Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, which separates the Beach from Miami’s mainland city, the municipality is located on natural and man-made barrier islands. South Beach, the southernmost 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) of Miami Beach, along with Downtown Miami and PortMiami compose South Florida’s commercial center. According to US Census Bureau estimates for 2019, Miami Beach ranks 26th in the state.
The area of Miami Beach is 18.7 sq mi (48.5 km2), of which 7.0 sq mi (18.2 km2) is land and 11.7 sq mi (30.2 km2) (62.37%) is water. It has been one of America’s pre-eminent beach resorts since the early 20th century. Miami Beach is the easternmost city of Florida, separated from the mainland of Miami.
Miami Beach’s neighborhoods is subdivided into three main neighborhoods: South Beach, Mid Beach, and North Beach. Belle Isle, City Center, Di Lido Island, Flagler Monument Island, Flamingo/Lummus, Hibiscus Island, Palm Island, Rivo Alto Island, San Marino Island, Star Island, and South of Fifth is within South Beach; Oceanfront, Bayshore, and Nautilus belongs to Mid Beach; and Biscayne Point, Isle of Normandy, La Gorce and North Shore is part of the neighborhood of North Beach.
Florida International University’s School of Architecture has a sister campus in South Beach at 420 Lincoln Road, which houses classrooms for FIU’s graduate students in architecture, art, music, and theater. The private schools include Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy, St. Patrick Catholic School, Landow Yeshiva – Lubavitch Educational Center (Klurman Mesivta High School for Boys and Beis Chana Middle and High School for Girls), and Mechina High School. Miami Beach’s St. Patrick Catholic School is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami. Saint Joseph School in Miami Beach was formerly operated by the archdiocese.
Miami Beach is also home to historical places including Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Between 1923 and 1943, hundreds of hotels, apartments, and other buildings were constructed in the Art Deco District, the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world. A number of architectural styles are represented in the District, including Mediterranean, Streamline Moderne, and Art Deco.
The Historic District is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Lenox Court, on the south by 6th Street, and on the north by Dade Boulevard along the Collins Canal. Former interior designer Barbara Baer Capitman led the movement to preserve the Art Deco District’s architectural heritage, who is now honored by a street in the District.
The Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) operates the public transportation system in Miami Beach. Miami Beach’s public transit system is heavily used, as well as neighborhoods such as Downtown and Brickell. The Metrorail does not have a direct station at Miami Beach, but there are many Metrobus lines that connect the beach to Downtown Miami and the Metrorail. The South Beach Local (SBL) connects all major points of South Beach with other major bus lines in the city. It is one of the most heavily used lines in Miami. In Miami Beach, Metrobus ridership is high, with routes like the L and S being the busiest.
MDT’s Airport-Beach Express (Route 150) connects Miami International Airport to major points in South Beach with direct service.
Miami Beach Coordinates: 25°48′50″N 80°07′57″W
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