Fisher Island Condos near Miami, FL

Nelson Gonzalez

Fisher Island Condos

Fisher Island is a census-designated place (CDP) and town located on an artificial island of the same name in both the City of Miami Beach and on unincorporated land in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had only 218 households and a total population of 467 persons. The relatively small Miami Beach portion, at the extreme northeast part of the island, contains only one building. Named for automotive parts pioneer and Miami Beach developer Carl G. Fisher, who once owned it, Fisher Island is 3 miles off shore of Miami, Florida. No road or causeway connects to the island, which is accessible by private ferry and helicopter. Once a one-family island home of the Vanderbilts, and later several other millionaires, it was sold for development in 1960s. The property sat vacant for well over 15 years before development was begun for very limited and restrictive multi-family use. Today, Fisher Island is occupied again, but remains a very exclusive and wealthy community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fisher Island had the highest per capita income of any place in the United States in 2000. In 2005, the island attempted to incorporate as a town, but the Miami-Dade County Commission did not support this initiative. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Natasha Seijas, known for her biting sense of humor, commented on some Fisher Island residents' request to become a city by saying that even though islanders would use Miami-Dade's police and fire rescue services it would not be an easy transition: "What are we going to do, have them scuba dive over there every day?" she asked. There is a mystique about the island, primarily due to its inaccessibility. Through the internet, people can explore the island.