registered voters residing in the area. Mr. Graham had twenty five families move into the apartment homes that he had converted in order to qualify the Village for incorporation. He then hired Willard Webb, a Miami Beach tax assessor, to draft a charter for the Village. After the charter was completed, the Village of Bal Harbour was incorporated on August 14, 1946, by Mr. Graham and 25 male registered voters. The Village was operated under the city manager form of government.
The Council established a volunteer fire department
.
Swamp
land was filled, sea walls were constructed and the yacht basin was created. Contracts were signed for the sewer systems, water pumping stations and utilities. Bal Harbour was the first planned community in Florida to have its utilities placed underground. Developers set guidelines for the development of the beachfront and the residential areas. Collins Avenue was paved into four lanes with a landscaped median and later widened to the present day six lanes. Village plans indicated that ocean front property was to be 200 feet (61 m) deep and lots approached $100,000. Lots in the residential area were about 1800 square feet (167.2 m²) and cost from $6,500 to $20,000.
The first hotel was built and was named "The Kenilworth By-the-Sea." It was built by Tom Raffington and made famous by Arthur Godfrey. It has since been demolished and is now the Kenilworth Condominium.
The first home was built at 160 Bal Cross Drive. It was built by Mr. Robert C. Graham Jr., who was the son of Bal Harbour Developer Robert C. Graham.
Construction for the Sea View Hotel was started.
Bal Harbour Village was re-incorporated by a special act of the 1947 Florida Legislature
and its own charter was issued June 16. This new charter supplemented the original incorporation under the General Laws of Florida. In accordance with the new charter, an election to select five to serve on the Council was held June 30. The Council elected were: Edward L. Bonneau, Robert C. Graham, Jr., Glenn E. Massnick, George Whittaker, and Judge Julien Southerland. Judge Southerland was chosen as mayor. Willard Webb, who had been acting manager since the first organization, was appointed as Village Manager. Mary Wetterer was named Village Clerk and Herold Dickey was appointed Chief of Police.
, one of the most productive shopping venues in the world (by revenue). Bal Harbour Shops is anchored by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other stores include Gucci, Chanel, Brioni, Tiffany's, and many other top-designer boutiques. Bal Harbour is home to a large Jewish population, though there is no temple in Bal Harbour. (There are two in neighboring Surfside.) According to recent census demographics (see above), Bal Harbour is one of the most affluent zip codes in Florida. Neighboring Indian Creek, Florida
is the highest-income place in the US, according to the 2000 census.
Bal Harbour is very safe, according to crime statistics provided by the Bal Harbour Police Department. There is a strong police presence in the Village, despite its small size. There are red-light cameras at nearly every intersection.
Bal Harbour is an exclusive place to live, as prospective residents must first be vetted by strict condo association boards or home owners associations. Interestingly, it is home to the highest concentration of palm trees than anywhere else in the world. Bal Harbour is a most luxurious and peaceful village, nestled within the high-paced, large South Florida metro area.
A name was invented to encompass a city that ran from the bay to the Atlantic Ocean. The "b" was taken from the word bay and the "a" and "l" were taken from the name Atlantic.
Hence the word "Bal" was created.
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,305 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Bal Harbour is located at 25°53′35"N 80°7′33"W (25.893005, -80.125729).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²). 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (42.37%) is water.
Bal Harbour Florida is located on the northern tip of the barrier island commonly referred to as Miami Beach; it is the northern-most barrier island in a chain that extends southward up to and including Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
.
The main traffic corridor running south to north through Bal Harbour is Collins Avenue, also demarked as Florida State Highway A1A.
A channel between the north end of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic ocean runs across the northern end of Bal Harbour.
A bridge, maintained by the State of Florida connects Bal Harbour to Haulover Park, to the north. Haulover Park is maintained by the Miami Dade Parks Commission.
Surrounding areas
Unincorporated Miami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
(Haulover Park
Haulover Park
Haulover Park is a urban park in metropolitan Miami, just north of Bal Harbour, Florida. The park is located on a shoal between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, just north of the Broad Causeway and Collins Avenue.-History:...
) Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is a lagoon that is approximately 35 miles long and up to 8 miles wide located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida, United States. It is usually divided for purposes of discussion and analysis into three parts: North Bay, Central Bay, and South Bay. Its area is...
Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
- Bay Harbor IslandsBay Harbor Islands, FloridaBay Harbor Islands is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,146 at the 2000 census. It is separated from the mainland by Biscayne Bay, with which it is connected via the Broad Causeway. On the mainland side, BHI is bordered by the city of North Miami, while to...
Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area... - Bay Harbor IslandsBay Harbor Islands, FloridaBay Harbor Islands is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,146 at the 2000 census. It is separated from the mainland by Biscayne Bay, with which it is connected via the Broad Causeway. On the mainland side, BHI is bordered by the city of North Miami, while to...
Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
SurfsideSurfside, FloridaSurfside is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,909 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,710.-Geography:...
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,305 people, 1,908 households, and 812 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 9,791.4 inhabitants per square mile (3,753.1/km²). There were 3,150 housing units at an average density of 9,332.2 per square mile (3,577.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.46% White (73.4% were Non-Hispanic White,) 1.63% African American, 0.00% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.82% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. 23.00% of the population are Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 1,908 households out of which 9.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.4% were non-families. 50.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.73 and the average family size was 2.49.
In the village the population was spread out with 10.2% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 37.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females there were 75.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $47,148, and the median income for a family was $83,570. Males had a median income of $51,227 versus $44,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $67,680. About 5.6% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. This data only reflects reported income, not overall wealth.
As of 2000, speakers of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as a first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
accounted for 58.29% of residents, while Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
was at 35.13%, Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
at 2.62%, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
2.13%, Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
0.98%, and Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
made up 0.82% of the population.
History
Since the 1920s, the Detroit-based Miami Beach Heights Corporation (headed by industrialists Robert C. Graham, Walter O. Briggs, and C.T. Fisher) owned 245 acre (0.9914807 km²) of undeveloped, partially swampy land that stretched from the bay to the Atlantic. Mr. Graham assumed the duties as the developer for Bal Harbour. In the 1930s, city planners Harland BartholomewHarland Bartholomew
Harland Bartholomew was an American urban planner. Although a civil engineer by training and disposition, Harland's career started just as the automobile production was about to take off, industrial development was booming and urban populations grew...
& Associates were called in to design the Village. The company made several plans and they were submitted for review to Miami Beach Heights.
In 1940, World War II began and the plans were put on hold. As a goodwill gesture to the government, Robert C. Graham rented the land to the United States Air Corps for $1 per year. The Air Corps used this land to train their soldiers and established a Prisoner of War camp. The ocean front area was used as a rifle range and the barracks were set up on the west side of Collins Avenue. The camp for prisoners was located where the Bal Harbour Shops are presently.
In 1945, the war was over in both Germany and Japan. The Air Corps left the barracks buildings as a thank you to the owners of the property. These barracks were converted into apartment homes by Mr. Graham in 1946.
In order to incorporate a city in 1946, there had to be at least 25 male registered voters residing in the area. Mr. Graham had twenty five families move into the apartment homes that he had converted in order to qualify the Village for incorporation. He then hired Willard Webb, a Miami Beach tax assessor, to draft a charter for the Village. After the charter was completed, the Village of Bal Harbour was incorporated on August 14, 1946, by Mr. Graham and 25 male registered voters. The Village was operated under the city manager form of government.
The Council established a volunteer fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
.
Swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
land was filled, sea walls were constructed and the yacht basin was created. Contracts were signed for the sewer systems, water pumping stations and utilities. Bal Harbour was the first planned community in Florida to have its utilities placed underground. Developers set guidelines for the development of the beachfront and the residential areas. Collins Avenue was paved into four lanes with a landscaped median and later widened to the present day six lanes. Village plans indicated that ocean front property was to be 200 feet (61 m) deep and lots approached $100,000. Lots in the residential area were about 1800 square feet (167.2 m²) and cost from $6,500 to $20,000.
The first hotel was built and was named "The Kenilworth By-the-Sea." It was built by Tom Raffington and made famous by Arthur Godfrey. It has since been demolished and is now the Kenilworth Condominium.
The first home was built at 160 Bal Cross Drive. It was built by Mr. Robert C. Graham Jr., who was the son of Bal Harbour Developer Robert C. Graham.
Construction for the Sea View Hotel was started.
Bal Harbour Village was re-incorporated by a special act of the 1947 Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
and its own charter was issued June 16. This new charter supplemented the original incorporation under the General Laws of Florida. In accordance with the new charter, an election to select five to serve on the Council was held June 30. The Council elected were: Edward L. Bonneau, Robert C. Graham, Jr., Glenn E. Massnick, George Whittaker, and Judge Julien Southerland. Judge Southerland was chosen as mayor. Willard Webb, who had been acting manager since the first organization, was appointed as Village Manager. Mary Wetterer was named Village Clerk and Herold Dickey was appointed Chief of Police.
- In 1947, the Church by the Sea was built.
- In 1948, the Beach Club was built. Its restaurant was operated by Howard Johnson'sHoward Johnson'sHoward Johnson's is a chain of hotels and restaurants, located primarily throughout the United States and Canada. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Howard Johnson's was the largest restaurant chain in the United States, with over 1,000 restaurants...
. - In 1949, a new bridge was started over Baker Haulover.
- In 1956, the current Village Hall was built.
- In 1956, the Hotel Americana was built. It became the Sheraton Hotel in 1980. It was imploded on November 18, 2007 to build a set of condos and a luxury aparthotel as the St. Regis.
- In 1959, Bal Harbour's beach was renovated due to severe erosion.
- In 1965, the Bal Harbour ShopsBal Harbour ShopsBal Harbour Shops is an upscale open-air shopping mall in Bal Harbour, a wealthy suburb of Miami, Florida, known internationally for its collection of luxury retail. Bal Harbour Shops is one of the few remaining family-owned malls in the nation...
was built by the Whitman family. Stanley Whitman was one of the incorporators who lived with his family in the barrack apartments. - In 1971, Bal Harbour's beach started a major renourishment project.
- In 2008, The new Regent Bal Harbour opened, becoming the northern gateway to the Village.
Culture
Bal Harbour is an small, affluent Village located between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in northen Miami-Dade County. It is home to Bal Harbour ShopsBal Harbour Shops
Bal Harbour Shops is an upscale open-air shopping mall in Bal Harbour, a wealthy suburb of Miami, Florida, known internationally for its collection of luxury retail. Bal Harbour Shops is one of the few remaining family-owned malls in the nation...
, one of the most productive shopping venues in the world (by revenue). Bal Harbour Shops is anchored by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other stores include Gucci, Chanel, Brioni, Tiffany's, and many other top-designer boutiques. Bal Harbour is home to a large Jewish population, though there is no temple in Bal Harbour. (There are two in neighboring Surfside.) According to recent census demographics (see above), Bal Harbour is one of the most affluent zip codes in Florida. Neighboring Indian Creek, Florida
Indian Creek, Florida
Indian Creek is a wealthy village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 33 at the 2000 census and was the 8th highest-income place in the United States.* As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
is the highest-income place in the US, according to the 2000 census.
Bal Harbour is very safe, according to crime statistics provided by the Bal Harbour Police Department. There is a strong police presence in the Village, despite its small size. There are red-light cameras at nearly every intersection.
Bal Harbour is an exclusive place to live, as prospective residents must first be vetted by strict condo association boards or home owners associations. Interestingly, it is home to the highest concentration of palm trees than anywhere else in the world. Bal Harbour is a most luxurious and peaceful village, nestled within the high-paced, large South Florida metro area.
Name
The original name chosen for Bal Harbour was Bay Harbour. However, the planning committee didn't think that was appropriate for a city that was on the beach.A name was invented to encompass a city that ran from the bay to the Atlantic Ocean. The "b" was taken from the word bay and the "a" and "l" were taken from the name Atlantic.
Hence the word "Bal" was created.
External links
- Village of Bal Harbour official website
- Bal Harbour Shops upscale mall