Hialeah Relocating Guide

Among the most prominent cities in South Florida, Hialeah is surely one of them. This particular city has been a hub for economic growth for a very long time. Known as the upland prairie in the Seminole language, this is our moving guide to this city.

Throughout this post, we’ll go over the basic outline of the city followed by its demographics, economy, education, art & culture, food scene, and recreation. In other words, we plan on covering every aspect you need to think of before pulling the trigger on your Hialeah relocation.

Read: Check out our real estate guide on Opa-Locka, FL too.

Hialeah at a Glance

Nicknamed “City of progress”, Hialeah is one of the most diverse areas in Miami Dade County. The city was incorporated in 1925. In the same year, the crown jewel of the region, the Hialeah Park Eternal horse racing track was constructed. During that time, it was one of the largest race tracks in the world that later went on to host many historic races.

The potential of the location was first realized by Glenn Curtiss, an aviation pioneer, along with Missouri Cattleman. If you think the name Glenn Curtiss sounds familiar, he’s the same person who set the foundation for Miami Springs, a nearby city in Miami Dade County!

Even before the incorporation of the city, Hialeah was a happening place. It’s believed that during the “roaring 20s”, people from all over the country came to bet on greyhounds or on the Spanish sport of Jai-Alai. Even the infamous silent movie by D.W. Griffith’s White Horse was also produced in a Miami movie studio.

Unfortunately, just one year after the incorporation of the city, the 1926 hurricane struck Miami Dade. Along with many other cities, Hialeah was severely damaged.

After the city was rebuilt, it became one of the fastest-growing economies in Florida. By the 1960s, it became home to more than 236,000 people! If you think the number is not that bad, it was only 1,500 in 1925!

Fast forward to today, the city of Hialeah is the biggest employer in the county. It also has one of the most sustained economies in all of the United States. You’ll find the biggest Spanish-speaking communities in Hialeah. These are all things you should keep in mind when considering this city as a potential moving area.

Population and Geography

Hialeah is one of the most populous places in Miami Dade County. The rapid economic growth after the 1926 hurricane is primarily to thank, or blame, however, you look at it. The population of the city reached its peak in the year 2000. It was 226,419 according to the 2000 United States Census.

As for the 2020 census, the population declined to 220,490. However, the official website for the city of Hialeah states that the current population is sitting at 224,000. The population density is quite high as well, considering the 20 square miles area. Thankfully, over 19 square miles of this area is land.

Among the citizens, females have a slightly higher percentage. The majority of the population is between the ages of 10 and 60. This indicates the city has a very capable workforce, contributing to the economy.

Among all the cities and villages in Miami Dade County, the average temperature in Hialeah is quite low. It ranges between 60 degrees to 70 degrees throughout the year. Big changes in the temperature graph means you can expect very pleasant weather all year round!

What’s Hialeah’s Economy Like?

The economy of any city makes a big difference when you’re planning on moving there. It’s especially true if you don’t have an existing job or business to continue. In this section, we’re going to cover the economic situation of Hialeah so that you know exactly what to expect.

The city has over 18,000 businesses to employ almost 100,000 employees. The current unemployment rate is sitting at 2.2% only. It’s well under the national average. Also, it’s a 5.1% improvement from 2021.

The biggest employers in the city are industries that deal with:

• Healthcare and social assistance
• Retail trade
• Construction
• Business and Financial operations
• Public Administration
• Mining
• Oil & gas extraction

The median household income of this city is $38,471 as of the 2020 census. It’s well below the national average of $53,000 across the US. However, previous data tells us that the current median household income of the city saw a massive 9.7% growth! It simply means the economy of Hialeah is still in its growing phase.

The median property value, on the other hand, is only $256,900. This has also grown compared to previous years but not as severely as other cities around the country.

Speaking of property value, only 47% of the current population owns properties in Hialeah. The rest of the people are dependent on rented properties. For this very reason, the majority of the median expenditure goes into housing.

Quality of Education in Hialeah

The next area of discussion we’re planning on doing is the quality of education in Hialeah. If you have kids or planning to have kids, Hialeah could be a great place to start for you. Why, you ask? Let’s find out!

Being so close to Downtown Miami as well as being located at the heart of Miami Dade County has resulted in amazing school opportunities for the residents. Not all of them are located inside the city limits. But it doesn’t take long to commute to any of the nearby institutions you can consider.

Check out the list before we move any further.

• Mater Gardens Academy
• Jose Marti Mast 6-12
• Meadowlane Elementary School
• Joella Good Elementary School
• West Lakes Preparatory Academy
• Palm Lakes Elementary School

As for higher education, you’ll get to choose options both inside and outside the city. Some of the best options in our opinion would be:

• Franklin University
• Trinity International University
• Talmudic College of Florida
• City College
• Nova Southeastern University
• University of Miami
• College of Business and Technology – Miami Gardens
• San Ignacio University
• Florida Memorial University
• Florida International University
• Miami Dade College

 

As you can see, there’s no lack of options if good education is what you’re after. But we highly recommend visiting the campuses for yourself and talking to the authorities after you move there. Face-to-face interactions with the people in charge will surely boost your confidence.

Things to Do in Hialeah

Even when you move to a new city to live there in the long term, you need places for recreation. It depends on what kind of person you are and what you like for entertainment. The good thing is Hialeah has a little bit of everything!

In this section, let’s go over the things you can do to have a blast!

Hialeah Park Race Track

This place used to be the crown jewel of Hialeah, as you may already know. It’s a historic place that covers over 40 square blocks of the area in the heart of Hialeah. The park was opened in 1925. By 1979, it made its way into the US National Register of Historic Places.

In 2009, the city government took a massive project to recreate the race track for the modern audience. Along with hosting races, the park was permitted to host slot machines as well!

Interestingly, this is still an ongoing project and the estimated cost to complete it is over $1 billion! The completed complex would include hotels, malls, casinos, and even a movie theater! If you move there right now, you will witness the redemption of one of the most historic places in Miami Dade!

Bucky Dent Water Park

Who doesn’t like theme parks, right? The enjoyment goes through the roof if there’s a water park involved! The Bucky Dent Water Park is a prime example of such a park and this place is loved by people of all ages!

From slides that drop you 30 feet to zero depth swimming pools, this park has it all when it comes to a water park. A great thing about this particular park is that you may never have to wait in line! Most tourists go to other bigger water parks in Florida, making the Bucky Dent park perfect for Hialeah residents.

Flamingo Plaza

For all the shopping enthusiasts out there, Flamingo Plaza is where you need to be in Hialeah! From antique stores to thrift stores, everything is laid out for you to choose from. Toys, books, clothes, jewelry, and everything else you can think of, you’ll surely find an outlet to buy it.

Amelia Earhart Mountain Bike Trails

If you’re an adventure seeker who owns a mountain bike, this is a must-visit place for you. The trails are located inside Amelia Earhart Park, another attraction of Hialeah. However, the trails are not extremely dangerous, making them somewhat safe for kids as well.

Art & Culture

Art has long been a part of Miami’s history. Many believe that the great Miami area has the richest blend of cultures from all over the world. You’ll need to decide whether it’s true or not by visiting the places below.

Garden of the Arts

As the same suggests, it’s a huge open area with mesmerizing art pieces spread across. People who love open spaces with a touch of artistic décor will surely find this place fascinating! If this is your first time, you may confuse it with an art gallery that also looks like a museum.

Live events are pretty common at this facility so expect some crowd if you’re going on a weekend.

Leah Arts District

Leah Arts District is recently stirring up a lot of conversations for its contemporary take on modern arts. From colorful murals to being a hub of local artists, this place is the place to be if you have an eye for art.

The Hialeah Cultural Center

This place is located inside Miami Dade college’s Hialeah campus. The purpose behind founding and funding this place is to appreciate and promote the arts and culture in the city. Plenty of exhibitions, music festivals, art competitions, and other events take place here.

Places to Eat & Drink

Food culture has a lot to do with how a place is. And to understand the food culture of a city, does it get any better than the restaurants and bars?

• Graziano’s: If steaks are your thing, Graziano’s, the Argentine steak place is highly recommended.
• La Fresa Francesca: As you’d imagine, this is one of the finest French bistros in Hialeah. The owners had previous experience in the LA restaurant scene and they later decided to create their own brand. One of the owners is half Cuban so you can expect some Cuban twists on the menu as well!
• Molina’s Ranch: Established way back in 1982, this place still serves the best Cuban food in Hialeah. It’s still family-owned.

Highways and Transportation

You already know that the City of Hialeah is sitting in Northwest Miami Dade. Back in the day, the city had its slogan “All Ways Lead to Hialeah” which simply refers to the abundance of highways and roads that cross through the city.

The thoroughfares that connect Hialeah with other cities include:

• Interstate 75
• State Road 924 aka Gratigny Parkway
• State Road 826 aka Palmetto Highway
• Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike
• US Road 27 aka Okeechobee Road

The city transportation services include Metrorail, metro bus, and tri-rail. There are transit buses as well that give city-wide service to make the commute easier and more enjoyable.

Political Status

Unlike some other cities in the county, Hialeah doesn’t follow the traditional council-manager government system. Rather, it follows the council-mayor government. In case you’re not aware, it’s a local government system where the mayor is directly elected by the residents. At the same time, there is no city manager to conduct the day-to-day operations. It’s the council’s job.

The council is made up of 7 board members whose job description includes passing ordinances, curating and executing the budget, etc. The council board has various departments like the Charter School Oversight Committee, Cultural Affairs Board, Planning & Zoning Board, Administrative Hearings Board, Census committee, and plenty of others.

Esteban Bovo is currently in the chair as the mayor of Hialeah. He has previous records of serving in the Florida House of Representatives as well as in the Hialeah City Council. So, it’s safe to assume that the city in question is in pretty good hands.