The history of Miami, Florida, is short by the standards of the rest of America, but it has come a long way in a short time. Founded by Julia Tuttle, a citrus grower, Miami is the only major U.S. city to be founded by a woman. Known as the "Mother of Miami," Tuttle also helped convince railroad builder Harry Flagler to extend his Florida East Coast Railway down to the Miami area. Miami officially became a U.S. city in 1896.

Most of the city is located at the mouth of Biscayne Bay, home to the largest natural and man-made barrier island in the world, the Rickenbacker Causeway, with a large number of hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. Not to be missed are the many beaches in Miami, most of which are located along the Rickenbacker Causeway and Key Biscayne. Downtown Miami is now a sprawling plaza with shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and office and residential buildings.

Coral Gables is ideal for those who want to be close to the University of Miami, while Doral offers a quieter version of the city, conveniently separated from the downtown crowd. Miami Springs is located just off MIA, while downtown Miami hotels along Biscayne Boulevard are always a good choice for visiting the scene.

South Beach, located between the mainland of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, attracts a unique mix of beachgoers during the day and is the center of Miami nightlife in the area. Visit the Miami Beach Bar & Grill, a popular destination in South Beach, and you're guaranteed to be in the mood for a bar party on the Atlantic. Miami is best known for its beaches, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, as well as the city's rich history.

Miami is home to several pro sports teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins. The annual Orange Bowl Festival in January features parades and college football games. Miami is also the host of the annual Miami Beach International Film Festival and is home to the Frost Art Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Lowe Art Museum, and many more. Universities and colleges in the area include the University of Miami, Miami Dade College, Florida Memorial University, and Florida International University.

Tourism is also an important industry, and the beaches of Greater Miami attract visitors from around the country and the world. South Beach is the most popular district and is widely considered one of the most glamorous in the world. You will find a variety of restaurants, hotels, shops, and bars, not to mention a large number of hotels on the beach and in downtown Miami.

Most of the western edges of this city are in the subtropical wetlands located in the Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as parts of Miami Beach and Miami Gardens.

The city of Miami and its suburbs are located in the vast plains between the Everglades and Biscayne Bay, which extend north to Lake Okeechobee. Within this plain lies the Miami River, a natural underground river that stretches from southern Palm Beach County to Florida Bay in southern Broward County, with the highest point near the cities of Miami Springs and Hialeah.

The southern part of the Gold Coast of Florida consists of many smaller communities and unincorporated areas. Miami-Dade County is the county seat of Broward County, one of the most populous counties in the United States. It includes a district that includes the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables, Hialeah, West Palm Beach, and Miami Beach.

Miami has Florida's highest transit rate, with about 12 percent of the population using transit every day. The entire county is covered by the Miami-Dade Transit bus system, and it is one of the largest transit systems in the country.