Coconut Grove
—  Neighborhood of Miami  —
Typical street in the Grove, showing heavy vegetation typical of the hammock.
Nickname(s): The Grove
Coconut Grove neighborhood in Miami Coconut Grove neighborhood in Miami
Coordinates: 25°42′45″N -80°15′25″E / 25.7125°N 79.74306°W / 25.7125; -79.74306
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Miami-Dade County
City	Miami
Settled	1825
Annexed into the City of Miami	1925
Subdistricts of Coconut Grove	Neighborhoods list Center Grove Northeast Coconut Grove Southwest Coconut Grove West Grove or Black Grove
Government
• City of Miami Commissioner	Marc Sarnoff
• Miami-Dade Commissioners	Carlos A. Giménez
• House of Representatives	Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R) and Luis García, Jr. (R)
• State Senate	Gwen Margolis (D) and Larcenia Bullard (D)
• U.S. House	Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R)
Area
• Total	5.607 sq mi (14.52 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	20,076
• Density	8,006/sq mi (3,091/km2)
• Demonym	Grovite
Time zone	EST (UTC-05)
ZIP Code	33133
Area code(s)	305, 786
Website	Coconut Grove neighborhood

Coconut Grove is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami, Florida in Miami-Dade County, United States. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, South Dixie Highway (US 1) and Rickenbacker Causeway to the north, and Biscayne Bay to the east.^[1] It is south of the neighborhoods of Brickell and The Roads and east of Coral Gables. The neighborhood's name has been sometimes spelled "Cocoanut Grove" but the definitive spelling "Coconut Grove" was established when the city was incorporated in 1919.^[2]

What is today referred to as Coconut Grove was formed in 1925 when the city of Miami annexed two areas of about equal size, the city of Coconut Grove and most of the town of Silver Bluff. Coconut Grove approximately corresponds to the same area as the 33133 zip code although the zip code includes parts of Coral Way and Coral Gables^[3] and a small portion of zip code 33129.^[4] The area is often referred to by locals as "The Grove."

Coconut Grove is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at Coconut Grove and Douglas Road stations.

History[link]

Skyline of Coconut Grove, as seen from its respective Metrorail station

The Woman's Club of Coconut Grove was founded in 1891, and originally met in Miami's first public school, the First Coconut Grove School, built in 1887

Several waves of immigration established Coconut Grove, the first in 1825, when the Cape Florida lighthouse went into operation and was manned by John Dubose. Dr. Horace P. Porter is credited for coming up with the name when in 1873 he rented a home from Edmond D. Beasley’s widow, who homesteaded 160 acres bay front property. He lived there for only a year but during that time he established a post office which he named Coconut Grove.^[5][6] Around the same time the area saw an influx of Americans from the Northeastern US, as well as British and white Bahamian immigrants. The first hotel on the South Florida mainland was located in Coconut Grove. Called the Bay View Inn (later known as the Peacock Inn), it was built in 1882, on the site of present-day Peacock Park, by English immigrants Isabella and Charles Peacock, who had been the owner of a wholesale meat business in London. Coconut Grove's first black settlement, in the 1880s, was established by Bahamian laborers who worked at the Peacock Inn.^[7] The Barnacle Historic State Park is the oldest house in Miami-Dade County still standing in its original location. It was built in 1891 and was home to Ralph Middleton Munroe,also known as 'The Commodore' for being the first commodore and founder of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, an American yacht designer and early resident of Coconut Grove.

Mayfair in Coconut Grove

Formerly an independent city, Coconut Grove was annexed by the city of Miami in 1925.^[8] In the 1960s, bay-shore Coconut Grove served as the center of South Florida's youth countercultural movement, notably hosting several love-ins^[9] and concerts (including a now-infamous Doors concert on Dinner Key)^[10] during the latter part of the decade.^[11]

Economy[link]

Coconut Grove's small village quality presents an ideal location for outdoor festivals and events, the most prominent of which is the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, the county's leading outdoor arts festival, which takes place each year over President's Day weekend. Coconut Grove's other events include the King Mango Strut, which began as a parody of the Orange Bowl Parade, and which continues each year on the last Sunday in December. The Great Taste of the Grove Food & Wine Festival takes place each April. Each June, the Goombay Festival transforms Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove into a Carnaval (Caribbean Carnival), celebrating Bahamian culture, with Bahamian food and Caribbean music (Junkanoo). July 4 is an all day all America affair that includes an old-fashioned picnic on the grounds of the Barnacle Historic State Park, events throughout downtown Grove including street performers and a coconut treasure hunt, culminating with a fireworks display at Peacock Park. On Labor Day Weekend, it is time for The Great Grove Bed Race, with makeshift, themed beds rolling down the streets of downtown Coconut Grove to the delight of participants.

The Grove is known for its many and varied restaurants and open air cafes. Within a few blocks one can eat Italian, Peruvian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Mediterranean, French, Italian, Argentine, Pan Latin, Pan-Asian, Vegetarian, Seafood and good old fashioned American fare. One can also choose from among a number of ice cream, yogurt, smoothie and gelato shops.

Local favorites include Atchana's Kitchen, Bice, Calamari, Greenstreets cafe, Lulu's, Foccacia Rustica, Jaguar, Georges, le Bouchon, Cafe Pop, Spartico, Panorama, Charthouse and Monty's Raw Bar. There are plenty of chain franchises as well, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Chili's and Johnny Rockets. By night, the Grove becomes a center of nightlife frequented by young professionals and students from the-nearby University of Miami and Florida International University. Favorite places include Taurus, the Grove's most Legendary Bar, Mr. Moe's, The Burgundy Room, Hooter's, Fat Tuesdays, The Grove Spot, The Sandbar and Barracuda Bar.

Shopping is also abundant in the Grove, with two large open-air malls, CocoWalk, Streets of Mayfair, and many other street shops and boutiques.

Villa Vizcaya, built in 1916, is a popular Miami tourist attraction

Major corporations including Arquitectonica, Spanish Broadcasting System, and Watsco, are located in the Grove.

The eastern border of Coconut Grove is Biscayne Bay, which lends itself to a boating community. The area features a sailing club (Coconut Grove Sailing Club), a yacht club (Coral Reef Yacht Club) and a marina (Dinner Key Marina^[12]). Pan Am's seaplane operations were based in Dinner Key, and the Miami City Hall is based in the old Pan Am terminal building.

Demographics[link]

Demographically, Coconut Grove is split up into "Northeast Coconut Grove" and "Southwest Coconut Grove", and as of 2000, the total population of both of the neighborhood's sections made up between 18,953^[13] and 19,646 people.^[4] The zip codes for all of Coconut Grove include 33129 and 33133. The area covers 5.607 square miles (14.52 km²). As of 2000, there were 9,695 males and 9,951 females. The median age for males were 38.4 years old, while the median age for females were 40.3 years old. The average household size had 2.1 people, while the average family size had 2.8 members. The percentage of married-couple families (among all households) was 33.6%, while the percentage of married-couple families with children (among all households) was 11.1%, and the percentage of single-mother households (among all households) was 7.6%. The percentage of never-married males 15 years old and over was 18.3%, while the percentage of never-married females 15 years old and over was 14.3%.^[4] The percentage of people that speak English not well or not at all made up 8.1% of the population. The percentage of residents born in Florida was 31.6%, the percentage of people born in another U.S. state was 34.7%, and the percentage of native residents but born outside the U.S. was 2.3%, while the percentage of foreign born residents was 31.4%.^[4]

As of 2000,^[13] Northeast Grove had a population of 9,812 residents, with 5,113 households, and 2,221 families residing in the neighborhood. The median household income was $63,617.82. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 35.24% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 2.25% Black or African American, 60.96% White (non-Hispanic), and 1.55% Other races (non-Hispanic).

As of 2000,^[13] Southwest Grove had a population of 9,141 residents, with 3,477 households, and 2,082 families residing in the neighborhood. The median household income was $63,617.82. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 14.80% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 48.27% Black or African American, 35.27% White (non-Hispanic), and 1.66% Other races (non-Hispanic).

The "West" Grove is predominantly composed of people who are of Afro-Caribbean descent. Bahamian sailors were one of the first groups of settlers in the area.^[14] The Goombay festival is a celebration of the rich history of this historically Black neighborhood.^[15]

Transportation[link]

Mercy Hospital in the Grove.

Coconut Grove is served by Metrobus throughout the area, and by the Miami Metrorail at:

•      Vizcaya (SW 32nd Road and U.S. 1)
•      Coconut Grove (SW 27th Avenue and U.S. 1)
•      Douglas Road (SW 37th Avenue and U.S. 1)

Metrobus' Coconut Grove Connection connects at Coconut Grove and Douglas Road stations, going to many popular areas within the Grove, including CocoWalk and Peacock Park.

Education and institutions[link]

Elementary schools[link]

Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates area public schools:

• Coconut Grove Elementary School
• Frances S. Tucker Elementary School
• George W. Carver Elementary School

Middle schools[link]

• George Washington Carver Middle School

High schools[link]

• Academy of Arts and Minds Charter High School, founded in 2003

Private schools[link]

The Miami Science Museum

• Ransom Everglades School, founded in 1903
• St. Hugh Catholic School, 1956
• Immaculata-Lasalle High School, 1958
• St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School, 1958
• Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, 1961
• Coconut Grove Montessori School

Cultural[link]

• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• The Barnacle Historic State Park
• Coconut Grove Playhouse
• The Kampong
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas Home
• Miami Science Museum

Libraries[link]

Miami-Dade Public Library operates area public libraries:

• Coconut Grove Library
• Virrick Park Library

The Coconut Grove Library was founded in 1895 by the Pine Needles Club, a literary group. Adjacent to the library is the grave of Eva Amelia Munroe; dated 1882, it is the oldest marked grave in Miami-Dade County.

Points of interest[link]

• CocoWalk
• Dinner Key
• First Coconut Grove School
• Mercy Hospital
• Miami City Hall
• Plymouth Congregational Church
• Trapp Homestead
• Woman's Club of Coconut Grove

Parks[link]

^[16]

• The Kampong, an 8 acre (32,000 m²) tropical garden that forms part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden.
• The Barnacle Historic State Park. Built in the late 19th century, the former home of Ralph Middleton Munroe is the oldest home in Miami-Dade County still standing in its original location and is situated on the shore of Biscayne Bay. The forest surrounding the home is tropical hardwood hammock and is the last of its kind in the area. The unique architecture includes period furniture and wide porches that afford magnificent views.

The Kampong is a botanical garden in the Grove. The Grove is well known for its wild foliage, and large tree coverage.

• Peacock Park / Kenneth Myers Bayside Park
• David Kennedy Park
• Merrie Christmas Park
• Steele Park
• Blanche Park
• Elizabeth Virrick Park
• Kirk Munroe Park
• Coconut Grove Park
• Grand Avenue Park
• Ingraham Terrace Park
• Sunrise Park
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas Mini Park
• Dinner Key Picnic Islands Park
• Alice C. Wainwright Park

In popular culture[link]

CocoWalk

• The movie Where the Pavement Ends was filmed in Coconut Grove in 1923. It was directed by Rex Ingram and starred Ramón Navarro.^[17]
• Pioneer Folk rock musician Fred Neil resided in, and wrote songs about Coconut Grove, notably on the song "Bleecker & MacDougal".
• "Coconut Grove" is a song written by John Sebastian and recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful in 1967. It later was covered by David Lee Roth. Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has expressed a fondness for the song.
• In the film Scarface, Manny lives in an upscale home in the Grove.
• In the TV series Dexter, Dexter Morgan, lives in Coconut Grove, based on the book series by Jeff Lindsay.
• In the video for the song "Careless Whisper" George Michael can be seen looking out at sea from a hotel balcony in Coconut Grove as a seaplane flies by.
• In the 1980 song "American Dream" by the (Nitty Gritty) Dirt Band, Coconut Grove is mentioned prominently in the chorus as a vacation destination.
• In the movie Bad Boys, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith follow a suspect through Coconut Grove.
• The movie Hoot, produced by Frank Marshall, Toby Emmerich and Jimmy Buffett (who also appears in the film and sings on the soundtrack) and based on a novel by Carl Hiaasen, is set in Coconut Grove.
• In Big Trouble, by Dave Barry, the main setting is Coconut Grove.
• The set for the TV series Burn Notice is in Coconut Grove, in what was once the City of Miami's Convention Center.
• Coconut Grove is the setting for the movie, Meet The Fockers.
• Coconut Grove has been a location on the show The First 48.
• Coconut Grove is a location in the 1985 Burt Reynolds film Stick. A stunt man falls off hi-rise condo building.
• The 2008 film Marley & Me with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson was filmed on location in Coconut Grove, based on John Grogan's book.
• CSI: Miami season 4 episode 10 ("Shattered") is set in Coconut Grove.
• In the first episode of The Golden Girls, "The Engagement", at the end of the episode, Rose asks Dorothy and Blanche if they'd like to go to Coconut Grove for lunch, her treat, to celebrate their friendship.

Notable residents[link]

Former and current residents include:

• Hervey Allen, author of Anthony Adverse
• Leo Baekeland, inventor of Bakelite
• William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State
• Neal Colzie, NFL cornerback^[18]
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas, environmentalist
• Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers running back
• Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the National Geographic Society
• LeBron James, basketball player, Miami Heat.^[19]
• Peter Lewis, businessman
• Madonna, 1992–2000
• Mia Michaels, television star
• Kirk Munroe, author of children's books
• Ralph Middleton Munroe, American yacht designer, builder of the oldest house in Miami, Florida, now The Barnacle Historic State Park; 1886–1933
• Ric O'Barry, Dolphin Activist; star of movie/documentary The Cove
• Lincoln O'Barry, Dolphin Activist; Director, Producer and star of the TV series Blood Dolphins
• Winston E. Scott, (Captain, USN, Ret.); NASA Astronaut (former)^[20]
• Sylvester Stallone 1993–1999
• Sepy Dobronyi, 1963–2010, Sculptor, Movie Producer, Jeweler

Historic Coconut Grove[link]

Established in 1825, Coconut Grove is one of Miami's oldest neighborhoods. As such, many of Miami's oldest buildings and homes are located in the Grove. Some of these include:

References[link]