Community Background Report

Goulds

County

Miami-Dade

Boundaries

North: S.W. 200th Street
South: S.W. 248th Street
West: S.W. 127th Avenue
East: S.W. 87th Avenue

Community Type

Neighborhood

History

Goulds was developed originally as a stop on the Florida East Coast Railroad in 1903. The railroad depot was located near what is today Southwest 216th Street in Miami-Dade County. The community was named after its operator, Lyman Gould, who cut trees for railroad ties. The downtown had a post office, an all-purpose store and a residential building. Goulds’ two oldest congregations are the Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1914, and the New Bethel A.M.E. Church, founded in 1917. The Hurricane of 1926 (unnamed hurricane) devastated the original church buildings, along with many other buildings. The former Goulds downtown area is now the Cauley Square Shops. Today, “Goulds boundaries are defined by its Municipal Advisory Committee for purpose of incorporation” (James 2006). It is not a certainty that Goulds will incorporate as a municipality with the boundaries drawn by the Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC). Goulds is adjacent to Islandia and Spicewood, two physically smaller and less populated Communities, where some residents would rather continue receiving Miami-Dade County services than incorporate with Goulds (Piedra, Feb. 5, 2006). In addition to this boundary

dispute, both Goulds and Princeton are negotiating boundaries with the Redland MAC (Piedra, Dec. 15, 2005). Today, Goulds is a small community of mostly poor African Americans, sharing borders with the neighboring communities of South Miami Heights, Cutler Bay, Quail Heights, Redland, and Princeton.

Community Dynamics

Goulds has a population of 10,861, with a median age of 31.7 and a median household income of $32,864. Between 2015 and 2016, the population declined from 10,909 to 10,861, a 0.44% decrease, and its median household income grew from $29,333 to $32,864, a 12% increase.

The population of Goulds is 49% Black, 43.2% Hispanic, and 5.03% White. A non-English language is spoken by 48.4% of the population, and 81.7% are US citizens.

The median property value is $167,100, and the homeownership rate is 49.4%.

Business Landscape

The economy of Goulds employs 3,563 people. The economy is specialized in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, administration, support, waste management services, and other services, excepting public administration. The surrounding community of Goulds is home to two public schools administered by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, three private schools, and one charter school.

Costa Farms of Goulds is among the five nurseries approved by the Florida Department of Health to grow medical marijuana, as of June, 2016.

Transportation

Like other areas near US 1 in south Miami-Dade, Goulds is served by the South Dade Busway. US 1 goes through Goulds and the Florida Turnpike is at its eastern border. Major streets include West Old Cutler Road, SW 112th and 134th Avenues, SW 216th Street, and Silver Palm Drive.