"Miami" redirects here. For the Native American tribe, see
Miami
tribe.
Miami is a major city in southeastern Florida, in the United States. It is the county seat of Miami-Dade County. Miami is a gamma world city with an
estimated population of 404,048. It is the largest city within the South
Florida metropolitan area, which is the largest metropolitan area
in the Southeastern United States with 5.4 million people. Miami and its
surrounding cities make up the fifth largest urban area in the United
States.[1] As of 2005, the United Nations estimates that the Miami Urban
Agglomeration is the fourth largest in the United States, and the 44th largest in the world.[2]
Miami’s importance as an international financial and cultural center has elevated Miami to the status of world city. Because of Miami’s cultural and linguistic ties to North,
South, and Central America, as well as the
Caribbean, Miami is many times referred to as “The Gateway of the
Americas”. Florida’s large Spanish-speaking population and strong economic ties to Latin
America also make Miami and the surrounding region an important center of the Hispanic
world.
Miami is also home to one of the largest, most influential ports in the United States, the Port of Miami. The port is often called the “Cruise Capital of the World” and the “Cargo Gateway of
the Americas”. It has retained its status as the number one cruise/passenger port in the world for well over a decade
accommodating the largest cruise ships and the major cruise lines.
As of 2007, Miami is undergoing a massive building boom that ranks second worldwide (and first in the United States) for the most buildings under construction that will be over feet ( m), with over
24 of such buildings currently under construction. Miami’s skyline also currently ranks third in the U.S. behind Chicago and New York City (and 18th in the world)
according to the 2006 Almanac of Architecture and Design.[3] Including other nearby neighborhoods and cities, the Miami area has over 80 highrise towers under
construction, such as the Biscayne Wall in Downtown
Miami, a row of skyscrapers being built along the west side of Biscayne
Boulevard. Miami currently has the five tallest skyscrapers in the state of Florida with the tallest being the
Four Seasons Hotel & Tower.[4]
At only square miles ( km²) of land area, Miami has the smallest land area of any major U.S. city with a metro area
of at least 2 million people[1]. The city proper is home to less than 1 in 13 residents of the South Florida Metro
Area. Additionally, 52% of Miami-Dade County’s population doesn't live in any incorporated city. Miami is the only major city in
the United States bordered by two national parks, Everglades National Park on
the west, and Biscayne National Park on the east.
Miami and its metro area grew from just over one thousand residents to nearly five and a half million residents in just 110
years (1896-2006). The city’s nickname, The Magic City, comes from this rapid growth. Winter visitors remarked that the
city grew so much from one year to the next that it was like magic.[5] Miami is the only major city in the United States founded by a woman, Julia Tuttle.[6]
History
-
Approximately 400 males voted for Miami’s incorporation in 1896 in the building to the left.
Miami was officially incorporated as a city on July 28 1896,[7] though the area was first inhabited
for more than a thousand years by the Tequesta Indians and was claimed for Spain in 1566 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. A Spanish
mission was established a year later in 1567. In 1836 Fort Dallas was built and subsequently, was a site of fighting during the Second Seminole War. In the 1920s, Miami prospered through the Florida Land Boom of the 1920's with an increase in population and infrastructure. By
1940, 172,172 people lived in the city and Miami had grown to become a large, growing city.
The Miami area was better known as “Biscayne Bay Country” in the early years of its growth. Some published reports described
the area as a promising wilderness.[8] The area was also
characterized as “one of the finest building sites in Florida.”[9] However, the Great Freeze of 1894 changed all that, and the crops of
the Miami area were the only ones in Florida that survived. Julia Tuttle, a local
citrus grower, convinced Henry Flagler, a
railroad tycoon, to expand his Florida East Coast Railroad to Miami. On
July 28 1896, Miami was officially incorporated as a city with a
population of just over 300.
Miami prospered during the 1920s but weakened after the collapse of the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s, the 1926 Miami
Hurricane and the Great Depression in the 1930s. When
World War II began, Miami, well-situated due to its location on the southern coast of
Florida, played an important role in the battle against German submarines. The war helped to
expand Miami’s population to almost half a million. After Fidel Castro rose to power in
1959, many Cubans sought refuge in Miami, further increasing the population. In the 1980s and
1990s, various crises struck South Florida, among them the Arthur McDuffie beating and
the subsequent riot, drug wars, Hurricane Andrew, and the Elián González uproar. Miami remains a major international financial and cultural center.
Geography
Miami and its suburbs are located on a broad plain between the Florida Everglades to the
west and Biscayne Bay to the east that also extends from Florida Bay north to Lake Okeechobee. The elevation of the area
never rises above 40 ft (12 m)[10] and averages at around 6
ft (2 m)[11] above mean sea level in most neighborhoods,
especially near the coast. The highest undulations are found along the coastal Miami Rock
Ridge, whose substrate underlies most of the eastern Miami metropolitan region. The main portion of the city lies on the
shores of Biscayne Bay which contains several hundred natural and artificially-created barrier
islands, the largest of which contains the city of Miami Beach and its
famous South Beach district. The Gulf Stream,
a warm ocean current, runs northward just 15 miles (24.1 km) off the coast, allowing the
city's climate to stay warm and mild all year.
Geology
View from one of the high points in Miami, west of downtown from SW 9th Street. The western part of the city (
Little Havana) has points as high as 40’ above sea level.
Photo: Marc
Averette
The surface bedrock under the Miami area is called Miami oolite or Miami
limestone. This bedrock is covered by a thin layer of soil, and is no more than 50 feet
(15 m) thick. Miami limestone formed as the result of the drastic changes in sea level associated with recent glaciations or ice ages. Beginning some 130,000 years ago the
Sangamon interglacial raised sea levels to approximately 25 feet (7.5 m.) above the
current level. All of southern Florida was covered by a shallow sea. Several parallel lines of reef formed along the edge of the
submerged Florida plateau, stretching from the present Miami area to what is now the
Dry Tortugas. The area behind this reef line was in effect a large lagoon, and the Miami
limestone formed throughout the area from the deposition of oolites and the shells of
bryozoans. Starting about 100,000 years ago the Wisconsin
glaciation began lowering sea levels, exposing the floor of the lagoon. By 15,000 years ago, the sea level had dropped to
300 to 350 feet below the contemporary level. The sea level rose quickly after that, stabilizing at the current level about 4000
years ago, leaving the mainland of South Florida just above sea level.
Beneath the plain lies the Biscayne Aquifer,[12] a natural underground source of fresh water that extends from southern
Palm Beach County to Florida Bay, with
its highest point peaking around the cities of Miami Springs and Hialeah. Most of the South Florida metropolitan
area obtains its drinking water from this aquifer. As a result of the aquifer, it is not possible to dig more than 15 to
20ft (4.57 to 6.1 m) beneath the city without hitting water, which impedes underground construction. For this reason there is no
subway system in Miami.
Most of the western fringes of the city extend into the Everglades, a subtropical marshland located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of
Florida. This causes occasional problems with local wildlife such as alligators venturing into Miami communities and major highways.
In terms of land area, Miami is one of the smallest major cities in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, the city encompasses a total area of 55.27 mi² (143.15 km²). Of that area, 35.67 mi² (92.68 km²) is land and
19.59 mi² (50.73 km²) is water. That means Miami comprises over 400,000 people in a mere 35 square miles, making it one of the
most densely populated cities in the United States, along with New York City,
San Francisco, and Chicago among others. Miami is located at 25°47′16″N, 80°13′27″W.1
Climate
Typical summer afternoon shower rolling in from the
Everglades.
Photo:
Marc Averette
Miami has a true tropical climate (Köppen climate classification Aw),[13] with hot, humid summers, and warm, dry winters. The city does experience cold fronts from November
through March. However, the average monthly temperature for any month has never been recorded as being under 64.4°F (January
averages 67°F).[14] Most of the year is warm and humid,
and the summers are almost identical to the climate of the Caribbean tropics. In addition, the city gets most of its rain in the
summer (wet season) and is relatively dry in winter (dry season). The wet season, which is hot and humid, lasts from May to
September, when it gives way to the dry season, which features mild temperatures with some invasions of colder air, which is when
the little winter rainfall occurs — with the passing of a front. The hurricane season largely coincides with the wet season.
In addition to its sea-level elevation, coastal location and position just above
the Tropic of Cancer, the area owes its warm, humid climate to the Gulf Stream, which moderates climate year-round. A typical summer day does not have temperatures below 75 °F
(24 °C). Temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s (30-35 °C) accompanied by high humidity are often relieved by afternoon
thunderstorms or a sea breeze that develops off the
Atlantic Ocean, which then allow lower temperatures, although conditions still remain very muggy. During winter, humidity is
significantly lower, allowing for cooler weather to develop. Average minimum temperatures during that time are around 59 °F (15
°C), rarely dipping below 40 °F (4 °C), and the equivalent maxima usually range between 65 and 75 °F (18-24 °C).
Miami has never recorded a triple-digit temperature; the highest temperature recorded was
°F ( °C).[15]. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city of Miami was 30 °F (-1 °C) on several occasions.[16] Miami has only once recorded snowfall, on
January 20, 1977. Weather conditions for the area around Miami
were recorded sporadically from 1839 until 1900, with many years-long gaps. A cooperative temperature and rainfall recording site
was established in what is now downtown Miami in December, 1900. An official Weather
Bureau Office was opened in Miami in June, 1911.[17]
Miami receives abundant rainfall, one of the highest among major U.S. cities. Most of this rainfall occurs from mid-May
through early October. It receives annual rainfall of 58.6 inches (1488 mm),[18] whereas nearby Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach
receive 63.8 in (1621 mm) and 48.3 in (1227 mm), respectively, which demonstrates the high local variability in rainfall rates.
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through
November 30, although hurricanes can develop beyond those dates. The most likely time for
Miami to be hit is during the peak of the Cape Verde season which is
mid-August through the end of September.[19] Due to its
location between two major bodies of water known for tropical activity, Miami is also statistically the most likely major city in
the world to be struck by a hurricane, trailed closely by Nassau, Bahamas, and
Havana, Cuba. Despite this, the city has been fortunate in not
having a direct hit by a hurricane since Hurricane Cleo in 1964.[20] However, many other hurricanes have affected the city, including
Betsy in 1965, Andrew in 1992,
Irene in 1999, and Hurricanes Katrina
and Wilma in 2005. In addition, a tropical depression in October of 2000 passed over the
city, causing record rainfall and flooding. Locally, the storm is credited as the No Name Storm of 2000, though the depression went on to become Tropical Storm Leslie upon
entering the Atlantic Ocean.
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
| Avg high °F (°C) |
76
(24) |
77
(25) |
80
(26) |
83
(28) |
86
(30) |
88
(31) |
89
(31) |
90
(32) |
88
(31) |
85
(29) |
80
(26) |
77
(25) |
83
(28) |
| Avg low temperature °F (°C) |
60
(15) |
61
(16) |
64
(17) |
68
(20) |
72
(22) |
75
(23) |
76
(24) |
76
(24) |
76
(24) |
72
(22) |
66
(18) |
61
(16) |
69
(20) |
| Rainfall in. (cm) |
2.0
(5) |
2.1
(5) |
2.4
(6) |
3.0
(7) |
5.9
(14) |
8.8
(22) |
6.0
(15) |
7.8
(19) |
8.5
(21) |
7.0
(17) |
3.1
(7) |
1.8
(4) |
58.5
(148) |
| Source: Weatherbase |
Economy
The heart of
Downtown Miami as seen on
February 2,
2007. The ongoing construction throughout the city, as depicted here, has inspired popular opinion
suggesting Miami has become a prime example of “
manhattanization”. Right of center in
this image is the
Freedom Tower, a historic landmark.
Miami is one of the country’s most important financial centers. It is the major center of regional commerce, and boasts a
strong international business community. According to the ranking of world cities undertaken by the Globalization and World
Cities Study Group & Network (GaWC) and based on the level of presence of global corporate service organizations, Miami is
considered a “Gamma World City”.
Because of its proximity to Latin America, Miami serves as the headquarters of Latin American operations for more than 1400
multinational corporations, including American Airlines, Cisco, Disney, Exxon,
FedEx, Microsoft, Oracle, SBC Communications, Sony, and
Visa International. Several large companies are headquartered in or around Miami,
including but not limited to: Alienware, AutoNation,
Bacardi, Brightstar Corporation,
Burger King, Carnival Cruise Lines,
Citrix Systems, DHL, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise
Lines, Ryder Systems, and Spirit
Airlines. Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami are among the nation’s busiest ports of entry, especially for cargo from South America
and the Caribbean. Additionally, downtown Miami has the largest concentration of international banks in the country. Miami was
also the host city of the 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas
negotiations, and is one of the leading candidates to become the trading bloc's headquarters.
The
Port of Miami, the largest container port in Florida, as well as the “Cruise
Capital of the World” and “Cargo Gateway of the Americas”.
Tourism is also an important industry: the beaches of Greater Miami draw visitors from across the country and around the
world, and the Art Deco nightclub district in South
Beach (in Miami Beach) is widely regarded as one of the most glamorous in
the world. However, it is important to note that Miami Beach is not a part of the city of Miami. Even major TV networks sometimes
forget this, as when Good Morning America visited Miami Beach and Charles Gibson thanked the mayor of Miami (but he was standing next to the mayor of Miami Beach). In
addition to these roles, Miami is also an industrial center, especially for stone quarrying and warehousing.
Miami is the home to the National Hurricane Center and the headquarters of
the United States Southern Command, responsible for military operations
in Central and South America.
Miami has also served as host venue for legendary legal proceedings, most notably the $145 Billion verdict leveled against the
nation’s five largest cigarette manufacturers. This case was a class action on behalf of all afflicted Florida smokers and their
families, represented by a prominent and successful Miami-raised husband and wife legal team, Stanley and Susan Rosenblatt.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2004, Miami had the third highest incidence of family incomes below the federal
poverty line in the United States, making it the third poorest city in the USA, ahead only by
Detroit, Michigan(ranked #1) and El Paso,
Texas (ranked #2.) In 2002, Miami had the highest poverty rate. Miami is also one of the very few cites where its local
government went bankrupt, in 2001.[21]
Miami is also one of the least affordable places to live, with the median percentage of housing costs as a percentage of
income was 42.8%; the national average was 27%. Miami ranks twelfth among least affordable cities for home ownership.[22]
In 2005, the Miami area witnessed its largest real estate
boom since the 1920s. The newly created Midtown Miami, having well over a hundred approved construction projects is an example of this.[23] As of 2007, however, the housing market has crashed and more
than 23,000 condos are for sale and/or foreclosed.[24]
In August 2007, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development attempted to take control of Miami-Dade County’s housing agency, citing mismanagement of housing
programs and a poor record keeping of the agency’s finances.[25] These attempts are halted, pending a ruling on a preliminary injunction request by the county;
non-binding mediation has also been mandated over the issue.[26]
- See also: List of foreign consulates in Miami.
People and culture
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1990 |
|
|
—
|
| 2000 |
|
|
1.1% |
| Est. 2006 |
|
[27] |
11.5% |
Miami is the 43rd most populous city in the U.S. The metropolitan
area, which includes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, with a
combined population of more than 5.4 million people, ranks sixth in the United States,[1] behind Dallas-Fort
Worth-Arlington, TX and is the largest metropolitan area in the Southeastern
United States. As of the census of 2000, there were 362,470 people, 134,198 households, and 83,336 families residing in
the city. The population density was 10,160.9/mi² (3,923.5/km²). There were 148,388
housing units at an average density of 4,159.7/mi² (1,606.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city is as follows:
In terms of national origin and/or ethnic origin, the city is 34.1% Cuban, 22.3%
African American, 5.6% Nicaraguan, 5.0%
Haitian, 3.6% Puerto Rican and 3.3% Honduran. In 2004, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) ranked
Miami first in terms of percentage of residents born outside of the country it is located in (59%), followed by Toronto (43%).
There were 134,198 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were
married couples living together, 18.7% have a female head of household with no husband present,
and 37.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.25.
The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.0%
who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,483, and the median income for a family was $27,225. Males had a median
income of $24,090 versus $20,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$15,128. About 23.5% of families and 28.5% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 38.2% of those under age 18 and 29.3% of those age 65 or over.
Based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports Program, Miami ranks as the
second most dangerous metropolitan area in the United States, based on the number of murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated
assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts that have occurred in the metropolitan area. The city proper ranks 14th.[30]
Miami’s explosive population growth in recent years has been driven by internal migration from other parts of the country as
well as by immigration. Greater Miami is regarded as a cultural
melting pot, while still maintaining some of their cultural
traits. The overall culture of Miami and Miami-Dade are heavily
influenced by its large population of ethnic Latin
Americans and cultures from Caribbeans from islands such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, The
Bahamas, Cuba and more (many of whom spoke Spanish
or Haitian Creole).
Languages
A wide variety of languages are commonly spoken throughout the city. The City of Miami has three official languages:
English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole (French Creole). Miami has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the
western hemisphere outside Latin America.[31]
As of 2000, speakers of Spanish as their first
language accounted for 66.75% of residents, while English was spoken by 25.45%,
French Creole by 5.20%, and French
speakers comprised 0.76% of the population.[32] Other languages that were spoken throughout the city include Portuguese at 0.41%, German at 0.18%, Italian at 0.16%, Arabic at 0.15%, Chinese at 0.11%, and Greek at 0.08% of the population. Miami
also has one of the largest percentage populations in the U.S. that have residents who speak first languages other than English at home (74.54%.)[32]
Today there are sizable permanent resident and undocumented populations of Argentines,
Bahamians, Brazilians, Canadians, Chileans, Chinese,
Colombians, Cubans,
