Bal Harbour, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bal Harbour, Florida
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| Village of Bal Harbour | ||
Collins Avenue in Bal Harbour
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Location of Bal Harbour in Miami-Dade County, Florida
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U.S. Census Bureau map showing village boundaries
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| Country |  United States of America |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County | Miami-Dade | |
| Incorporated | 1946 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.64 sq mi (1.66 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) | |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,093 | |
| • Density | 8,075.72/sq mi (3,115.01/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
33154
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| Area codes | 305, 786, 645 | |
| FIPS code | 12-03275 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0278057 | |
| Website | balharbourfl.gov | |
Bal Harbour is a small village located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It's part of the larger Miami metropolitan area in South Florida. In 2020, about 3,093 people lived there.
Contents
History of Bal Harbour
How Bal Harbour Began
In the 1920s, a company from Detroit owned 245 acres of land in this area. It was mostly undeveloped and swampy. A man named Robert C. Graham led the effort to develop this land. In the 1930s, city planners helped design the future village.
Choosing the Name "Bal Harbour"
The first name thought of was "Bay Harbour." But the planners wanted a name that showed the village was between the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. So, they took the "b" from "bay" and the "al" from "Atlantic." This created the unique name "Bal Harbour."
Bal Harbour During World War II
When World War II started in 1940, development plans were paused. Robert C. Graham let the United States Air Corps use the land for only $1 a year. The Air Corps used it to train soldiers and even set up a Prisoner of War camp. The oceanfront was a rifle range, and barracks were built on the west side of Collins Avenue. The prisoner camp was where the Bal Harbour Shops are today.
Becoming an Official Village
After the war, in 1946, Graham turned the old barracks into apartments. To become an official village, there needed to be at least 25 male registered voters living there. Graham helped 25 families move in to meet this rule. On August 14, 1946, Bal Harbour officially became a village. It was set up with a city manager government.
Building the Village
The village council quickly started a volunteer fire department. They filled in swampy areas and built sea walls. A yacht basin was also created. Bal Harbour was the first planned community in Florida to have its utilities, like water and sewer systems, placed underground. This was a very modern idea at the time!
Developers made rules for building along the beach and in neighborhoods. Collins Avenue, a main road, was paved and later widened. The first hotel, "The Kenilworth By-the-Sea," was built and became famous. The first home was built by Robert C. Graham Jr., the son of the developer.
Important Years and Changes
In 1947, Bal Harbour got a new official charter from the Florida Legislature. This helped set up the village government more formally. An election was held, and the first mayor, Judge Julien Southerland, was chosen.
Over the years, more important buildings were added:
- 1947: The Church by the Sea was built.
- 1948: The Beach Club opened.
- 1956: The current Village Hall was built.
- 1956: The Hotel Americana was built, which later became a Sheraton. It was taken down in 2007 to build the luxurious the St. Regis Bal Harbour.
- 1959: The beach was fixed due to erosion.
- 1965: The famous Bal Harbour Shops were built by the Whitman family.
- 1971: A big project began to replenish Bal Harbour's beach.
- 1984: The community worked to ensure everyone could own property, making the village more welcoming.
Bal Harbour Today: A Luxury Destination
Since 2015, Bal Harbour has become known worldwide as a luxury spot. The village has worked hard to promote itself as a top travel destination. This has helped increase tourism and bring in more visitors.
Geography of Bal Harbour
Where is Bal Harbour Located?
Bal Harbour is a small village, covering about 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers). About 0.3 square miles (0.99 square kilometers) is land, and the rest is water.
It's located on the northern tip of a barrier island often called Miami Beach. This island chain stretches south all the way to Key West, Florida.
Main Roads and Waterways
The main road running through Bal Harbour is Collins Avenue, also known as Florida State Highway A1A.
At the northern end of Bal Harbour, there's a channel called Baker's Haulover Inlet. This channel connects Biscayne Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. A bridge connects Bal Harbour to Haulover Park, which is just to the north.
Neighboring Areas
Bal Harbour is surrounded by:
- To the north: Unincorporated Miami-Dade County (where Haulover Park is).
- To the east: The Atlantic Ocean.
- To the west: Biscayne Bay and Bay Harbor Islands.
- To the south: Surfside.
Population of Bal Harbour
Bal Harbour has seen its population grow over the years:
- 1950: 224 people
- 1960: 727 people
- 1970: 2,038 people
- 1980: 2,973 people
- 1990: 3,045 people
- 2000: 3,305 people
- 2010: 2,513 people
- 2020: 3,093 people
Who Lives in Bal Harbour?
According to the 2020 United States census, there were 3,093 people living in Bal Harbour. Most residents are White (65.83% non-Hispanic). About 26.80% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Bal Harbour
Students in Bal Harbour attend schools run by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
- Younger students (Kindergarten to 8th grade) usually go to Ruth K. Broad/Bay Harbor K–8 Center in Bay Harbor Islands.
- For middle school, students can also choose Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School.
- High school students attend Miami Beach Senior High School.
Notable People from Bal Harbour
Many interesting people have lived in Bal Harbour, including:
- Micky Arison: The owner of the Miami Heat basketball team and CEO of Carnival Cruise Line.
- Edith Bouvier Beale: A socialite and fashion model, and a cousin of Jacqueline Onassis.
- Michael Redstone: An American businessman who founded a large theater company.
- Siegmund Spiegel: An architect, activist, and war hero.
See also
In Spanish: Bal Harbour para niños
