Important Cities And Towns

Miami
Tampa
Orlando
Jacksonville
West Palm Beach
Panama City
Kissimmee
Lakeland
Fisher Island
Jupiter Island

Miami, Florida

Miami is a city located in southeast Florida in Miami-Dade County on the Miami River, between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean, in the United States.

It is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, as well as its largest city. As of the 2000 census, the city proper had a total population of 362,470. The area is part of the Greater South Florida metropolitan area, which is comprised of Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.

The city of Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County. The continuously-developed county is comprised of many jurisdictions and municipalities, including Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, North Bay Village, Sunny Isles, North Miami Beach, Aventura, North Miami, Opa-Locka, Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Medley, Miami Springs, Westchester (unincorporated), West Miami, Kendall (unincorporated), Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Islandia, Sweetwater, Homestead, and Miami Shores. Together they make Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in the state (est. 2000 Census 2,253,362). A more exhaustive list of municipalities and neighbhorhoods appears under Miami-Dade County, Florida.

When Miami was officially incorporated as a city on July 28, 1896, it had a population of just over 300. Today, a combined 2.2 million inhabitants living in the City and the surrounding urbanized area, in addition to the 1.6 million of neighboring Broward County and 1.1 million of Palm Beach County form the South Florida metropolitan area, the largest urbanized area in the state.

This explosive population growth has been driven by internal migration from other parts of the country, especially the U.S. Northeast, as well as by immigration, especially in more recent years. Today, Greater Miami is regarded as a cultural melting pot, touched by its diverse populations, the majority of whom originate from Latin America and the Caribbean. Partially due to its Romance-friendly linguistic nature, it has also attracted a fair amount of Latin Europeans.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of Florida. It is the largest city in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area which is composed of roughly 2.5 million residents. It is the county seat of Hillsborough County6.

The current mayor of Tampa is Pam Iorio.The word "Tampa" is an American Indian word used to refer to the area when the first European explorers arrived in Florida. Its meaning, if any, has been lost to the ages, though it is sometimes claimed to mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe. Other historians claim the name refers to "The place to gather sticks". "Sticks of fire" may also relate to the high concentration of lightning strikes that Tampa Bay receives every year during the hot and wet summer months. Tampa is located on the West coast of Florida at 27°58'15" North, 82°27'53" West (27.970898, -82.464640)1. It is bordered by two bodies of water: Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 441.9 km² (170.6 mi²). 290.3 km² (112.1 mi²) of it is land and 151.6 km² (58.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 34.31% water.As of the census2 of 2000, there are 303,447 people, 124,758 households, and 71,236 families residing in the city. The 2003 population estimate is 321,487. The population density is 1,045.4/km² (2,707.8/mi²). There are 135,776 housing units at an average density of 467.8/km² (1,211.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 64.22% White, 26.07% Black or African American, 0.38% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.15% Asian, 0.09% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. 19.29% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Being on the coast, winter sees mild temperatures. Highs stay between 65 and 95 °F (18 and 33 °C), and lows rarely go below 40°F (about 5°C). The air is significantly humid, and sometimes there is fog at night and mist in the morning. This lasts for about two months. The rest of the year is warm to hot, especially June through September. Typical weather for a peak-of-summer day in July or August involves highs around 90 °F (32 °C) and high humidity. Stepping outside has been likened by some to walking into a sauna. The summer nighttime temperature drops to only around 75 °F (23 °C). Thunderstorms are a major concern on summer afternoons, especially since Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S. High winds, small hail, and torrential rain often accompany these storms as well, which are generally more severe when blowing in from the land to the east, rather than the water to the west. These storms often survive out over the Gulf at night, where they are easily seen from land. Another major concern for Tampa is the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June to November and peaks around September.Like much of Florida, Tampa's economy is heavily based on services and tourism. There is a huge net influx of cash into the area. Many wealthy people have winter houses there, and the upscale Tampa Palms neighborhood is a favorite destination for retired sports stars. Many corporations, such as large banks and telecommunications companies, maintain regional offices in Tampa, and the city is an extremely popular location for call centers.

Fortune 500 company Publix, a supermarket chain, is headquartered in nearby Lakeland, Florida. Attractions and points of interest Big Red Balloon Sightseeing Adventures offers hot air balloon rides.

Hyde Park is an upscale district in South Tampa. There are many fine shops and restaurants in the area as well as a movie theatre.

Malibu Grand Prix is an entertainment complex with two 18-hole miniature golf courses, a gameroom, and two race tracks.

Seminole Gaming Palace - Seminole reservation, casino, Hard Rock Cafe

The Skatepark of Tampa is a world-famous skatepark, with many professional skateboarders flocking to it in January for the Tampa Am, and in March, for the Tampa Pro.

Tampa Union Station is an historic train station between downtown and Ybor City.

Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District near downtown. It is a hotspot at night (especially on the weekends due to the many nightclubs, bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues in the area). Ybor City and Tampa in general were an integral part of the Florida death metal scene.

Orlando, Florida

The city of Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 185,951 (metropolitan area 1,644,561). A 2003 local population count gave the city had a total population of 199,336 (metropolitan area nearly 1.8 million).

The city is best known for the tourist attractions in the area, particularly the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is in the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Other area attractions include SeaWorld and the Universal Orlando Resort, the latter of which is in Orlando proper. Downtown Orlando has recently seen much redevelopment, despite being far from the main tourist attractions.

Some historians date Orlando's name to around 1836 when a soldier named Orlando Reeves allegedly died in the area, during the war against the Seminole Indian tribe. But, this is a gross distortion of the historical record, as the real Orlando Reeves/Rees operated a sugar mill and plantation about thirty miles to the north at Spring Garden in Volusia County. Pioneer settlers found his name carved into a tree, and assumed it was a marker for a grave site. They thus referred to the area as "Orlando's grave," and later simply "Orlando."

Orlando is only rivaled only to the Twin Cities in the number of natural lakes in its metropolitan area. The region Orlando inhabits is a very low-lying and subtropical in climate. The Orlando area is home to 100+ lakes, the largest of which are Lake Apopka, Eustis, Griffin, Harney, Harris, Jessup, Monroe, Saint Cloud, and Tohopakaliga. The area is also very prone to sink-holes due to the large amount of underground limestone caverns that are also located in the area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 261.5 km² (100.9 mi²). 242.2 km² (93.5 mi²) of it is land and 19.3 km² (7.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 7.39% water.

In the Orlando area, like most metropolitan areas in Florida, the majority of the population lives outside the city proper. Nearby suburbs extend into Seminole County, including Oviedo, which has been listed as one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

wEconomy

To no surprise, a large part of the Orlando area economy is involved in the tourist industry. Tourism surrounding Orlando is worth billions of dollars in the area's economy. Combined domestic and international tourism during 2004 is 48 million visitors. The convention industry is also huge in the area due to the proximity to the area attractions. The Orange County Convention Center is the one of the large convention complexes in the United States. The Orlando International Airport, a world-class facility, and is one of the most heavily travelled airports in the world

wAir

Orlando is served primarily by Orlando International Airport, though nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport is used for charter flights.

wRoads

wRail

The Orlando area is served by one through railroad, CSX's A line (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line), and some spurs, mostly operated by the Florida Central Railroad. Amtrak passenger service runs along the CSX A line. See also a map of these railroads.

The following railroad stations have existed in Orlando:

vAmtrak Orlando station (originally built by ACL to replace Church Street Station, the only one still in use).
v Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Orlando station (now Church Street Station, a tourist attraction).
vSeaboard Air Line Railroad Orlando station (Central Avenue Station).
vEight Oaks (ACL station).
vFormosa (ACL station).
vLivingston (SAL station).
vRowena (SAL station).

wBuses

Orlando is served by Lynx, which runs bus service in the tri-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole).

vCentral Florida Zoological Park, located in Sanford on Lake Monroe. This 100 acre (400,000 m²) zoo is home to a butterfly garden, herpetarium, and numerous tropical animals. This zoo originally started as a collection in the Sanford Fire Department, but grew into a regional zoo in 1975. It is currently in the planning stages of expansion and renaming the facility to "Zoo Orlando at Sanford".

vChurch Street Station, a multi-level shopping mall and entertainment center that features 50 specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.

vCirque du Soleil, in Downtown Disney West Side, features its renowned blend of acrobatics and special effects with more than 70 artists from around the globe performing in a custom-designed, 1,671-seat theater.

vDiscovery Cove, part of the SeaWorld Adventure Park complex. This attraction features tropical fish in a coral reef, snorkeling with stingrays, and interacting with birds in an aviary, as well as swimming and playing with dolphins during a half-hour dolphin encounter.

vGatorland is home to thousands of alligators and crocodiles. A few of Gatorland's residents have made wrangling appearances in movies, television shows and commercial spots. The 54-year-old park combines a petting zoo, bird sanctuary, mini-water park, eco-tour and outdoor entertainment, including daily alligator wrestling.

vHard Rock Live & Hotel is the Hard Rock Café chain's featured location in Orlando. It features a concert venue and large restaurant with typical rock style memorabilia. The Hard Rock Hotel is a featured resort hotel with a California-style restaurant called The Kitchen.

vThe Harry P. Leu Gardens are a superb, 50-acre botanical garden, with excellent collections of camellias, roses, palm trees, and bamboos, and many other species, on landscaped grounds with lakes.

vJungleland, featuring 300 animals, including a pair of Himalayan bears born in 2002, plus leopards, tigers, lions, gator wrestling and a petting zoo. The seven acre (28,000 m²) zoo also has a nearly mile-long path winding around a natural lagoon with black swans and white ibis.

vKennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is 45 minutes from Orlando and south of Daytona Beach. Visitors can tour launch areas, see giant rockets, "train" in spaceflight simulators, and much more. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open every day except Christmas and certain launch days. Apart from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Space Center bus tours run every 15 minutes with stops at an observation gantry and the Apollo / Saturn V Center. Other guided tours include NASA Up Close, Cape Canaveral: Then and Now, and Lunch With An Astronaut. Combo tickets offer maximum access admission, plus one guided tour.
Old Town features 8 restaurants, 15 amusement park rides and 75 shops along its brick-lined streets. Classic car shows every Friday and Saturday feature hundreds of vintage automobiles. Admission and parking are free.

vOrange County Regional History Center
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium is located in a building artfully constructed to appear as if it were collapsing to one side, perhaps a sly reference to central Florida's infamous sinkholes. Explore artifacts, collections, weird art/hobbies and interactive exhibits in 16 odd galleries. For more than 40 years, Robert Ripley traveled the globe collecting the unbelievable, inexplicable, and one-of-a-kind. His collections are housed in 27 museums in 10 countries.

vInternational Trolley and Train Museum features 14 model railroad trains with sound and lighting traveling through an indoor garden with 12-foot high mountains, waterfalls, and more than 30 trestles and tunnels. Also on display are toy trains from the 1920s to the present. Visitors can catch a ride in a California Victorian Style half open/half closed trolley or the 5/8 replica of an 1880 locomotive (a Mason Bogey) with its passenger cars.

vOrlando Museum of Art, which has ongoing exhibitions of American portraits and landscapes, American impressionist works, and art of the ancient Americas.
Morse Museum of American Art, which houses a permanent Tiffany collection featuring an impressive array of Tiffany glass, an exhibit on the Tiffany home, and American paintings from the 19th century.

vCornell Fine Arts Museum, which is situated on the campus of Rollins College, this free museum features significant loans, recent acquisitions, and items from the Cornell's renowned permanent collection.

vBlue Springs State Park, which is the winter home of large numbers of Florida Manatees that come upstream from the St. Johns River to bask in the warm 72°F waters of the springs. Canoeing, swimming and fishing are popular activities at Blue Springs.

vWekiwa Springs State Park, which comprises around 700 acres of wild Florida. The springs pump out 42 million gallons of crystal clear water a day. Popular activities at the park include canoeing, swimming, picnicking and fishing.

vLeu Gardens, which is an inner city oasis covering 50 acres and features colorful annuals, palms, an orchid house, a floral clock and a butterfly garden.

vWorld of Orchids, featuring thousands of blooms in an enclosed tropical rainforest. World of Orchids is a working greenhouse shipping orchids and other plants nationwide. A greenhouse covers nearly an acre, and in this controlled climate of warm, humid air some 1,000 orchids are displayed in a natural jungle setting, with streams, waterfalls, and squawking parrots. World of Orchids also has a 1,000-foot-long boardwalk meandering off into nearby wetlands. Admission is free.

Jacksonville, Florida

A city of northeast Florida on the St. Johns River near the Atlantic Ocean and the Georgia border. Settled in 1816, it is a major port and manufacturing center and the largest city in Florida. Population: 773,000.

Jacksonville. City (1990 pop. 635,230), consolidated (since 1968) with Duval co., NE Fla., on the St. Johns River near its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean; inc. 1832. The largest city in the state, it is one of the most important Southern centers of commerce, finance, and insurance on the Atlantic coast. Jacksonville is a rail, air, and highway focal point and a busy port of entry, with an international airport and ship repair yards and extensive freight-handling facilities. Lumber, phosphate, paper, and wood pulp are the principal exports; automobiles and coffee are among imports. The city also has a large and diverse manufacturing base. Jacksonville is a major East Coast center of U.S. navy operations; three important naval installations are in the area, including Jacksonville Naval Air station and the large Mayport base at the mouth of the St. Johns River.

Jacksonville has a significant retired community and is also a tourist resort, with ocean beaches, fishing and yachting facilities, and inland hunting areas. Educational facilities include Jacksonville Univ., the Univ. of North Florida, Edward Walters College, and Jones College. The city has a symphony orchestra, a jazz festival, a zoo, and museums and art galleries, and is the home of the National Football League's Jaguars and the Gator Bowl. Points of interest include the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Confederate monument in Hemming Park, and nearby Fort Caroline National Memorial (see National Parks and Monuments, table).

Settled in 1816 and named for Andrew Jackson, the first territorial governor of Florida, the city was laid out in 1822. The Seminole War and the Civil War (in which much of the city was destroyed) interrupted its growth, but with the development of a deepwater harbor and railroads in the late 19th cent., industry and commerce increased. A fire in 1901 destroyed a large part of the city; it was quickly rebuilt.

Jacksonville is a city located in Duval County, Florida, USA. It is the county seat of Duval County 6.

As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 735,617. Geographically, it is the largest city in the contiguous 48 states of the United States in terms of land area. It is also the largest city in Florida in terms of population in the city proper. The Jacksonville metropolitan area has over a million residents, which was celebrated with massive parties on the Jacksonville Riverwalk in 1996.

Jacksonville and Duval County are incorporated. All areas of Duval County are considered to be part of Jacksonville, with the exception of the communities of Baldwin, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach.

The area of Jacksonville is 874.3 square miles (2,264.5 km²). Jacksonville was originally named Cowford because the St. Johns River is narrow there, allowing cattlemen to herd cows across the river. The city was renamed in 1822 for the first territorial governor of Florida and the future 7th U.S. President, Andrew Jackson.

In 1513, Spanish explorers landed in Florida and claimed their discovery for Spain. In 1562, the French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribault explored the St. Johns River area and in 1564 the French established Fort Caroline. Spanish troops, led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, from nearby St. Augustine attacked the fort and drove off the French in 1565. Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, who then gave control back to Spain in 1783. The first permanent settlement was founded at Cow Ford in 1791 and Florida became a United States territory in 1821. On June 15th, 1822 settlers sent a petition to the U.S. Secretary of State asking that Jacksonville be named a port of entry; this is the first recorded use of the name. The charter for a town government was approved by the Florida Legislative Council on February 9, 1832.

wWeather

Traditionally, Jacksonville enjoys mild weather in the winter and hot weather in the summer. High temperatures average between 50 and 90 degrees (10-32 degrees Celsius) throughout the year. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the Jacksonville area. Likewise, the area can experience many freezes and hard freezes during the night in the winter months.

Jacksonville is one of the few cities on the Eastern seaboard that have been spared from the wrath of numerous hurricanes. The only hurricane to hit the city has been Hurricane Dora, in 1964. As such, the residents of Jacksonville and surrounding areas are not as prepared in the event of a hurricane as other areas of Florida.

West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach is a city located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 82,103. It is the county seat of Palm Beach County6.

The city was founded by Henry Flagler in 1894, as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth. During the 1920s, the city boomed and was a rival to Miami, leaving it with many historic structures and neighborhoods. The city quickly declined thereafter, however, due to hurricanes, the Great Depression and rampant suburbanization. In the past 10 years, however, the city had undergone a tremendous renaissance as newcomers have rediscovered the city's historic areas and a resurgent downtown entertainment and shopping district. Due to Florida's stringent annexation laws, the city's boundaries remain roughly at their 1920s position, giving the city a population much smaller than the large metropolitan area of nearly 1.2 million people that surrounds it.

In 2000, the city was the focal point of a controversy regarding voting irregularities that some claim may have affected the outcome of the 2000 Presidential Election.

West Palm Beach was the site of the first attacks in the 2001 anthrax attacks

Panama City

Panama City is a city located in Bay County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 36,417. In 1927, the former cities of St. Andrews and Millville were added to Panama City. It is the county seat of Bay County6, located just east on the Gulf Coast from vacation destination Panama City Beach.

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 36,417 people, 14,819 households, and 9,039 families residing in the city. The population density is 685.2/km² (1,774.8/mi²). There are 16,548 housing units at an average density of 311.4/km² (806.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 73.64% White, 21.45% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 2.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 14,819 households out of which 27.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% are married couples living together, 15.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% are non-families. 32.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.92.

In the city the population is spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $31,572, and the median income for a family is $40,890. Males have a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,830. 17.2% of the population and 12.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.5% of those under the age of 18 and 14.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Major employers in the Bay County area include Tyndall Air Force Base, the Coastal Systems Station-Naval Surface Warfare Center, Gulf Power, Arizona Chemical, Stone Container, and Berg Pipe. Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University (Panama City Campus) offer educational opportunities.

The city is served by Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN).

Kissimmee

Kissimmee is a city located in Osceola County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 47,814. It is the county seat of Osceola County6.

Kissimmee (pronounced kiss-SIM-mee, with the accent on the second syllable), on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopokeliga (locally called "Lake Toho") was founded in the mid-19th Century as Allendale. The name was changed when the city was incorporated in 1883.

Cattle ranching was an important part of the economy and large cattle ranches remain nearby.

After the opening of nearby Walt Disney World in 1971, Kissimmee and its neighbouring city of Saint Cloud grew rapidly. As of the census2 of 2000, there are 47,814 people, 17,121 households, and 11,813 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,106.8/km² (2,866.6/mi²). There are 19,642 housing units at an average density of 454.7/km² (1,177.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 67.22% White, 9.99% African American, 0.52% Native American, 3.38% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 14.15% from other races, and 4.66% from two or more races. 41.73% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 17,121 households out of which 37.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% are married couples living together, 15.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% are non-families. 20.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.21.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,949, and the median income for a family is $36,361. Males have a median income of $25,851 versus $21,025 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,071. 15.4% of the population and 12.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.0% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Lakeland

Lakeland is a city located in Polk County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 78,452.

Located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4, Lakeland was first settled in the 1870s, and developed as the railroad reached the area in 1884. Lakeland is home to Florida Southern College, the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world, and one of the first Hindu temples in the United States. Publix supermarkets are also based here.

In 2004, the inland Lakeland was lashed by Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Jeanne and (to a lesser extent) Hurricane Frances.

Lakeland is the "twin city" of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. As of the census2 of 2000, there are 78,452 people, 33,509 households, and 20,373 families residing in the city. The population density is 660.8/km² (1,711.3/mi²). There are 38,980 housing units at an average density of 328.3/km² (850.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 73.52% White, 21.26% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 6.41% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,119, and the median income for a family is $40,468. Males have a median income of $32,137 versus $23,771 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,760. 15.0% of the population and 10.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Fisher Island

Fisher Island is a census-designated place and town located on an island of the same name in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 467.

Fisher Island is 3 miles off shore of Miami, Florida. No road or causeway connects to the island, which is accessible only by private ferry.

Once the home of the Vanderbilts, and later United States President Richard M. Nixon, Fisher Island is an exclusive wealthy community. The island contains mansions, a hotel, and a country club. Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O'Donnell, and Mel Brooks are among the celebrities with homes on the island, which has the highest per capita income of any community in Florida.

The island was created in 1905 by a dredging and land reclamation project in and around Miami Beach. Construction on Fisher Island was begun by developer Carl G. Fisher in 1919, who purchased the property from businessman and real estate developer Dana A. Dorsey, southern Florida's first African American millionaire. In 1925 William Kissam Vanderbilt II traded a luxury yacht for ownership of the island.

After Vanderbilt's death in 1944, ownership of the island passed to U.S. Steel heir Edward Moore, then later to Richard Nixon and Bebe Rebozo.

Further development on the island was started in the 1980s, with architecture matching the original 1920s Spanish style mansions.

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 467 people, 218 households, and 149 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 530.3/km² (1,362.6/mi²). There are 532 housing units at an average density of 604.1/km² (1,552.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 92.08% White, 3.21% African American, 0.00% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. 14.78% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 218 households out of which 19.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% are married couples living together, 5.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% are non-families. 26.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.14 and the average family size is 2.51.

In the CDP the population is spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 45.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 51 years. For every 100 females there are 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP is $0, and the median income for a family is $0. Males have a median income of $0 versus $85,789 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $236,238. None of the population or families are below the poverty line.

Jupiter Island

Jupiter Island is a town located in Martin County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 620. Located north of Palm Beach the closed community houses some of the wealthiest people in the United States.As of the census2 of 2000, there are 620 people, 285 households, and 190 families residing in the town. The population density is 88.0/km² (228.0/mi²). There are 494 housing units at an average density of 70.1/km² (181.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 94.35% White, 1.29% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 2.42% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 5.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 285 households out of which 8.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% are married couples living together, 0.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% are non-families. 27.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.03 and the average family size is 2.30.

In the town the population is spread out with 7.9% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 12.6% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 44.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 62 years. For every 100 females there are 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $0, and the median income for a family is $0. Males have a median income of $56,250 versus $29,545 for females. The per capita income for the town is $200,087. 8.1% of the population and 3.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.