Hialeah, FL Demographics 2024

The demographics of Hialeah, Florida, as of 2023-2024, can be summarized as follows:

1. Population: The population of Hialeah was recorded at 217,201 in 2023, a decrease from the 2020 census, which recorded 222,153 people. This represents a decline rate of -0.75% annually​​. Another source reports a slightly higher figure of 220,274 for 2022, spread over an area of 21.6 square miles, resulting in a population density of approximately 10,206.6 people per square mile​​.
2. Ethnic Composition: The Hispanic population in Hialeah is notably high, with 96.0% of the residents identifying as Hispanic. This group includes 863 Mexican people, 2,824 Puerto Ricans, 175,876 Cubans, and 44,413 other Hispanic or Latino individuals​​.
3. Foreign-born residents: A significant portion of Hialeah’s population, about 74.1%, is comprises foreign-born residents​​.
4. Median Age and Household Income: In 2021, the median age in Hialeah was 45.5 years, and the median household income was $43,181. This was an increase from the 2020 median household income of $38,471​

Hialeah, FL Neighborhoods

Hialeah, Florida, is composed of various neighborhoods, each with its own unique characteristics. Some of the neighborhoods in Hialeah include:

• Andrews Park
• Carole Anne Park
• Central Hialeah
• Deer Park
• Downtown
• East Hialeah
• El Prado
• El Prado Country Club
• Essex Village
• Ingleside Park
• Knights Park
• Lago Grande
• Lake Adele
• Lake Patricia
• Linden Gardens
• Mango Hill
• Palm Springs
• Palm Springs Estates
• Rosedale Park
• Saratoga Heights
• Seminola
• Suntan Village
• Trojan Park
• Ulelah

These neighborhoods contribute to the city’s diverse cultural and social landscape.

Hialeah, FL History

The history of Hialeah, Florida, is rich and diverse, with significant developments over the years:

1. Founding and Naming: Hialeah was founded in 1921 by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss and Missouri cattleman James H. Bright. The name “Hialeah” is believed to derive from a Seminole term meaning either “pretty prairie” or “high prairie”. The city is on a large prairie between Biscayne Bay and the Everglades​​​​.
2. Early Entertainment and Development: In the early 1920s, Hialeah was known for its contributions to entertainment, including the Spanish sport of jai alai and greyhound racing. The Miami Movie Studios in Hialeah produced silent movies like D.W. Griffith’s “The White Rose.” However, the 1926 Miami hurricane ended many of these activities​​.
3. Hialeah Park Race Track: Incorporated in 1925, Hialeah soon became famous for the Hialeah Park Race Track, which opened the same year. This horse racing course was known for its grand thoroughbred races and Mediterranean-style architecture, earning the nickname “Grand Dame” and being considered the Jewel of Hialeah. The race track attracted many famous visitors, including the Kennedy family, Harry Truman, and Winston Churchill, and was an Audubon Bird Sanctuary and a National Historic Place. Amelia Earhart also made her final farewell from the United States at Hialeah in 1937 before her ill-fated flight worldwide​​.
4. Transformation into a Working-Class Community: Initially envisioned as a playground for the elite, Hialeah transformed into a working-class community, especially following the influx of Cuban exiles fleeing Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution. These waves of immigration, including the Freedom Flights, the Mariel boatlift, and later the Balseros, turned Hialeah into a significant and economically successful immigrant enclave. Cuban exiles, World War II veterans, and city planners led this transformation​​.
5. Population Growth: From a modest population of 1,500 in 1925, Hialeah experienced rapid growth, especially since the 1960s. It became Florida’s fifth-largest city, with more than 224,000 residents, and one of the largest employers in Dade County.