Chronology

• 12,000-10, 000 B.C.: Modern archaeologists have found extinct animal bones as well as the remains of five persons in a sink hole next to the Deering Estate. These remains suggest that the first humans migrated to Florida over 10, 000 years ago.
• 5,000 B.C.: Tequesta Indians settle the region and begin to develop semi-permanent housing. Their diet of shellfish, mollusks, and snails enabled them to survive on Florida’s coasts. Tequesta settlements stretched from Broward County to the Florida Keys. The two largest settlements were in Key Biscayne and today’s Downtown Miami.
• 1513: Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon landed on the northeast coast of Florida after a long journey from Spain. He decided to name the subtropical land La Florida, in honor of Pascua Florida (“feast of flowers”), Spain’s Easter time celebration.
• 1531-1561: A colony is established with over 600 Spaniards in Pensacola.
• 1564: A French explorer builds a fort he names Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River.
• 1565: Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles establishes St. Augustine and attacks Fort Caroline. Fort Caroline is converted into a Spanish outpost and renamed San Mateo.
• 1566: Spanish Jesuit priests begin the first mission in the US. Their only objective was to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism. Thus the mission era begins in Florida.
• 1575: Franciscan Friars begin missionary work in Florida.
• 1586: Sir Francis Drake, a British naval pioneer, burns St. Augustine.
• 1600-1700: Spanish colonization dominates Florida. Permanent settlements are beginning to thrive.
• 1702-1704: Under the guidance of General James Oglethorpe, the British begin a series of raids in Spanish Florida including a 52-day siege of St. Augustine. Spanish missions in Florida slowly come to an end.
• 1719: The French capture Pensacola only to return it to the Spanish soon afterwards.
• 1763: The Spanish traded Florida to Great Britain for control of Havana, Cuba. The British divide Florida into West Florida and East Florida. They also begin a great effort to attract colonization by issuing land grant and backing for export-oriented businesses.
• 1767: English Florida is extended to include some of the territory in Mississippi and Alabama. Creek Indians (later called Seminoles) begin to settle in Florida.
• 1784: The Treaty of Paris ending the American Revolutionary War returned all of Florida to Spanish control. Spain offered freedom to American slaves so long as the converted to Catholicism and paid tutelage to Spain. Many runaway slaves begin to settle with the Seminole Indians creating a sect called the Black Seminoles.
• 1817-1819: The first Seminole War begun with the invasion of East Florida by American General Andrew Jackson. The United States justified the invasion by saying that Spain had violated the Pickney Treaty by failing to control the Seminoles. Many Seminoles were believed to have been raiding Georgia towns. Seminoles were refined to a constricted area of the interior and the US maintained control of Eastern Florida although it was still claimed by Spain.
• 1821: US gains formal control of Florida from Spain according to the Adams-Onis Treaty and in exchange, renounced all claims for Texas.
• 1822: Florida became an organized territory of the US. East and West Florida were merged and Tallahassee was named the new Capital.
• 1832: Treaty of Payne’s Landing is signed between the US and some of the Seminole Chiefs. The Chiefs agree to leave Florida voluntarily for the promise of free lands west of the Mississippi.
• 1835- 1842: Many Seminoles did not want to leave Florida and retreat further into the Everglades. The US decides to remove them by force. Thus begins the Second Seminole
• War.
• 1838: Land in South Dade was awarded to an Illinois physician named Henry P. Perrine. Dr. Perrine planned to create an agricultural colony of subtropical plants and trees.
• 1842: The Armed Occupation Act of 1842 granted 160 acres of unoccupied land to any settler willing to bear arms to defend the land and cultivate it for 5 years. The act remained in force for only 9 months but granted 1, 184 homesteading permits were issued.
• 1850: The Swampland Act of 1850 authorized the transfer of 20 million acres of Florida for reclamation and drainage. Swamplands were reclaimed for cultivation and production.
• 1855-1858: Third Seminole War begins when Americans from a fort in Georgia destroyed Seminole crops and stole food from the village of Billy Bowlegs. By the time the war was over there were fewer than 200 Seminoles in Florida.
• 1862: The Homestead Act granted 160 acres of undeveloped public land to any settler, 21 years of age or older, provided that he build a house and live on the property for 5 years.
• 1864: John and Mary Addison arrive in 1864 at Indian Hunting Grounds. John lived in Florida since 1825 and fought in the Seminole Wars. Land along the sea in Perrine Grant; fresh water; manatees, wild turkey, quail, deer. He Created Addison’s Landing- dock; cleared thirty acres and planted oranges, lemons, limes, coconuts, bananas, mangoes and vegetables. Later joined by Charlie Siebold from NY. The Addisons were the lone inhabitants of South Dade. They got along well with Seminoles, who camped nearby.
• 1900’s: A small number of families begin to file claims for homesteads in Silver Palm. Silver Palm was the only farming district in the South Dade area. Silver Palm stretched from Perrine to Florida City.
• Charlie Gossman and Will Anderson as well as other settlers build a one-room log school house. This becomes the first school South of Cutler.
• Many settlers began to arrive in a settlement two miles southwest of Silver Palm. The settlers called the area Redlands on account of the red soil found among limestone. Flagler called the Redlands the, “Pearl of Dade County”.
• Tom Peters, “Tomato King” of Dade County is credited with starting South Dade’s first million-dollar business. Peters was innovative in creating fertilizers for his soil and devising a packing and shipping system that enabled his produce to remain fresh while being shipped.
• 1901: FEC moves further South.
• 1903: Community of Princeton is developed. Gaston Drake, creator and pioneer, named the city after the University he attended, Princeton.
• William Alfred King, a foreman for the railroad, and 12 black carpenters from the Bahamas build the first permanent buildings in the Homestead area. This includes a depot, office, and homes for the station agent and foreman. A tool shed is built as well.
• 1904: Flagler decides to extend the railroad from Miami to Key West.
• Homestead is created by the FEC railway. It is regarded as a small settlement for railroad employees and their families.
• W.D. Horne opened a general store in order to supply the railroad workmen with supplies. Mr. Horne also created a boarding house on top of the store.
• Tiny railroad settlements begin to emerge across the South Dade region. These included Perrine, Goulds, Modello, Princeton, Homestead, Naranja, Detroit, Peters, Kendall, Key, Rockdale, and Benson.
• The community of Black Point would host the first US Post Office South of Cutler.
• 1905: Flagler commenced construction of the Key West extension of the FEC. Homestead was the designated base for the extension. A water plant was erected in Homestead.
• 1907: Homestead has a bank, elementary school, and a weekly newspaper entitled the South Florida Banner.
• 1910: Drake Lumber Mill is considered the most important industry in the South Dade region.
• Several Jews build a farming community in Homestead. LIST THE NAMES OF THIS FAMILY.
• H.E. Redin opened the first barbershop in Homestead.
• 1912: Will Anderson opened first store in Silver Palm.
• Overseas railroad is completed.
• 1913: City of Homestead became incorporated on January 27th.
• Homestead School is created.
• Fuchs Homestead Bakery and Meat Market is one of Homesteads most vital “home grown” businesses.
• 1914: Florida City is incorporated.
• Homestead’s Women Club is commissioned with 15 members. This club would become responsible for creating the first library and raising money for WW1 sufferers.
• Homestead High School began enrolling students.
• 1915: Homestead residents attempt to create a new county called “Redland County”. The residents argued that they were too far from Dade and Monroe counties and felt often neglected.
• 1916: Royal Palm State Park is opened. It contained 1,920 acres of land in the Everglades. This park would become the foundation of the Everglades National Park.
• Homestead’s first municipal light plant begins operating.
• Seminole Theatre is moved from Downtown Miami to Homestead. It is opened as Seminole Hotel. Today it is known as the Landmark Hotel.
• Redland Farmlife Consolidated School opened. It was reported to have been the second largest consolidated school in the country.
• 1917: A new two-story city hall was erected in Homestead. It was designed by Miami architecture H.H. Mundy. This structure held the police station, jail, and fire station.
• 1918: First airfield in South Dade is built in Homestead. The airfield was initially called the Cutler Aerial Gunnery Field. It was later renamed, Chapman Field after World War 1 pilot.
• 1920’s: The boom of the 1920’s proved to be very fruitful for the community of Homestead. Homestead had approximately grown to 1,307 residents.
• Downtown lot in Homestead sold for $200 dollars.
• 1924: Homestead has its first Redland District Fruit Festival to promote tourism.
• Downtown lot in Homestead was selling for $15,000 dollars.
• Fennel’s Orchid Jungle opened in Homestead. It was one of South Dade’s first tourist attractions.
• 1925: Five thousand persons were working in the tomato fields of Homestead.
• Downtown lot in Homestead was selling for $100,000 dollars.
• Homestead farmers were shipping as many as 35 train carloads of tomatoes daily.
• 1926: Hurricane hits the South Dade area destroying property, crops, and devastating the Homestead economy.
• First Presbyterian Church of Homestead was incorporated in December.
• 1929: The Homestead Methodist Church South and the Homestead Methodist Church North merged. The church had separated into two branches because of the issue of slavery. Homestead was the first in the nation to have these two churches unified. The rest of the nation began to follow Homestead’s lead.
• The Great Depression wreaked havoc in the small city of Homestead. Because of financial strains Homestead had to fire its police chief and could only afford to employ two police men.
• 1930’s: New farming techniques and fertilizers increase city production. Corn and potatoes became major crops.
• Population of Homestead is 2,319.
• New Deals WPA helped to create the Homestead Lily Lawrence Bow Library and the James Archer Smith Hospital. New streets were paved in Homestead.
• 1934: Homestead has almost 3,000 residents.
• First airport opens at Harris Field. The first planes were called autogyros. They are the parents of modern day helicopters.
• 1935: More than 20,000 acres of diversified crops are being harvested in the South Dade region.
• 1936: Algers Family moved to Homestead to grow snap beans. They are now one of the largest growers in Homestead.
• 1938: Overseas Highway opened. Railroad bridges had been converted into highways.
• 1939-1945: WW2 created an increased demand for farm products from Homestead. An influx of Caribbean settlers landed in the area to meet the new demands.
• Florida City Farmers Market opened.
• 1940: Population of Homestead is 3,154.
• 1942: US Air Corps took control of a facility located one mile from Biscayne Bay. The facility was named the Homestead Army Airfield.
• 1944: Redland Fruit and Spice Park opens.
• 1945: Hurricane sweeps through the South Dade area destroying crops, businesses, homes, and parts of the Homestead Army Airfield. Krome Avenue was flooded for days. Damages were estimated to be at $10 million dollars.
• 1947: Everglades National Park a unique ecosystem is opened.
• 1949: The first Homestead Rodeo is held. Cowboys and cowgirls are drawn from all around the country.
• 1950: Homestead contains 4,573 residents.
• 1951: Homestead’s Bayfront Park is dedicated.
• 1953: Homestead Air Force Base “small city”
• 1.Size: 2, 938 acres.
• 2.Close to 4,000 people lived at its perimeter before Hurricane Andrew.
• 3.The air force base contained a hospital, movie theatre, dental office, bowling alley, Olympic-sized swimming pool, and several restaurants.
• .
• 1960’s: Homestead contains 9,152 residents. 5,000 residents came from the opening of the Homestead Air Force Base.
• Major increase in Mexican and Puerto Rican settlers. Thousands of new migrant workers began to change the face of Homestead.
• Homestead became a national center of attention since it contained the closest jet fighter facility to Cuba.
• 1968: Biscayne National Monument is established. The monument consisted of 110,000 acres.
• 1969: Proposals for Seadade, a seaport, oil refinery, and industrial park, is defeated.
• 1970: Homestead contained 13,674 residents.
• 1971: A nuclear power plant called Turkey Point is commissioned in Homestead.
• 1980: Biscayne National Monument is designated as Biscayne National Park. 71,000 acres are added to the park.
• 1990: Homestead contained 26, 866 residents.
• Miami Dade College opens a campus in Downtown Homestead.
• 1992: Hurricane Andrew destroys much of the South Dade area. 30,000+ residents leave. Total farm losses in Dade County exceeded $41 billion dollars. Property damage exceeded $20 billion dollars.
• 1994: Homestead Air Force Base is reopened after Hurricane Andrew. It is now called the Homestead Air Reserve Base.
• 1995: Homestead Miami Speedway is opened. It cost $59 million dollars to build. First race took place in November of 1995 and attracted more than 60,000 visitors.
• 2000: The population of Homestead is 31,909.
• 2006: Homestead Hospital scheduled to open this year will be a state of the art facility costing $130-plus million dollars.

Documents

This section is envisioned to include a variety of historical documents from the area - from newspaper articles to letters, official documents and proclamations, government reports, and older essays by residents.

Photos

In this section users may add photos of the community. Though photos may be attached in other sections this section is intended as a "dropbox" for photos that may strike discussion.

Government

City Departments - City Council                                                                                                                                                 

Mission Statement

The Vision of the City of Homestead is to be the premier residential and business community in which to work, live and raise a family.  This will be achieved through a customer-focused government, upon Homestead’s unique location and economic opportunities and embracing the following core values:

• Effectiveness
• Efficiency
• Accountability
• Diversity
• Inclusiveness
• Responsiveness

Services, Functions and Activities

The City of Homestead is governed by a Mayor, Vice Mayor and five City Council members who are elected on a non-partisan basis.  The City Charter was amended in November 2002 to change the election process from a run at-large without designation of a specific seat, to an election that designates at-large seats. Four of the six Council seats include a geographical residency requirement for a specific area of the City.  The other 2 Council seats do not require residence in a specific area of the City.  Although four of the council seats have a geographical residency requirement, all of the elected officials are elected at large by all voters of the City.  The elections are held every two years in November.

The Mayor presides over all City Council meetings, has a voice and vote in the proceedings, and serves as the ceremonial head of the City.  The Mayor also appoints members of the City boards, subject to the approval of the City Council.  In the absence of the Mayor, the Vice-Mayor assumes the responsibilities of the Mayor.  The City Council enacts local legislation, adopts budgets, determines policies, and appoints such officers and officials as may be required by the charter or deemed necessary by the Council.

Regular City Council meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Goals and Measurements
Organizational Performance:
Sustain an organizational culture, which promotes efficiency, effectiveness and accountability.  Attract and retain a competent, cohesive and diverse workforce through training, motivation, benefits and proper representation

Growth and Economic Development:
Capitalize on Homestead’s strengths and economic opportunities.  Enhance policies, procedures and strategies for marketing our community.  Attract sustainable development

Community Emphasis:
Maintain an environment that promotes long-term customer satisfaction.  Provide an atmosphere that is responsive to the community’s input

Innovation:
Identify and implement new concepts that will improve services and stimulate the business climate.  Pursue technological advances for a more effective workplace environment

Quality of Life:
Foster a progressive quality of life that promotes cultural and educational activities, family values, sports and recreation, while maintaining Homestead’s “hometown” traditions

Departmental Expenditure Summary Final Budget
FY 06/07Actual / Unaudited
FY 06/07Adopted
FY 07/08

Personnel Services

1,380,5651,266,6851,281,998

Operating Expenditures

116,58685,294 126,686

Capital Outlay

4,500 3,5000

Total Expenditures

1,501,6511,355,4791,408,684

Demography/Sociology

Appreciating the rapid growth and changing demographic patterns of South Dade is an economic opportunity for many and produces fear and concern for the future viability of the area in other people. From housing issues, ethnic diversity, poverty rates, educational and marital demographics, one can see the shape of social problems faced by local residents.

Economy/Business/Labor

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Natural Environment

Between Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park, the Homestead area reflects a wide array of environmental conditions and regulatory issues. For starters, see:

Department of Environmental Regulation Management: Derm links http://www.envirolink.org/resource.html?itemid=3056&catid=4

On the South Dade Watershed Study, see http://www.sfrpc.com/institute/watershed.htm

Geography

To see the complex land uses of South Dade is to see a fascinating environment that could be threatened in the years to come if residents are not vigilant in watching the shape of growth. Maps, Google earth/maps links, and other geographical data may be included to help chart the changes in the area. Older Miami-Dade County plans, zoning maps will also be added - and linked from other sites.

Land Use & Growth Management

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Parks & Public Space

Parks and Recreation Facilities

With an average year round temperature of 75 degrees, our local area offers a vast array of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.

The Homestead Sports Complex is one of the most complete training and tournament centers for all levels of baseball in the country. The facility, seats 6,500 and expands to 9,000, and provides parking for over 3,900 vehicles.

Field lighting has been designed to meet network television specifications, and a state-of-the-art, computerized scoreboard is provided. An administrative center, complete with six offices, a conference room, two work rooms and a reception area ensure a professional atmosphere. The Stadium is enhanced by a comprehensive Training Facility that can accommodate all levels of competition from Major League and Minor League practice and play, to Little League games and tournaments. This training center, adjacent to the stadium, is complete with support facilities, and serves the Dade County community year round.

A 200 bed dormitory facility located on the grounds of the Homestead Sports Complex complements the training facilities. The dormitories consist of 30 single rooms and 84 double rooms that are complete with restrooms, showers, dressing areas, a full service kitchen and recreational areas.

The City of Homestead provides its visitors and residents with numerous opportunities to enjoy their “Fun in the Sun” through its multiple municipal parks.

Harris Field
1034 NE 8 ST

Homestead Sports Complex
1601 SE 28 Ave

JD Redd Park
550 N Homestead BlvdMusselwhite Park - Senior Center
1615 N Krome Ave Phichol Williams Community Center
951 SW 4 StRoby George Park
201 SW 11 Ave

Wittkop Park
505 NW 9 ST

The City of Homestead is also located between two national parks: Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. To our south is the famous John Pennekamp state park.

Click here for the official websites of:

• Biscayne National Park
• Everglades National Park
• John Pennekamp State Park

Biscayne National Park is the largest marine park in the National Park System, with 95% of its 173,000 acres covered by water. The area was set aside in 1968 to "....preserve and protect for the education, inspiration, recreation and enjoyment of present and future generations a rare combination of terrestrial, marine, and amphibious life in a tropical setting of great natural beauty." (Public Law 90-606)

Boat launches are available at Homestead Bayfront Park and other nearby marinas. No boat launches are available at Convoy Point. The park maintains a 66-slip harbor at Elliott Key, where boaters may spend the day or night. Boaters can also tie up at Boca Chita Key's harbor. Docking is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Anchorage areas may be found off Elliott and Sands keys.

Everglades National Park is a rare and beautiful place. With its mangrove forests and watery sawgrass plain, it is one of North America's unsung wild places - a beautiful, rugged, subtropical landscape experienced by a relatively few adventurous souls each year. Everglades National Park, shelters an abundant array of wildlife. As many as 25 varieties of orchids are known to occur in the park, in addition to over 1000 other kinds of seed-bearing plants and 120 species of trees. Over 36 threatened or endangered animal species reside in Everglades National Park, such as the American alligator and crocodile, the Florida panther, the West Indian manatee, and the Cape Sable seaside sparrow. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded, seven of which are rare or endangered.

"There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them...." - Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Information found on http://www.cityofhomestead.com/portal-recreation/parks-facilities.aspx

Historical Analysis

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Videos

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