Miami is the youngest major city in the U.S. Located at the mouth of the Miami River on the lower east coast of Florida, Miami is bordered on the east by Biscayne Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. Further east, the islands of Key Biscayne and Miami Beach shelter the bay from the Atlantic Ocean, thus providing Miami with a naturally protected harbor. Once pine and palmetto flatlands, the Miami area boasts sandy beaches in its coastal areas and gives way to sparsely wooded outlying areas. A man-made canal connects the city to Lake Okeechobee, located 90 miles northwest of Miami.

HISTORY

Its history is very unique and knowing this helps understand what Miami is about. The first inhabitants came to the region 10,000 years ago and erected settlements on the Bay and on the river. They named this settlement Mayami. The powerful Spanish claimed this land as theirs until 1821 when the United States decided to acquire it as another state we know now as Florida. At the same time Bahamian seamen as well as the Seminole Indian tribe, which had been pushed away from their land in other U.S. states, also establish their home in Florida. During this time the area known as Mayami was nothing but a wild empty tract of undeveloped land.

In the beginning Miami, as we know it, started with the work of visionaries whom predicted decades in advance what this unfriendly land would become. Because Miami was such a remote location, it was a crucial factor to provide an easier access.

Julia Tuttle arrived in Miami from Cleveland in 1891 and was the owner of 640 acres in Miami. She was the neighbor of other visionaries that believed like her in the future of Miami. Her move was followed by other families such as The Brickells, the Flaglers, the Merricks and the Fishers. Mary and William Brickell owned 2,500 acres of land in Miami which at time was considered very inhospitable. Julia Tuttle pledged half her land to Henri Flagler in order to get him to extend his railway to Miami and to start building a new city from scratch. 

ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE
 
From Coco Walk, to Miracle Mile to Downtown Miami to Miami Beach, there is tons of nonstop entertainment and activities that are held in each of these areas. Whether you are looking to grab a bite, party, enjoy an outing at the beach with the family or even shopping. Miami is the place to be.

SCHOOLS IN MIAMI

Miami-Dade County is home to many private and public universities and colleges. Listed below are a few of the most popular ones.

University of Miami
Barry University
Florida International University
Miami Dade College