Miami

Miami, Florida 

Miami is a city in southeast Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade since 1844. Miami, a prominent resort city and Atlantic Ocean port, is located on Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River and serves as a significant commercial and transportation hub. Only a short distance to the west is the Everglades region. All of the county, which includes the cities of Miami Beach (across the bay), Coral Gables, Hialeah, North Miami, as well as numerous smaller municipalities and unincorporated areas, makes up Greater Miami, the state's largest urban concentration; together, these make up the southern portion of Florida's "Gold Coast." Area city, 35 square miles (91 square km). Population: 399,457 (2010); 2,496,435 Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall Metro Division; 442,241 (2020); 2,701,767 Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall Metro Division. 

The Contemporary City 

Miami's downtown skyline has a modern appearance, with a high number of glittering glass-walled skyscrapers that are illuminated by neon at night. One of Miami's fastest-growing neighborhoods is Brickell, which is also the city's main financial area. Brickell is located just south of the city's historic central business district. More than 70% of people are Hispanic or Latino. The city's deep ties to Latin America are in fact strongly felt in its ethnic neighborhoods. Just west of the city's center, the Little Havana neighborhood grew as a predominantly Cuban neighborhood. Large numbers of people attend the yearly Calle Ocho festival in March, which is a component of the Carnaval Miami celebration. Following the arrival of refugees in the city in the 1990s, Little Haiti, a neighborhood to the north of downtown, became predominately a Haitian neighborhood.

Miami is one of the great winter destinations in America thanks to its tropical environment, and tourism is a significant part of the local economy. The miles of shoreline are littered with golf courses, yacht clubs, and marinas in addition to spectacular tower hotels. Additionally, the city serves as a hub for commercial services, manufacturing (including those of clothes, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, printing, and metal products), and international trade. International shipping is handled by the Port of Miami, which also leads the world in cruise liner operations.

Miami International Airport, a significant passenger hub, also manages international freight with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The Dixie Highway, Tamiami Trail, and Florida Turnpike are a some of the highways that provide access to the city. Among the various attractions in the region are the Miami Seaquarium, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (1916; estate of businessman James Deering), Bayside Marketplace, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, and Jungle Island (formerly Parrot Jungle and Gardens). Along with several theater, music, and dance companies, there are museums of history, art, and science. Along with sailing competitions and fishing contests, popular outdoor activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, and sportfishing. Pari-mutuel betting is available at horse and greyhound racetracks as well as jai alai frontons. The Miami Marlins (baseball), Miami Dolphins (gridiron football), and Miami Heat (basketball) are just a few of the major sports teams that call this city home. The annual Orange Bowl Festival, which takes place in January, also includes a parade and college football game. South of the city is Biscayne National Park, while southwest is Everglades National Park.

The University of Miami (1925) in Coral Gables, Barry University (1940) in Miami Shores, St. Thomas University (1961), Florida Memorial College (1879), International Fine Arts College (1965), Miami-Dade Community College (1960), and Florida International University (1972), which houses the National Hurricane Center run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are just a few of the numerous colleges and universities in the Miami metropolitan area (NOAA). Among the city's important medical facilities are Baptist Health, the University of Miami Hospital, and Jackson Memorial Hospital. The city is a pioneer in marine research worldwide. The renowned Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, connected with the University of Miami, is situated there, as well as NOAA's oceanographic facilities. 

Climate 

Although some sources place Seattle in the oceanic zone, Seattle has a temperate climate and is categorized in the Mediterranean zone by the primary climatic classification (Köppen: Csb) (Cfb). It has moderate, comparatively dry summers and cool, wet winters, encompassing features of both. Because it is milder and wetter than a "real" Mediterranean climate but shares the distinctive dry summer (which has a significant impact on the region's vegetation), the climate is frequently referred to as a "modified Mediterranean" climate. 

Lake Washington, the larger Pacific Ocean, and the nearby Puget Sound all help to reduce temperature extremes. As a result, extremely hot days and extremely cold temperatures (below 15 °F [9 °C]) are uncommon in the Seattle area. The Seattle area has the most clouds in the country, in part because of the regular storms and lows that move in from the nearby Pacific Ocean. Seattle has a well-deserved reputation for experiencing frequent rain because to having many more "rain days" than other major American cities. At least 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) of precipitation fall on 150 days on average in a year, which is more than nearly all-American cities east of the Rocky Mountains. Seattle, however, actually receives substantially less rainfall (or other precipitation) overall than many major U.S. cities like New York City, Miami, or Houston because it frequently only has a light drizzle coming from the sky for many days. Seattle has 201 cloudy days and 93 partly cloudy days per year. 

Economy 

The "new economy" internet and technology businesses, along with service, design, and clean technology firms, are what propel Seattle's economy. The city was the 11th largest metropolitan economy in the United States in 2010 with a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of $231 billion. The Port of Seattle is a significant entry point for trade with Asia and cruises to Alaska. It also manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In terms of container capacity, it is also the eighth-largest port in the US. In order to create the Northwest Seaport Alliance, its maritime freight activities amalgamated with those of the Port of Tacoma. Seattle's economy has remained relatively healthy despite being impacted by the Great Recession, and it is renowned for its start-up companies, particularly in the fields of green architecture and clean technologies. Seattle's city administration pledged to becoming the first "climate neutral" city in North America in February 2010, with the aim of achieving zero net per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by that year. 

The corporate world is still dominated by big corporations. Seattle is home to seven of the top 100 U.S. corporations according to total revenue on the Fortune 500 list for 2022: Amazon.com (#2), Starbucks (#120), Expeditors International of Washington (#225), Nordstrom (#245), Weyerhaeuser (#354), Expedia Group (#404), and Zillow (#424) are the top five companies in their respective categories. Other Fortune 500 firms that are frequently linked to Seattle are headquartered in surrounding Puget Sound communities. The largest retailer in Washington and a chain of warehouse clubs, Costco (#11), is headquartered in Issaquah. Redmond is where Microsoft (#14) is situated. Furthermore, Paccar, a producer of trucks, is based in Bellevue. Nintendo of America in Redmond, T-Mobile US in Bellevue, and Providence Health & Services, the state's largest healthcare system and fifth-largest employer, are additional significant corporations with regional headquarters. Seattle is known for its extensive coffee consumption; Tully's, Starbucks, and Seattle's Best Coffee were all founded or have their headquarters there. Additionally, there are a lot of prosperous independent artisanal espresso roasters and coffee shops. 

Boeing (#60) was the largest corporation established in Seattle before relocating its headquarters to Chicago and then Arlington, Virginia. Boeing Commercial Airplanes, its largest subsidiary, continues to have its headquarters in the Puget Sound area. The corporation continues to be the largest private employer in the Seattle metropolitan region and operates sizable aircraft production facilities in Everett and Renton as well. Greg Nickels, a former mayor of Seattle, declared in 2006 that he wanted to start a new economic boom fueled by the biotechnology sector. The South Lake Union neighborhood is undergoing significant reconstruction as part of an effort to draw established and emerging biotech firms to the city, joining Corixa (bought by GlaxoSmithKline), Immunex (now a part of Amgen), Trubion, and ZymoGenetics.  

The majority of the construction initiatives in the area are the brainchild of Vulcan Inc., the holding company of billionaire Paul Allen. Others have accused Nickels and the Seattle City Council for catering to Allen's interests at the expense of taxpayers, even though some see the new construction as a boon to the economy. Based on the local income levels, Forbes listed Seattle as the costliest American city for purchasing a home in 2005. Seattle and Washington State have some of the highest minimum salaries in the nation, at $15 per hour for smaller firms and $16 for the city's major employers, partly due to the fast-rising cost of living. Alaska Airlines maintains its corporate offices in the nearby city of SeaTac and operates a hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

With the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, Infectious Disease Research Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation having their main offices in Seattle, the city is a center for global health. In Washington state, 168 global health groups were identified in 2015, according to the Washington Global Health Alliance. Many have their main offices in Seattle.

Sports 

The National Football League's (NFL) Seattle Seahawks, Major League Baseball's (MLB) Seattle Mariners, the National Hockey League's (NHL) Seattle Kraken, and Major League Soccer's (MLS) Seattle Sounders FC are the four main men's professional sports teams in Seattle. Other professional sports teams in Seattle include the Major League Rugby (MLR) Seattle Seawolves, who won back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019, and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Seattle Storm, who won the WNBA championship on four separate occasions in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020. 

The Seattle Seahawks, an expansion franchise in the National Football League since 1976, have made it to the Super Bowl three times in 2005, 2013, and 2014. The squad relocated to Qwest Field (now Lumen Field) at the same location in 2003 after playing in the Kingdome until it collapsed in 2000. The Detroit Lions defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 to win Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013 at MetLife Stadium. The next year, the club made it to the Super Bowl, but fell to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on a last-second play. The "12th Man" refers to the Seahawks' fans, who frequently break stadium loudness records. 

As a continuation of prior teams in the lesser tiers of American soccer and the original North American Soccer League, Seattle Sounders FC has competed in Major League Soccer since 2009 while playing at Lumen Field alongside the Seahawks. In its first few seasons, the squad broke numerous attendance records, averaging over 43,000 spectators each game and ranking among the top 30 teams internationally. The Sounders have won the U.S. Open Cup four times, in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2014, as well as the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2014. In MLS Cup 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win their first MLS Cup; the team later finished as runners-up to Toronto FC in the subsequent cup. 

The 2009 MLS Cup game between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy was held at Lumen Field in front of 46,011 fans. The Sounders faced Toronto FC in the 2019 MLS Cup at Lumen Field, where they defeated them 3-1 to win their second championship in front of a club-record crowd of 69,274. The Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental trophy since 2000 and the first to win the modern Champions League when playing in the stadium for the second leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, which was played in front of a record-breaking crowd of 68,741. With matches taking place at Lumen Field and training facilities located in Longacres in Tukwila, Seattle will be one of eleven US host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The neighboring Tukwila Starfire Sports Complex is home to the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby, who compete there. The Sounders also play their U.S. Open Cup games there. The group started competing in 2018 and took home the league's first title. In the 2019 campaign, they successfully defended their championship. 

The Seattle Metropolitans of the PCHA, who became the first American hockey club to win the Stanley Cup in 1917, marked the beginning of professional sports in Seattle at the turn of the 20th century. The Seattle Pilots of Major League Baseball were given to Seattle in 1969. The team spent one season at Sick's Stadium in Mount Baker before moving to Milwaukee and changing their name to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Seattle Mariners were offered as a settlement after the city, along with the county and state governments, filed a lawsuit against the league. 

The Mariners started competing in 1977 at the Kingdome, where they battled for the majority of the season. Success in the middle to late 1990s prevented the team from being transferred and allowed them to move to T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field), a baseball stadium that was designed specifically for baseball, in 1999. The Mariners featured Hall of Fame players and candidates like Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Ichiro Suzuki, and Alex Rodriguez but never won the World Series and only made it to the MLB playoffs five times, largely between 1995 and 2001. With 116 victories, the team tied the MLB record for most victories in a single regular season. The Mariners experienced the longest active postseason absence in major North American sports, spanning 20 seasons, from 2001 to 2022. 

The National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics called Seattle home from 1967 to 2008. (NBA). The Sonics, who frequently competed in the playoffs and won the NBA title in 1978–1979, also challenged for the title in 1978 and 1996. The SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and changed their name to the Oklahoma City Thunder before the 2008–09 season following the sale of the team in 2006, a failed effort to replace the deteriorating KeyArena, and the settlement of a lawsuit to hold the team to the remaining two years of its lease with the city. The NBA board of governors rejected a plan in 2013 to buy the Sacramento Kings franchise and move it to Seattle as a revived Sonics team. 

Based in the Kent suburb of Seattle, the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team competes in the Canadian major-junior Western Hockey League. The Seattle Kraken, an expansion franchise of the National Hockey League, was accepted into Seattle after a successful application. In order to accommodate the NHL club, a significant reconstruction of KeyArena (now Climate Pledge Arena), the SuperSonics' old home arena, started in 2018. Within 12 minutes of launching a ticket sale, the NHL ownership group met its target of 10,000 deposits; later, it grew to 25,000 in 75 minutes. From 2014 until 2018, the city served as the home of Seattle Reign FC, a founding member of the National Women's Soccer League. The Seattle Reign, a women's professional basketball club that competed in the American Basketball League, a forerunner of the WNBA, from 1996 to 1998, inspired its formation in 2012.

Prior to relocation to Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center in 2014, the team spent the inaugural 2013 season at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. The team, then known as the Reign FC, relocated to Tacoma's Cheney Stadium in 2019 under new administration. The club changed its name to OL Reign in 2020 after OL Groupe, the parent business of the French clubs Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, acquired a majority ownership stake in the group. In 2022, the team relocated back to Seattle, where it now plays at Lumen Field. In 2020, Seattle hosted the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL, who competed at Lumen Field. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league shut down five weeks into its first season. It later filed for bankruptcy and had its assets liquidated. In the 2023 XFL season, the Sea Dragons will make a comeback. Seattle has hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game twice, once at Safeco Field in 2001 and once at the Kingdome in 1979. Additionally, Seattle has hosted the NBA All-Star Game twice: once in 1974 at the Seattle Center Coliseum and once in 1987 in the Kingdome.

Seattle is also home to two NCAA Division I collegiate sports teams, one each from Seattle University and the University of Washington. Seattle University's athletic program, known as the Redhawks, mostly competes in the Western Athletic Conference, whereas the University of Washington's athletic program, known as the Huskies, competes in the Pac-12 Conference. The 70,000-seat Husky Stadium and the Hec Edmundson Pavilion are only two of the venues used by the Huskies sports teams. Due to their respective athletic achievements, the two schools' basketball and soccer teams have developed a local rivalry and play each other in non-conference games. 

Top 2 News Websites in Miami, Florida 

#1 Miami Today 

With a focus on business, international trade, real estate, development, and e-commerce, Miami Today gives you news about Miami, Florida. In its 40th year, Miami Today has established itself as Miami-Dade County's acknowledged and trusted source for news and information about the local community, business, and government, the majority of which is exclusive to Miami Today. 

#2 WPLG Local 10 News 

News headlines from WPLG Local 10 and breaking news from Miami, Florida. Find the most recent South Florida news, weather, and sports information for the Miami and Fort Lauderdale region. 

Current City Mayor 

Francis X. Suarez is Miami's 43rd mayor. He is dedicated to creating a Miami that endures forever and embraces everyone as the city's first-ever mayor. Mayor Suarez has pushed for the incorporation of climate-adaptive policies, Web 3.0 technologies, and a free-market approach to governance. He was first elected with an 86 percent mandate and later re-elected with a mandate of approximately 79 percent.