The name of the city of Hialeah has been attributed to Muskogee origin. It has been believed to mean "pretty prairie," by utilizing the words "Hili" for pretty and "Haiyakpo" for prairie. The word itself is said to be of Seminole origin, translating to "Upland Prairie."
Hialeah City sits on a big prairie right in between the Everglades and Biscayne Bay. The city of Hialeah is part of Florida's Miami-Dade County. The population of the city was 226,419 as of the 2000 census. During the year 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the city's population had become reduced to 218,896. It is a major metropolis of South Florida and Greater Miami and was the 6th largest city in the state of Florida at that time. With a population density of more than 10,000/sq mile, it is the 10th biggest city in the country.
The Seminole explanation of the name Hialeah translates to "High Prairie", evoking pictures of pretty grassy plains that the natives used to dock their canoes after coming in from the everglades. It was in this particular site that they would present their things for sale and trade for the newcomers from the city of Miami. In 1921, Missouri cattleman James H. Bright and pioneer aviator Glen Curtiss thought that the region contained great possibility.
Some fascinating facts regarding the city are that it is the densest city in America when it comes to population and does not have any tall buildings. Hialeah also has the 2nd highest percentage of Cuban and Cuban American inhabitants within any city in the US. The city of Hialeah is home to various retailers including: Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Kohl's, The Home Depot, Best Buy, and Lowe's. It is the commercial center within Miami-Dade County. Hialeah is also home to some famous homegrown businesses like Navarro and Sedano's.
The city of Hialeah is home to a variety of mom and pop stores that add a vibrant flare to the community. These stores successfully and actively compete alongside the outfitters, national franchises and name brand retailers. National businesses have altered their traditional business plan to be able to fit into the demands of the local economy so as to remain competitive. For instance Publix supermarkets opened up a Publix Sabor. This location is found along one of the main streets within Hialeah and caters exclusively to Latin American and Hispanic customers.
The city of Hialeah was made into an industrial city during the 1970s and the 1980s through businesses of cloth and manufacturing. Then again, most of these organizations have long disappeared. The local economy has been revitalized with many technology businesses and new electronics.
Visitors and residents alike could enjoy many restaurants and over 100 retail stores within Westfield Westland, also referred to as Westland Mall. Among the main anchor stores here consist of Sears, Macy's and J.C. Penney. Popular places to eat include Chili's, McDonald's, Edy's, Fuddrucker's and Manchu Wok.
The city of Hialeah provides easy access to the entertainment and arts options found in the city of Miami and the larger South Florida metropolitan area. In the vicinity, there are many parks and cultural resources. Some of these resources within the city of Hialeah include: Triangle Park, an Audobon Bird Sanctuary referred to as Hialeah Park, Amelia Earhart Park, Don Shula's Hotel and Golf Club, The Gymnasium & Youth Center situated at Bucky Dent, Hialeah Racetrack, Milander Park and Milander Auditorium, Goodlet Tennis Center and Goodlet Park, as well as Bucky Dent Park Gym.