Bal Harbour is a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
in
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County () is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the most populous coun ...
. The village is part of the
Miami metropolitan area
The Miami metropolitan area is a coastal metropolitan area in southeastern Florida. It is the sixth-largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States, the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States, and the lar ...
of
South Florida
South Florida, sometimes colloquially shortened to SoFlo, is the Regions of the United States#Florida, southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the two others are ...
. The population was 3,093 at the
2020 US Census.
History
Since the 1920s, the Detroit-based Miami Beach Heights Corporation—headed by industrialists
Robert C. Graham,
Walter O. Briggs, and
Carl G. Fisher—owned of undeveloped, partially swampy land that stretched from the bay to the Atlantic. Graham assumed the duties as the developer for Bal Harbour. In the 1930s, city planners
Harland Bartholomew & Associates were called in to design the village. The company made several plans, and they were submitted to the Miami Beach Heights for review.
The original name chosen for Bal Harbour was Bay Harbour. However, the planning committee didn't think that was appropriate for a city that was on the beach. A name was invented to encompass a village that ran from the
bay to the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
. The ''b'' was taken from the word ''bay'' and the ''a'' and ''l'' were taken from the name Atlantic. Hence the word ''Bal'' was created.
In 1940,
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
began, and the plans were put on hold. As a goodwill gesture to the government, Robert C. Graham rented the land to the United States Air Corps for $1 per year. The Air Corps used this land to train their soldiers and established a
Prisoner of War camp
A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured as prisoners of war by a belligerent power in time of war.
There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, ...
. The ocean front area was used as a
rifle range
A shooting range, firing range, gun range or shooting ground is a specialized facility, sports venue, venue, or playing field, field designed specifically for firearm usage qualifications, training, practice, or shooting sport, competitions. ...
and the barracks were set up on the west side of Collins Avenue. The camp for prisoners was located on the site of what would become the Bal Harbour Shops.
After the war ended, the Air Corps left the barracks buildings intact, which were converted into apartment homes by Graham in 1946.
In order to incorporate a city in 1946, there had to be at least 25 male registered voters residing in the area. Graham had twenty five families move into the apartment homes that he had converted in order to qualify the Village for incorporation. He then hired Willard Webb, a Miami Beach tax assessor, to draft a charter for the Village. After the charter was completed, the Village of Bal Harbour was incorporated on August 14, 1946, by Graham and 25 male registered voters. The Village was operated under the city manager form of government.
The council established a volunteer
fire department
A fire department (North American English) or fire brigade (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), also known as a fire company, fire authority, fire district, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an organi ...
.
Swamp
A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...
land was filled, sea walls were constructed and the yacht basin was created. Contracts were signed for the sewer systems, water pumping stations and utilities. Bal Harbour was the first planned community in Florida to have its utilities placed underground. Developers set guidelines for the development of the beachfront and the residential areas. Collins Avenue was paved into four lanes with a landscaped median and later widened to the present day six lanes. Village plans indicated that ocean front property was to be deep and lots approached $100,000. Lots in the residential area were about and cost from $6,500 to $20,000.
The first hotel, "The Kenilworth By-the-Sea", was built by Tom Raffington and made famous by
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer. At the peak of his success, in the early to mid-1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days ...
. It has since been demolished and is now the Kenilworth Condominium. The first home was built at 160 Bal Cross Drive by Robert C. Graham Jr., who was the son of Bal Harbour Developer Robert C. Graham. Construction for the Sea View Hotel was started.
Bal Harbour Village was re-incorporated by a special act of the 1947
Florida Legislature and its own charter was issued June 16. This new charter supplemented the original incorporation under the General Laws of Florida. In accordance with the new charter, an election to select five to serve on the council was held June 30. The Council elected were: Edward L. Bonneau, Robert C. Graham Jr., Glenn E. Massnick, George Whittaker, and Judge Julien Southerland. Judge Southerland was chosen as mayor. Willard Webb, who had been acting manager since the first organization, was appointed as Village Manager. Mary Wetterer was named Village Clerk and Herold Dickey was appointed Chief of Police.
In 1947, the Church by the Sea was built.
In 1948, the Beach Club was built. Its restaurant was operated by
Howard Johnson's
Howard Johnson by Wyndham, still commonly referred to as Howard Johnson's, is an American hotel brand with over 200 hotels in 15 countries. It was also formerly a Chain store, restaurant chain, which at one time was the largest in the U.S., wit ...
.
In 1949, a new bridge was started over Baker Haulover.
In 1956, the current Village Hall was built.
In 1956, the Hotel Americana was built. It became the
Sheraton Hotel in 1980. It was imploded on November 18, 2007, to build a set of condos and a luxury aparthotel as
the St. Regis Bal Harbour.
In 1959, Bal Harbour's beach was renovated due to severe erosion.
In 1965, the
Bal Harbour Shops was built by the Whitman family. Stanley Whitman was one of the incorporators who lived with his family in the barrack apartments.
In 1971, Bal Harbour's started a major
beach replenishment project.
In 1984, the residents of an exclusive neighborhood in Bal Harbour were successfully sued to remove the clause preventing Jews and blacks from owning property there.
In 2008, The new
Regent Bal Harbour opened, becoming the northern gateway to the Village.
In 2012, The last oceanfront undeveloped Beach Club site was sold for $220 million in order to make way to the ultra luxury Oceana at Bal Harbour.
In 2014, The
Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami opened at the former Regent Bal Harbour and ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa.
In 2015, it was reported in the press that "the Bal Harbour Police and the
Glades County Sheriff set up a giant money laundering scheme, but it all fell apart when federal investigators and the ''
Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward County, Fl ...
'' found strange things going on."
From 2015 onward, Bal Harbour has become known globally as a luxury enclave. In the words of Town & Country, Bal Harbour is the "ne plus ultra" of South Florida luxury. The Village, specifically its Resort Tax Committee, has invested in developing Bal Harbour's reputation as a luxury destination. The committee collects a specific tax which "must be used for among other tourism related activities, for the enhancement of tourism, publicity and advertising purposes."
As the result of an international destination marketing effort from 2014 to 2019 by the Village, per capita resort tax revenues for the Village of Bal Harbour grew by 35%.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the village has a total area of . of it is land and of it (42.37%) is water.
Bal Harbour, Florida is located on the northern tip of the barrier island commonly referred to as Miami Beach, named after the island's most prominent town of
Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida. The municipality is located on natural and human-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean an ...
. Bal Harbour is the northernmost barrier island in a chain that extends southward up to and including
Key West, Florida
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida, at the southern end of the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Islan ...
.
The main traffic corridor running south to north through Bal Harbour is Collins Avenue, also demarked as Florida State Highway
A1A.
A
channel between the north end of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean runs across the northern end of Bal Harbour.
A bridge, maintained by the State of Florida connects Bal Harbour to Haulover Park, to the north. Haulover Park is maintained by the Miami Dade Parks Commission.
Surrounding areas
: Unincorporated
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County () is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Florida and the seventh-most-populous coun ...
(
Haulover Park)
:
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida. The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is large ...
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
:
Bay Harbor Islands Atlantic Ocean
: Bay Harbor Islands Atlantic Ocean
:
Surfside
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 3,093 people, 1,364 households, and 720 families residing in the village.
2010 census
As of the
2010 United States census, there were 2,513 people, 1,366 households, and 637 families residing in the village.
2000 census
In 2000, 9.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.4% were non-families. 50.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.73 and the average family size was 2.49.
In 2000, the village population was spread out, with 10.2% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 37.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the village was $47,148, and the median income for a family was $83,570. Males had a median income of $51,227 versus $44,500 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the village was $67,680. About 5.6% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. This data only reflects reported income, not overall wealth.
As of 2000, speakers of
English as a
first language
A first language (L1), native language, native tongue, or mother tongue is the first language a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period hypothesis, critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' ...
accounted for 58.29% of residents, while
Spanish was at 35.14%,
Polish at 2.63%,
French 2.13%,
Portuguese 0.99%, and
Russian made up 0.82% of the population.
Education
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is the public school district serving Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida, the largest in the South ...
is the local school district.
Ruth K. Broad/Bay Harbor K–8 Center in
Bay Harbor Islands serves as the local elementary and
K–8 school. Residents who want to have a conventional middle school may instead choose the zoned middle school, Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School.
Miami Beach Senior High School is the senior high school serving Surfside.
Notable people
*
Micky Arison, Owner of
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...
and CEO of
Carnival Cruise Line.
Micky Arison - Forbes
/ref>
* Martin Bayerle, Treasure hunter, finder of the RMS Republic and star of History Channel's '' Billion Dollar Wreck.''
* Edith Bouvier Beale, Socialite, fashion model and cabaret performer; first cousin of Jacqueline Onassis and Lee Bouvier Radziwill, she lived her final years in Bal Harbour.
* Michael Redstone, Michael "Mickey" Redstone was an American entrepreneur and founder of the Northeast Theater Corporation, now National Amusements, Inc (owner of Paramount Global).
* Siegmund Spiegel – Architect, activist, Holocaust lecturer, and war hero.
References
External links
Village of Bal Harbour
official website
Bal Harbour Miami
official tourism website
Bal Harbour Shops
upscale mall
{{authority control
Villages in Miami-Dade County, Florida
Beaches of Miami-Dade County, Florida
Villages in Florida
Populated coastal places in Florida on the Atlantic Ocean
Beaches of Florida