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Photograph of Neva King Cooper Educational Center
Photograph by Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Homestead Public School-Neva King Cooper School

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. 8 historic topographic surveys show this location, the earliest from 1950.

From the record

“The Neva King Cooper Educational Center is a historic school in Homestead, Florida. It is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district.”

Wikipedia article Neva King Cooper Educational Center, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 191 National Register listings published here for Miami-Dade County · listed in 1985 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 7 buildingss as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. 520 N.W. First St., Homestead, 33030
  • When was it listed? December 1985
  • Category. building
  • Census division. Homestead
  • Architect. August Geiger
  • National Register reference number. 85003112 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Then and now

1950 to 1994

The ground this property stands on, surveyed 44 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet covering Homestead Public School-Neva King Cooper School, surveyed 1994
Topographic sheet covering Homestead Public School-Neva King Cooper School, surveyed 1950

Fires near this property

541 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 541 fires within 5 miles of Homestead Public School-Neva King Cooper School between 1992 and 2020, burning about 17,758 acres in total. 15 started naturally. 174 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism174
Equipment and vehicle use147
Railroad operations and maintenance93
Missing data/not specified/undetermined38
Misuse of fire by a minor28
Debris and open burning25
Recreation and ceremony15
Natural15
Fireworks3
Smoking3

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2019Arson/incendiarism5.0 acresFlorida Forest ServiceBASE (13)
29 September 2013Arson/incendiarism75 acresFlorida Forest ServiceSUNDAY MIDNIGHT FIRE ( 13 )
28 September 2019Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresFlorida Forest ServiceWESTERN (13)
18 September 2018Arson/incendiarismunder an acreFlorida Forest ServiceTHE MORNING - (13)
11 September 2012Debris and open burningunder an acreFlorida Forest ServiceCONCRETE PILE (13)
3 August 2007Misuse of fire by a minor1.0 acresFlorida Forest ServiceSEMINOLE FIRE
22 August 2010Naturalunder an acreFlorida Forest ServicePOLE FIRE
20 August 2007Arson/incendiarism3.5 acresFlorida Forest ServicePALM FIRE

Every fire recorded in Miami-Dade County

Mines and quarries near this property

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Homestead Public School-Neva King Cooper School: 2 producers, 1 past producer. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Limestone, General. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
The Redland Company, Inc. - KesgateLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Cutler PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Naranja Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Miami-Dade County

Storms near this property

40 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Homestead, the town this property stands in, in 40 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 10 thunderstorm wind, 8 funnel cloud, 6 hail, 4 lightning. The reports record 1 death and 7 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2002LightningHomestead1 killed, 1 hurtTwo men walking through a nursery in the Redlands were affected by lightning. One man was killed instantly and the other injured and treated at a local hospital. It had just started raining at the time the lightning struck.
June 2012LightningHomestead3 hurtThree men were injured by a lightning strike at a construction site in Homestead. One of the men suffered from severe burns and another went into cardiac arrest. The ages of the victims were unclear and were taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. A third 29-year old male was taken to Homestead General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
August 2006LightningHomestead2 hurtTwo boys, ages 10 and 12, were struck by lightning while playing soccer in an open field at Northwest 2nd Avenue and 6th Street. The 12-year-old was treated at a local hospital and released soon afterwards. The younger boy was in intensive care but apparently survived the strike.Witnesses said it was raining and thundering when the boys were outside playing.
August 1997LightningHomestead1 hurt11 year old boy struck and injured by ligtning exact time and location unknown.
April 2000WildfireHomestead$100,000no account filed
January 2002Tornado (F1)Homestead$50,000A lone "supercell"-like thunderstorm was observed by Miami doppler radar moving ashore from the Gulf of Mexico into Mainland Monroe County. The thunderstorm then moved at a forward speed of 35 mph across south Miami-Dade County. It is estimated that a tornado formed from this thunderstorm over Everglades National Park and lifted near Homestead. Several reports from SKYWARN spotters of large hail and high winds were received from the periphery of the tornado. The weather observer at Homestead Air Reserve Station sighted the funnel 2 miles west of his location. A reliable eyewitness who went through the tornado estimated wind gusts of 74 to 95 mph.The roof of a lumberyard was severely damaged and two other businesses suffered minor damage. A house's pool enclosure was damaged and trees and signs were blown down. Telephone poles along Card Sound Road were broken.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindHomestead$10,000no account filed
May 2016FloodHomestead$5,000Homestead Police Department reported one street closure due to flooding. The nearest intersection was unavailable. Several nearby rain gauges in reported 24 hour rainfall totals between 5 and 8 inches rainfall.
March 1993Thunderstorm WindHomestead$5,000Strong thunderstorm winds peeled off a mobile home roof.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindHomestead$500An emergency manager reported downed large tree branches, and a nearby wind gust of 58 mph / 50 knots was measured at the FSWN Mesonet Station at Miami Dade College in Homestead after a severe thunderstorm moved through the area.
March 2025HailHomestead-A member of the public reported hail up to the size of pennies at the Homestead RaceTrac gas station on SW 312th Street.
September 2018FloodHomestead-Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Gordon fell across much of southern Miami-Dade County, including the Homestead area. Multiple reports of 5 to 7 inches of rain fell across the region, which led to some minor street flooding and a few partial lane closures.
December 2015Heavy RainHomestead-Several road closures in Homestead in the Villages of Homestead and Tennessee Estates subdivisions as a result of flooded roadways. Rainfall amounts were in the 6 to 7 inch range, most of it falling in less than 9 hours.
October 2011Flash FloodHomestead-Heavy and persistent showers led to flooding over southwestern metro Miami-Dade County. Total rainfall amounts in this area ranged from 5 to 9 inches, with most of this rain falling in a span of 6 hours or less, resulting in significant street flooding. Water was estimated to be about 3 feet deep at a shopping center parking lot at the corner of SW 152 Street and SW 137 Ave.
June 2009HailHomestead-Public reported quarter size hail at SW 320th Street and the Florida Turnpike.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindHomestead-Public estimated wind gusts near 60 mph at intersection of SW 320th Street and Florida Turnpike.
May 2005HailHomestead-Penny-size hail was reported by a SKYWARN spotter.
August 2004Funnel CloudHomestead-A SKYWARN spotter saw a funnel cloud near the Turnpike Extension.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindHomestead-A tree was uprooted.
September 2003Funnel CloudHomestead-A SKYWARN spotter saw a funnel cloud near U.S. 1.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindHomestead-An Everglades National Park employee estimated wind gusts near 60 mph.
May 2000Tornado (F0)Homestead-A park ranger sighted a brief tornado touchdown in Everglades National Park. Several other funnel clouds were observed in deep south Miami-Dade.
July 2000WaterspoutHomestead-A Park Ranger reported a waterspout in Biscayne Bay one mile offshore Turkey Point.
July 2000Funnel CloudHomestead-A funnel cloud was reported just west of Homestead.
August 1998Funnel CloudHomestead-Funnel cloud was observed several miles west of Homestead General Airport.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindHomestead-52 knot winds reported by ranger at Everglades National Park west of Homestead. 2-3 inch diameter trees downed in the Pinelands area of the park. This is located 4 miles south of the Royal Palm ranger station.The downed trees blocked the roadway and marble size hail was also reported.
July 1997WaterspoutHomestead-waterspout reported by pilot hst090010 also reported by nws employee.
July 1997Tornado (F0)Homestead-tornado touched down very briefly at us 1/sw 296 st. debris was observed flying about as thin dark funnel cloud approached. businesses had minor exterior damage and several vehicles were damaged in the parking lots.
November 1997Funnel CloudHomestead-observed by homestead general aviation airport personnel about 5nm w of airport.
January 1995Thunderstorm WindHomestead-A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust of 61 mph at Homestead Reserve Air Base.
June 2009HailHomestead-no account filed
June 2009HailHomestead-no account filed
November 2003Heavy RainHomestead-no account filed
June 2000Funnel CloudHomestead-no account filed
September 2000Funnel CloudHomestead-no account filed
August 1999Thunderstorm WindHomestead-no account filed
May 1999HailHomestead-no account filed
June 1996Funnel CloudHomestead-no account filed
June 1996WaterspoutHomestead-no account filed
September 1996Thunderstorm WindHomestead-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Miami-Dade County

Maps showing this location

8 surveys

United States Geological Survey topographic sheets whose coverage includes this point. Matched by taking the coordinate the National Park Service records for this property, then testing that coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Thomas Faust House0.1 miles1996
Lily Lawrence Bow Library0.2 miles1996
Homestead Historic Downtown District0.2 miles2007
Lindeman-Johnson House0.3 miles1996
Seminole Cafe and Hotel0.4 miles2008
Homestead Town Hall0.4 miles1997

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 85003112 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Miami-Dade CountyAll 191 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.