Community Background Report

Horse Country

County

Miami-Dade

Boundaries

North: S.W. 40th Street
South: S.W. 88th Street
West: S.W. 127th Avenue
East: Florida Turnpike (SR 821 HY)

Community Type

Neighborhood

History

“Welcome to Horse Country”, reads the rustic wooden sign greeting visitors who turn south from Bird Road and Southwest 122nd Street. The 2,000 acres of farmland are bounded north, south, east and west by Bird Road, Kendall Drive, Florida's Turnpike Extension, and Southwest 127th Avenue respectively. There used to be another sign at the Bird Road entrance: “Drive carefully and slowly,” it said, “because if you hurt an animal, you may not leave Horse Country” (Baboon 2006). Now the speed limit on many streets is 45 mph and 30 mph in the residential areas, and the “drive carefully” signs have been taken down (Herschtal 2005). “The people here are the farmer type”, said Hagen a 10-year Horse Country resident, “It's a very laid-back type of community” (Herschtal 2005). But even Hagen admits that the town's open roads can be seductive. When he first bought his car in 2001, a resident followed him home, then reprimanded him for speeding as he got out of his car. On a zoning map of Dade County, Horse Country still looks like the agricultural oasis it once was home to farmers and their crops and ranchers and their horses. Horse Country encompasses a 2 1/2-square-mile area from Florida's Turnpike to Southwest 127th Avenue and from Bird Road to Kendall Drive (Faiola 1990). Horse Country is considered by many to be a one of a kind neighborhood in West Kendall with horses, livestock, and plant nurseries. Horse Country is the last neighborhood in Miami-Dade County where equestrian competitions are held.

Horse Country’s first development challenge came in 1975. The owner of a lot on southwest 43rd street and 127th Avenue requested a variance to put in a strip shopping center. He convinced his neighbor to agree to sell also if the variance was granted. Marian Bonsignore a neighborhood resident recognized what a serious threat this zoning change would be to Horse Country. The neighborhood resident that joined in that protest became the charter members of the Horse Country Association and the Homeowners association. In the beginning Marian “did it all” says the Horse Country Association: “she went door to door to recruit new members and to collect dues; she notified everyone when there was a hearing and led groups downtown”, “when Marian moved out of the area she recruited Barbara Musgrove her replacement to take over. Barbara like Marian “did it all” (HorseCountry.org).

The core of Horse Country, though tainted by traffic, has retained much of its rural flavor. Many residents say their neighborhood will continue to prevail over extensive development. “Horse Country is still thriving,” said Linda Varner, former president of the Bird Kendall Homeowners Association.

The landmarks of the neighborhoods are the Matthews Nursery, Neighborhood Fish Farm, Liz Langford Arabian Stables, Circle-C Youth Ranch, Miami's International Horse Park, 12 wildlife preserves and a wildlife sanctuary for injured animals (Miami Herald 1985). The neighborhood’s festivals are the Annual country barbecue picnic scheduled for March and the Horse Country Independence Party and Fourth of July Parade.

Community Dynamics

As of the census of 2015, there were 2590 people and 718 households residing in Horse Country. The racial distribution of the Horse Country was 92.9% White, 0.63% African American, 2.24% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 1% from other races, and 2.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 79.92% of the population. There were 65.25% of people from age 18 to 64, the working age group, while 15.98% were 65 and older, and 18,77% were under 18-year. The average per capita income is $41,184. About 10.46% of the population were below the poverty line.

Business Landscape

The Horse Country is largely rural and agricultural. The German American Social Club of Greater Miami, in addition to various equestrian clubs and ranches are located in Horse Country. The Kendall Plaza Shopping Center is located on the southeast corner of Horse Country. In 2015, Horse Country claimed a victory in a battle against developers’ land use change on a 10+ acres at the corner of SW 127th Avenue and Miller Road from agriculturally based to business/commercial (Facebook, 2015).

Transportation

Metrobus routes 56, 72, and 272 serve this area.