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Welcome to Miami! Florida
Long
before the trendy street cafes of the Grove or the pastel buildings of the
Art Deco district existed, the Tequesta Indians lived here for an
estimated 2,000 years. The Spanish built a mission here in 1567, when the
area was known as "Mayaimi," but it remained secluded and
generally inactive until the American acquisition of Florida in 1821.
Hundreds of pioneers settled the region around the Miami River, but growth
was stymied by the lack of a speedy and efficient land route north.
Motivated either by a vision of the region's potential or simply by a
desire for civilization, settler Julia Tuttle convinced magnate Henry
Flagler to extend the route of the railroad he was building. In 1896, the
completion of the Florida East Coast Railroad opened Miami to the rest of
the United States, and marked the birth of a new city.
The 1920s are widely associated with extravagant spending and ostentatious
lifestyles. With the sudden property boom and influx of investment
capital, Miami was in full swing in this era of abundance. Its population
burgeoned, and the Art Deco movement brought a unique flavor to Miami
Beach. But just as Miami began to enjoy this prosperity, the Depression
and two devastating hurricanes temporarily halted progress.
Miami has come a long way since the days of Julia Tuttle and Henry
Flagler. As the gateway to Latin America, Miami serves as the headquarters
for many international companies, and it is home to the leading
Spanish-language media in the United States. South Beach has become one of
the country's hottest hubs of style, fashion and nightlife.
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