MIAMI REAL ESTATE

Spanish settlement continued to ebb and flow. The English began to settle the area in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the first permanent white settlement wasn't established until about 1800 when Pedro Fornells arrived on Key Biscayne.

The Seminole Wars devastated the native populations, leaving the land free for European and Bahamian settlers. The Village of Miami was charted on the south bank of the river in the early 1840s, and in 1844 Miami became the county seat. New settlers arrived, including the Brickells; still famous as a Miami neighborhood name today. New settlements grew; Lemon City (now Little Haiti) Coconut Grove, Biscayne in present-day Miami Shores, and Cutter in today's Palmetto Bay. Henry Flagler's railroad spurred development and migration.

The city grew from 1,681 people in 1900 to 29,549 in 1920. By the end of WWII, the population was almost half a million, and the 2010 census showed a total population for Greater Miami of 2,496,435.

The 1959 Cuban Revolution saw the first wave of middle and upper class Cubans come to Miami followed by blue collar workers. In 1965 approximately 100,000 Cuban immigrants joined the "freedom flights" and the Riverside neighborhood became known as little Havana. Little Havana is Cuban in name and history. The neighborhood now has Spanish-speaking residents from many countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Miami was named for the Native tribe, Mayaimi, who lived around Lake Okeechobee (Big Water) until about 300 years ago. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European to visit the area and then, in 1566, Pedro Menendez de Avilés removed the French from Florida, and established new Spanish colonies (colonias españolas.) In the early days, the area was better known as "Biscayne Bay Country" and an area that "held great promise." How right they were.

Spanish settlement continued to ebb and flow. The English began to settle the area in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the first permanent white settlement wasn't established until about 1800 when Pedro Fornells arrived on Key Biscayne.

The Seminole Wars devastated the native populations, leaving the land free for European and Bahamian settlers. The Village of Miami was charted on the south bank of the river in the early 1840s, and in 1844 Miami became the county seat. New settlers arrived, including the Brickells; still famous as a Miami neighborhood name today. New settlements grew; Lemon City (now Little Haiti) Coconut Grove, Biscayne in present-day Miami Shores, and Cutter in today's Palmetto Bay. Henry Flagler's railroad spurred development and migration.

The city grew from 1,681 people in 1900 to 29,549 in 1920. By the end of WWII, the population was almost half a million, and the 2010 census showed a total population for Greater Miami of 2,496,435.

The 1959 Cuban Revolution saw the first wave of middle and upper class Cubans come to Miami followed by blue collar workers. In 1965 approximately 100,000 Cuban immigrants joined the "freedom flights" and the Riverside neighborhood became known as little Havana. Little Havana is Cuban in name and history. The neighborhood now has Spanish-speaking residents from many countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Further demographic breakdown shows 5.7% of Miami's residents are Nicaraguan, 5.5% Haitian, and 3.3% Honduran. Many other residents also come from Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Dominica, Guatamala, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. Approximately two-thirds of the Hispanic population are foreign-born.

Spanish and English are the predominant languages spoken but with over 150 ethnic groups, there are over 60 languages spoken by residents and visitors alike.

Miami's Philharmonic Orchestra attracts virtuosos from all over the world, and the Coconut Grove Playhouse is a famous theater. There are several art museums such as Villa Vizcaya and the Lowe Art Museum. There are specialized historical museums and a planetarium at the Museum of Science.

Tropical flora and fauna are on display at Miami Beach Garden Center, Orchid Jungle, Redland Fruit and Spice Park, Crandon Park Zoo and Key Biscayne Monkey Jungle.

Miami has a thriving nightlife, lots of family-friendly activities, museums, and so many sandy beaches it would take weeks just to visit them.

Miami is jokingly called the "Wreckreational Capital of the World" because there are so many sunken ships dating back to the days of the Spanish empire, scuba-diving has become a major sports pastime, as has powerboat racing on Biscayne Bay.

On dry land, there are more than 40 golf courses, and tennis is so popular that many world-famous tennis champions have their winter homes and practice centers here.

Thoroughbred horse racing at Hialeah and Calder tracks is very popular, as is dog racing and, of course, the amazing sport of jai alai.

Pro sports are very well represented by the Miami Dolphins (football) the Florida Marlins (baseball) Miami Heat (basketball) and the Florida Panthers (hockey.)

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau exists to promote the city and its beaches to visitors and new residents, alike.