Coral Gables, FL

Coral Gables, Florida

Introduction to Coral Gables, Florida

The Florida city of Coral Gables, situated just a few miles southwest of Miami, is part of Miami-Dade County. Incorporated in 1925, Coral Gables was created as a fully-planned community by George Merrick, who envisioned an upscale Miami suburb with large elements of Mediterranean-style architecture to highlight the region's Spanish influence. Since that time, Coral Gables has thrived, experiencing continuous growth over the past several decades to become an affluent present-day city well known for its unique shops, art galleries, restaurants, and live theater performances.

Coral Gables is home to the University of Miami, one of the nation's top academic and athletic institutions. The city is served by Miami International Airport, located only four miles away.

Places of Interest in Coral Gables

Only a short drive from downtown Miami, Coral Gables offers plenty to do. Fans of Mediterranean architecture should make it a point to visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a National Historic Landmark built by agricultural industrialist James Deering in the early 1900s. The European-inspired estate includes a Main House looking much as it did when it was built, ten acres of gardens, and an historic village. The Biltmore Hotel, a monument to the architectural style envisioned by the city's founder, is also unchanged from when it was built in the early 1900s. Coral Gables City Hall is another impressive building, with a distinctive portico and beautiful wall murals. Other cultural sites include the Coral Gables Merrick House, Casa Bacardi, and the Lowe Art Museum.

The Venetian Pool, a popular local attraction built in 1923 from a coral rock quarry and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is spring-fed and surrounded by waterfalls, grottos, and coral caves. The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden features tropical plants, flowers, and trails, as well as educational programs and shows. Other attractions include the Coral Way scenic drive, the DeSoto Fountain, the John C. Gifford Arboretum, Matheson Hammock Park, and the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. Shopping and dining in Coral Gables are first-rate. The Miracle Mile and the Village of Merrick Park both offer world-class boutiques, galleries, antique shopping, and world-class dining options.

Sports fans in Coral Gables have the choice of watching first-rate collegiate athletics right in their own backyard, or traveling the very short distance to Miami to witness some major league professional action. The University of Miami is known for its highly successful athletic programs, its Hurricanes having won the College Baseball World Series four times (1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001) and the NCAA national football championship five times (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2001). Two of college football's Heisman Trophy winners have graduated from the University of Miami, and three of its former players are now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

If it's pro sports you like, then Miami fills the bill nicely. The National Basketball Association's Miami Heat play there, as do the National Football League's Dolphins. Major League Baseball fans can cheer on the Florida Marlins and hockey aficionados can watch the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. Horseracing fans can visit two well-known tracks: Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park.

Last but not least, if there is one sport predominantly associated with Coral Gables, it would be golf. The Biltmore Golf Course, one of many is the city, is world known and home to several Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour events.

High Points

Coral Gables strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Florida):

Category	Trophy
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Median Family Income (vs. Peers)	Top 3%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 5%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 5%
Public Transportation Use (vs. State)	Top 12%
People in Middle Class or Better (vs. State)	Top 13%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 14%
Racial Diversity (vs. Peers)	Top 19%

Comparative Profile of Coral Gables, FL

Comparing Coral Gables to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Florida (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Female Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Male Share of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Median Family Income
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Affordability of Rents
Housing Recently Built
Affordability of Property Taxes

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Coral Gables Almanac

Coral Gables Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Coral Gables Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Coral Gables, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Coral Gables Hospitals

CORAL GABLES HOSPITAL
(Proprietary)
3100 DOUGLAS RD
(305) 445-8461
Emergency Service: Yes

DOCTORS HOSPITAL
(Voluntary non-profit - Other)
5000 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
(305) 666-2111
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Coral Gables

Coral Gables High Schools (2004)

CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
450 BIRD ROAD
305-443-4871
Serves 3,633 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 24.2

MERRICK EDUCATION CENTER SPECIAL EDUCATION
39 ZAMORA AVENUE
305-445-5188
A Special Education School
Serves 444 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 8.1

ACADEMY FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION (ACE)
39 ZAMORA AVENUE
305-460-2946
A Non-traditional School
Serves 143 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 14.3

Coral Gables Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

University of Miami

(List of All Florida Colleges)

NEW: Community Comments below!