Surfside, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Surfside, Florida
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Harding Avenue commercial district
|
|||
|
|||
Location of Surfside in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
|
|||
U.S. Census Bureau map showing town boundaries
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Florida | ||
| County | Miami-Dade | ||
| Founded | May 18, 1935 | ||
| Incorporated | May 18, 1935 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-Manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.564 sq mi (1.461 km2) | ||
| • Land | 0.557 sq mi (1.444 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.007 sq mi (0.181 km2) 1.9% | ||
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 5,689 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
5,472 | ||
| • Density | 9,820/sq mi (3,791/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Code |
33154
|
||
| Area code(s) | 305, 786, and 645 | ||
| FIPS code | 12-70075 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0291892 | ||
| Sales tax | 7.0% | ||
.png)
Surfside is a small town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It is a quiet community located right by the Atlantic Ocean. Surfside is known for its beautiful beaches and many apartment buildings near the coast.
The town is next to Miami Beach to the south and Bal Harbour to the north. To the west is Biscayne Bay, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. Surfside is part of the larger Miami metropolitan area in South Florida. In 2020, about 5,689 people lived there.
Contents
History of Surfside
Surfside has an interesting history, starting as undeveloped land and growing into a town.
Early Development
Between 1923 and 1925, some land in the area that is now Surfside was divided up. From 1924, Henri Levy started developing an area called Biscaya Island. He also worked on land between 87th and 92nd Streets.
In 1929–1930, Russell Pancoast built a famous place called the Surf Club at 90th Street and Collins Avenue.
Becoming a Town
In 1935, 35 members of the Surf Club decided to create the Town of Surfside. They were worried that the nearby city of Miami Beach might try to take over their area. They got a loan of $28,500 to help start the town. Spearman Lewis became the first mayor of Surfside.
Town Growth and Services
In 1956, Surfside bought a large property called the Lehman Estate. They also got more land and built a community center for everyone to use. Hawthorne Park was opened in 1960, giving residents a nice green space.
In 1973, Surfside made a deal with Miami-Dade County to get fire and rescue services. This helped make sure the town was safe. In 1983, a Jewish center called The Shul of Bal Harbour was built on Collins Avenue.
Champlain Towers South Collapse
On June 24, 2021, a sad event happened when part of a 12-story building called Champlain Towers South collapsed. This building was located at 8777 Collins Avenue. It was a very serious event that caused many deaths. The cause of the collapse is still being investigated.
Geography of Surfside
Surfside is a small coastal town with a total area of about 0.564 square miles (1.461 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Street Names and Famous Residents
The streets in Surfside that run from east to west (called avenues) are named after famous British and American writers. They are even in alphabetical order!
In 1979, 95th Street in Surfside was renamed "Isaac Singer Boulevard." This was done to honor Isaac Bashevis Singer, a famous Yiddish writer. He lived on that street from 1977 until he passed away in 1991.
People and Languages
Surfside is home to a diverse group of people.
Population Changes
The town's population has grown over the years. In 1940, only 295 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 5,689 people.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,880 | 2,717 | 50.1% | 47.76% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 53 | 59 | 0.9% | 1.04% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 1 | 2 | 0.0% | 0.04% |
| Asian (NH) | 75 | 79 | 1.3% | 1.39% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 16 | 69 | 0.3% | 1.21% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 46 | 248 | 0.8% | 4.36% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,673 | 2,512 | 46.5% | 44.16% |
| Total | 5,744 | 5,689 | 100.0% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 5,689 people living in Surfside. About 44.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Languages Spoken
In 2000, many different languages were spoken in Surfside. About 49.41% of residents spoke Spanish as their first language. English was spoken by 42.11% of the people. Other languages included Portuguese, Russian, German, Yiddish, and French.
Jewish Community
Surfside has a large Jewish community. In 2021, about one-third of the people living in Surfside were Jewish. It is considered the most Jewish community in the Miami metropolitan area. Around 2,500 Jewish people live in Surfside. Many identify with different branches of Judaism, such as Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.
Education in Surfside
Students in Surfside attend schools that are part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Younger students go to Ruth K. Broad/Bay Harbor K–8 Center in Bay Harbor Islands. For middle school, students can choose Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School. Older students attend Miami Beach Senior High School.
Notable People from Surfside
Many interesting people have lived in Surfside, including:
- Philip B. Hofmann, a former CEO of Johnson & Johnson.
- Jared Kushner, who was an advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Rudolph W. Riefkohl, an officer in the United States Army.
- Isaac Bashevis Singer, a famous Yiddish writer who lived in Surfside for many years.
- Sid Tepper, a songwriter.
- Ivanka Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump and also an advisor.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Surfside para niños
