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Do you want to learn more about Miami and its history? Miami is a very interesting city.
There are so many interesting facts about Miami and Florida. If you get a chance to discover the Magic City, you will quickly figure that there are loads to do there!
In this article, you will discover amazing fun facts about Miami. It will help you understand what this city is all about.
TOP 5 MIAMI FUN FACTS
- 👩🌾 Miami is the only major American city founded by a woman
- 🌿🏞️ It’s the only US city bordered by two national parks: the Everglades and Biscayne National Park
- 🛳️ Miami is the cruise capital of the world
- ❄️ It only snowed once in Miami
- 🍔 The first Burger King was in Miami
If after this you are still craving to know more about Miami, you will find some tour recommendations!
So, are you ready? Let’s discover those Miami facts!
1. Miami is the only major American city founded by a woman
Miami was founded in 1896 by Julia Tuttle. She is the only woman in the United States known for having founded a major city.
Julia Tuttle was originally from Cleveland. She arrived in Florida in 1874 with her father.
At the time, Miami was nothing more than a big mosquito-infested swamp. Somehow, she saw potential in what she found there and decided to make a city out of it.
In 1896, the city was officially incorporated, making her the founder of Miami.
2. Miami is not the capital city of Florida
Miami is such a famous city in Florida that it’s often mistaken for being Florida’s capital city. But it is not! As a matter of fact, it’s not even the biggest city in Florida.
Florida’s capital city is Tallahassee. The biggest city in Florida (by size) is Jacksonville.
3. The name “Miami” comes from the Mayaimi tribe
When Europeans colonized the Americas and arrived in Florida, there were a number of Native American tribes living there.
The Tequestas of Biscayne Bay were located in the south-west of Florida. The Calusa tribe occupied most of the southern part of Florida.
And then there was the Mayaimi tribe, located by the lake Mayaimi, now known as Lake Okeechobee.
The river that flows from this lake down to the city of Miami was called the River Miami, and it gave its name to the city.
4. Miami’s nickname is “Magic City”
Miami is an incredible city, partly because of how fast it was built from scratch.
It went from a mangrove swamp to one of the most important cities in the world in a remarkably short amount of time.
This exceptionally rapid growth is the main reason it was nicknamed the Magic City.
Other reasons include its amazing climate and a desire to attract visitors from the north.
5. Miami is the only US city bordered by two national parks: the Everglades and Biscayne National Park
Miami is not only located next to one national park, but two!
From Miami, you can be at Everglades National Park or Biscayne National Park in less than an hour. It’s perfect if you want to escape the city for a bit!
The Everglades National Park is famous for its wildlife. You can find hundreds of species of birds as well as alligators!
If you are visiting, make sure to airboat ride. It’s a lot of fun and you will get to see so many animals.
6. Miami is the cruise capital of the world
The port of Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world. It welcomes both passenger and cargo ships, with millions of cruise passengers passing through each year.
The port is also one of the most modern in the world and is home to some of the largest cruise ships on earth!
All of this plays a huge role in the local economy and employs a large number of people.
Miami is the main port of entry for cruises heading to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Cruises from Miami are actually quite affordable, which is definitely something worth considering if you want to explore more of the region.
7. Miami International Airport (MIA) is the second busiest airport in Florida
With almost 56 million passengers per year, Miami International Airport is the second busiest airport in Florida, just after Orlando.
Florida is still very much of a theme park destination which is why Orlando airport takes the top spot.
8. Downtown Miami is an international corporate centre in the USA
Downtown Miami is home to more international banks than any other city in the USA.
9. Miami is a major agricultural region
Thanks to its tropical climate, Miami is an excellent location for agriculture. You will find production of tomatoes, avocados, sunflowers, mangoes and much more.
It has one of the most diverse agricultural industries in the USA and benefits from a year-round growing season.
10. It only snowed once in Miami
Snow has only been recorded once in Miami in over 200 years. It happened on January 19, 1977. It was such an unusual event that it made the front page of every newspaper!
It’s safe to say that seeing snow in Miami is pretty much impossible.
11. Miami is home to the largest concentration of street art in the USA. All located in Wynwood district.
If you’ve ever seen Instagram photos taken in Miami featuring huge murals, chances are they were taken in Wynwood.
Wynwood is home to a very large and thriving art community. You will find murals all over the district and particularly at the Wynwood Walls outdoor art museum.
What’s interesting about Wynwood is that before it became one of America’s favorite Instagram spots, it was considered a rough neighborhood.
Made up of old warehouses, Wynwood was an industrial district, known as the clothing district in the 1990s.
In the 2000s, a group of artists started taking over these abandoned warehouses and painting on their walls. Art became a form of expression for a community that wanted its voice heard.
Wynwood was a working-class neighborhood with a humble beginning. Thanks to the effort of the art community, it became one of the hippest neighborhoods in the world.
If you want to learn more about Wynwood and its best murals, make sure to join the Wynwood Arts District 1.5-Hour Walking Tour.
12. Miami played an important role during WWII
Due to its ideal location on the southern coast of Florida, Miami played a very important role in the battle against German submarines during WWII.
This had a direct impact on its population as it increased to almost half a million during the war.
13. The Greater Miami area is home to the largest Cuban community in the USA
When Fidel Castro rose to power, many Cubans decided to leave the country. Miami, being the closest major destination, became home to a very large number of Cuban exiles.
Today, the Greater Miami area and Miami-Dade County as a whole are home to the largest Cuban community in the USA, with an estimated two million Cuban Americans in the metro area.
Florida as a state is also home to the largest Cuban community in the country.
14. Miami has its own Cuban district: Little Havana
Little Havana came to life in the 1960s as many Cuban refugees arrived in Miami. They made 8th Street, now known as Calle Ocho, their main quarter.
Over the years, the neighborhood grew into a little version of Cuba and was eventually named Little Havana.
It’s now home to some of the best Cuban food in the USA. Versailles restaurant is particularly famous for its coffee, Cuban sandwiches and croquetas.
You will also find cigar makers and the famous Domino Park, where locals come to play dominoes.
Little Havana is also home to one of the best free street festivals in the world: the Calle Ocho Festival. Celebrating culture from across the Americas, it is an event not to be missed!
Little Havana is a must-do in Miami. It’s colorful, vibrant and incredibly welcoming.
RECOMMENDED TOUR: Authentic Little Havana Food Tour and Culture walk
15. Miami also has a Haitian district: Little Haiti
Similar to the way Little Havana came to life, Little Haiti is a quirky and culturally rich district. Founded by over 30,000 exiles from Haiti, the neighborhood is home to a vibrant French-Creole culture.
Originally named Lemon City, it was officially designated as Little Haiti in 2016.
You will find some of the most flavorful food in all of Miami here. If you are looking for exotic, traditional and authentic cuisine, Little Haiti is the place for you!
You can experience it by yourself or with one of the local Little Haiti Walking tours.
16. Miami is a melting pot, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the USA
As you may have gathered, Miami is home to a huge Cuban and Haitian community, but that’s just the beginning. Miami is a true melting pot and one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the USA.
People from all over the world have made Miami their home, and Spanish is spoken almost as frequently as English! The mix of cultures, food, music and languages is one of the things that makes Miami so incredibly special.
17. The Cuban sandwich was invented in Florida
This one is a little bit of an odd one, because it’s not quite a fact about Miami specifically but it’s connected!
The Cuban sandwich as it is known in the United States was invented in Florida. Historians have confirmed that it originated in Ybor City in Tampa, though Miamians have always argued this fact.
They consider their Cuban sandwich more authentic and believe Miami deserves the credit. It’s a debate that continues to this day, and honestly, the best way to settle it is to try one for yourself.
18. Miami is home to the only swimming pool on the National Register of Historic Places: the Venetian Pool
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.
It’s part of a national program that identifies and protects the United States’ historic and archaeological resources.
Most landmarks on this list are mansions or other types of buildings.
But one of Miami’s most beloved landmarks made the list in a rather unique way, because it is the only swimming pool to ever be included.
This is the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Originally a limestone quarry in the early 1920s, it was transformed into a stunning aquatic facility complete with waterfalls and grottos.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
19. Miami is known as the “Wreckreational Diving Capital of the World”
There are over 75 shipwrecks in Miami’s waters, making it a paradise for scuba divers!
As a massive cruise and cargo port, Miami sees an enormous amount of maritime traffic, and a number of vessels have sunk or been deliberately placed on the seabed over the years. Many are now used as artificial reefs and diving sites.
If you love diving, you will absolutely love Miami.
20. The entrepreneurs who built Burger King into a global brand were from Miami
This is one of those facts that gets slightly misrepresented, so let me tell you the real story.
The very first Burger King location did not open in Miami. It actually opened in Jacksonville, Florida on July 23, 1953, under the name Insta-Burger King.
The Miami connection comes shortly after. In 1954, two Miami entrepreneurs, James McLamore and David Edgerton, opened a franchise location at 3090 NW 36th Street in Miami.
When the original Insta-Burger King company ran into financial trouble in 1959, McLamore and Edgerton bought the entire operation and rebranded it as Burger King.
They are the people who turned it into the global chain it is today, with over 18,000 restaurants worldwide.
So while Miami wasn’t the birthplace of the very first location, it was absolutely the city where Burger King as we know it was born. That’s still a pretty amazing claim to fame!
21. Buildings in Miami don’t have basements
Miami was built on mangrove swamps and sandy land. It is essentially impossible to build basements or a subway system here because the ground simply isn’t hard or stable enough.
So if you’re wondering why there are no basements and no underground metro in Miami, now you know!
22. Sunscreen was invented in Miami
The first version of sunscreen was invented during WWII by Benjamin Green, a Miami Beach pharmacist.
Serving during the war, Green wanted to create something to protect himself and fellow soldiers from getting badly burned in the sun.
This is how the very first version of what we now know as sunscreen was born. It eventually became Coppertone, one of the most recognizable suncare brands in the world.
23. There are ATMs for rollerbladers
In December 1996, Citibank’s South Beach branch installed the first ATM in the country specifically designed for rollerbladers.
It had a ramp leading up to it so that skaters could pull up and access their cash without having to take off their blades. That says a lot about how uniquely Miami this city really is!
24. Miami Beach is a man-made island
Back in the 1800s, Miami Beach was nothing more than a sandbar. It had absolutely nothing in common with the glamorous hotspot it is today.
Everything was essentially built from scratch. The city of Miami Beach was officially incorporated in 1915.
25. The sand in Miami Beach is imported
Because of erosion, Miami Beach is slowly losing its beaches. To address this, the city regularly imports thousands of tons of sand to replenish the shoreline.
26. The South Beach Art Deco district has the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world
Miami is a vibrant and colorful city, and nowhere is that more obvious than in South Beach.
The Art Deco Historic District is home to the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world, with over 800 beautifully preserved properties built between 1923 and 1943.
You will find an incredible concentration of pastel-colored 1930s architecture stretching along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.
Art Deco is characterized by geometric designs and the use of shapes like zigzags and pyramids, alongside modern materials like chrome, steel and glass. Walking through this neighborhood feels like stepping back in time, and it is one of the most photogenic places in all of Florida.
27. Miami is the most southerly major city in the continental US
The most southern point in the continental USA is Key West, one of the Florida Keys.
The nearest major city from there is Miami, making it the most southerly major city in the country.
28. The average temperature is 75°F (24°C), making it one of the warmest places in the USA in winter
With that southern location comes beautiful weather.
The climate in southern Florida is subtropical, which means it is also prone to hurricanes.
That said, the good news is that the average temperature sits at 75°F (24°C), and you can wear shorts and dresses all year round!
29. 16% of the population is over 65 years old
As you may know, Florida is one of the most popular places to retire in the USA.
It’s warm all year round and attracts people from all over the world who are looking for a sunny and comfortable place to spend their retirement years.
Sarasota and Naples are popular choices, but Miami is too! In fact, 16% of Miami’s population is over 65 years old.
30. Miami had a population of 1,681 in 1900
Miami was founded in the late 1800s and by 1900 there were just 1,681 people living there.
By 2020, the population of the Greater Miami metro area had grown to over 6 million people. Not bad at all! I’d definitely call that a Magic City.
31. Miami is a paradise for sports lovers
Miami is home to some of the best sports teams in the country, including teams in American football and baseball.
Beyond professional sports, the city also offers an incredible range of leisure and outdoor activities. If you love sport, Miami will feel like paradise.
32. Over 28 million tourists visit Miami per year
Miami is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. In 2024, it welcomed a record 28.23 million visitors, a new all-time high.
People come to Miami for so many reasons: the weather, the beaches, the food, the nightlife.
It’s also a fantastic starting point for a road trip to the Florida Keys, a visit to the Everglades, or a trip to Orlando, the theme park capital of the world!
33. Miami used to be a mangrove swamp
Back in the 1800s, Miami was nothing more than a large mangrove swamp.
Most of what Miami is today was built by human hands, largely thanks to the vision and passion of Julia Tuttle, who saw potential in Miami when nobody else did.
34. Enrique Iglesias spent most of his life in Miami
Even though he was born in Spain, Enrique Iglesias moved to Miami as a child and has lived there ever since.
35. The famous writer Patricia Cornwell was born in Miami
Patricia Cornwell is a very famous American crime author. She is best known for books like Postmortem and the Scarpetta series, some of which have also been adapted for the screen.
She was born in Miami on June 9, 1956.
36. The movie Baywatch was filmed in Miami
If you’re a 90s kid, you’ll know the TV show Baywatch. The original series was set in Malibu, California.
36. The movie Baywatch was filmed in Miami
If you’re a 90s kid, you’ll know the TV show Baywatch. The original series was set in Malibu, California.
In 2017, it was adapted as a movie starring Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson. Most of it was filmed right here in Miami Beach!In 2017, it was adapted as a movie starring Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson. Most of it was filmed right here in Miami Beach!
37. The TV show Jane the Virgin was set in Miami
Any telenovela fans here? Jane the Virgin is an American telenovela that first aired in 2014 and became an absolute phenomenon around the world.
It won many awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series, won by Gina Rodriguez in 2015.
The show is set in Miami, though it was actually filmed in California.
38. Coconut Grove is considered Miami’s original neighborhood
Coconut Grove is known as the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Miami.
Located in the heart of the city, Coconut Grove was founded in 1873 by an eclectic mix of pioneers, artists, intellectuals and adventurers. Very Floridian!
It’s now a beautiful oasis full of culture, charming cafes and boutique shops.
All these cultural and historic facts about Miami makes it the amazing city it is today! There are so many things to know about Miami and the best way to learn more about it is by going exploring Miami yourself!
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