AVENTURA, FLORIDA

'Aventura' is a city located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name is from the Spanish word for "adventure," and was named "Aventura" because that was the name of the original group of condominium developments in the area. The name predates the well known mall (Aventura Mall) built near the condominium developments. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city had a population of 30,027.Aventura city, Florida, United States Census Bureau. Accessed july 31, 2007.

Contents

History

Geography and Climate

Geography

Climate

Demographics

Languages

Transportation

Government

Media

Area attractions

Education

References

External links

History

Most of what would later become the City of Aventura was initially developed during the late 1970s and into the 80s as a high-rise residential area by Oxford Development Company, when the area was still mostly swampland known as '"Biscayne Gardens"'. Some of the Miami area's tallest and most prestigious condominium towers are located there.
Aventura is also home to the Aventura Mall, a high-end regional mall which was developed by Donny Soffer and Eddie Lewis of Oxford Development and is currently owned by Simon Property Group and Soffer's Turnberry Associates. The enormous success of the mall encouraged explosive growth in the area and saw the closure of stores at the competing The Mall at 163rd Street, which only recently has been revitalized. On November 7, 1995, the City of Aventura was incorporated.

Geography and Climate

Geography

Aventura is located at (25.964345, -80.135818).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 km² (3.5 mi²). 7.0 km² (2.7 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (23.08%) is water.

Climate

Aventura has a tropical climate.^[1] The city does experience cold fronts from November through March, however most of the year is warm and humid, and the summers are reminiscent of a true tropical climate. In addition, the city sees most of its rain in the summer (wet season) and is mainly dry in winter (dry season). The wet season, which is hot and humid, lasts from May to September, when it gives way to the dry season, which features mild temperatures with some invasions of colder air, which is when the little winter rainfall occurs-with the passing of a front. The hurricane season largely coincides with the wet season.
In addition to its sea-level elevation, coastal location and position just above the Tropic of Cancer, the area owes its warm, humid climate to the Gulf Stream, which moderates climate year-round. A typical summer day does not see temperatures below 75°F (21°C). Temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s (30-35 °C) accompanied by high humidity are often relieved by afternoon thunderstorms or a sea breeze that develops off the Atlantic Ocean, which then allow lower temperatures, although conditions still remain very muggy. During winter, humidity is significantly lower, allowing for cooler weather to develop. Average minimum temperatures during that time are around 59°F (15°C), rarely dipping below 40°F (4°C), and the equivalent maxima usually range between 65 and 75 °F (18-24 °C).
Aventura receives abundant rainfall. Most of this rainfall occurs from mid-May through early October. It receives annual rainfall of 58.6 inches (146.5 cm).^[2] The South Florida metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, is the second largest metropolitan area in the world after Tokyo that receives regular cyclonic activity. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, although hurricanes can develop beyond those dates. The most likely time for Aventura to be hit is during the peak of the Cape Verde season which is mid August through the end of September.^[3]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 14,000 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,613.2/km² (9,344.7/mi²). There were 20,020 housing units at an average density of 2,862.9/km² (7,404.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.1% White, 1.70% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.7% of the population.^[4]
In recent years, Aventura has experienced a significant influx of Latin-American Jews.
There were 14,000 households out of which 11.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.2% were non-families. 45.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.79 and the average family size was 2.45.
In the city the population was spread out with 10.1% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 35.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,526, and the median income for a family was $59,507. Males had a median income of $50,791 versus $37,682 for females. The per capita income for the city was $41,092. About 5.6% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Aventura is known for its substantial Jewish population^[5], many of whom come from the Northeast (New York, New Jersey, etc.) Besides American Jews, there are also Hispanic Jews and Israelis also residing in the city.

Languages

As of 2000, speakers of English as their first language accounted for 59.92% of the population, while Spanish accounted for 22.63% of residents. Those who spoke Hebrew were at 3.66%, and Yiddish was spoken 2.78% of the population. Other languages spoken include Portuguese 2.65%, French 2.40%, Russian 1.75%, and German at 1.46% of city residents.^[6]

Transportation

The Aventura Express shuttle bus is a city run public bus service, free to Aventura residents. The Miami-Dade Transit, and Broward County transit bus systems also run through the city. The Miami-Dade Metrorail and Metromover does not, however, serve the city.
The main north-south road in the city is Biscayne Bouelevard and the main east-west route is the William H. Lehman Causeway. Although no interstates run through the city, I-95 is just 5 minutes away.
Aventura is between south Florida's two main airports, the Miami International Airport and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, both 15 minutes away.

Government

Aventura has a Manager-Commission form of government. The City Commission is the legislative branch of the government and the City Manager is the executive branch of the government.
The City Commission enacts ordinances, the laws of the city, adopts resolutions authorizing actions on behalf of the city, reviews plans for development, and establishes the policies by which the city is governed.
The City Manager oversees the day-to-day operations, administers the city's service providers, prepares long-range plans, and implements the policies established by the City Commission.
The City Commission hires the City Attorney, City Clerk and City Manager who then hire all subordinate employees.

★ Eric M. Soroka, City Manager

★ Teresa M. Soroka, City Clerk
The City Commission comprises seven members, the Mayor and six Commissioners.

★ Susan Gottlieb , Mayor

★ Zev Auerbach, Commissioner

★ Bob Diamond, Commissioner

★ Harry Holzberg, Commissioner

★ Billy Joel, Commissioner

★ Michael Stern, Commissioner

★ Luz Urbáez Weinberg, Commissioner

★ Jason Bohn, Commissioner

Media

Aventura is served by the for local radio and Television. Aventura has its own newspaper, Aventura News which is published weekly and is part of Miami's Community Newspapers, " The Voice of the Community". The town has a magazine named ''Aventura'' and is served by ''The Miami Herald'', ''El Nuevo Herald'', and the ''Sun-Sentinel''.

Area attractions

Perhaps one of the most famous attractions is the Aventura Mall, a 2.4 million square foot indoor shopping center located in the center of the city. The city also has its own exclusive park, Founders Park, and an outdoor mall named the Shops at Waterways. Although not inside the city limits, some of south Florida's finest beaches are just a few minutes away from Aventura, across the William H. Lehman Causeway.
In addition, Aventura is the home of International Jewelers Exchange which has made Aventura its home for over 26 years. It features over 50 individual high end jewelry stores in one location just a few blocks south of the Aventura Mall.

Education

Aventura is served by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system.
The Aventura City of Excellence School is the only public school located within the City of Aventura. It is a K-8 charter school that is sponsored by the city. It is an award winning school despite the fact that it was built and opened in 2003. The school was ranked in the top 10 of all schools in Florida in 2006. Children who live in Aventura are given admission preference during the admission lottery held every year. The school has an enrollment cap of 100 students per grade so that the school will never be overcrowded
Other Schools that serve Aventura include:

★ Virginia A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary School (Unincorporated Miami-Dade County)

★ Greynolds Park Elementary School (North Miami Beach)

★ Ojus Elementary School (Unincorporated Miami-Dade County)
All of Aventura is zoned to Highland Oaks Middle School (Unincorporated Miami-Dade County).
High schools that serve Aventura include:

★ North Miami Beach High School (North Miami Beach)

★ Dr. Michael Krop High School (Unincorporated Miami-Dade County)
The Northeast Branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System serves Aventura; as of 2006, the branch is closed due to hurricane damage.^[7]

References

1. Köppen Climate Classification Map: South Florida=Aw=tropical wet & dry
2. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/localdata.php
3. Weather.com Vulnerable cities: Miami, Florida, retrieved February 19 2006
4. MuniNetGuide Demographics of Aventura, Florida
5. Major Jewish American Communities
6. &ea=&order=r Modern Language Association Data Results of Aventura, Florida
7. http://www.mdpls.org/info/locations/ne.asp

External links

★ Climate Zones of the World, under Koppen's System, retrieved August 8, 2006

★ City of Aventura

★ Aventura Mall