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The history of Hialeah
Hialeah's Cuban bakeries and cafeterias, the historic Hialeah Park racetrack and Amelia Earhart Park give Florida's sixth-largest city a strongly local character.
People who shaped Hialeah
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The history of Hialeah, Florida
A local history film shared by World History Official tv.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Hialeah
See all 42 famous people
- 1921
The first plat
The first plat was drawn up and the town was named Hialeah.
City reference ↗ - 1925
Incorporation
Hialeah incorporated, with about 1,500 residents.
City reference ↗ - 1926
The hurricane
The 1926 Miami hurricane ended much of the early boom.
City reference ↗ - 1937
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart departed from Hialeah on her final flight around the world.
City reference ↗ - 1959
A new community
Cuban exiles arriving after 1959 helped turn Hialeah into the working-class city it is today.
City reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Start at Hialeah Park, the 1925 racetrack listed on the National Register of Historic Places, then explore the older streets around Palm Avenue. Check current opening hours before setting out.Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Hialeah library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched October 9, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.