Little Havana: Considering relocating.

[WINTERFRONT]

34%? That seems low.... and you say they reached the 40% mark during their heydays? never actually reaching 50%?

I thought Dade was at least 60% Cuban.

[unclealbertt]

Yeah both Dade and the city of Miami have just 34%. I'm not sure when their share of the population peaked, I'd assume it was probably at some point in the late 80's or early 90's but I doubt it was ever near 60%.

[cLunn]

So do you think the best way to find the Cuban culture, the music, dance and art is just to meet people organically rather than to try to live in a place where there are more Cubans?

[cLunn]

Thanks Chelito... That's helpful... I guess my main thing is I don't want to be driving a lot just to "seek" out the culture. I'd like to live in an area where there is music, art, dance and some culture around me in walking distance or atleast very close proximity so that i'm not always having to drive across town to connect. I guess I just need to come for another stay and check it out more and explore more. miami is a little intimidating, being so big, so these forums really help to just get an idea of where I should explore more.

[cLunn]

I know they are not hard to find.. I found that when I was there also, and I grew up in FL so I know that truth. What I am looking for is a living experience that allows me exposure and interaction on a community based level without having to drive to "events" etc, but to be closer to a real life experience where I can both be of service with my work, and also be able to learn and continue my studies and growth and being around the energy that has become so dear to my heart as a way of living more in community, as family and with the energy that Cuba represents... I don't even know if it really exists in Miami or not.. It might not anymore..

I'm also curious about Tampa. I've heard a lot about Tampa being a good option.. I'm not really a big city girl by heart, more of a down to earth rootsy community lover... anyone know anything about Tampa and the Cuban population there?

[miamihurricane555]

Originally Posted by unclealbertt

Chelito is correct, Cubans are 34% of Miami-Dade County, that's over 800K Cubans! Back in the day they were over 40%.

But if you look at the data, Cubans are most heavily concentrated in Hialeah and the area the Cubans call in spanish the southwest. It's the sw portion of Miami, west of I-95 and us-1. Everything between Flagler and Bird Road all the way past the turnpike. These are the only two regions of the county where Cubans are really the majority, their presence everywhere else varies pretty drastically in some cases, but they are not hard to find...please trust us.

The map is accurate for the most part but I would extend the SW section to at least sunset(72st) includeing all of Olympia and Glenvar Hieghts. here this is my way of figuring out which area is cuban or not(don't accuse me of being racist it works). These r the precent results of the 2008 election for prez if the area is green you know it's cuban(except for the areas in the redlands of Far SW Dade)
http://results.enr.clarityelections.....html?cid=0103

[miamihurricane555]

Originally Posted by cLunn

I know they are not hard to find.. I found that when I was there also, and I grew up in FL so I know that truth. What I am looking for is a living experience that allows me exposure and interaction on a community based level without having to drive to "events" etc, but to be closer to a real life experience where I can both be of service with my work, and also be able to learn and continue my studies and growth and being around the energy that has become so dear to my heart as a way of living more in community, as family and with the energy that Cuba represents... I don't even know if it really exists in Miami or not.. It might not anymore..

I'm also curious about Tampa. I've heard a lot about Tampa being a good option.. I'm not really a big city girl by heart, more of a down to earth rootsy community lover... anyone know anything about Tampa and the Cuban population there?

it hardly exists in Tampa total Hispanic population is less than 10%, here in Miami-Dade it's 65%...

[unclealbertt]

Originally Posted by miamihurricane555

The map is accurate for the most part but I would extend the SW section to at least sunset(72st) includeing all of Olympia and Glenvar Hieghts. here this is my way of figuring out which area is cuban or not(don't accuse me of being racist it works). These r the precent results of the 2008 election for prez if the area is green you know it's cuban(except for the areas in the redlands of Far SW Dade)
Dade - Election Results

I had limited my "Cuban" areas to locales with unusually high percentages of Cubans. Hialeah and the SW have 60-80% across the board exclusively. Looking back at the data, I should've included Olympia Heights but anything south of Miller Dr is a lot more diverse and a lot less Cuban.

[unclealbertt]

Originally Posted by cLunn

I know they are not hard to find.. I found that when I was there also, and I grew up in FL so I know that truth. What I am looking for is a living experience that allows me exposure and interaction on a community based level without having to drive to "events" etc, but to be closer to a real life experience where I can both be of service with my work, and also be able to learn and continue my studies and growth and being around the energy that has become so dear to my heart as a way of living more in community, as family and with the energy that Cuba represents... I don't even know if it really exists in Miami or not.. It might not anymore..

I'm also curious about Tampa. I've heard a lot about Tampa being a good option.. I'm not really a big city girl by heart, more of a down to earth rootsy community lover... anyone know anything about Tampa and the Cuban population there?

I'm really not sure if you'll be able to find what you're looking for. You can easily move to any of the areas we've specified and described for you. You'll live with them and you'll be fully able to enjoy their music, food and culture. Other than the rich culture they maintain with them, they won't be the same thing you probably saw on the island. These are people working hard and living quiet suburban lives in their own home for the most part. They are a large and spread out community.

Calle Ocho (SW 8th St) is still a hub of Cuban culture, so my advice would be to stick to that area within the city limits. Driving is inevitable in Miami, but you'll be close to all the activity. They have street festivals, restaurants, cigar shops, nightclubs and a theater.

You might also be interested with the both Cuban research institutes at the University of Miami and Florida International University.

FIU Cuban Research Institute

Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies

[miamihurricane555]

Originally Posted by unclealbertt

I had limited my "Cuban" areas to locales with unusually high percentages of Cubans. Hialeah and the SW have 60-80% across the board exclusively. Looking back at the data, I should've included Olympia Heights but anything south of Miller Dr is a lot more diverse and a lot less Cuban.

true miller is a good stopping point but when u stopped at bird u cut me out of the map