Fisher Island, Florida

Miami -Dade County

12-22375

Fisher Iceland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean at the transition to Biscayne Bay as well as a census- designated place (CDP ) in Miami -Dade County in the U.S. state of Florida with 132 inhabitants (as of 2010). The island mainly as a luxury and strictly shielded residence of many rich and celebrity became famous. The per capita income of the residents is the highest in the United States.

Size and location

The island is located near Miami and Miami Beach, is about 0.94 square kilometers and has approximately 4.2 km of coastline. The northeast coast of the island is only separated by a 300 m wide artificial waterway (Government Cut) from the southern tip of Miami Beach Peninsula. The southwest coast of the island is separated by about 400 meters wide waterway Norris Cut from the island of Virginia Key. The northwestern tip of the island is located about 3.7 km from the mainland ( Miami).

Development

In the middle of the island is a large golf course. At the south end of the club has 18 tennis courts and clubhouse. In the north- west of the island, there is another ( slightly smaller ) Golf Course.

West of the great golf course, a marina closes at which protrudes nearly 300 meters into the island. It offers room for about 70 boats. Another marina with 20 berths located at the southern tip of the island.

Almost the entire West coast and the East coast are built with luxurious apartment houses. The cheapest apartments cost just under a million dollars. Also on the west and north side of the large yacht harbor enjoys such houses. Beaches are only on the south coast - the sand for it is from the Bahamas and is replaced regularly.

History

Today's Fisher Island Iceland was originally the southern tip of Miami Beach Peninsula. In 1905, however, a 300 -meter wide ship canal was built (Government Cut) to allow the ocean liner the entrance to Miami's new port - the southern tip of Miami Beach was separated thereby and became an independent island.

The real estate king and automotive pioneer Carl Graham Fisher purchased the newly emerged island in 1919 by Dana Albert Dorsey ( the African-American millionaire in South Florida ) to build his mausoleum here. But 1925 was the island into other hands: William Kissam Vanderbilt II ( grandson of railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt ) had fallen in love with the island and offered Fisher a spectacular exchange on: Fisher got Vanderbilt's 80-meter yacht, Vanderbilt got the island. He built Fisher Iceland from his winter residence; Moorish- style villa, guest houses, a studio, golf course, tennis courts and swimming pools - today, this part of the island, the resort hotel " Fisher Iceland Club".

After the death Vanderbilts, the island passed into the possession of the American steel magnate Edward Moore. After his death at the beginning of the 1950s, the businessman and speed boat world record holder " Gar " Wood buy the island - it should be the last of the very richest sole owner. In 1963, Wood sold the island to a development company ( which also includes the later U.S. President Richard Nixon was one ) - it followed years of legal battles and frequent changes of ownership.

Only in the 1980s began today's development with luxury apartment blocks, which are based on the style of Vanderbilt's Villa of the 1920s.

Today's hotel area, the Fisher - Iceland - Club is run by the German Heiko Dobrikow.

Demographics

According to the 2010 census, the then 132 inhabitants distributed in 226 households. The population density was 146.7 inh. / Km ². 92.4 % of the population were white, 2.3% African American, 0.0% Native American and 4.5 % Asian Americans. 0.8 % were members of different ethnic groups. 15.2 % of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, children under the age of 18 and 57.1 % of all households lived in 14.3 % of all households with persons at least 65 years. 73.0 % of households were family households (consisting of married couples with or without offspring or a parent with offspring ). The average size of a household was 2.10 persons and the average family size is 2.33 people.

10.6% of the population were younger than 20 years, 10.6% were 20-39 years old, 25.0 % were 40-59 years old and 53.7 % were at least 60 years old. The median age was 61 years. 51.5 % of the population were male and 48.5 % female.

In 2000, English was the mother tongue of 84.62 % of the population spoke Spanish and 15.38%.

Access restrictions

One thing has not changed since the early days: Fisher Iceland is still not open to the public. Allowed to enter the island only about 465 residents, paying guests of the expensive " Fisher Iceland Club " hotels and the students of the private " Fisher Iceland Day School " - which, if not life itself on Fisher Iceland, from the adjacent luxury islands or from the posh neighborhoods of Miami.

You can reach the island only by private ferry which operates around the clock in 15 -minute intervals. Residents of the island, the ferry first entered (or with their cars drive on ), only then the staff may not aboard - just walk! Residents of the island additionally arrive with their yacht or helicopter.

Unannounced guests are not welcome - you have to present an invitation of a resident. Upon entering the private ferry name and passport number are registered, also inviting the residents will be informed by telephone. Also, the " Fisher Iceland Club" checked his score before the booking is accepted. The security service ensures that boats that are not a resident, not moor at Fisher Iceland. In addition, the island is monitored around the clock by an infrared -enhanced satellite system. Fisher Iceland is currently considered the safest island in the United States.

Famous people

Residents of the island are, or were:

• Barbara Becker
• Boris Becker
• Andre Agassi
• Ricky Martin
• Julia Roberts
• Madonna
• Robert Redford
• Oprah Winfrey
• Mel Brooks

• Sharon Gless
• Lenny Kravitz
• Gloria Estefan
• P.Diddy
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Paul Newman
• Demi Moore
• Jack Nicholson

Not all houses and apartment owners live permanently on the island; Instead, they use their property there as a second or third residence. Only about 20 families live there permanently.