History of Miami in Timeline
Miami, the second most populous city in Florida, is a coastal metropolis and the heart of the Miami metropolitan area, the ninth largest in the US. Home to over 442,000 residents, Miami boasts a skyline ranked third largest in the nation, featuring over 300 high-rises. Its strategic location in South Florida makes it a hub for various industries and a popular destination.
1900: Population of Miami in 1900
The 1900 census recorded Miami's population at 1,681.
February 3, 1917: Record Low Temperature
Miami experienced its coldest temperature ever recorded on February 3, 1917, plummeting to 27°F (-2.8°C).
1922: Establishment of Coral Way
The historic residential neighborhood of Coral Way was established in 1922, situated between Downtown Miami and Coral Gables.
1925: Tornado Strikes Miami
A rare tornado hit Miami in 1925, highlighting the area's occasional experience with these weather events.
1925: Annexation of Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove, with its rich history dating back to 1825, was officially annexed into Miami in 1925.
1926: The 1926 Miami Hurricane
The 1926 Miami Hurricane devastated the city, contributing to the slowdown of the Florida land boom.
1940: World War II and Population Growth
By 1940, Miami's population surged to 172,172 due to its role as a U.S. defense base against German submarines during World War II.
July 21, 1942: Record High Temperature
The highest temperature ever recorded in Miami was a scorching 100°F (38°C) on July 21, 1942.
1950: Population Growth and Title of Florida's Largest City
By 1950, Miami's population surged to 249,276, making it the largest city in Florida at the time.
1956: Summer Season Variability (1956-1997)
Between 1956 and 1997, the start date of summer in Miami fluctuated from as early as April 16th to as late as June 3rd.
1959: Cuban Revolution Influx
After Fidel Castro's rise in Cuba in 1959, Miami saw a significant population increase as many wealthy Cubans sought refuge.
1970: Population Growth and Suburbanization
In 1970, Miami's population reached 334,859, showing growth but also the beginning of suburbanization.
1970: Demographic Changes in Miami
The 1970 Census reported that Miami's population was 45.3% Hispanic, 32.9% non-Hispanic white, and 22.7% Black.
1972: A Pivotal Year for Miami
In 1972, Miami gained national attention as it hosted both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The Miami Dolphins also achieved an undefeated season.
January 19, 1977: Rare Snow Flurries
While official records show no snowfall, parts of Miami experienced a rare occurrence of snow flurries on January 19, 1977.
1985: Election of Miami's First Cuban-born Mayor
In 1985, Miami elected its first Cuban-born mayor, Xavier Suarez.
December 1989: Cold Wave Impact
During the December 1989 United States cold wave, Miami recorded its coldest daytime high temperature at a chilly 45°F (7°C).
1990: Peak of Non-Hispanic Black Population
The Non-Hispanic Black population in Miami peaked in 1990 at nearly 90,000, representing almost a quarter of the city's population.
1991: Coldest Maximum Temperature Average (1991-2020)
From 1991 to 2020, the average coldest maximum temperature in Miami was 59°F (15°C).
1997: Tornado Strikes Again
Another uncommon tornado touched down in Miami in 1997.
1997: Summer Season Variability (1956-1997)
From 1956 to 1997, the end of summer in Miami varied, ranging from September 24th to as late as November 1st.
2000: Population Growth and Stagnation
By 2000, Miami's population reached 362,470, indicating slower growth due to suburbanization.
2000: Shifts in Population and Immigration
From 1970 to 2000, Miami's population growth stagnated as non-Hispanic White residents left and Latin American immigration increased, solidifying the city's Hispanic majority.
2000: Renewed Population Growth
From 2000 onwards, Miami's population began to grow rapidly again, driven by downtown development.
2000: Nadir of Non-Hispanic White Population
The Non-Hispanic White population in Miami reached its lowest point in 2000, accounting for 11.8% of the city's population.
2001: Local Government Bankruptcy
The local government of Miami declared bankruptcy in 2001, making it one of the few U.S. cities to do so.
2003: Free Trade Area of the Americas Negotiations
Miami hosted the negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas in 2003.
2007: Miami Drivers Ranked Rudest in the U.S.
In 2007, for the second consecutive year, Miami was identified as having the rudest drivers in the United States based on a poll conducted by AutoVantage. The city also consistently ranked among the most dangerous for pedestrians in the U.S.
2007: Housing Market Crash
The housing market crash of 2007 triggered a foreclosure crisis in the Miami area.
September 2008: Large Student Enrollment and Diversity
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the largest school district in Florida, had over 385,000 students and over 392 schools as of September 2008. The district also boasts a highly diverse student body.
2009: Univision Announces Plans for New Production Studio
In 2009, Univision revealed its plans to establish a new production studio in Miami, known as Univision Studios. Headquartered in Miami, the studio will produce programming for all of Univision Communications' television networks.
2010: Slight Rebound in Non-Hispanic White Population
The Non-Hispanic White population in Miami saw a slight rebound by 2010, reaching 11.9% of the city's population.
2010: Miami Intermodal Center Opens
The Miami Intermodal Center, a major transportation hub serving various transportation modes, was completed and opened to the public in 2010. The center serves approximately 150,000 commuters and travelers in the Miami area.
2010: Hispanic Origin Breakdown in Miami
In 2010, the Hispanic origin breakdown in Miami was: 34.4% Cuban, 15.8% Central American, 8.7% South American, 4.0% other Hispanic or Latino origins, 3.2% Puerto Rican, 2.4% Dominican, and 1.5% Mexican.
2010: High Number of College Graduates
Miami's four largest colleges and universities (Miami Dade College, Florida International University, University of Miami, and Barry University) saw the graduation of 28,000 students in 2010.
2010: Population Growth and Downtown Development
Miami's population reached 399,457 by 2010, driven by high-rise construction in downtown areas.
2010: Asian Ancestry in Miami
In 2010, people of Asian ancestry accounted for 1.0% of Miami's population.
2010: Miami Ranked 44th Most Bike-Friendly City in the U.S.
In 2010, Bicycling Magazine ranked Miami as the 44th most bike-friendly city in the United States. This ranking coincided with the city government's efforts, under former mayor Manny Diaz, to promote cycling in Miami.
2010: American and Arab Ancestry in Miami
In 2010, 1.9% of Miami's population identified as solely of American ancestry, and 0.5% were of Arab ancestry.
2010: European Ancestry in Miami
As of 2010, individuals of European ancestry made up 11.9% of Miami's population.
2010: West Indian and Afro-Caribbean American Population
As of 2010, 5.6% of Miami residents were of West Indian or Afro-Caribbean American origin.
November 2011: Opening of New Norwegian Seamen's Church Building
In November 2011, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway inaugurated a new building for the Norwegian Seamen's church in Miami, serving as a center for the Scandinavian community in Florida.
2011: Walk Score Ranks Miami Eighth Most Walkable Large City
A 2011 study by Walk Score, which evaluates the walkability of cities, ranked Miami as the eighth most walkable city out of the fifty largest cities in the United States.
2012: Phase I of MiamiCentral Station Completed
Phase I of MiamiCentral Station, part of the larger Miami Intermodal Center project, was finished in 2012.
2012: Expected Completion of Miami Central Station
The Miami Central Station was initially slated for completion in 2012, which would have involved relocating all Amtrak operations to a central location connected to various transportation systems. However, the project faced multiple delays.
2012: High Poverty Rate
The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2012 that Miami had the fourth highest percentage of families living below the federal poverty line among large U.S. cities.
2013: Relocation of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald
In 2013, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, the main newspapers in Miami and South Florida, moved their headquarters from Downtown Miami to the former home of U.S. Southern Command in Doral.
2014: Religion in the Miami Metro Area
A 2014 study was conducted on the religious makeup of the Miami Metro Area.
2014: Religious Demographics of Miami
According to a 2014 study, Christianity was the most practiced religion in Miami (68%), followed by Judaism (9%), with smaller followings for Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions. 21% of the population identified as atheist or having no organized religious affiliation.
2014: Miami Central Station Completion Delayed Again
After being initially expected in 2012, the completion of the Miami Central Station project was further delayed and pushed to late 2014. The project aimed to centralize Amtrak operations with other transportation modes but faced setbacks.
2014: Port of Miami Tunnel Opening
The Port of Miami Tunnel, connecting the MacArthur Causeway to PortMiami, opened in 2014.
2015: Car Ownership in Miami
In 2015, 19.9% of city of Miami households did not own a car.
2015: Formula E Race
Miami hosted a one-off Formula E race in 2015.
2015: Tri-Rail Portion of MiamiCentral Station Completed
The Tri-Rail section of Phase II of the MiamiCentral Station project was completed in 2015.
2015: Miami Central Station Completion Pushed to Early 2015
The completion of the Miami Central Station, which was already delayed from its initial target of 2012, was again postponed and rescheduled for early 2015.
2016: Second-Highest Foreign Tourists
Miami attracted the second-highest number of international tourists among U.S. cities in 2016, after New York City.
2016: Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School Closure
Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School, located within Miami's city limits, closed in 2016.
2016: Worst U.S. City to Live
In 2016, a study by 24/7 Wall Street ranked Miami as the worst city to live in the United States, citing factors like crime, poverty, income inequality, education, and high housing costs.
2016: Commuting Trends and Car Ownership in Miami
According to the 2016 American Community Survey, a significant portion of Miami residents commuted by driving alone (72.3%). The survey also noted that 18.6% of city households did not own a car in 2016, compared to 19.9% in 2015.
2017: Record Tourism Revenue
Over 15.9 million visitors traveled to Miami in 2017, generating $26.1 billion in revenue for the city's economy.
2017: Record Cruise Passengers and Cargo
PortMiami, the world's busiest cruise port, served over 5.3 million cruise passengers and imported over 9 million tons of cargo in 2017.
2017: ParkScore Ranking Improvement
The Trust for Public Land's ParkScore ranking placed Miami's park system at 48th out of the 100 most populous U.S. cities in 2017.
2018: Downtown Population Growth
Between 2010 and 2018, the downtown population of Miami saw an estimated growth of nearly 40%.
2019: Miami Open Relocation
The Miami Open tennis tournament, purchased by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, relocated from Key Biscayne to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019.
July 25, 2020: First Boat-in Movie Theater
Miami's first boat-in movie theater opened on July 25, 2020.
2020: Coldest Maximum Temperature Average (1991-2020)
The average coldest maximum temperature in Miami was 59°F (15°C), calculated between 1991 and 2020.
2020: Population Growth and Census Data
The 2020 census reported Miami's population at 442,241, indicating a significant increase.
2020: GaWC Ranking
In 2020, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) ranked Miami as a Beta + level world city based on its presence of global corporate service organizations.
2020: ParkScore Ranking Decline
Miami's ParkScore ranking slightly declined to 64th place in 2020, according to The Trust for Public Land.
2020: Report on Cities Most at Risk From Climate Change
In 2020, Resources for the Future released a report identifying Miami as one of the cities most at risk from climate change globally.
2020: Significant Growth of Non-Hispanic White Population
By 2020, the Non-Hispanic White population in Miami had grown significantly, making up 14.0% of the city's population, reaching 61,829, the highest number since the 1980s, surpassing the Non-Hispanic Black population.
2020: Decline in Non-Hispanic Black Population
By 2020, the Non-Hispanic Black population in Miami had declined to 52,447, making up 11.7% of the city's population, attributed to factors like high living costs and gentrification.
2021: Unsheltered Homeless Count in Miami
In 2021, there were 555 unsheltered homeless people in Miami, as per the Point-In-Time Homeless Count.
2022: Point-In-Time Homeless Count in Miami-Dade County
The 2022 Point-In-Time Homeless Count reported 3,440 homeless individuals in Miami-Dade County, with 970 living on the streets. Within Miami city limits, there were 591 unsheltered homeless people, an increase from the previous year.
July 14, 2024: Copa América Final
Miami is scheduled to host the final of the 2024 Copa América on July 14, 2024.
2026: FIFA World Cup Host City
Miami will be one of the eleven U.S. cities to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2070: Projected Sea Level Rise in Miami
By 2070, Miami is projected to experience a sea level rise of 21 to 40 inches, leading to increased storm damage, flooding, and threats to the city's water supply.