Miami, Florida

Fun things to do in Miami:
See one of the sports teams, including the Marlins (Baseball), Dolphins (Football), Heat (Basketball) Visit the Miami Metro Zoo Get to know the city with the Miami Tour Company Hop on board a train for a scenic trip with the Gold Coast Railroad Museum Experience the Everglades with Coopertown Airboats Stroll through Miami's famous South Beach

The People of Miami

Demographics:

The population of Miami is estimated at 413,201
There are 151,697 households within the city limits
The average income per household is $29,075
People who live in Miami use the area codes 305 (Find a phone number in Miami here)

Many famous people have lived in Miami, including:
Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, Sidney Poitier, Don Johnson, Edward James Olmos, Andy Garcia, Eva Mendes, Dwayne Johnson, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Enrique Iglesias, Deborah Harry, Dave Barry, Jose Canseco, Steve Carlton, Dan Marino, Janet Reno

Historical Notes:
During the 1980's the city received a lot of extra attention thanks to 2 different forms of entertainment: the television show Miami Vice and the band Miami Sound Machine.

Thousands of Cubans flocked to Miami after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.

Miami was the center of a custody battle that received worldwide attention in 1999 when 6-year old Elian Gonzalez was taken from Cuba by his mother. She did not survive the trip and a battle ensued over whether or not Elian would be granted citizenship or be sent back to Cuba.

Looking for someone in the Miami area? Find them here:
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About Miami
Native Americans called Miami their home hundreds of years before it was ever seen by anyone else in the world. Spanish explorers claimed the area and set up a missionary in the 16th century after Ponce de Leon came across it in 1513. Settlers attempted to convert members of the local Tequesta tribe, but eventually gave up and moved away. The natives were left with diseases they had never experienced before, including the deadly smallpox virus. A woman named Julia Tuttle purchased land in Florida in 1891 and convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railway along the Miami River. This resulted in the establishment of a new city, and Miami was officially incorporated on July 28, 1896. It wasn't long before the city's population started to grow quickly, and the local economy experienced a severely negative impact. The allure of the beach and legalized gambling drew thousands of people to Miami, and the cost of housing skyrocketed. In the meantime, the three railway companies that brought supplies to the area were so overworked they refused to transport any goods other than food into the city. Not long after this a tremendous hurricane savaged Miami, killing more than 300 people and leaving over 3,000 homeless. Miami's economy bottomed out, but would soon rebound. Pan Am Airlines was largely attributed with turning things around after launching the "Gateway to the Americas" program in Miami during the 1930's. The population of Miami continued to expand rapidly over the next few decades, largely due to Cuban immigrants leaving the country for Florida. Today Miami is known as a hub for the performing arts, its proximity to beautiful beaches and a prosperous economy.

About Miami

Native Americans called Miami their home hundreds of years before it was ever seen by anyone else in the world. Spanish explorers claimed the area and set up a missionary in the 16th century after Ponce de Leon came across it in 1513. Settlers attempted to convert members of the local Tequesta tribe, but eventually gave up and moved away. The natives were left with diseases they had never experienced before, including the deadly smallpox virus.

A woman named Julia Tuttle purchased land in Florida in 1891 and convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railway along the Miami River. This resulted in the establishment of a new city, and Miami was officially incorporated on July 28, 1896. It wasn't long before the city's population started to grow quickly, and the local economy experienced a severely negative impact.

The allure of the beach and legalized gambling drew thousands of people to Miami, and the cost of housing skyrocketed. In the meantime, the three railway companies that brought supplies to the area were so overworked they refused to transport any goods other than food into the city. Not long after this a tremendous hurricane savaged Miami, killing more than 300 people and leaving over 3,000 homeless. Miami's economy bottomed out, but would soon rebound. Pan Am Airlines was largely attributed with turning things around after launching the "Gateway to the Americas" program in Miami during the 1930's.

The population of Miami continued to expand rapidly over the next few decades, largely due to Cuban immigrants leaving the country for Florida. Today Miami is known as a hub for the performing arts, its proximity to beautiful beaches and a prosperous economy.