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Miami, FL


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Miami, Florida

Introduction to Miami, Florida

Miami, located on Biscayne Bay in southeastern Florida, is the state's second-largest city (370,000) and the center of a large metropolitan area (nearly 1,000,000) that includes Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Named after a Native American word meaning "big water," Miami was founded in 1870 and quickly became (and still remains) one of America's top vacation spots. An influx of 250,000+ Cuban refugees in 1960 helped define the city's bilingual melting pot.

Today, Miami is a hip urban center with a multicultural ambience and a strong economy based on baking, tourism and a other industries as diverse as its population. Several top companies are headquartered in the area, including Burger King, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ryder and Wachovia.

Miami Culture

As if spring break weren't enough, Carnaval Miami invigorates the city for 9 days each March, with a Miss Carnaval contest, concerts at the Orange Bowl, an in-line skating contest, jazz concerts, shows, and cooking contests. In the summer, Miami Reggae Festival, a 20-year tradition, showcases nearly a dozen acts in a downtown arena. Though known as a party town, Miami has more than its share of culture. It's home to the Miami City Ballet, the Florida Grand Opera and many highly regarded museums, including the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, the Florida Museum of Hispanic and Latin American Art, the Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Miami Art Museum. In funky, trendy South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District is an architectural work of art, with 1920s buildings in pastel shades.

Miami Sports and Leisure

For spectator sports, Miami is represented in all four major leagues. Downtown, the 19,600-seat American Airlines Arena presents the NBA's Miami Heat. Just north of the city, Pro Player Stadium hosts both the NFL's Miami Dolphins and baseball's Florida Marlins. A half hour northwest of the city, the 20,000-seat Office Depot Center is home to the NHL's Florida Panthers. The University of Miami Hurricanes, always a threat to win college football's national title, are a religion within the area.

Miami Outdoors

The Florida sun's constant heat and an abundance of beaches are the formula for outdoor recreation that cannot be improved upon. The area is a haven for water sports and a golfer's paradise, with dozens of top-rated courses nearby, including Doral. Five miles southeast at the southern end of Key Biscayne, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area has nature trails and more beaches. For those that need to get away, Palm Beach to the north and the Florida Keys to the south offer more water sports and watering holes. An hour northwest, Lake Okeechobee, Florida's largest lake (and the country's second-largest fresh water lake), offers great bass fishing and fishing tournaments.

Miami at Night

Miami is famous for its scintillating nightlife, easily making the Forbes list of the Best Places for Singles. Upscale South Beach is Miami's "it" place, with trendy clubs and bars open until dawn. Throughout the city, a young, diverse population and high number of college-age vacationers make Miami one of the hippest nightspots on the planet.

High Points

Miami strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Florida):

CategoryTrophy
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)
Top 1%trophyMiami Public Transportation Use
Racial Diversity
(vs. Peers)
Top 1%trophyMiami Racial Diversity

Comparative Profile of Miami, FL

Comparing Miami to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Florida (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Racial Diversity1010
Senior Citizens105
Age of the Population105
Male Share of the Population89
Female Share of the Population32
Children Under 5 Years Old26
Well-Paid Single Men13

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Average Household Size78
Portion of People Married32

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
College Educated Adults25
People Above Poverty11
People in Middle Class or Better11
Median Family Income11

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Public Transportation Use910
Walking and Biking to Work78
Working at Home34
Short Commute Times23

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals1010
Seasonal and Vacation Housing105
Affordability of Rents86
People Living Alone66
Housing Recently Built41
Affordability of Property Taxes33

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Property Crime33
Low Violent Crime11

Detailed pages on related topics: Miami collegesMiami travelMiami mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Miami CareersMiami Careers
Miami career and employment information.
Miami CollegesMiami Colleges
Miami colleges and trade schools.
Miami Hotels & TravelMiami Hotels & Travel
Miami hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Miami MortgageMiami Mortgage
Miami property, mortgage, and real estate.

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Historic Miami

photo

Royal Palm Hotel between 1895 and 1910

Select a photo to view (Source):

Royal Palm Hotel between 1895 and 1910

Miami River and Royal Palm Hotel between 1900 and 1915

Hotel Royal Palm i.e. Royal Palm Hotel c1900.

Additional Resources


Large City Map

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