Aventura, Florida
Encyclopedia
Aventura is a planned, suburban city
located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida
. The city name is from the Spanish
word for "adventure
", and was named "Aventura" after one of the developers of the original group of condominium
s in the area remarked to the others, "What an adventure this is going to be." The name predates the well known mall (Aventura Mall
) built near the condominium developments. According to the U.S. Census estimates of 2010, the city had a population of 35,762.
It is home to the prestigious luxury resort Turnberry Isle where Presidential Candidate Gary Hart
and his paramour of the moment Donna Rice
had their ruinous tryst on The Monkey Business Yacht unfold in 1987. Aventura is also home to the world famous upscale Aventura Mall
.
In the beginning of 2001, Former President Bill Clinton
brought much national notoriety to the Aventura-Turnberry Jewish Center when he made it one of his first pit-stops to deliver a speech after he left the White House
as President.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²). 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (23.08%) is water.
(Köppen climate classification
Am) with hot and humid summers and short, warm winters, with a marked drier season in the winter. 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 north of 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).
Hurricane season
begins June 1 and is officially over November 30. Aventura was severely hit by Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005 and still undergoes recovery as of November 2011. The library was decimated and still yet to be rebuilt. Terraces flew off of highrises and condos on high floors were flooded with many of their walls exploding into next-door apartments and adjacent hallways. Countless highrise windows exploded and electricity stopped.
of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 14,000 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The population density
was 9,344.7 inhabitants per square mile (3,613.2/km2). There were 20,020 housing units at an average density of 7,404.2 per square mile (2,862.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75% White (non-Hispanic)
, 20.65% Hispanic or Latino
of any race, 1.70% Black or 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.
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.
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.
Aventura is known for its substantial Jewish
population, many of whom come from the Northeast
(New York
, Chicago
, Boston
, etc.) Besides American Jews
, Aventura also has experienced a significant influx of Hispanic Jews (especially Argentine Jews
, Cuban Jews, Colombian Jews, and Venezuelan Jews
,) Brazilian Jews, French Jews, Russian Jews, Portuguese Jews, German Jews, Canadian Jews and Israelis also residing in the city.
As of 2000, Aventura had the seventeenth highest percentage of Brazil
ian residents in the US, with 1.9% of the US populace. The thirtieth highest percentage of Colombia
n residents in the US, at 4.25% of the city's population, and the ninety-second highest percentage of Cuba
n residents in the US, at 2.89% of the city's population. It also had the twelfth most Israel
is in the US, at 2.4%, while it had the thirteenth highest percentage of Romania
ns (tied with Hartford, Ohio
and Bern, Pennsylvania
,) at 1.8% of all residents. Aventura's Russia
n community had the twenty-fifth highest percentage of residents, which was at 12.4%, while it was the thirteenth highest Venezuela
n community in the US, which made up 1.31% of the population.
, and Broward County transit bus systems also run through the city. The Miami-Dade Metrorail and Metromover does not, however, serve the city. Due to the exploding population growth over a 20 year period, traffic has gotten bad in Aventura, despite the fact
that Biscayne Boulevard is up to ten lanes wide through the city.
The main north-south road in the city is Biscayne Bouelevard
(US-1) 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.
By 2014, Tri-Rail commuter rail service may run on the FEC line that runs parallel to Biscayne Boulevard through Aventura.
of city government
. The City Commission is the city's legislature
, while the city manager
is the city executive
.
The City Commission enacts local ordinance
s and laws, adopts resolution
s authorizing actions on behalf of the city, reviews plans for development
, and establishes the policies by which the city is governed. The City Commission comprises seven members—six commissioners and the mayor
:
The City Commission also hires the City Attorney
, City Clerk, and City Manager
, who then hire all subordinate employees. The city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the city government, administers the city's service providers, prepares long-range plans, and implements the policies established by the City Commission. Eric M. Soroka is the current City Manager, while Teresa M. Soroka is the current City Clerk.
, and El Nuevo Herald
.
, a 2400000 sq ft (222,967 m²) indoor shopping center. The outdoor malls are "Loehmann's Fashion Island," "Aventura Shopping Center," "Aventura Commons," "The Promenade Shops" and "The Shoppes at the Waterways."
The city also has its own exclusive parks and recreation department which operate Founders Park, Founders Park Bayside, Waterways Park, Waterways Dog Park, Veterans Park, The Community Recreation Center, And the new Liberal Arts theater.
In the center of the heart of Aventura is The Turnberry Golf Course encapsulated by Aventura's Country Club Drive Circle, a multimillion dollar horticultural 3 mile walking/jogging paved promenade which overlooks lakes, opulent residential highrises, yachts and the Atlantic Ocean.
system.
The Aventura City of Excellence School was for years 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
There is another public school that serves the residents of Aventura called Aventura Waterways K-8 center. It is not funded or run by the City of Aventura but by Miami-Dade public schools. The school is located outside of the city limits but all children that live in Aventura are in the boundary for that school.
High schools that serve Aventura include:
Regional Universities and Higher Education Institutions include:
The Northeast Branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System serves Aventura.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
. The city name is from the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word for "adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
", and was named "Aventura" after one of the developers of the original group of condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s in the area remarked to the others, "What an adventure this is going to be." The name predates the well known mall (Aventura Mall
Aventura Mall
The Aventura Mall is an upscale super-regional shopping mall in Aventura, Florida, a northern suburb of Miami. It is the largest conventional shopping mall in Florida, having a gross leasable area of , and is the fifth largest shopping center in the United States. The mall has three floors of...
) built near the condominium developments. According to the U.S. Census estimates of 2010, the city had a population of 35,762.
History
Miami-Dade's "Aventura City of Excellence" began its developement during the early 1970s into North Miami's tropical version of Beverly Hills and the area was initially referred to as Turnberry. Aventura became an incorporated city in 1995. The Aventura Police Department was formed in 1997.It is home to the prestigious luxury resort Turnberry Isle where Presidential Candidate Gary Hart
Gary Hart
Gary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S...
and his paramour of the moment Donna Rice
Donna Rice
Donna Rice Hughes is the president and chair of Enough Is Enough, an American non-profit organization in the anti-pornography movement that seeks to make the Internet safer for families and children...
had their ruinous tryst on The Monkey Business Yacht unfold in 1987. Aventura is also home to the world famous upscale Aventura Mall
Aventura Mall
The Aventura Mall is an upscale super-regional shopping mall in Aventura, Florida, a northern suburb of Miami. It is the largest conventional shopping mall in Florida, having a gross leasable area of , and is the fifth largest shopping center in the United States. The mall has three floors of...
.
In the beginning of 2001, Former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
brought much national notoriety to the Aventura-Turnberry Jewish Center when he made it one of his first pit-stops to deliver a speech after he left the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
as President.
Geography
Aventura is located at 25.964345°N 80.135818°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²). 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (23.08%) is water.
Surrounding areas
- Hallandale BeachHallandale Beach, FloridaHallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113...
- Hallandale BeachHallandale Beach, FloridaHallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113...
Hallandale BeachHallandale Beach, FloridaHallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113... - OjusOjus, FloridaOjus is a census-designated place and formerly incorporated town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 16,642 at the 2000 census. Ojus borders Aventura to the east, I-95 to the west, North Miami Beach to the south and Broward County to the north...
Golden BeachGolden Beach, FloridaGolden Beach is a town located in the northeast corner of Miami-Dade County, Florida, between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 919. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 921.-Geography:Golden Beach is...
, Sunny Isles Beach - North Miami BeachNorth Miami Beach, FloridaNorth Miami Beach is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Originally named Fulford in 1926 after Captain William H. Fulford of the United States Coast Guard, the city was incorporated in 1927 as Fulford, but was renamed North Miami Beach in 1931. The population was...
Sunny Isles Beach - North Miami BeachNorth Miami Beach, FloridaNorth Miami Beach is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Originally named Fulford in 1926 after Captain William H. Fulford of the United States Coast Guard, the city was incorporated in 1927 as Fulford, but was renamed North Miami Beach in 1931. The population was...
Climate
Aventura has a tropical monsoon climateTropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Am) with hot and humid summers and short, warm winters, with a marked drier season in the winter. 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
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
largely coincides with the wet season.
In addition to its sea-level elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
, coastal location and position just north of the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
, the area owes its warm, humid climate to the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
, 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
Sea breeze
A sea-breeze is a wind from the sea that develops over land near coasts. It is formed by increasing temperature differences between the land and water; these create a pressure minimum over the land due to its relative warmth, and forces higher pressure, cooler air from the sea to move inland...
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).
Hurricane season
Hurricane season
Hurricane season refers to a period in a year when hurricanes usually form. For more information see: Tropical cyclone#Times.* The Atlantic hurricane seasonFor a lists of past seasons, see:...
begins June 1 and is officially over November 30. Aventura was severely hit by Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005 and still undergoes recovery as of November 2011. The library was decimated and still yet to be rebuilt. Terraces flew off of highrises and condos on high floors were flooded with many of their walls exploding into next-door apartments and adjacent hallways. Countless highrise windows exploded and electricity stopped.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 14,000 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 9,344.7 inhabitants per square mile (3,613.2/km2). There were 20,020 housing units at an average density of 7,404.2 per square mile (2,862.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75% White (non-Hispanic)
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 20.65% Hispanic or Latino
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race, 1.70% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.07% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.77% from two or more races.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
As of 2000, speakers of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as their first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
accounted for 59.92% of the population, while Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
accounted for 22.63% of residents. Those who spoke Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
were at 3.66%, and Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
was spoken 2.78% of the population. Other languages spoken include Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
2.65%, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
2.40%, Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
1.75%, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
at 1.46% of city residents.
Aventura is known for its substantial Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
population, many of whom come from the Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
(New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, etc.) Besides American Jews
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
, Aventura also has experienced a significant influx of Hispanic Jews (especially Argentine Jews
History of the Jews in Argentina
The history of the Jews of Argentina goes back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition and Portuguese Inquisition, when Jews fleeing persecution settled in what is now Argentina. Many of the Portuguese traders in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata were Jewish, but an organized Jewish community...
, Cuban Jews, Colombian Jews, and Venezuelan Jews
History of the Jews in Venezuela
The History of the Jews in Venezuela dates to the middle of the 17th century, when records suggest that groups of marranos lived in Caracas and Maracaibo. The Jewish community, however, did not become established in Venezuela until the middle of the 19th century...
,) Brazilian Jews, French Jews, Russian Jews, Portuguese Jews, German Jews, Canadian Jews and Israelis also residing in the city.
As of 2000, Aventura had the seventeenth highest percentage of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian residents in the US, with 1.9% of the US populace. The thirtieth highest percentage of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n residents in the US, at 4.25% of the city's population, and the ninety-second highest percentage of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n residents in the US, at 2.89% of the city's population. It also had the twelfth most Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
is in the US, at 2.4%, while it had the thirteenth highest percentage of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
ns (tied with Hartford, Ohio
Hartford, Ohio
Hartford is a village in Licking County, Ohio, United States. The population at the 2000 census was 405.-Geography:Hartford is located at ....
and Bern, Pennsylvania
Bern Township, Pennsylvania
Bern Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,758 at the 2000 census.It is in Schuylkill Valley School District.-Geography:...
,) at 1.8% of all residents. Aventura's Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n community had the twenty-fifth highest percentage of residents, which was at 12.4%, while it was the thirteenth highest Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n community in the US, which made up 1.31% of the population.
Transportation
The Aventura Express shuttle bus is a city run public bus service, free to Aventura residents. The Miami-Dade TransitMiami-Dade Transit
Miami-Dade Transit is the primary public transit authority of Miami, Florida, United States and the greater Miami-Dade County area. It is the largest transit system in Florida and the 12th-largest transit system in the United States....
, and Broward County transit bus systems also run through the city. The Miami-Dade Metrorail and Metromover does not, however, serve the city. Due to the exploding population growth over a 20 year period, traffic has gotten bad in Aventura, despite the fact
Induced demand
Induced demand, or latent demand, is the phenomenon that after supply increases, more of a good is consumed. This is entirely consistent with the economic theory of supply and demand; however, this idea has become important in the debate over the expansion of transportation systems, and is often...
that Biscayne Boulevard is up to ten lanes wide through the city.
The main north-south road in the city is Biscayne Bouelevard
U.S. Route 1 in Florida
U.S. Route 1 in Florida runs along the state's east coast from Key West to its crossing of the St. Marys River into Georgia north of Boulogne, and south of Folkston. US 1 was designated through Florida when the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926.US 1 runs in the state of Florida, and...
(US-1) and the main east-west route is the William H. Lehman Causeway
State Road 856 (Florida)
Also known as the William H. Lehman Causeway, State Road 856 is a 1.3-mile-long causeway connecting Biscayne Boulevard in Aventura and Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Named after William H...
. Although no interstates run through the city, I-95
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
is just 5 minutes away.
By 2014, Tri-Rail commuter rail service may run on the FEC line that runs parallel to Biscayne Boulevard through Aventura.
Government
Aventura has a manager-commission formCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
of city government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
. The City Commission is the city's legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
, while the city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is the city executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
.
The City Commission enacts local ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
s and laws, adopts resolution
Resolution (law)
A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...
s authorizing actions on behalf of the city, reviews plans for development
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
, and establishes the policies by which the city is governed. The City Commission comprises seven members—six commissioners and the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
:
- Susan Gottlieb , Mayor
- Zev Auerbach, Commissioner
- Bob Diamond, Commissioner
- Terry Holzberg, Commissioner & wife of one of the founders of Aventura and former commissioner, Harry Holzberg
- Billy Joel, Commissioner
- Michael Stern, Commissioner
- Luz Urbáez Weinberg, Commissioner
The City Commission also hires the City Attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
, City Clerk, and City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
, who then hire all subordinate employees. The city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the city government, administers the city's service providers, prepares long-range plans, and implements the policies established by the City Commission. Eric M. Soroka is the current City Manager, while Teresa M. Soroka is the current City Clerk.
Media
Aventura is served by the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market 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 city has a magazine named Aventura Magazine and is served by The Miami HeraldThe Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
, and El Nuevo Herald
El Nuevo Herald
El Nuevo Herald is a McClatchy newspaper published daily in Spanish in Miami, Florida, in the United States. El Nuevo Heralds sister paper is The Miami Herald, also produced by the McClatchy Company.-About El Nuevo Herald:...
.
Area attractions
The most famous shopping attraction is Aventura MallAventura Mall
The Aventura Mall is an upscale super-regional shopping mall in Aventura, Florida, a northern suburb of Miami. It is the largest conventional shopping mall in Florida, having a gross leasable area of , and is the fifth largest shopping center in the United States. The mall has three floors of...
, a 2400000 sq ft (222,967 m²) indoor shopping center. The outdoor malls are "Loehmann's Fashion Island," "Aventura Shopping Center," "Aventura Commons," "The Promenade Shops" and "The Shoppes at the Waterways."
The city also has its own exclusive parks and recreation department which operate Founders Park, Founders Park Bayside, Waterways Park, Waterways Dog Park, Veterans Park, The Community Recreation Center, And the new Liberal Arts theater.
In the center of the heart of Aventura is The Turnberry Golf Course encapsulated by Aventura's Country Club Drive Circle, a multimillion dollar horticultural 3 mile walking/jogging paved promenade which overlooks lakes, opulent residential highrises, yachts and the Atlantic Ocean.
Education
Aventura is served by the Miami-Dade County Public SchoolsMiami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and the fourth largest in the United States, with a student enrollment of 380,006 as of July 5, 2010...
system.
The Aventura City of Excellence School was for years 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
There is another public school that serves the residents of Aventura called Aventura Waterways K-8 center. It is not funded or run by the City of Aventura but by Miami-Dade public schools. The school is located outside of the city limits but all children that live in Aventura are in the boundary for that school.
High schools that serve Aventura include:
- North Miami Beach High SchoolNorth Miami Beach High SchoolNorth Miami Beach Senior High School is a secondary school located at 1247 NE 167 Street in North Miami Beach, Florida, USA; its current principal is Raymond L. Fontana. NMB High School was built in 1971 as an overcrowding reliever school for North Miami High School to the south at 800 N.E. 137...
(North Miami Beach) - Dr. Michael Krop High School (Unincorporated Miami-Dade County)
Regional Universities and Higher Education Institutions include:
- Florida International University:Biscayne Bay CampusBiscayne Bay CampusThe Biscayne Bay Campus is a campus of Florida International University located in North Miami, Florida. It is 40 minutes away from the Modesto Madique campus...
(North Miami)
The Northeast Branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System serves Aventura.