Perrine Community
The Perrine area is customarily lumped together with Cutler Ridge lying to the south. The accepted boundaries are north from Biscayne Bay to SW 147 AVE. The area is sandwiched roughly between the Pinecrest Municipality and Florida City – Homestead. Some historical towns, such as Peters (centered at US1 and SW 186 ST Quail Roost Drive), Cutler (the earliest and largest of the pre-railroad South Dade towns, centered at the Deering Estate, Old Cutler Road and SW 168 ST) and Rockdale (just south of US1 and SW 136 ST), are contained in Perrine.
The town was greatly enlarged and emboldened after the decision by Henry Flagler to run his Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad through the area. This deviated from the more easterly, expected route through Cutler. The Extension ran on the same tract that the South Dade Busway occupies today (just west of US 1).
The present town of Perrine is roughly separated by US1 into East and West Perrine. Although Perrine was traditionally considered a predominately black area, the post-WWII demographic transition segregated the black population largely to West Perrine, lying west of US1 and the railroad tracks. Interestingly, Perrine is laid out, both east and west, in roughly the same economic pattern. Closest to US 1 are the most economically depressed areas, in both the black (west) and white (east) areas. Traveling further east and west form US1 the property values rise to their highest values around SW 137 Avenue (west) and Old Cutler (east). Perrine is truly an area divided solely on race.
Perrine was briefly incorporated as a city in March 1948. The townspeople elected a mayor and city council. The city designation did not last long. Only a year later, after the election of a black mayor, the white city council and the mayor along with his son, the only lawyer in Perrine, went to the state legislature and asked for dissolution of the city charter. This was so ordered in May 1949. The obvious racial undertones of this story are not lost on the present day maneuverings of those who are pushing for incorporation of Perrine. The contemporary clash of philosophy also has at its base the issue of race and geography. The drive for incorporation of Palmetto Bay sets out a new city that would roughly encompass East Perrine. The County has rejected this proposal mainly out of fear that the lower tax base citizens of West Perrine will be lost in the transition and left to the county as part of unincorporated Dade County. This issue is particularly sensitive in the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
The worst weather related disaster in US history and one of the two worst hurricanes ever to hit Miami left the area of Perrine and parts south absolutely destroyed as well as defining it as a community. The economic losses were staggering. Those who had the ability to leave for the most part did. They took with them many of the privately owned, small business, jobs and spirit of community that Perrine is just now regaining.
Interviews
- Wilbur Bell (transcript only)
- Steve O’Brien (transcript only)
A Librarian