Homestead, Florida

In 1898, the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) planned an extension from Miami to Key West, proposing a station 30 miles south of Miami. Henry Flagler, founder of the FEC, agreed and suggested naming the station "Ingraham" after James E. Ingraham who was the vice president and land commissioner for the FEC at the time. Ingraham declined and suggested naming it "Homestead" instead, even though no one had homesteaded in the area at the time. At this time homesteading was ongoing north and northwest of the proposed station in the area that is now known as Redland.{{Cite book |last=Grunwell |first=George |title=The First 100 Years of the Homestead Post Office |publisher=Florida Pioneer Museum Association |year=2005 |location=Florida City |pages=1}}

Before the Homestead station was built a railway surveyor named John S. Fredricks laid out a town site around the planned station site on land owned by the FEC. At the time, it was common to plan towns around rail stations in undeveloped areas.

In July 1904, the Florida East Coast Railway opened the first station in what would later become Homestead. In October 1904, a settler and entrepreneur named William D. Horne arrived to homestead and was the first person to buy a lot at the new town site surrounding the railway. Shortly after his arrival, Mr. Horne constructed the first privately owned building in homestead & used it as a store, rooming house & post office. Today that building still stands as the historic Redland Hotel.{{Cite book |last=Grunwell |first=George |title=The First 100 Years of the Homestead Florida Post Office |year=2005 |location=Florida City, Florida |pages=2}}

Homestead was incorporated in 1913 and is the second oldest city in Miami-Dade County next to the city of Miami. The name originates from when the Florida East Coast Railway extension to Key West was being built. The rail line was passing through an area opened up for homesteading, and as the construction camp at the end of the line did not have a particular name, construction materials and supplies for the workers were consigned to "Homestead Country", shortened to "Homestead" by the engineers who mapped the area.{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Jean |date=1985 |title=Villages of South Dade|location=St. Petersburg, Fla |publisher=B. Kennedy |oclc=18906834 |lccn=88132899 |page=157}}

The 1926 hurricane and real estate downturn caused many small businesses and banks in Florida to fail. A lot of people left because their homes were destroyed or flooded, and most did not have insurance, facing hefty mortgage payments.{{Cite book |last=Grunwell |first=George |title=The First 100 Years of the Homestead Post Office |publisher=Florida Pioneer Museum Association |year=2005 |location=Florida City |pages=9}}

Homestead and neighboring South Miami-Dade County communities bore the brunt of Category 5 Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992.

In 2013, Homestead officially designated itself the gateway community for Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.{{Cite web |title=Everglades and Biscayne National Parks Welcome City of Homestead Recognition as Gateway City - Everglades National Park (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/news/everglades-and-biscayne-national-parks-welcome-city-of-homestead-recognition-as-gateway-city.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323012043/https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/news/everglades-and-biscayne-national-parks-welcome-city-of-homestead-recognition-as-gateway-city.htm |archive-date=2025-03-23 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=National Parks {{!}} Homestead, FL - Official Website |url=https://www.homesteadfl.gov/330/National-Parks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312213233/https://www.homesteadfl.gov/330/National-Parks |archive-date=2025-03-12 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.homesteadfl.gov}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|14.4|sqmi|km2}}. {{convert|14.3|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.63%) is water.

Homestead is a small-sized city. At its greatest north–south points – along SW 137th Avenue (Speedway Boulevard) – its city limits extend only {{convert|4|mi|km|0}} – from SW 288th Street (Biscayne Drive) at the north end to (theoretical) SW 352nd Street at the south end. At its greatest east–west points – along SW 328th Street (North Canal Drive / Lucy Street) – its city limits extend {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} – from (theoretical) SW 132nd Avenue at the east end to SW 192nd Avenue at the west end. U.S. 1 – known as Homestead Boulevard within the city limits – extends through a rather narrow northeast / southwest corridor of the city from SW 304th Street (Kings Highway) at the north end to SW 328th Street (Lucy Street) at the south end. It is at this point at the south end that Homestead and Florida City share a common border. (North of the north end at SW 304th Street is known as Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, but it is locally known as the community of Leisure City).

Major east–west streets within Homestead include SW 304th Street / NE & NW 15th Street (Kings Highway), SW 312th Street / NE & NW 8th Street (Campbell Drive), SW 320th Street (Mowry Drive), SW 328th Street / SE & SW 8th Street (North Canal Drive / Lucy Street), and SW 344th Street / SE 24th Street (Palm Drive).

The original Homestead Air Force Base was once located several miles to the northeast of Homestead, but due to annexation of formerly unincorporated land immediately to the east and northeast of the original city limits during the late-1990s the city and the far southwestern perimeter of the (now) Homestead Air Reserve Base share a common border for a small portion along SW 137th Avenue (Speedway Boulevard).

A noteworthy tourist attraction within Leisure City is Coral Castle, built by a jilted lover, Edward Leedskalnin, over the course of 28 years from 1923 to 1951.{{cite web|url=http://www.coralcastle.com/freqaq.html|title=F A Q|website=coralcastle.com|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050723014502/http://www.coralcastle.com/freqaq.html|archive-date=23 July 2005|url-status=dead}} The Fruit and Spice Park is also of interest.

Homestead experiences a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am) that borders on a tropical savanna climate (Aw). Summers are hot and humid and high temperatures average between 90° and 92 °F (32° to 33 °C). Winters are warm and dry. The all-time record high temperature is {{convert|100|F|C|1}}, on July 10, 2023, and August 11, 2023. Lows in summer average between {{convert|70|F|C|1}} and {{convert|75|F|C|1}}, with low temperatures in all times of year averaging 5 degrees cooler than coastal Miami, mainly because of its inland and rural location. In winter, the area sees cold fronts bring cold weather for short periods from November to March. The lowest temperature ever recorded is 26 °F (–3 °C), on 13 December 1934, which was recorded at Homestead Air Force Base, some 10 miles east of the town. High temperatures in winter average between 68° and 80 °F (18° to 26 °C), and lows average between 57° and 64 °F (8° to 14 °C).[http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KHST/1934/12/13/DailyHistory.html Weather History for Homestead] retrieved August 6, 2006 Summer is the season when most of the rain occurs. Homestead has a wet season lasting from mid-May to early October. The dry season sees some rain, with most of it coming with the passing of cold fronts. Snow flurries were reported to have been observed in the air at Homestead Air Force Base, on January 20, 1977, and marked the farthest south that snow flurries have ever been reported in the lower 48 United States.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Homestead, Florida (Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1910–present

|single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 89

| Feb record high F = 92

| Mar record high F = 93

| Apr record high F = 97

| May record high F = 100

| Jun record high F = 100

| Jul record high F = 100

| Aug record high F = 100

| Sep record high F = 98

| Oct record high F = 99

| Nov record high F = 92

| Dec record high F = 90

| year record high F =

| Jan avg record high F = 85.0

| Feb avg record high F = 86.7

| Mar avg record high F = 89.0

| Apr avg record high F = 91.4

| May avg record high F = 93.4

| Jun avg record high F = 94.7

| Jul avg record high F = 95.5

| Aug avg record high F = 95.7

| Sep avg record high F = 94.0

| Oct avg record high F = 92.3

| Nov avg record high F = 87.5

| Dec avg record high F = 85.3

| year avg record high F = 96.5

| Jan high F = 77.5

| Feb high F = 79.5

| Mar high F = 81.8

| Apr high F = 85.5

| May high F = 88.4

| Jun high F = 90.8

| Jul high F = 92.0

| Aug high F = 92.1

| Sep high F = 91.0

| Oct high F = 87.5

| Nov high F = 82.5

| Dec high F = 79.2

|year high F = 85.6

|Jan mean F = 66.4

|Feb mean F = 68.0

|Mar mean F = 70.4

|Apr mean F = 74.3

|May mean F = 78.2

|Jun mean F = 81.7

|Jul mean F = 82.9

|Aug mean F = 83.2

|Sep mean F = 82.4

|Oct mean F = 78.9

|Nov mean F = 73.0

|Dec mean F = 69.0

|year mean F = 75.7

| Jan low F = 55.3

| Feb low F = 56.6

| Mar low F = 59.0

| Apr low F = 63.2

| May low F = 68.1

| Jun low F = 72.7

| Jul low F = 73.8

| Aug low F = 74.3

| Sep low F = 73.9

| Oct low F = 70.4

| Nov low F = 63.4

| Dec low F = 58.7

|year low F = 65.8

|Jan avg record low F = 39.6

|Feb avg record low F = 42.7

|Mar avg record low F = 46.5

|Apr avg record low F = 52.1

|May avg record low F = 60.9

|Jun avg record low F = 69.0

|Jul avg record low F = 70.7

|Aug avg record low F = 71.3

|Sep avg record low F = 70.5

|Oct avg record low F = 60.5

|Nov avg record low F = 51.4

|Dec avg record low F = 45.0

|year avg record low F = 37.4

|Jan record low F = 27

|Feb record low F = 26

|Mar record low F = 26

|Apr record low F = 39

|May record low F = 47

|Jun record low F = 56

|Jul record low F = 63

|Aug record low F = 64

|Sep record low F = 61

|Oct record low F = 42

|Nov record low F = 30

|Dec record low F = 26

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.70

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.01

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.05

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.92

| May precipitation inch = 5.77

| Jun precipitation inch = 9.34

| Jul precipitation inch = 7.14

| Aug precipitation inch = 10.17

| Sep precipitation inch = 8.63

| Oct precipitation inch = 5.86

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.34

| Dec precipitation inch = 1.97

|year precipitation inch = 59.90

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 7.1

| Feb precipitation days = 6.6

| Mar precipitation days = 5.9

| Apr precipitation days = 6.2

| May precipitation days = 11.4

| Jun precipitation days = 18.1

| Jul precipitation days = 17.2

| Aug precipitation days = 18.8

| Sep precipitation days = 18.5

| Oct precipitation days = 12.4

| Nov precipitation days = 8.0

| Dec precipitation days = 8.7

| year precipitation days = 138.9

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=mfl

| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = May 9, 2021

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00084095&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = May 9, 2021

}} }}

{{Further|Effects of Hurricane Andrew in Florida#Miami-Dade County|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida#Miami area|Effects of Hurricane Wilma in Florida#Miami-Dade County|Effects of Hurricane Irma in Florida#Miami-Dade County}}

In August 1992, the Category 5 hurricane Andrew devastated the town, as well as nearby Homestead Air Force Base. Hurricane Katrina caused flooding in Homestead in August 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/sfl-blog-208-katrina-anniversary-20150814-story.html |title=Hurricane Katrina hit South Florida 10 years ago today |last=Kaye |first=Ken |date=August 25, 2015 |website=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=2018-07-27}} The following October, Hurricane Wilma damaged light poles, grandstands, garages, and sections of catch fence at the Homestead–Miami Speedway, a motor racetrack built in the years following Hurricane Andrew.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/10/25/auto-track-damaged-by-wilma/ |title=Auto track damaged by Wilma |first=Cammy |last=Clark |date=October 25, 2005 |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=2018-07-27}} After Hurricane Wilma, a Homestead man was killed in a tractor accident while clearing debris.{{cite news |title=Dade Hit Hardest as Death Toll Reaches 31 Across the State |first=Luisa |last=Yanez |date=November 8, 2005 |newspaper=Miami Herald |pages=1B}}

When Hurricane Irma struck Florida in September 2017, parts of Homestead lost electric power. South Dade Center, a low-income housing project for farmworkers, was flooded with rainwater. Residents were without electricity and waste collection for about a week without relief.{{cite news |url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/homestead-florida-farmworkers-without-power-after-irma-hit-miami-9670929 |title=Homestead Migrant Farm Workers Neglected After Irma Until Activists Raise Alarm |date=September 15, 2017|first=Jerry |last=Iannelli |newspaper=Miami New Times |access-date=December 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031222248/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/homestead-florida-farmworkers-without-power-after-irma-hit-miami-9670929 |archive-date=October 31, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}

{{US Census population

| 1910 = 261

| 1920 = 1307

| 1930 = 2319

| 1940 = 3154

| 1950 = 4573

| 1960 = 9152

| 1970 = 13674

| 1980 = 20668

| 1990 = 26866

| 2000 = 31909

| 2010 = 60512

| 2020 = 80737

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 80,737 people, 19,392 households, and 15,601 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Homestead city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Homestead+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 60,512 people, 17,397 households, and 12,278 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Homestead city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Homestead+city,+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

The city of Homestead is served by the Miami market for local radio and television. Homestead has its own newspaper, the [http://www.southdadenewsleader.com/ South Dade News Leader], which has been serving the South Dade community since 1913. The News Leader is published on Fridays.

"Inside Homestead TV" is a television program where viewers can find out about all the happenings in Homestead. Each month, a news show is released offering Homestead residents updates on local events as well as other developments throughout the region. Also, the program has in-depth interviews with the local Mayor & Council and City Staff, special events coverage, and how-to videos.

These monthly news reports vary in topic every month. For instance, the March 2015 video describes the new City Hall, education and National Parks news.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofhomestead.com/index.aspx?NID=389|title=Inside Homestead TV - Homestead, FL - Official Website|website=www.cityofhomestead.com|access-date=20 March 2018}}

File:Homestead FL Downtown HD town hall03.jpg]]

The Florida Department of Corrections operates the Dade Correctional Institution and the Homestead Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area near Homestead."[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region4/419.html Homestead Correctional Institution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528232506/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region4/419.html |date=May 28, 2010 }}." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 15, 2010."Dade Correctional Institution at Homestead.""[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region4/463.html Dade Correctional Institution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428033554/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region4/463.html |date=April 28, 2010 }}." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 15, 2010. The Dade CI was originally the Dade Correctional Institution Annex, and the Homestead CI was originally the Dade Correctional Institution; the two received their current names on July 1, 2003."[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/annual/0203/pdfs/facilities.pdf FACILITIES ON JUNE 30, 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229161226/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/annual/0203/pdfs/facilities.pdf |date=February 29, 2012 }}." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 15, 2010. In June 2018, Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children, a federal facility operated by Comprehensive Health Services, Inc., was estimated to hold 1,000 minor detainees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/homestead-florida-government-releases-video-facility-undocumented-children/|title=Government releases video showing inside of Florida facility housing undocumented children|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}}

The United States Postal Service operates the Homestead Post Office."[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/homestead-739-washington-ave-homestead-fl-1367307 Post Office Location – HOMESTEAD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429134507/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/homestead-739-washington-ave-homestead-fl-1367307 |date=2010-04-29 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.

The Homestead Police Department located at 45 Northwest First Avenue in Homestead.

On October 11, 1957, an Air Force B-47 Stratojet carrying a nuclear bomb crashed on takeoff at Homestead Air Force Base, present-day Homestead Air Reserve Base.{{cite web|url=http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/21.pdf|title=Narrative Summary of Accidents Involving U.S. Nuclear Weapons 1950–1980|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=April 1981|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528154819/http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/21.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-28}}

The principal roadways linking Homestead with the rest of Miami-Dade County are US 1, the Florida Turnpike and State Road 997. The Florida Turnpike has three exits (6, 5 and 2) as it runs south through eastern Homestead before eventually terminating at US 1 in Florida City. US 1 (Homestead Blvd.) runs northeast-to-southwest roughly through the middle of the city, and is the only way to continue to the Florida Keys. State Road 997 (Krome Ave.) runs north–south through the western end of Homestead and through the historic downtown district.

Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) runs several Metrobus routes connecting the Homestead/Florida City area to the rest of Miami-Dade County. Express routes run along the South Miami-Dade Busway, connecting the area with Metrorail and the rest of the Metrobus network and on to Tri-Rail, Amtrak and Miami International Airport. In addition, MDT operates [http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/routes_detail.asp?route=301 Dade-Monroe Express] service from Florida City to the Upper Keys.

The City of Homestead operates two local circulator lines.[http://local.cityofhomestead.com/media/pdf/TrolleyBrochure.pdf Homestead Trolley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323164649/http://local.cityofhomestead.com/media/pdf/TrolleyBrochure.pdf |date=March 23, 2014 }} This free service operates daily and transits principal residential, business and commercial areas, as well as the historic downtown district and Miami-Dade College's Homestead Campus. The Trolley connects with Metrobus at the Busway and other Metrobus stops throughout the city.[http://local.cityofhomestead.com/pages/city_hall/trolleyservice.aspx City of Homestead: Homestead Trolley Bus Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323164126/http://local.cityofhomestead.com/pages/city_hall/trolleyservice.aspx |date=2014-03-23 }} (retrieved 3/23/14)

Starting in 2014 the Homestead Trolley began seasonal service to Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. The free Homestead National Parks Trolley[http://www.cityofhomestead.com/index.aspx?nid=357 Homestead National Parks Trolley] is offered by the City of Homestead in partnership with the National Park Service. Operating on weekends between January and April, the service is the only public transportation option available to these two parks.[http://www.cityofhomestead.com/index.aspx?nid=357 The City of Homestead proudly introduces its National Parks Trolley] (retrieved 3/21/14)[http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/04/3852577/trolley-service-now-lets-visitors.html The Miami Herald: Trolley service now lets visitors without cars to travel about Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, 1/4/14] (retrieved 3/21/14)[https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/news/free-homestead-national-parks-trolley-to-launch-at-january-4-celebration.htm National Park Service (ENP): Free Homestead National Parks Trolley to Launch at January 4 Celebration, 12/31/13] (retrieved 3/21/14)[https://www.nps.gov/bisc/parknews/celebration-of-the-launch-of-the-free-homestead-trolley-to-biscayne-national-park.htm National Park Service (BNP): Celebration of the Launch of the Free Homestead Trolley to Biscayne National Park, 12/31/13] (retrieved 3/21/14)

The Homestead General Aviation Airport is located just northwest of the city's central business district.

There are public marinas at [http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/homestead-bayfront.asp Homestead Bayfront Park and Marina], on Biscayne Bay east of the city and adjacent to Biscayne National Park's Convoy Point Visitor Center, and at [http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/black-point-marina.asp Black Point Park and Marina] to the northeast. Convoy Point also has a limited number of marina slips for day visitors to dock.

Most major national car and truck rental companies have rental locations in Homestead or its immediate surroundings.

File:Seminole Theatre.jpg

• ArtSouth Artist's Community at Homestead, Florida
• Biscayne National Park
• Coral Castle
• Everglades Alligator Farm
• Everglades National Park
• Fruit and Spice Park
• Homestead Bayfront Park and Marina
• Homestead General Aviation Airport
• Homestead Historic Downtown District
• Homestead Seaboard Air Line Railway Station
• Homestead Pavilion
• Homestead Championship Rodeo
• Homestead-Miami Speedway
• Homestead Sports Complex
• Homestead Air Reserve Base{{cite web|url=http://www.afreserve.com/bases.asp?id=52|title=Air Force Reserve|first=Air Force|last=Reserve|website=www.afreserve.com|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017193332/http://afreserve.com/bases.asp?id=52|archive-date=17 October 2007|url-status=dead}}
• Knaus Berry Farm
• Monkey Jungle
• Seminole Theatre
• South Dade Rail Trail
• Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station

• John Brown, NFL wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
• Alan Campbell, actor
• Tracy Grammer, singer-songwriter
• Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Politician and lobbyist who represented Florida's 27th congressional district from 1989 to 2019.
• Dexter Lehtinen, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
• Scott Maddox, former mayor of Tallahassee, Florida
• Alek Manoah, baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays, 2019 MLB Draft #11 overall selection
• Chrissy Metz, actress and singer
• Antrel Rolle, former NFL defensive line backer for the New York Giants
• Lacey Sturm, lead vocalist of rock band Flyleaf
• Tommy Tate, soul singer and songwriter
• Tom Vasel, podcaster, board game reviewer, and board game designer
• Brent Venables, University of Oklahoma head football coach
• Herb Waters, NFL cornerback for the Green Bay Packers
• James Wiggins, former NFL safety for the Arizona Cardinals
• Jeff Zucker, former president of CNN Worldwide, former president of NBC Universal

Homestead is within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district.

Homestead and the region are zoned to the following elementary, middle and K–8 center schools:

• Air Base K–8 Center
• Avocado Elementary School
• Campbell Drive K–8 Center
• Campbell Drive Middle School
• Coconut Palm K–8 Academy
• Gateway Environmental K–8 Learning Center
• It opened with grades Kindergarten through 4 in 2009, making it the first district-operated public school established in Homestead in a period of more than 30 years. It would add an additional grade level per year until it had 8th grade. Its cafeteria is named Croc Café after its mascot, the crocodile. Each class does a different science project each year.{{cite news|last1=Mazzei|first1=Patricia|last2=Sampson|first2=Hannah|last3=McGrory|first3=Kathleen|title=On first day, a very famous visitor|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=2009-08-25|pages=1B–2B}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80463969/for-mourning-hs/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80464100/for-mourning-hs/ of second page].
• Homestead Middle School
• Irving & Beatrice Peskoe K–8 Center
• Laura C. Saunders Elementary School
• Leisure City K–8 Center
• Mandarin Lakes K–8 Academy
• Miami MacArthur South
• Neva King Cooper Education
• Redland Elementary School
• Redland Middle School
• Redondo Elementary School
• School for Advanced Studies-Homestead
• South Dade Middle School (Grades 4–8)
• West Homestead Elementary School
• William A. Chapman Elementary School
• MAST (Medical Academy for Science and Technology) @ Homestead
• Somerset Academy South Homestead Middle - High
• Somerset City Arts Conservatory

Most of Homestead is zoned to Homestead High School, while a northwest portion is zoned to South Dade High School, located outside the city limits in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

Homestead is zoned to South Dade Educational Center.{{which|date=May 2020}}

Homestead also has the following charter schools:

• Keys Gate Charter School{{cite web|url=http://www.keyscharter.org/|title=Keys Gate Charter School - A tuition-free public charter school|website=Keys Gate Charter School|access-date=20 March 2018}}
• Waterstone Charter School
• Advantage Academy of Math and Science at Waterstone
• Everglades Preparatory Academy
• ASPIRA South Youth Leadership Charter School
• Mavericks High of South Miami Dade County
• Somerset City Arts Conservatory
• Somerset Academy Charter Elementary School (South Homestead)
• Somerset Academy (Silver Palms)
• Somerset Oaks Academy
• Summerville Advantage Academy
• School for Integrated Academics and Technologies (SIATech)

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami previously operated Sacred Heart School in Homestead.{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiarch.org/ministry/schools/schoolsdetail.cfm?s_id=50|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040217121149/http://www.miamiarch.org/ministry/schools/schoolsdetail.cfm?s_id=50|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-02-17|title=Sacred Heart|publisher=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami|date=2004-02-17|access-date=2020-05-09|quote=300 SE 1st Drive [...] Homestead, Florida 33030}} It closed in 2009.{{cite web|author=Johnson, Akilah|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2009-01-23-0901220520-story.html|title=Six schools to close as Archdiocese retrenches|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|date=2009-01-23|access-date=2020-05-10}}

Homestead is also home to Miami-Dade College Homestead Campus.

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• Angelo Mistretta Park
• Audubon Park
• Biscado Park
• Blakey Park
• Camp Owaissa Bauer
• Ernestine Jackson Seymore Park
• Harris Field Park
• Homestead Air Reserve Park
• James Archer Smith Park
• JD Redd Park
• Leisure Park
• Leisure Lakes Park
• Losner Park
• Mayor Roscoe Warren Municipal Park
• Modello Wayside Park
• Musselwhite Park
• Naranja Lakes Park
• Palmland Park
• Phicol Williams Community Center
• Roby George Park
• Royal Colonial Park
• Seminole Wayside Park
• South Dade Park
• William F. Dickinson Community Center
• Wittkop Park

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{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.cityofhomestead.com/ Official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130801105940/http://www.chamberinaction.com/ Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce]

{{Adjacent communities

| Centre = Homestead, Florida

| North = Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Leisure City, Homestead Base

| Northeast = Unincorporated Miami-Dade County

| East = Miami-Dade County, Florida City

| Southeast = Florida City

| South = Florida City, Unincorporated Miami-Dade County

| Southwest = Unincorporated Miami-Dade County

| West = Homestead Base, Unincorporated Miami-Dade County

| Northwest = Homestead Base

}}

{{Homestead, Florida}}

{{Dade County, Florida}}

{{Miami metropolitan area}}

{{Greater Miami}}

{{Florida}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Category:Cities in Florida

Category:Cities in Miami metropolitan area

Category:1913 establishments in Florida

Category:Populated places established in 1913