Community Background Report

Princeton

County

Miami-Dade

Boundaries

North: S.W. 232nd Avenue
South: S.W. 344th Avenue
West: US1
East: S.W. 300th Street

Community Type

Neighborhood

History

As a small town and depot along the Florida East Coast Railroad in the 1900s, the community was named by Gaston Drake after his alma mater, Princeton University. Many of the town’s buildings were even painted with the school's colors: black and orange. Drake operated a sawmill and lumber company in Princeton, supplying Miami, the Florida Keys and Cuba, until the local timber gave out in 1923.

The 1980 Census recorded a single census area, known as “Naranja-Princeton.” The census area split to form the Naranja and Princeton census designated places in 1990, when the populations recorded there were 5,790 and 7,073, respectively.

In 2003, Princeton and two other neighborhoods formed a coalition studying incorporation: Princeton, Leisure City and Naranja together created the PLANT Municipal Advisory Committee. Both Princeton and Goulds are negotiating boundaries with the Redland MAC, an issue which must be resolved before they are recognized by the county or state (Piedra, Dec. 15, 2005). In 2003, led by District 8 County Commissioner Sorenson, professional planners guided Princeton area residents in recognizing the potential benefits of development (Princeton Citizens’ Charrette Area Plan, 2003). The exchange between professional planners and concerned residents yielded the following points of concern: creation of a town center focusing on the busway station at S.W. 248th Street and US 1; employment opportunities; connecting existing neighborhoods; and providing destinations for travelers to reach near the busway. Area residents recognize the importance of marking the edge of the Urban Development Boundary, so that it remains fixed to one location. Officials believe the boundaries of PLANT will dissolve as the MAC better understands incorporation and, when this happens, Princeton’s boundaries will become more strongly defined (Ford, 2006 / Spear, 2006).

Community Dynamics

In 2017, Princeton had a population of approximately 28,200 people, with a median age of 32 and a median household income of $50,483. Between 2016 and 2017, the population of Princeton grew from 27,799 to 28,201, a 1.45% increase, and its median household income declined from $50,917 to $50,483, a 0.852% decrease.

The population of Princeton is 66% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Black or African American Alone, and 10.7% White Alone. U.S. citizenship is held by 82.1% of the population.

The median property value in Princeton is $193,700, and the homeownership rate is 59.9%.

Business Landscape

Farms and nature-related small businesses flourish in the western part of Princeton. They include Safari Adventure, Secret Garden Miami, the Cooper Estate and the Redland Flea Market. In addition to Goulds Elementary School, there are a handful of private or charter schools serving Princeton, including Coconut Palm K-8 Academy, Somerset Academy Silver Palms, and Summerville Advantage Academy.

Transportation

The main roads that serve Princeton are S.W. 112th Avenue, S.W. 127th Avenue, S.W. 232nd Avenue, S.W. 344th Avenue, US 1, S.W. 248th Street, and S.W. 300th Street. Buses # 34, #35, #38, and #248 serve Princeton. Most people in Princeton commute by driving alone, and the average commute time is 36.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Princeton is 2 cars per household.