Melany Villalobos- Reflection #2

 Hialeah: The City of Progress

Hialeah: The Past

The History of Hialeah:

Group 4 explained the history of Hialeah and how it turned from a town to a city. With its rapid growth Hialeah became a highly populated city in no time. Group 4 covers almost 100 years of the history of Hialeah. Hialeah was developed by James H. Bright and a cattle rancher named Glenn Curtis in 1921, officially incorporating Hialeah as a town in 1925. The original design of Hialeah included a park with a race track in it, now known as Hialeah Park. South Florida got hit with a devastating hurricane in 1926, meaning the race track was unfinished for 6 years before it was rebuilt and opened to the public in 1932. 

The group also mentions how in the 1930s Hialeah attracted national attention with the race track, hosting many horse races and famous guests such as the Kennedy family. Additionally, Hialeah  became a hub for Latinos, especially Cubans as they began to migrate, growing the latin community. Group 4 mentioned how significant the race track became to Hialeah which is something I never knew. I have passed by Hialeah Park many times before and never knew about its history. I never would have imagined how well known the race track in Hialeah Park really was or how crucial it was to the economy of the city. 

The Growth of Hialeah:

Group 4 mentions how Hialeah went from a volunteer fire department to a fully established and paid fire department. Marking its transition from a town to a city. Opening schools that still stand there today, hospitals, theaters, and many stores, Hialeah kept on growing more and more. Infrastructure and developments continues to grow, including the Palmetto Expressway, the Palm Springs shopping center, and grocery stores such as Sedano’s Supermarket, which started as a small cuban market and eventually turned into a chain seen all around Miami-Dade county today. The opening of the John F. Kennedy library in 1965 was also monumental and celebrated amongst Hialeah residents. Group 4 mentioned that it was considered the “crown jewel” og Hialeah, making education more accessible for everyone in the community. The library had advanced technology for its time and the largest collection of books in the city. Miami Dade College also opened its doors, then known as Miami Dade Junior College, it became a “symbol of opportunity.” The group explained the origins of Hialeah staples. Sedano’s is a way for immigrants to remember the flavors of home and cook their traditional food. They introduced me to the history of those “core” places of Hialeah, explaining the origin. Group 4 did an amazing job at taking the audience back in time to witness the growth of Hialeah and how it became the city it is today, rich in culture and diversity.

Hialeah: Migration

Group 2 focused on the migration of Hialeah and how Cuban immigrants shaped what Hialeah is today.

Covering decades of immigration to Hialeah and how Cubans settled in Florida.

Early Cuban Migration:

Group 2 mentioned how Cuban migration to the U.S began in the 1800s, Cubans wanted to escape Spanish

colonization and they were seeking freedom. When they migrated to Florida, Cubans typically settled in cities

like Key West or Tampa because of the cigar industry and to stay close to Cuba.  Group 2 also taught me about the

Cuban revolution and how that led to migration from Cuba to Florida.  Group 2 mentions how 1959 marked the

beginning of the biggest wave of Cuban immigrants entering the United States.

The Cuban Revolution:

Group 2 talked about how the Cuban Revolution caused a political shift in people and how it changed U.S and Cuba

relations. They mention how Batista, Cuba’s former president, fled the country after rebel forces gained ground,

which led to Castro’s takeover. Group 2 taught me about this takeover, prior to the presentation I was not aware of

the reason for Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba. Group 2 mentions the relationship between the United States and

Cuba, since under Castro Cuba became a socialist country aligned with the Soviet Union, which the United States

was against. This led to the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Additionally, they mention how

Castro taking leadership of Cuba changed their economy drastically. 

Mariel Boatlift:

Group 2 mentions that the Mariel boatlift was a major migration movement, consisting of 125,000 Cubans traveling

to the United States. They did this when Castro decided that if anyone wanted to leave they should do so by Port

Mariel. As they came to the United States they faced many obstacles such as finding jobs and homes and the unsure

reaction of the U.S government. Prior to the presentation, I did not know about the Mariel Boatlift. Group 2 taught

me about new information I did not know about before. 

The Post-Soviet Exodus:

Group 2 explains that this is the time after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They mention that it is a continuation of

Cuban immigrants who are seeking freedom by coming to the United States. Nearly 650,000 Cuban immigrants fled

Cuba to come to the U.S, between 1995 and 2015. Group 2 educated me about the number of immigrants who fled to

the United States.

Hialeah: The Present

Group 1 focused on the present of Hialeah and how things are now. 

Hialeah 2005-2008:

Group 1 mentioned how during this time the mayor of Hialeah was Julio Robaina. Group 1 mentions that he focused on the city's services and reducing taxes. He was known for his citizens first approach, meaning that initiatives were community focused. Group 1 mentions that in 2005 Hialeah had 228,000 residents and it was Florida's 5th largest city. I was not aware that Hialeah’s population was so large, especially at that time. Group 1 explains that the population was mostly Cuban Americans, whose language and culture shaped Hialeah. Group 1 also mentions that Hialeah was known for its “entrepreneurial spirit” and many stores were small businesses. The 2008 housing crisis also impacted the economy of Hialeah and all of the United States; unemployment rates were also rising.

Hialeah 2009-2011:

Group 1 mentioned that many families during this time faced financial hardships, as well as small businesses closed or struggled to stay open. They mentioned that the local government tries to aid in the unemployment and financial crisis, but it was difficult. Eventually the community was able to recover around 2010. Group 1 explained how the local government helped Hialeah recover from the recession, which is not something I knew about previously.  By 2011, group 1 states that Hialeah’s economy was improving as unemployment was decreasing and businesses were opening up again. Hialeah also began to invest in the city, meaning opening parks,  recreational areas, and public spaces. 

Hialeah 2012-2014:

In 2012, the Hialeah baseball team the Thoroughbreds won district and regional championships. This information is not something I knew about prior to group 1’s research and presentation. Stores such as Publix Sabor opened around Hialeah and the local mall “Westfield Mall” was changed back to “Westland Mall” which was its original name. I also did not know that Westland Mall had a different name or that it was changed. In 2013, Hialeah parkCasino was opened, which is where the race track was previously located. Group 1 mentions that Hialeah’s population continues to grow with many of the residents being Cuban- American. 

Hialeah 2015-2020:

Group 1 explains that in 2015 there were many transit related redevelopment projects. 80 acres of mixed used land was proposed around the Tri-Rail Station. The city also upgraded the Tri-Rail system. In 2016, the community was focused on safety, there were grants issued for patrol vehicle upgrades. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated South Florida, including Hialeah. The police precinct had to close and Miami-Dade College also closed; they hosted community events during the clean up stage. The aftermath of Hurricane Irma was something that I did experience, however, I did not know it did so much damage to government buildings. In 2018, Hialeah’s population kept increasing, there were 223,109 residents in Hialeah. Also there were new developments such as the beacon logistics park, which is a warehouse complex used for shipping. Group 1 informed me about the Beacon Logistics Park because I did not know what it was before that; I did not know that Hialeah had such a large scale warehouse. In 2020, the Covid-19 Pandemic affected the entire world. Hialeah’s elderly population was greatly affected by the pandemic as most of the residents were elders. Hialeah began to develop a master plan for Hialeah Heights.

Hialeah 2021-2025:

In 2021, there were major political shifts in Hialeah and they began to investigate police corruption. The COvid-19 Pandemic still had lingering effects and was affecting residents. In 2022, Hialeah’s population is 220, 205 people and it is estimated that 90% of the population is Hispanic or Latino. Group 1 explains that the majority of Hialeah's population consists of Hispanics or Latinos which is new to me. I knew there were a lot of Hispanics in Hialeah but I did not know it was that many. In 2023- 2025, the population continues to increase and the Hispanic culture can be seen all over Hialeah. The Hispanic population in Hialeah has shaped the way that people live in the area and has completely transformed the cuisine, music, and lifestyle of Hialeah. 

Hialeah: The Future

The future of Hialeah was explained by group 3. Hialeah plans to improve the city and provide a better quality of life for its residents. 

The Hialeah 2050 Master Plan:

The Hialeah 2050 Master Plan is a development plan that consists of making Hialeah a better city. Group 3 explains that the city is planning to make Hialeah more walkable, this is done by widening sidewalks, planting more trees, and making a more pedestrian friendly environment. There's also going to be more public transportation and the current public transportation will be upgraded. 

Factory Town and the Leah Arts District:

Group 3 describes Factory Town as a plan to transform an abandoned mattress factory and turn it into an open air concert venue. But they also mention that it is more than just a concert venue, but also a place where people can enjoy arts and give Hialeah a place with a unique industrial aesthetic. The Leah Arts District is a hub for creativity as mentioned by group 3. Attracting anyone who loves art and providing cultural and artistic events. Prior to the persecution by group 3, I did not know about Factory Town or the Leah Arts District. I think both are incredible ideas to bring life back to Hialeah and provide it with new and unique experiences. 

The Hia-Line:

The Hia-Line is a development plan aimed to transform the space beneath the Hialeah metroline. These plans include building parks, dog parks, fitness equipment, walking trails, and much more. Prior to my research about the Hia-Line developments, I did not know about it. I think that it is a great idea to add more green spaces to Hialeah and create more community areas, especially outside. It is also sustainable because the space under the Hialeah Metrorail is untouched, meaning the Hia-Line will bring new life to it.