In 1920 a private investor purchased a 2.26-square mile tract of land for development as a tourist resort. He named it Sunny Isles, "The Venice of America."
When the Haulover bridge was completed in 1925, the area became accessible from Miami Beach, attracting developers who widened streams, dug canals and inlets and created islands and peninsulas for building waterfront properties on Biscayne Bay.
In 1926, a group of investors spent nearly one million dollars to build an all-wooden racetrack with stands for 12,000 spectators. After just one "international auto race," the track was destroyed by a major hurricane, its wooden beams blown all over the county. This event, dubbed "Fulford's Folly," was a forerunner to the auto races at Sebring and Daytona.
In 1936 the Sunny Isles Pier was built and soon became a popular destination. In 1982 the half- mile-long pier was designated a historic site. It is still used by fishing enthusiasts and sightseers today.
Sunny Isles developed slowly until the 1950s when the first single-family homes were built in the Golden Shores area. During the 1950's and 1960's more than 30 motels sprang up along Collins Avenue including Ocean Palm, the first two-story motel in the U.S. Tourists came from all over to vacation in themed motels of exotic design along "Motel Row."
The Beatles were among noted visitors to Sunny Isles, cavorting at the Castaways Motel's famed Wreck Bar on Collins Avenue (State Road A1A) just south of Sunny Isles Boulevard. (The Castaways Motel was demolished in the 1970s and Oceania Towers, the first luxury condominium complex in Sunny Isles, was constructed on the site in the 1990s.)
The popular oceanfront community gained many new residents (both year-round and seasonal) as condominium communities such as Winston Towers and Arlen House were built in the 1970s.
Over the next decade, tourists from Europe and North America, flocked to Sunny Isles hotels and motels attracted by favorable exchange rates and value-for-money accommodation.
New mid- and high-rise multi-family buildings were constructed adding to the residential options in Sunny Isles. The City's three single-family communities, Golden Shores, Atlantic Island and Golden Gate, a luxury enclave at the northern tip of the city, are all on the Intracoastal Waterway.
In 1997, the citizens of this area voted to incorporate as a municipality, thus putting the city on the map as a highly desirable oceanfront community. Sunny Isles Beach is now in the midst of a major redevelopment with mostly luxury high-rise condominiums and some elegant hotels under construction.
Geogaphy:
Sunny Isles Beach is located at 25°56’29” North, 80°7’30” West (25.941270, -80.125111)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²). 2.6 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 28.37% water.
Demographics:
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 15,315 people, 8,169 households, and 3,994 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,854.6/km² (15,231.1/mi²). There were 12,946 housing units at an average density of 4,949.0/km² (12,875.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.85% White, 2.03% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.34% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 36.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,169 households out of which 12.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.1% were non-families. 43.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.55.
In the city the population was spread out with 11.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 32.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,627, and the median income for a family was $40,309. Males had a median income of $36,893 versus $28,207 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,576. 14.7% of the population and 11.2% of families were below the poverty line. 18.9% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
