City of Miami: Difference between revisions

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In addition, the city ranks number two in popular tourism hubs after New York City, with over five million visitors per year, and is the third richest measured in global buying power. The city's seaport, PortMiami, located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of Miami River, is the busiest cruise port in the world. Because of the city's notable commercial and cultural ties to Latin America, it is also known as a gateway to the region.

In short, Miami is a vibrant minority-majority metropolitan area fueled by vast human capital, cultural experience, and political engagement. It is said to combine the best traits of America's big metropolises; it parties 'till 5 a.m. like NYC, it has sun-kissed beaches rivaling those of Los Angeles, and it gets down with diversity like Houston. It's one of the nation's best vacation destinations, providing visitors a colorful variety of art, food, cocktails, bars, clubs, and music. It's a feel-good city, perfect for all generations, races, sexes, and orientations… At least until one starts to scratch through the surface and finds the reason why Magic City has earned itself another, less flattering nickname:

In short, Miami is a vibrant minority-majority metropolitan area fueled by vast human capital, cultural experience, and political engagement. It is said to combine the best traits of America's big metropolises; it parties 'till 5 a.m. like NYC, it has sun-kissed beaches rivaling those of Los Angeles, and it gets down with diversity like Houston. It's one of the nation's best vacation destinations, providing visitors a colorful variety of art, food, cocktails, bars, clubs, and music.

It's a feel-good city, perfect for all generations, races, sexes, and orientations… At least until one starts to scratch through the surface and finds the reason why Magic City has earned itself another, less flattering nickname:

''Vice City''—because life is not just about virtues.

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The state has several unique ecosystems, including one of the largest tropical wildernesses in the US, Everglades National Park. The wildlife includes Florida-specific species like the American alligator, crocodile, and flamingo, the Florida panther, bottlenose dolphin, and manatee. The state's titular coral barrier reef system is the third-largest in the world and the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

Located in a broad plain between the Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east, Miami and its suburbs extend from Okeechobee Lake southward to Florida Bay. The main portion of the city is on the shores of Biscayne Bay, home to several hundred natural and artificial barrier islands. The Gulf Stream runs northward just 15 miles (24 km) off the coast, keeping Miami's climate mild and warm all year round. Sea-level elevation and position just above the Tropic of Cancer shape the city's climate: the average winter temperature, from December through March, ranges roughly between 68–80 °F (20–27 °C). The summer is hot and wet, creating daily thundershowers in the humid air masses, and can include hurricanes from the beginning of June to the end of November, with the peak seen during the Cape Verde season in mid-August.

Located in a broad plain between the Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east, Miami and its suburbs extend from Okeechobee Lake southward to Florida Bay. The main portion of the city is on the shores of Biscayne Bay, home to several hundred natural and artificial barrier islands.

The Gulf Stream runs northward just 15 miles (24 km) off the coast, keeping Miami's climate mild and warm all year round. Sea-level elevation and position just above the Tropic of Cancer shape the city's climate: the average winter temperature, from December through March, ranges roughly between 68–80 °F (20–27 °C). The summer is hot and wet, creating daily thundershowers in the humid air masses, and can include hurricanes from the beginning of June to the end of November, with the peak seen during the Cape Verde season in mid-August.

[[File:city-of-Miami-2.png]]

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Spanish and Spanish Creole dominate English as the primary languages, incorporating their native rhythm and pronunciation into the Miami accent. Third comes French and Haitian Creole, spoken by 4.5% of the population. Most of the city's residents are Christian, with the Catholic Church being the largest single denomination, mainly due to the large Hispanic population. The state also has a relatively significant Jewish community—the third-largest in the US. As of 2021, the number of registered Republican voters exceeded that of Democrats, a first in Florida's history.

Over 1,400 multinational businesses are located in Miami, several of them headquartered or running their Latin American operations in the city. The city's international airport and seaport are among the nation's busiest ports of entry, especially for cargo from South America and the Caribbean. Miami is also a significant music recording and television production center, particularly for Spanish-language media, and a popular location for shooting music videos and films. Tourism is one of Miami's largest private-sector industries, with attractions such as Walt Disney World, Miami Beach, and the Kennedy Space Center attracting millions of visitors annually.

Over 1,400 multinational businesses are located in Miami, several of them headquartered or running their Latin American operations in the city. The city's international airport and seaport are among the nation's busiest ports of entry, especially for cargo from South America and the Caribbean. Miami is also a significant music recording and television production center, particularly for Spanish-language media, and a popular location for shooting music videos and films.

Tourism is one of Miami's largest private-sector industries, with attractions such as Walt Disney World, Miami Beach, and the Kennedy Space Center attracting millions of visitors annually.

Florida has the third-lowest tax rate in the US, losing only to Texas and Alaska. The state has no individual income taxes, its state-local burdens are average, and corporate taxes are limited to 5.5%. Miami's median household income is less than $48,000, a quarter below the state average, greatly affected by the city's fourth-highest percentage (31.7%) of family incomes below the federal poverty line.

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The city's tropical weather allows for year-round outdoor activities: it has numerous marinas, rivers, bays, and canals, as well as access to the Atlantic Ocean, making boating, sailing, canoeing, and fishing popular ways to spend time. Additionally, Biscayne Bay's coral reefs offer snorkeling and scuba diving options. Golf and tennis are the most common dryland hobbies, while jai alai venues cater to those preferring indoor activities.

Miami's streets have hosted various professional auto races, including several Grand Prix events, and its stadiums have been home to international tennis tournaments. The city has five major league professional sports teams: Miami Dolphins (American football), Florida Panthers (ice hockey), Miami Heat (basketball), Miami Marlins (baseball), and Inter Miami CF (soccer), as well as many college sports teams. Finally, as the originator of the Paso Fino horse breed, the city hosts its share of equine competitions.

Miami's streets have hosted various professional auto races, including several Grand Prix events, and its stadiums have been home to international tennis tournaments. The city has five major league professional sports teams: Miami Dolphins (American football), Florida Panthers (ice hockey), Miami Heat (basketball), Miami Marlins (baseball), and Inter Miami CF (soccer), as well as many college sports teams.

Finally, as the originator of the Paso Fino horse breed, the city hosts its share of equine competitions.

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By the time World War II started in the 1940s, the city was still recovering from the Great Depression. While many Florida cities were brought into financial ruin, Miami remained relatively unaffected. Numerous supply stations and communications were established in the area for the Army and Navy, but rather than building large army bases to train troops, many pre-existing buildings were converted for military use: hotels to barracks, local beaches to training grounds, and even movie theaters into military school classrooms.

=== ~~Cultural tumult~~ ===

=== Cuban revolution ===

The Cuban Revolution of 1959 that brought Fidel Castro to power caused most Cubans living in Miami to return to Cuba, only to later return to Florida ''en masse'' as exiles. This upset the Miamians, especially the African Americans, and caused the school system to struggle to educate the Spanish-speaking Cuban children. By the end of the 1960s, more than 400,000 Cubans were living in Dade County and would form a predominantly Spanish-speaking community known as "Little Havana," where Spanish speakers elsewhere in the city could conduct their daily business in their native tongue.

In 1966, the Cuban Adjustment Act was passed that allowed the immigrants a permanent stay in the country, in addition to the city's substantial African American and black Caribbean population.

The 1970s was a formative period for Miami, particularly the year 1972, when both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions were held in Miami Beach during the Presidential Election, the Florida International University opened in September, and the Miami Dolphins had their record-breaking undefeated season.

~~The Cuban Revolution of 1959 that brought Fidel Castro to power caused most Cubans living~~ in ~~Miami to return to Cuba, only to later return to Florida ''en masse'' as exiles. This upset~~ the ~~Miamians~~, ~~especially the African Americans, and caused the school system to struggle to educate the Spanish-speaking Cuban children. By the end of the 1960s, more than 400,000 Cubans were living in~~ Dade County and would form a predominantly Spanish-speaking community known as "Little Havana," where Spanish speakers elsewhere in the city could conduct their daily business in their native tongue. In 1966, the Cuban Adjustment Act was passed ~~that allowed the immigrants a permanent stay in the country, in addition to the city's substantial African American and black Caribbean population~~.

Later in the decade, a Dade County ordinance was passed protecting individuals based on sexual orientation.

The 1970s was a formative period for Miami, particularly the year 1972, when both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions were held in Miami Beach during the Presidential Election, the Florida International University opened in September, and the Miami Dolphins had their record-breaking undefeated season. Later in the decade, a Dade County ordinance was passed protecting individuals based on sexual orientation.

=== More cultural tumult ===

In December 1979, police officers pursued a black motorcyclist, Arthur McDuffie, in a high-speed chase after he'd made a provocative gesture toward one of them. The officers claimed McDuffie was killed in a motorcycle accident during the pursuit, but the coroner's report suggested otherwise and revealed the officers had beaten him to death. This caused one of the worst riots in the United States in Miami's black neighborhoods, killing 18 people and injuring over 850 more during the three days of rioting.