Opa-locka, Florida
Opa-tisha-wocka-locka (Seminole)
City
City of Opa-locka
Opa-locka City Hall
Opa-locka City Hall
Official seal of Opa-locka, Florida
Seal
Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida
Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida
U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits
Coordinates: 25°54′06″N 80°15′03″W / 25.90167°N 80.25083°W / 25.90167; -80.25083
Country United States of America
State Florida
County Miami-Dade
IncorporatedMay 14, 1926
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorJohn H. Taylor, Jr.
 • Vice MayorNatasha L. Ervin
 • Commissioners
  • Dr. Sherelean Bass
  • Joseph L. Kelley
  • Veronica J. Williams
 • City ManagerDarvin Williams
 • City ClerkJoanna Flores
Area
[1]
 • Total4.48 sq mi (11.61 km2)
 • Land4.31 sq mi (11.16 km2)
 • Water0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2)  3.13%
Elevation
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total16,463
 • Density3,821.49/sq mi (1,475.60/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
33054, 33014 (Hialeah)
Area code(s)305, 786, 645
FIPS code12-51650
Websitewww.opalockafl.gov

Opa-locka /ˈoʊpəˌlɒkə/ is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The city is part of the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,463,[2] up from 15,219 in 2010.[3]

The city was developed by Glenn Curtiss. Developed based on a One Thousand and One Nights theme, Opa-locka has the largest collection of Moorish Revival architecture in the Western Hemisphere,[4] and streets with such names as Sharazad Boulevard, Sinbad Avenue, Sabur Lane, Sultan Avenue, Ali Baba Avenue, Perviz Avenue, and Sesame Street.[4]

The name Opa-locka is an abbreviation of a Seminole place name, spelled Opa-tisha-wocka-locka (or Opatishawockalocka), meaning "wooded hummock" or "high, dry hummock."[5][6]

History

Opa-locka was founded by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss in 1926. Curtiss developed the city with a Moorish architecture theme. While the 1926 Miami hurricane badly damaged the city and brought the Florida land boom to a halt, several Moorish-style buildings survived.[7][8] Twenty of the original Moorish Revival architecture buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Opa-locka Thematic Resource Area.

Amelia Earhart launched her historic trip around the world from Miami Municipal Airport, located at the time in what is now the southern part of Opa-locka.[9] The German dirigible Graf Zeppelin visited Naval Air Station Miami, which later became Opa-locka Airport, as a regular stop on its Germany-Brazil-United States-Germany scheduled route.[10]

In the 1950s, the Opa-locka airport—specifically Building 67—became the site of a large CIA operation, PBSuccess, run by operatives including E. Howard Hunt.[11] The operation helped launch the U.S.-led coup in Guatemala in 1954 and was a precursor to the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. The airfield center then served as a listening post for Cuba until the 82nd Airborne took over Opa-locka Airbase during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[12]

In the 1980s, Opa-locka transitioned from majority white to majority African-American and was seen as a pioneer in black empowerment in northern Dade County[13][14] where neighboring cities (North Miami, North Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, and Golden Glades) were undergoing a similar racial shift. In 1943, Opa-Locka hired its first black police officer.[14] In 1972, the first black city commissioner was elected, Albert Tresvant,[15] who then went on to serve as the first black mayor of Opa-Locka in 1975.[16]

The city was the first community in the United States to commemorate the first African-American president of the United States. A mile-long section of Perviz Avenue—from Oriental Boulevard to Ali Baba Avenue—was renamed Barack Obama Avenue on February 17, 2009.[17]

In addition to the unique buildings, Opa-locka has a large general aviation airport, three parks, two lakes and a railroad station which is currently the tri-rail station. The city is a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial zones. The city was the backdrop for the making of movies such as Salesman, "Living Dreams", Texas Justice, Bad Boys II and 2 Fast 2 Furious.[17]

2016 financial emergency

On June 1, 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott issued Executive Order Number 16-135, declaring the City of Opa-Locka to be in a state of "Financial Emergency" under Florida Statute Section 218.503. According to the Executive Order, the Opa-Locka City Commission requested that the governor declare the financial emergency, the state and the City of Opa-Locka were to execute a State and Local Agreement of Cooperation, and the government would appoint a Financial Emergency Board. On the same day, the Miami Herald reported that "Millions of dollars are in arrears as the city teeters on the edge of bankruptcy" and that "city officials remain under an FBI corruption investigation".[18] The article also reported that this financial emergency was the second declared for the city since 2002.

Just over a week earlier, Opa-locka Commissioner Terence Pinder apparently drove his SUV into a tree at high speed, killing himself. He was scheduled to turn himself over to prosecutors the next day, having faced bribery charges.[19]

On June 10, Governor Scott named the Financial Emergency Board.[20] The City of Opa-locka does not have an Audit Committee to help select the public accountant to perform the independent audited financial statements, as required by Florida Statute 218.391 (2)

Geography

Opa-locka is in northern Miami-Dade County, 12 miles (19 km) north of downtown Miami and 7 miles (11 km) west of North Miami Beach. It is bordered to the north by the city of Miami Gardens, to the east by unincorporated Golden Glades, to the south by unincorporated Westview, and to the southwest by the city of Hialeah.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Opa-locka has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km2). 4.3 square miles (11 km2) of it are land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (3.90%) are covered by water.[1]

Climate

Climate data for Opa-locka, Florida (Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31)		 89
(32)		 92
(33)		 97
(36)		 97
(36)		 98
(37)		 98
(37)		 97
(36)		 96
(36)		 94
(34)		 91
(33)		 91
(33)		 98
(37)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 85.4
(29.7)		 87.1
(30.6)		 89.5
(31.9)		 91.6
(33.1)		 93.0
(33.9)		 94.6
(34.8)		 94.5
(34.7)		 95.1
(35.1)		 93.5
(34.2)		 91.5
(33.1)		 87.2
(30.7)		 86.2
(30.1)		 96.1
(35.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 76.7
(24.8)		 78.8
(26.0)		 81.2
(27.3)		 84.2
(29.0)		 87.2
(30.7)		 89.7
(32.1)		 90.8
(32.7)		 91.1
(32.8)		 89.5
(31.9)		 86.4
(30.2)		 81.6
(27.6)		 78.5
(25.8)		 84.6
(29.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 67.8
(19.9)		 70.0
(21.1)		 72.6
(22.6)		 76.1
(24.5)		 79.7
(26.5)		 82.6
(28.1)		 83.6
(28.7)		 84.0
(28.9)		 82.8
(28.2)		 79.8
(26.6)		 74.0
(23.3)		 70.4
(21.3)		 76.9
(24.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 58.9
(14.9)		 61.2
(16.2)		 64.0
(17.8)		 68.1
(20.1)		 72.1
(22.3)		 75.5
(24.2)		 76.4
(24.7)		 76.8
(24.9)		 76.0
(24.4)		 73.1
(22.8)		 66.5
(19.2)		 62.3
(16.8)		 69.2
(20.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 43.5
(6.4)		 47.1
(8.4)		 50.9
(10.5)		 58.3
(14.6)		 64.9
(18.3)		 71.5
(21.9)		 71.9
(22.2)		 72.3
(22.4)		 72.3
(22.4)		 63.3
(17.4)		 53.9
(12.2)		 49.7
(9.8)		 40.9
(4.9)
Record low °F (°C) 33
(1)		 36
(2)		 40
(4)		 50
(10)		 57
(14)		 69
(21)		 69
(21)		 66
(19)		 64
(18)		 53
(12)		 43
(6)		 34
(1)		 33
(1)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.81
(46)		 2.66
(68)		 2.51
(64)		 2.94
(75)		 6.05
(154)		 8.92
(227)		 8.13
(207)		 8.08
(205)		 8.71
(221)		 7.78
(198)		 2.89
(73)		 2.17
(55)		 62.65
(1,591)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.6 7.2 7.2 6.7 11.5 17.0 18.2 18.0 17.9 12.7 9.5 9.4 143.9
Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[21][22]

Surrounding areas

  Miami Gardens
  Miami Lakes Golden Glades
Unincorporated Miami-Dade County   Golden Glades
  Hialeah North Miami
  Hialeah, Westview

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930339—
194049746.6%
19505,271960.6%
19609,81086.1%
197011,90221.3%
198014,46021.5%
199015,2835.7%
200014,951−2.2%
201015,2191.8%
202016,4638.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[23]
2010[24] 2020[25]

2010 and 2020 United States census

Opa-locka, Florida - Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race Pop 2010[24] Pop 2020[25] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 323 317 2.12% 1.93%
Black or African American (NH) 9,336 8,227 61.54% 49.97%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 21 15 0.14% 0.09%
Asian (NH) 27 40 0.18% 0.24%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 1 2 0.01% 0.01%
Some other race (NH) 21 66 0.14% 0.40%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) 82 192 0.54% 1.17%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,378 7,604 35.34% 46.19%
Total 15,219 16,463 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,463 people, 5,534 households, and 3,607 families residing in the city.[26]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 15,219 people, 5,843 households, and 3,406 families residing in the city.[27]

2000 United States census

In 2000, 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.4% were married couples living together, 35.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.52.

In 2000, the city's population was distributed as 34.6% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

In 2000, $25,000 was the median income for a family. Males had a median income of $22,347 versus $19,270 for females. The per capita income for the city is approximately $15,000. About 31.5% of families and 35.2% of the population are below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 40.8% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 68.45%, while Spanish made up 28.30%, French Creole 2.78%, and French was at 0.48% of the population.[28]

Government

The city of Opa-locka was incorporated in 1926, and operates under a commission/city manager form of government. The city commission consists of the mayor and four commissioners, who are responsible for enacting ordinances, resolutions, and regulations governing the city, and appointing the members of various advisory boards, the city manager, city attorney, and city clerk. As chief administrative officer, the city manager is responsible for the enforcement of laws and ordinances, and the appointment and supervision of the city's department heads.[29] Municipal services include police, sanitation, water and sewer services, storm water services, maintenance of streets and infrastructure, and recreational activities. The financial reporting entity, under which the financial statements are prepared, includes all the activities and functions for which the city is financially accountable.

The federal government has been investigating the city's government since at least 2013. In 2014, auditors reported that basic bookkeeping was non-existent. The Miami Herald reported the mayor and other officials were using city funds for their own benefit. In 2016, the city manager and public works supervisor were arrested, charged with extortion of money in exchange for city permits.[30] Both quickly pled guilty.[31] The city's water system had been used by city workers as means of collecting money for their own use. In August 2016 the city asked the county to take over the system.[32]

Police

The city is serviced by the Opa-Locka Police Department. The department has an authorized force of 54 sworn officers and 10 civilian support staff. According to the city's website, the current chief of police is Scott Israel. In 2022, the city hired Israel, the former Broward County Sheriff as its Police Chief, replacing acting police chief Michael Steel, who had been in the position since Steve Barreira resigned in late October 2021 after just months on the job. In 2019, Israel In a 2013 editorial, the Miami Herald called the city "crime-plagued" and the police department "deeply troubled". Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Israel from his Broward County position in 2019 (replacing him with Gregory Tony), citing Israel's responses to the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting and the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.[33]

Crime

In 2004, Opa-locka had the highest rate of violent crime for any city in the United States.[34] Calvin Godfrey wrote, in a 2009 Miami New Times article, that Opa-locka was "mired in crime and sinking fast."[35] He wrote that the police department, whose headcount had decreased from 50 to 16, had been "steadily deteriorating" for the 20-year period leading up to 2009. The Miami New Times received memorandums that, in Godfrey's words, "reveal an agency rife with controversy".

In January 2005, after negative Florida Department of Law Enforcement evaluations of the Opa-locka police force surfaced, the Miami-Dade Police Department sent county commissioner Barbara Jordan a report that projected it would cost $7 million per period to take over the Opa-locka police duties. In 2005, Opa-locka allocated $3.5 million to its officers. Jannie Beverly, Opa-locka's city manager, fired police chief James Wright in January 2008 after he was accused of corruption.[35] In a 2013 editorial, the Miami Herald called the city "crime-plagued" and the police department "deeply troubled".

According to press reports in late 2011, local officer German Bosque led the state in the number of complaints and internal investigations of his activities. In 18 years, he had been the subject of 40 internal investigations, 16 for excessive force. During his career he had been fired five times and arrested three times.[36]

Opa-locka crime statistics reported an overall downward trend in crime based on data from 12 years, with both violent crime and property crime decreasing. Based on this trend, the crime rate in Opa-locka for 2013 was expected to be lower than in 2010.[37]

Education

An Arab-inspired plaza entrance
A building with Moorish features

Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Opa-locka.

Dr. Robert B. Ingram/Opa-locka Elementary School is located in Opa-locka.[38] North Dade Middle School in Miami Gardens[39] and Hialeah/Miami Lakes Senior High in Hialeah serve the city.[40]

Library

The Opa-locka Branch library is one of the 50 branches included within the Miami-Dade Public Library System. This branch is open to the public on weekdays offering an After School Club and Storytime for children.[41]

Religion

Opa-locka had 30 houses of worship in 1996. During that year, Oscar Musibay of the Miami New Times said, "Like South Beach has hotels, Opa-locka has churches."[42]

Transportation

The modern Opa-Locka Tri-Rail commuter station, next door to the former Opa-Locka Railroad Station built by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and now on the National Register of Historic Places

Opa-locka is served by Opa-locka Executive Airport, owned and operated by the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department. Additionally, Opa-locka is served by Miami-Dade Transit buses and by Tri-Rail via the Opa-locka Station.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "P1. Race – Opa-locka city, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ "UNITED STATES QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "History of Opa-locka Architecture". Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2007.
  5. ↑ Hailey, Arthur (November 1, 1990). The evening news. Corgi Books. ISBN 9780552137133 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ Miller, Mark; Raterman, David (2008). National Geographic Traveler: Miami & the Keys. National Geographic Books. p. 66. Nijman, Jan (2010). Miami: mistress of the Americas. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0812207026.
  7. ↑ "Opa-locka - Town a 'Dream' Come to Life". MiamiHerald.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  8. ↑ "History of Opa-locka Architecture". Opa-locka Community Development Commission. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  9. ↑ Moriaty, William (November 24–30, 2003). "The History of Aviation in Florida". Crazedfanboy.com. La Floridiana. Retrieved April 8, 2006.
  10. ↑ Miller, Alicia Momsen. "From Rio to Akron aboard the Graf Zeppelin, 1933". Archived from the original on February 12, 2003. Retrieved April 8, 2006.
  11. ↑ Chardy, Alfonso. ""Opa-locka field was once the site of secret CIA base", Miami Herald, 20 April 2013". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ Gleichauf, Justin F. ""Keeping Up on Cuba: A Listening Post in Miami," CIA Library, Center for the Study of Intelligence - Studies Archive Indexes. Vol44,No5, 08 May 2007". Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ Fiedler, Tom; Marques, Aminda (March 6, 1989). "City Government Access Builds Stable Community - page 1". The Miami Herald.
  14. 1 2 Fiedler, Tom; Marques, Aminda (March 6, 1989). "City Government Access Builds Stable Community - page 2". The Miami Herald.
  15. ↑ "First Black is Elected in Opa-locka; Pierson, Bowers, Tresvant Lead Vote". The Miami Herald . April 19, 1972.
  16. ↑ Brecher, John (April 17, 1975). "Mayor Maps New Opa-Locka". The Miami Herald.
  17. 1 2 "City of Opa-locka History". OpalockaFL.gov. City of Opa-Locka, Florida.
  18. ↑ Sallahand, Michael (June 1, 2016). "Governor declares financial emergency in Opa-locka". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  19. ↑ Rabin, Charles (May 24, 2016). "Facing bribery charges, Opa-locka commissioner rams SUV into tree, killing himself". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  20. ↑ Maselli, Giovanna (June 10, 2016). "Gov. Scott Names Members In Opa-Locka Financial Emergency Board". CBS Miami. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  21. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  24. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Opa-locka, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Opa-locka, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  26. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  27. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  28. ↑ "MLA Data Center Results of Opa-locka, Florida". Modern Language Association. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  29. ↑ Buteau, Philippe H. (August 29, 2020). "Opa-locka picks new city manager". The Miami Times. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  30. ↑ Sallah, Michael; Weaver, Jay (September 17, 2016). "Opa-locka spent millions on parties, pet projects, bonuses; ignored warnings of financial collapse". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  31. ↑ Weaver, Jay; Sallah, Michael (September 12, 2016). "Former Opa-locka city manager pleads guilty in corruption probe". Miami herald. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  32. ↑ Sallah, Michael; Weaver, Jay (August 31, 2016). "Steeped in scandal and debt, Opa-locka hands over water billing to county". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  33. ↑ Scott Israel hired as Opa-locka Police Chief; accessed July 13, 2022.
  34. ↑ Garcia-Roberts, Gus. "The Curse." Miami New Times. February 10, 2009. 2. Retrieved on February 11, 2009.
  35. 1 2 Godfrey, Calvin. "Opa-locka Boots the Boss." Miami New Times. January 30, 2008. 1 Archived November 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  36. ↑ Anthony Cormier and Matthew Doig, "Tarnished Badge, Flawed System", Miami Herald Tribune, December 4, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Opa Locka Crime Rate Report (Florida)". Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  38. ↑ "DR. ROBERT B. INGRAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL." Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Retrieved on April 25, 2013.
  39. ↑ "NORTH DADE MS." Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Retrieved on April 25, 2013.
  40. ↑ "HIALEAH-MIAMI LAKES SHS." Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Retrieved on April 25, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Branch Opa-locka". Miami-Dade Public Library System. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  42. ↑ Musibay, Oscar. "God Damned." Miami New Times. 1 Archived November 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. May 30, 1996. Retrieved on September 28, 2009.
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