Miami Beach, Florida

Miami Beach is a beautiful coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It is part of the big Miami metropolitan area in South Florida. The city sits on barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, which separates it from the mainland city of Miami. One of its most famous parts is South Beach, known for its lively atmosphere and is, together with downtown Miami and the PortMiami, a key commercial center for the region. In the year 2020, Miami Beach had a population of 82,890 people.

Since the early 1900s, Miami Beach has been a top destination for people looking to relax and enjoy beautiful beaches. In 1979, a special area called the Art Deco Historic District was officially recognized for its unique architecture. This district has the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world, with many hotels and apartments built between 1923 and 1943. Various styles, like Mediterranean and Streamline Moderne, can also be seen there. A woman named Barbara Baer Capitman, an interior designer, led the effort to protect these special buildings, and a street in the district is named after her.

History

Miami Beach began as a small, undeveloped area in the late 1800s. In 1870, Henry and Charles Lum purchased land there for just 75 cents an acre. The first building was the Biscayne House of Refuge, created in 1876 to help shipwrecked sailors. Over time, entrepreneurs started planting coconut trees, but this didn’t succeed. Later, crops like avocados were planted instead.

John S. Collins, founding developer of Miami Beach

In the early 1900s, developers saw potential in turning Miami Beach into a resort town. By 1915, the area was officially named Miami Beach, and the first hotel, Brown’s Hotel, was built. More hotels followed, attracting wealthy visitors from colder climates. The city grew quickly with new bridges connecting it to the mainland and lots of new buildings. Even though a big storm in 1926 caused damage, Miami Beach continued to grow, becoming famous for its beaches and sunny weather.

The opening of Collins Bridge in 1913, the longest wooden bridge in the world at the time

Carl G. Fisher in 1909

An aerial view of the Flamingo Hotel, c. 1922

The sun and warm climate made Miami Beach a popular place possible Receptacle for families and retirees. Over the years, many people from different backgrounds moved there, making it a colorful and vibrant place to live and visit. Today, Miami Beach is known for its beautiful beaches, historic buildings, and lively arts scene.

Timeline

Timeline of Miami Beach, Florida

1896 – City of Miami founded with the recent arrival extension Henry Flagler's FEC railroad.
1905 – Government Cut manmade shipping channel created separating Miami Beach and Fisher Island.
1912 – Miami Beach Improvement Company founded.
1913 – Collins Bridge (now Venetian Causeway), first bridge between Miami and Miami Beach, built.
1915
- Miami Beach incorporated.
- John Newton Lummus becomes first mayor of Miami Beach.
- Brown's Hotel first hotel built in Miami Beach, still standing today at 112 Ocean Drive.
1920
- Population: 644.
- County Causeway (now MacArthur Causeway) connecting Miami and Miami Beach opens.
1925
- Venetian Causeway opens.
- Miami Beach becomes an island when the Haulover cut opens in April connecting the ocean to the bay just north of Bal Harbour, Florida
1926 - Miami Beach sustains significant damage from 1926 Miami hurricane
1928
- Al Capone buys property in Miami Beach.
- 79th Street Causeway built to connect Miami Beach to Hialeah Park Race Track.
1930 – Population: 6,494.
1935 – Many of the famous Art Deco hotels along current day Ocean Drive are built between 1935 and 1941 before the onset of WWII ends construction. Colony (1935), Savoy Plaza (1935), The Tides (1936), Surf Hotel (1936), Beacon (1936), Cavalier (1936), Leslie (1937), Park Central (1937), Barbizon (1937), Waldorf Towers (1937), Victor (1937), Clevelander (1938), Crescent (1938), Carlyle (1939), Cardozo (1939), Winterhaven (1939), Bentley (1939), Breakwater (1939), Imperial (1939), Majestic (1940), Avalon (1941), Betsy Ross Hotel (1941), St. Charles (1941), Clyde Hotel (1941).
1937 – WKAT radio begins broadcasting.
1940 – Population: 28,012.
1954 – Fontainebleau Hotel in business.
1958 – Miami Beach Convention Center opens.
1959 – Miami International Airport dedicated near Miami Beach.
1960 – Population: 63,145.
1961 – The Julia Tuttle Causeway between Miami and Miami Beach opens.
1968 – August: 1968 Republican National Convention held in Miami Beach.
1971 – Annual South Florida Auto Show begins.
1972
- July - 1972 Democratic National Convention held in Miami Beach.
- August - 1972 Republican National Convention held in Miami Beach.
1973 – February:
1977 – September: 35th World Science Fiction Convention held in Miami Beach.
1979 – Much of Miami South Beach area becomes a historic preservation zone.
1984 – Popular NBC TV show Miami Vice filmed in many locations in Miami and Miami Beach for five seasons between 1984 and 1989.
1997 – July 15:
2000 – Blue and Green Diamond hi-rises built.
2001 – Murano at Portofino hi-rise built.
2002
- Annual international Art Basel Miami Beach (art fair) begins.
- Continuum hi-rise built
2004 – Setai Hotel and ICON hi-rise built.
2007 – Matti Herrera Bower becomes mayor.
2010 – Population: 87,779.
2011 – November 1: Miami Beach mayoral election, 2011 held; Bower stays in office.
2013 – Philip Levine becomes mayor.
2015 – November 3: Miami Beach mayoral election, 2015 held; Levine stays in office.

Geography

Miami Beach is a city in Florida, United States, located on islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. It covers an area of about 18.7 square miles, with a mix of land and water.

South Beach in March 2008

The city sometimes faces flooding during very high tides, especially in certain low-lying areas. To address this, Miami Beach has started projects to protect itself from rising sea levels, including adding pumps, raising roads, and building taller sea walls. These efforts help manage water but also spark discussions among residents about their effectiveness and impact.

Miami Beach has a tropical climate with a wet season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. The city is also vulnerable to hurricanes due to its location near the ocean.

Demographics

Miami Beach is060 fewer than 83,000 people as of the 2020 census. The city is mostly made up of people who live alone or in very small groups, with only about one in six homes having children. Almost all residents live in areas close to cities, with no one living in rural places.

In 2010, most people in Miami Beach came from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds, especially Cuban, Colombian, and Argentine. Other groups included African Americans, European Americans (like Italian, German, and Russian), Asian Americans, and Arab Americans, including many of Palestinian and Lebanese heritage.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	644	—
1930	6,494	908.4%
1940	28,012	331.4%
1950	46,282	65.2%
1960	63,145	36.4%
1970	87,072	37.9%
1980	96,298	10.6%
1990	92,639	−3.8%
2000	87,933	−5.1%
2010	87,779	−0.2%
2020	82,890	−5.6%
2023 (est.)	79,607	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1920–1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2023

Historical demographics	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980
White (non-Hispanic)	40.1%	40.5%	40.9%	48.3%	76.2%
Hispanic or Latino	50.6%	53.0%	53.4%	46.8%	22.2%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2.7%	3.1%	2.8%	3.6%	0.7%
Asian and Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)	2.0%	1.8%	1.3%	1.0%	0.9%
Native American (non-Hispanic)	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Some other race (non-Hispanic)	1.0%	0.4%	0.3%	0.2%
Two or more races (non-Hispanic)	3.5%	1.1%	1.1%	N/A	N/A
Population	82,890	87,779	87,933	92,639	96,298

Racial composition as of the 2020 census
Race	Number	Percent
White	42,475	51.2%
Black or African American	2,573	3.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native	305	0.4%
Asian	1,688	2.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	34	0.0%
Some other race	8,754	10.6%
Two or more races	27,061	32.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	41,976	50.6%

Demographic characteristics	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980
Housing units	63,543	67,499	59,723	49,305	55,685
Persons per household	1.30	1.30	1.47	1.88	1.73
Sex Ratio	105.9	109.9	105.0	87.3	74.7
Ages 0–17	13.8%	12.8%	13.4%	14.1%	8.7%
Ages 18–64	67.2%	71.0%	67.3%	55.8%	39.6%
Ages 65 +	19.0%	16.2%	19.2%	30.1%	51.8%
Median age	44.0	40.3	39.0	44.3	66.0
Population	82,890	87,779	87,933	92,639	96,298

Economic indicators
2017–21 American Community Survey	Miami Beach	Miami-Dade County	Florida
Median income	$39,456	$32,513	$34,367
Median household income	$59,162	$57,815	$61,777
Poverty Rate	14.0%	15.7%	13.1%
High school diploma	89.9%	82.5%	89.0%
Bachelor's degree	49.6%	31.7%	31.5%
Advanced degree	22.0%	11.9%	11.7%

Language spoken at home	2015	2010	2000	1990	1980
English	30.8%	32.3%	32.5%	39.6%	54.6%
Spanish or Spanish Creole	55.5%	54.4%	54.4%	46.5%	23.0%
French or Haitian Creole	2.4%	2.3%	2.0%	2.3%	1.0%
Portuguese or Portuguese Creole	N/A	2.0%	3.4%	1.2%	N/A
Yiddish	N/A	0.1%	0.8%	3.1%	N/A
Other Languages	11.3%	8.9%	6.9%	7.3%	21.4%

Nativity	2015	2010	2000	1990	1980
% population native-born	45.4%	48.0%	44.5%	48.7%	51.3%
... born in the United States	44.3%	44.6%	40.7%	44.8%	50.0%
... born in Puerto Rico or Island Areas	1.1%	1.9%	2.8%	2.9%	1.3%
... born to American parents abroad	1.5%	1.5%	1.0%	1.0%	1.3%
% population foreign-born	53.0%	52.0%	55.5%	51.3%	48.7%
... born in Cuba	14.8%	14.7%	17.5%	18.0%	10.7%
... born in Russia	0.7%	0.7%	0.5%	1.9%	9.3%
... born in Poland	0.4%	0.4%	0.7%	2.1%	5.9%
... born in Colombia	4.1%	4.0%	5.9%	3.4%	N/A
... born in Argentina	4.1%	3.4%	4.4%	1.6%	N/A
... born in Brazil	2.1%	1.9%	3.1%	1.2%	N/A
... born in Peru	1.9%	2.2%	2.5%	1.6%	N/A
... born in Guatemala	1.0%	2.6%	0.4%	0.5%	N/A
... born in Honduras	1.9%	2.0%	1.3%	1.2%	N/A
... born in Venezuela	3.4%	2.1%	1.7%	0.7%	N/A
... born in other countries	18.6%	18.0%	17.5%	19.1%	22.8%

Economy

Miami Beach plays a big role in tourism for Miami-Dade County. Many people visit the city each year, and tourism helps provide important money for the city's budget. In fact, taxes from resorts make up more than ten percent of the city's spending.

The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority helps promote the city and support its tourism industry. This group was created in 1967 to market and handle public relations for Miami Beach.

Arts and culture

South Beach, also called SoBe, is a popular area of Miami Beach between Biscayne Street and 23rd Street. Before TV shows made it famous, this area had many empty buildings and high crime. Today, it is one of the busiest places on the beach, though some nearby areas still face challenges.

Miami Beach has been featured in famous movies and TV shows. Lincoln Road is a well-known spot for shopping and dining, with many artists’ galleries.

Miami Beach has many important places to visit, including museums, hotels, and parks. In the 1970s, leaders worked hard to save old buildings called “art deco” style. These buildings were in danger of being torn down, but people helped protect them. Today, these buildings attract visitors, and many famous people have visited Miami Beach over the years.

Each December, Miami Beach hosts Art Basel Miami Beach, a big art show with galleries from around the world. The city is also home to the New World Symphony, which moved into a special building designed by famous architect Frank Gehry. Miami Beach has theaters, ballet companies, and many cultural events throughout the year.

Government

Miami Beach has a special way of choosing its leaders. There is a mayor who helps lead meetings, but the real power is shared equally among the mayor and six other leaders called commissioners. Everyone in the city votes for them. The mayor can serve up to three terms of two years each, while commissioners can serve up to two terms of four years each. Every two years, three of the commissioner seats are up for voting.

The city also has important positions like the City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney. These roles are filled by people chosen to help run the city's daily tasks. The City Manager especially plays a big part in making sure everything in the city runs smoothly.

Education

Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Miami Beach. Some of the public schools include North Beach Elementary, Treasure Island Elementary, South Pointe Elementary, Mater Beach Academy, Biscayne Elementary, Fienberg/Fisher K–8 Center, Nautilus Middle School, and Miami Beach Senior High School.

There are also private schools such as Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy and St. Patrick Catholic School. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami helps run St. Patrick Catholic School. In the past, there was also Saint Joseph School in Miami Beach.

The Florida International University School of Architecture has a campus at 420 Lincoln Road in South Beach, offering spaces for students studying architecture, art, music, and theater. Other colleges include Johnson & Wales University, though its satellite campus closed after the 2020–2021 school year.

Infrastructure

Public Transportation in Miami Beach is managed by Miami-Dade Transit. Many people in the city use buses to get around, especially since there are no train stations directly in Miami Beach. Bus routes connect Miami Beach to nearby areas, and one busy route carries over 16,000 people each weekday.

There have been plans for many years to build a train link called BayLink to connect Miami Beach to the mainland. These plans have changed over time, with some people supporting different types of trains. Most people in Miami Beach support the idea of extending an existing train line to their city.

Miami Beach also has a free tourist trolley system with several routes that help visitors and residents travel around the city.

Since the late 20th century, cycling has become more popular in Miami Beach. The city has streets friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. In March 2011, a public bicycle sharing system named Citi Bike started, offering many bicycles at different stations across the city.

Notable people

Sister cities

Miami Beach has 13 sister cities. These are cities in other parts of the world that work together with Miami Beach to support cultural exchanges and friendly relationships.