36 Facts About South Miami

1. South Miami is truly unique—a tropical paradise with a rich history, a diverse population and a "not quite in the United States" feel.

2. South Miami has come a long way since the days of Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler.

3. The Port of South Miami handles international shipping and is a world leader in cruise ship operations.

4. The northern side of South Miami has notable African-American and Caribbean immigrant communities such as Little Haiti, Overtown, and Liberty City.

5. South Miami is a diver's paradise: dubbed the "Wreckreational Diving Capital of the World", its waters boast 50 different underwater wreck sites for SCUBA enthusiasts to explore.

6. South Miami is a diver's paradise: dubbed the "Wreckreational Diving Capital of the World", its waters boast 50 different underwater wreck sites for SCUBA enthusiasts to explore.

7. South Miami has more than 800 parks in total and is the only US city surrounded by two national ones: Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park.

8. South Miami has long been a vacation destination for the famous and infamous alike.

9. The Port of South Miami is known as the Cruise Capital of the World, serving almost five million passengers annually.

10. In 2010, South Miami was ranked as the 44th-most bike-friendly city in the US according to Bicycling Magazine.

11. In 2007, South Miami was identified as having the rudest drivers in the United States, the second year in a row to have been cited, in a poll commissioned by automobile club AutoVantage.

12. South Miami has six major causeways that span over Biscayne Bay connecting the western mainland, with the eastern barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean.

13. South Miami has one of the largest television markets in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida.

14. South Miami is home to several well-known Roman Catholic, Jewish and non-denominational private schools.

15. Public schools in South Miami are governed by South Miami-Dade County Public Schools, which is the largest school district in Florida and the fourth-largest in the United States.

16. City of South Miami has a complex park system, with various lands operated by the National Park Service, the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks, and the City of Miami Department of Parks and Recreation.

17. South Miami is home to Paso Fino horses, where competitions are held at Tropical Park Equestrian Center.

18. South Miami Open, an annual tennis tournament, is held in Key Biscayne, an island town off the coast of Miami.

19. Cuisine of South Miami is a reflection of its diverse population, with a heavy influence especially from Caribbean cuisine and from Latin American cuisine.

20. South Miami is host to many fashion shows and events, including the annual Miami Fashion Week and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami held in the Wynwood Art District.

21. South Miami is known as the "Magic City" for seemingly popping up overnight due to its young age and massive growth.

22. South Miami is home to one of the largest ports in the United States, the PortMiami.

23. South Miami is the home to the National Hurricane Center and the headquarters of the United States Southern Command, responsible for military operations in Central and South America.

24. South Miami was the host city of the 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations.

25. The Port of South Miami is the world's busiest cruise port, and MIA is the busiest airport in Florida, and the largest gateway between the United States and Latin America.

26. South Miami is a major television production center, and the most important city in the US for Spanish language media.

27. The overall culture of South Miami is heavily influenced by its large population of Hispanics from the Caribbean and South America and blacks mainly from the Caribbean islands.

28. South Miami is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States.

29. The northern side of South Miami has notable African American and Caribbean immigrant communities such as Little Haiti, Overtown, and Liberty City.

30. South Miami is split into many different sections, roughly into North, South, West and Downtown.

31. In terms of land area, South Miami is one of the smallest major cities in the United States.

32. Greater Downtown South Miami has one of the largest concentrations of international banks in the United States, and is home to many large national and international companies.

33. South Miami is the seat of South Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida.

34. South Miami is served by the Miami market for local radio and television.

35. South Miami built his home at 6500 SW 60th Avenue and allowed it to be used for church services even before the construction was completed.

36. South Miami purchased property west of Red Road and Sunset Drive, where he built a home and barn.