At the beginning of World War II, the United States Navy purchased 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of land in southwestern Dade (now called Miami-Dade) County for the purpose of constructing an airship base. The land was owned by the Richmond Timber Company, a major supplier of Dade County Pine (a denser, harder, sub-species of Pinus palustris, or longleaf pine). The base was named Naval Air Station Richmond, after the lumber company, and was home to the 25 ships of ZP-21 (Patrol, Airship Squadron 21 and Airship Wing 2). NAS Richmond was the second largest airship base in the United States, NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey being the largest. NAS Richmond was destroyed by a hurricane and fire in September 1945.
After the end of World War II, Captain Frank C. Martin, a Pan American pilot, purchased farmland adjacent to the base in rural southwest Dade County. With this purchase he created Richmond Heights, as a new community for returning African American veterans.
Of the original 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) he purchased in 1949, the federal government had used 800 acres (320 ha) to build the headquarters of Naval Air Station Richmond, a blimp base constructed in the early months of World War II Richmond, and was eventually home to 25 K-series blimps, three hangars, and 3,000 men. The hangars were 16 stories tall, built of Douglas fir brought in by train. The blimps protected ship convoys in the Florida Straits, and Richmond was the headquarters for the fight against U-boats operating in the Caribbean.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2), or 0.93%, are water.[1]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,944 people, 2,635 households, and 2,133 families residing in the CDP.[9]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 8,541 people, 2,566 households, and 2,058 families residing in the CDP.[10]
2000 census
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 8,479 people, 2,653 households, and 2,101 families living in the CDP. The population density was 5,124.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,978.5/km2). There were 2,771 housing units at an average density of 1,674.7 per square mile (646.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 12.45% White (3.4% were Non-Hispanic White),[11] 82.83% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.47% of the population.
As of 2000, there were 2,653 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 30.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.16 and the average family size was 3.55.
In 2000, the CDP, the population was spread out, with 29.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the CDP was $38,191, and the median income for a family was $44,095. Males had a median income of $31,286 versus $27,882 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,824. About 14.0% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 87.29% of residents, while Spanish as a mother tongue made up 12.70% of the population.[12]
Attractions
Annually, people travel back to Miami-Dade County to celebrate the Historic Weekend hosted by the Historic Society.[13]
The Richmond Heights 49ers was funded in part by a grant from the Florida Humanities Council, National Endowment of the Arts, Miami-Dade County Cultural Arts Department, and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.[14]
United States of America
Florida
Miami-Dade
