Miami Beach is a barrier island between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, belonging to the larger Miami-Dade County, Florida but separated by the waters of Biscayne Bay. Incorporated as its own city on 26 March 1915, it still manages to be referred to as simply “Miami” despite it being its own individual municipality. More than half of Miami Beach’s population is foreign born; a trait has earned the distinction of being a cultural melting pot. For over a century now, the city is still one of the top beach resort destinations.

 

In 1979 Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Miami Beach’s Art Deco District is the leading collection of Art Deco design in the world, comprising numerous hotels, apartments and additional structures built between 1923 and 1943 featuring the unique Mediterranean, Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architecture.   Thanks to the preservation efforts of former interior designer Barbara Capitman, Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.   As a tribute to her determination, the city now has a street named after Capitman.

 

Miami Beach is known for its richly diverse Hispanic community yet you’ll find people from around the world living in the city, especially foreigners who often own Miami Beach homes. The city is particularly popular as a vacation destination so it’s quite common to see a colorful cast of people during the summer or wintertime as vacationers flock to the warmer climates of South Florida.