Tamarac, Florida
Encyclopedia
Tamarac is a city in Broward County
, Florida
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,427. It is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census.
, the city's founder, came from the Midwest after making his fortune with a chain of car wash
es called Car-A-Mat. He bought land where he could, creating an active adult community of two-bedroom homes. He called his new city Tamarac, Car-A-Mat spelled backwards.
In 1963, Behring built the city's first development east of State Road 7, Tamarac Lakes Section One and Section Two. Next came two neighborhoods of homes built on a former orange grove
called Tamarac Lakes North and The Boulevards. Three of Behring's last developments were Tamarac Lakes South, then the Mainlands of Tamarac Lakes just west of State Road 7, and finally, the Woodlands community.
The city's early leaders, hoping to preserve Tamarac as a bedroom community, allowed Fort Lauderdale
to annex commercial pockets, forever losing land that might have bolstered the city's coffers. In the late 1970s, the city de-annexed a long line of commercial buildings from State Road 7 all the way to Northwest 31 Avenue, but it went along with Behring's vision of Tamarac as a bedroom community. The boundaries were wherever Mr. Behring decided to build homes. The city's current eastern boundaries narrow to a sliver from Northwest 31 to 37 Avenues, then widen to the south. The city's easternmost boundary extends below Commercial Boulevard to Northwest 16 Avenue. Many newcomers don't even realize there is an east side to Tamarac - including those who live there. In the early years, neighbors might have preferred being in neighboring Fort Lauderdale who received more attention from them at the time. Things changed when Walter Falck was elected mayor. Falck, who served from 1976 to 1984, helped lead the city with an eye for his pals on the east.
Behring also named a subdivision he founded in the Pinellas Park
area, the "Mainlands of Tamarac By-the-Gulf".
, the city has a total area of 11.9 square miles (31 km²), of which 11.4 square miles (30 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1 km²) is water (4.21%).
of 2000, there were 55,588 people, 27,423 households, and 15,740 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,879.8 per square mile (1,884.3/km²). There were 29,750 housing units at an average density of 2,611.6 per square mile (1,008.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.08% White (71.4% were Non-Hispanic White), 10.51% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.91% from other races
, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.88% of the population.
There were 27,423 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.6% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.56.
In the city the population was spread out with 13.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 37.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,290, and the median income for a family was $41,927. Males had a median income of $32,317 versus $28,360 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,243. About 6.1% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English language as a first language
were at 78.08% of the population, while Spanish
was at 13.69%. Also, Yiddish
was at 1.90%, French
at 1.15%, Haitian Creole consisted of 1.12%, Italian
made up 1.08%, German
comprised 0.62%, and Hebrew
as a mother tongue made up 0.52% of residents.
Over the years, the multicultural population has expanded in Tamarac, such as people from Latin America
n and Caribbean
ancestry. As of 2000, Tamarac was the fifty-first most Colombia
n-populated area in the US, with 2.74% of the population. It also had the thirty-second highest percentage of Jamaica
ns in the US, (tied with Royal Palm Beach
and Goulds
) at 4.1% of all residents.
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,427. It is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census.
History
In the early 1960s a young developer named Ken BehringKen Behring
Kenneth Eugene Behring is a real-estate developer, former owner of the Seattle Seahawks football team, and philanthropist.-Early years:...
, the city's founder, came from the Midwest after making his fortune with a chain of car wash
Car wash
A car wash or auto wash is a facility used to clean the exterior and, in some cases, the interior of motor vehicles.- Categories :...
es called Car-A-Mat. He bought land where he could, creating an active adult community of two-bedroom homes. He called his new city Tamarac, Car-A-Mat spelled backwards.
In 1963, Behring built the city's first development east of State Road 7, Tamarac Lakes Section One and Section Two. Next came two neighborhoods of homes built on a former orange grove
Orange Grove
-Music:* Orange Grove , a Dutch/Antillean reggae band-Australia:* Orange Grove, Western Australia* The Orange Grove affair, a political scandal-United States:...
called Tamarac Lakes North and The Boulevards. Three of Behring's last developments were Tamarac Lakes South, then the Mainlands of Tamarac Lakes just west of State Road 7, and finally, the Woodlands community.
The city's early leaders, hoping to preserve Tamarac as a bedroom community, allowed Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
to annex commercial pockets, forever losing land that might have bolstered the city's coffers. In the late 1970s, the city de-annexed a long line of commercial buildings from State Road 7 all the way to Northwest 31 Avenue, but it went along with Behring's vision of Tamarac as a bedroom community. The boundaries were wherever Mr. Behring decided to build homes. The city's current eastern boundaries narrow to a sliver from Northwest 31 to 37 Avenues, then widen to the south. The city's easternmost boundary extends below Commercial Boulevard to Northwest 16 Avenue. Many newcomers don't even realize there is an east side to Tamarac - including those who live there. In the early years, neighbors might have preferred being in neighboring Fort Lauderdale who received more attention from them at the time. Things changed when Walter Falck was elected mayor. Falck, who served from 1976 to 1984, helped lead the city with an eye for his pals on the east.
Behring also named a subdivision he founded in the Pinellas Park
Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida. The population was 45,658 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 47,166 . The city was founded by Philadelphia publisher, F. A...
area, the "Mainlands of Tamarac By-the-Gulf".
Geography
Tamarac is located at 26°12′13"N 80°14′47"W (26.203581, -80.246376). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 11.9 square miles (31 km²), of which 11.4 square miles (30 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1 km²) is water (4.21%).
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 55,588 people, 27,423 households, and 15,740 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 4,879.8 per square mile (1,884.3/km²). There were 29,750 housing units at an average density of 2,611.6 per square mile (1,008.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.08% White (71.4% were Non-Hispanic White), 10.51% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.91% 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 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.88% of the population.
There were 27,423 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.6% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.56.
In the city the population was spread out with 13.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 37.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,290, and the median income for a family was $41,927. Males had a median income of $32,317 versus $28,360 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 $22,243. About 6.1% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English language as a 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...
were at 78.08% 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...
was at 13.69%. Also, 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 at 1.90%, 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...
at 1.15%, Haitian Creole consisted of 1.12%, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
made up 1.08%, 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....
comprised 0.62%, and 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...
as a mother tongue made up 0.52% of residents.
Over the years, the multicultural population has expanded in Tamarac, such as people from Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n and Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
ancestry. As of 2000, Tamarac was the fifty-first most 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-populated area in the US, with 2.74% of the population. It also had the thirty-second highest percentage of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
ns in the US, (tied with Royal Palm Beach
Royal Palm Beach, Florida
Royal Palm Beach is a village in southeast Florida, located in Palm Beach County. The population was measured at 21,523 in the 2000 census. As of April 2008, the recorded population was 31,864...
and Goulds
Goulds, Florida
Goulds is a census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The area was originally populated as the result of a stop on the Florida East Coast Railroad. The railroad depot was located near the current Southwest 216th Street. The community was named after its operator, Lyman...
) at 4.1% of all residents.
External links
- City of Tamarac official site