Sunny Isles Beach Real Estate

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Sunny Isles Beach is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 15,315. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,399. Sunny Isles Beach is a major center of South Florida's Russian community, with a plethora of Russian stores lining Collins Avenue, the main thoroughfare through the city. It is also a booming resort area and developers such as Donald Trump have invested heavily in construction of high-rise hotels and condominiums. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²). 2.6 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 28.37% water.

 
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As of the census2 of 2000, there are 15,315 people, 8,169 households, and 3,994 families residing in the city. The population density is 5,854.6/km² (15,231.1/mi²). There are 12,946 housing units at an average density of 4,949.0/km² (12,875.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.85% White, 2.03% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.34% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 36.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 8,169 households out of which 12.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% are married couples living together, 8.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 51.1% are non-families. 43.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 23.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.87 and the average family size is 2.55.

In the city the population is spread out with 11.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 32.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 50 years. For every 100 females there are 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $31,627, and the median income for a family is $40,309. Males have a median income of $36,893 versus $28,207 for females. The per capita income for the city is $27,576. 14.7% of the population and 11.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.9% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History of Sunny Isles Beach

In 1920 a private investor purchased a 2.26-square mile tract of land for development as a tourist resort. He named it Sunny Isles -- "The Venice of America."

When the Haulover bridge was completed in 1925, the area became accessible from Miami Beach, attracting developers who widened streams, dug canals and inlets and created islands and peninsulas for building waterfront properties on Biscayne Bay.

In 1926, a group of investors spent nearly one million dollars to build an all-wooden racetrack with stands for 12,000 spectators. After just one "international auto race," the track was destroyed by a major hurricane, its wooden beams blown all over the county. This event, dubbed "Fulford's Folly," was a forerunner to the auto races at Sebring and Daytona.

In 1936 the Sunny Isles Pier was built and soon became a popular destination. In 1982 the ½- mile-long pier was designated a historic site. It is still used by fishing enthusiasts and sightseers today.

Sunny Isles developed slowly until the 1950s when the first single-family homes were built in the Golden Shores area. During the 1950's and 1960's more than 30 motels sprang up along Collins Avenue including Ocean Palm, the first two-story motel in the U.S. Tourists came from all over to vacation in themed motels of exotic design along "Motel Row."

The Beatles were among noted visitors to Sunny Isles, cavorting at the Castaways Motel's famed Wreck Bar on Collins Avenue (State Road A1A) just south of Sunny Isles Boulevard. (The Castaways Motel was demolished in the 1970s and Oceania Towers, the first luxury condominium complex in Sunny Isles, was constructed on the site in the 1990s.)

The popular oceanfront community gained many new residents (both year-round and seasonal) as condominium communities such as Winston Towers and Arlen House were built in the 1970s.

Over the next decade, tourists from Europe and North America, flocked to Sunny Isles hotels and motels attracted by favorable exchange rates and value-for-money accommodation.

New mid- and high-rise multi-family buildings were constructed adding to the residential options in Sunny Isles. The City's three single-family communities, Golden Shores, Atlantic Island and Golden Gate, a luxury enclave at the northern tip of the city, are all on the Intracoastal Waterway.

In 1997, the citizens of this area voted to incorporate as a municipality, thus putting the city on the map as a highly desirable oceanfront community. Sunny Isles Beach is now in the midst of a major redevelopment with mostly luxury high-rise condominiums and some elegant hotels under construction.

Sunny Isles Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort