Downtown Miami
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Downtown Miami is the urban
city center A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fren ...
of
Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...
,
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. The city's greater downtown region consists of the Central Business District,
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
, the Historic District, Government Center, the
Arts & Entertainment District The Arts & Entertainment District, or previously known as Omni, is a neighborhood of Downtown Miami, Florida. It is bound roughly by North 19th Street to the north, North 10th Street to the south, North East 2nd Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Bo ...
, and Park West. It is divided by the Miami River and is bordered by Midtown Miami's Edgewater and
Wynwood Wynwood is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida. Wynwood is known for being an entertainment district, with artwork, restaurants, breweries, clothing stores, dance venues, among other retail options. Formerly an industrial district, the area is now ...
sections to its north,
Biscayne Bay Biscayne Bay () is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida. The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is la ...
to its east, the Health District and Overtown to its west, and
Coconut Grove Coconut Grove, also known colloquially as The Grove, is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, S ...
to its south. Downtown Miami is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, the nation's ninth largest and world's 34th largest metropolitan area with a population of 6.158 million people. Within Downtown Miami,
Brickell Avenue Brickell Avenue is a north–south road that was formerly part of U.S. Route 1, in Miami, Florida, just south of the Miami River. North of the Brickell Avenue Bridge, U.S. Route 1 is known as Biscayne Boulevard. Brickell Avenue is the main ro ...
and Biscayne Boulevard are the main north–south roads, and Flagler Street is the main east–west road. The Downtown Miami perimeters are defined by the Miami Downtown Development Authority as the area east of Interstate 95 between
Rickenbacker Causeway The Rickenbacker Causeway is a causeway that connects Miami, Florida to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne across Biscayne Bay. Background The Causeway is a toll road, owned and operated by Miami-Dade County. Automobiles ...
to the south and the Julia Tuttle Causeway, which connects Miami and Miami Beach, to the north. The area is a cultural, financial, and commercial center of the Miami metropolitan area, tracing its present-day history back to the 19th century. In recent years, Downtown Miami has the third greatest concentration of high-rises in the United States and is home to many major museums, parks, education centers, banks, company headquarters, courthouses, government offices, theaters, shops and many of the oldest buildings in the city.


History

Downtown Miami is the historic heart of
Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...
. Along with
Coconut Grove Coconut Grove, also known colloquially as The Grove, is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, S ...
, Downtown Miami is the oldest settled area of Miami, with early pioneer settlement dating to the early 19th century. Urban development began in the 1890s with the construction of the Florida East Coast Railway by Standard Oil industrialist Henry Flagler down to Miami at the insistence of
Julia Tuttle Julia DeForest Tuttle (née Sturtevant; January 22, 1849 – September 14, 1898) was an American businesswoman who owned the property upon which Miami, Florida, was built. For this reason, she is called the "Mother of Miami." She is the only woma ...
. Flagler, along with developers such as
William Brickell William Brickell (May 22, 1817(?) – January 14, 1908) joined Julia Tuttle as a co-founder of Miami, Florida. During the Civil War, Brickell and his wife Mary, whom he met and married in Australia, lived in the White House while he worked as an ...
and George E. Merrick helped bring developer interest to the city with the construction of hotels, resorts, homes, and the extension of Flagler's rail line. Flagler Street, originating in Downtown, is a major east–west road in Miami named after the tycoon; the Julia Tuttle Causeway, crossing
Biscayne Bay Biscayne Bay () is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida. The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is la ...
just north of Downtown in Edgewater, is named in honor of Tuttle. As of 2009, there are approximately 71,000 year-round residents in Greater Downtown (including Downtown's
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
, Park West, and
Arts & Entertainment District The Arts & Entertainment District, or previously known as Omni, is a neighborhood of Downtown Miami, Florida. It is bound roughly by North 19th Street to the north, North 10th Street to the south, North East 2nd Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Bo ...
neighborhoods), with close to 200,000 populating the Downtown area during the daytime, making Downtown Miami one of the most populous downtowns in the U.S. after
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
and
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
. With recent mass construction of high-rise residential buildings and office towers, Downtown has experienced large growth, with new shops, bars, parks, and restaurants opening up, attracting many new residents. Along with Brickell, Downtown has grown from 40,000 residents in 2000, to over 70,000 in 2009, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in Florida. It was estimated in February 2010, that about 550 new residents move to the Downtown area every month. As of 2009, over 190,000 office employees work in Downtown and Brickell. Downtown is served by the Miami Metrorail at Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre, Government Center, and
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
stations, accessible from Broward and Palm Beach counties via Tri-Rail transfer station. The Metro connects to the Downtown Metromover, which encompasses 22 stations on the clockwise Inner (or Downtown) loop and counterclockwise Brickell and Omni branch loops. Government Center station is Downtown's main station and allows for transfers to all Metromover loops, Metrorail trains, and Metrobus lines at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center.


Neighborhoods

Downtown Miami is centered on the Central Business District (CBD), best known by locals as simply "Downtown". Although distinct neighborhoods with different characters, all the following neighborhoods are often labeled under the umbrella term of "Downtown Miami": File:Miami downtown by Tom Schaefer - Miamitom.jpg, Central Business District File:City of Miami, FL. USA (50751668348).jpg,
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
File:Omni, Miami.jpg,
Arts & Entertainment District The Arts & Entertainment District, or previously known as Omni, is a neighborhood of Downtown Miami, Florida. It is bound roughly by North 19th Street to the north, North 10th Street to the south, North East 2nd Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Bo ...
File:Park West in Downtown Miami.jpg, Park West File:Miami Jewelry District 20100707.jpg, Jewelry District


Central business district ("downtown")

The Central Business District (CBD), often referred to locally as simply "Downtown", is the historic center of Miami. The CBD is bound by Northeast Sixth Street to the north,
Biscayne Bay Biscayne Bay () is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida. The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is la ...
to the east, and the Miami River to the west and south. The majority of Miami's historic buildings are located in this district, including Flagler Street, museums, libraries, offices, schools, the vast majority of local, county, state and federal government offices and courthouses, and Miami's Historic District and Government Center. The CBD is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at Government Center Station and by 13 Metromover stations on the Downtown, Brickell, and Omni Loops.


Miami Jewelry District

The Miami Jewelry District is a sub-neighborhood within the Central Business District historically known for its numerous jewelry stores,
jeweler A bench jeweler is an artisan who uses a combination of skills to make and repair jewelry. Some of the more common skills that a bench jeweler might employ include antique restoration, silversmith, Goldsmith, stone setting, engraving, fabrica ...
s and gem dealers. It is where a variety of jeweled products are sold and is one of the three jewelry districts in the United States. It comprises four city blocks, bounded by North Miami Avenue, Northeast Second Avenue, East Flagler Street and Northeast Second Streets. Shoppers can find designer jewelry,
precious stones A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, a ...
, and gold and silver items at street level in various retail jewelry stores. The Jewelry District can be accessed by public transportation through the Metromover and
Metrorail METRORail is the light rail system in Houston, Texas (United States). In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of . METRORail ranks as the second most-traveled light rail system in the Southern United States and the 12th ...
.


Brickell

Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
is south of the Miami River, and is a mixed upper-class residential neighborhood as well as Miami's major
financial district A financial district is usually a central area in a city where financial services firms such as banks, insurance companies and other related finance corporations have their head offices. In major cities, financial districts are often home to s ...
along
Brickell Avenue Brickell Avenue is a north–south road that was formerly part of U.S. Route 1, in Miami, Florida, just south of the Miami River. North of the Brickell Avenue Bridge, U.S. Route 1 is known as Biscayne Boulevard. Brickell Avenue is the main ro ...
.
The Shops at Mary Brickell Village The Shops at Mary Brickell Village is a lifestyle center (retail), lifestyle center located in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami, Florida. It has become a very popular downtown destination through bringing new stores and eateries to the area. Mar ...
, Brickell City Center, and Simpson Park are located within Brickell. Brickell is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at: Brickell Station, and by five Metromover stations on the Brickell Loop.


Arts & Entertainment District

The
Arts & Entertainment District The Arts & Entertainment District, or previously known as Omni, is a neighborhood of Downtown Miami, Florida. It is bound roughly by North 19th Street to the north, North 10th Street to the south, North East 2nd Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Bo ...
is an urban neighborhood with numerous hotels, and high-rise residential buildings. The neighborhood's former name ''Omni'' comes from the Omni International Mall on Biscayne Boulevard. The district borders
Biscayne Bay Biscayne Bay () is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida. The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is la ...
the east, NE 2nd Ave to the west, NE 21st St to the north and I-395 to the south. Pace Park, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and the (former) Miami Herald headquarters are located within the district. The Arts & Entertainment District is served by the Miami Metrorail at: Government Center Station, and by two Metromover stations on the Omni Loop.


Park West

Park West is the neighborhood just west of Museum Park, east of NW 1st Ave, south of I-195, and north of NE 6th St. Park West was primarily known for its
nightclubs A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music. Nightclubs gener ...
, and in recent years has been the talk of much revitalization and project proposals for the revitalization of the area. By the end of 2015 most of the nightclubs along the former club row west of the MetroMover from the Freedom Tower station to the Eleventh Street Station have been demolished to make way for planned construction of
Miami World Center Miami Worldcenter is a large mixed-use development under construction led by principals Arthur Falcone and Nitin Motwani, spanning several blocks in the Park West neighborhood of Miami, Florida, just north of downtown. It may include over 25 ac ...
. Park West is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at: Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station, and by three Metromover stations on the Omni Loop.


Demographics

As of 2010, the population of Downtown Miami was 65,696 people, with a population density of 27,487 per square mile. In the 2010 US Census, the racial makeup of Downtown was 57.6% Hispanic of any race, 30.8% White (non-Hispanic), 7.2%
Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...
, and 2.9% Asian. The zip codes for Brickell include 33129, 33130, and 33131. The area covers . In 2000, Downtown had a population of 39,176 residents, with 15,333 households in 1990 with an average of 2.2 residents per household, 17,130 households in 2000 with a household average of 2.1, and 33,600 households in 2009 with a household average of 2.0 residents. By 2014, the population of Downtown is expected to grow to 85,000 with 42,400 households. The median household income was $29,396 in 2000 and $40,180 in 2009. The zip codes for Downtown include 33128, 33130, 33131, and 33132. The area covers . As of 2000, there were 6,451 males and 4,792 females. The median age for males were 34.5 years old, while the median age for females were 35.8 years old. The average household size had 1.9 people, while the average family size had 2.8 members. The percentage of married-couple families (among all households) was 25.5%, while the percentage of married-couple families with children (among all households) was 8.5%, and the percentage of single-mother households (among all households) was 5.8%. 15.3% of the population was in correctional institutions. 1.6% of the population was in other group homes. The percentage of never-married males 15 years old and over was 27.6%, while the percentage of never-married females 15 years old and over was 13.9%. As of 2000, the percentage of people that speak English not well or not at all made up 23.1% of the population. The percentage of residents born in Florida was 26.9%, the percentage of people born in another U.S. state was 25.0%, and the percentage of native residents but born outside the U.S. was 6.4%, while the percentage of foreign born residents was 41.7%. 2009 Census projections indicate that the area's residential base has increased from 40,000 to 71,000 since 2000, with an expected Downtown population of 85,000 by 2014. As of 2006, 189,164 residents live in the immediate Downtown/Brickell area.


Transportation

Public transportation in the Downtown area is used more than in any other part of Miami and is a vital part of Downtown life.
Metrorail METRORail is the light rail system in Houston, Texas (United States). In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of . METRORail ranks as the second most-traveled light rail system in the Southern United States and the 12th ...
, Miami's heavy rail system, makes three stops in Downtown on both the green and orange lines at the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station, Government Center Station, and the Brickell Station. In addition to Metrorail, the
automated Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, namely by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machines ...
Metromover train system runs three lines (the Downtown Loop, the Omni Loop, and the Brickell Loop) with 22 stations throughout Downtown. The Metromover is a free service and stations can be found at roughly every two blocks in Downtown and Brickell. Downtown Miami is served by Metrobus throughout the area, the Miami Metrorail, and the Metromover: Metrorail: * Government Center (NW 1st Street and 1st Avenue) *
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
(SW 11th Street and 1st Avenue) * Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre (NW 8th Street and 1st Avenue) Metromover: * Downtown/Inner Loop * Omni Loop * Brickell Loop Metrorail has stops throughout Miami with connections to Miami International Airport, all Metrobus lines, Tri-Rail and
Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...
. The main bus station in Downtown is located next to the Arsht Center at the Adrienne Arsht Center Station. As an urban and
pedestrian-friendly Walkability is a term for planning concepts best understood by the mixed-use of amenities in high-density neighborhoods where people can access said amenities by foot. It is based on the idea that urban spaces should be more than just transport ...
area with an extensive public transit network, Downtown (along with
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
, the
Arts & Entertainment District The Arts & Entertainment District, or previously known as Omni, is a neighborhood of Downtown Miami, Florida. It is bound roughly by North 19th Street to the north, North 10th Street to the south, North East 2nd Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Bo ...
, and South Beach) is one of the areas in Miami where a car-free lifestyle is commonplace. Many Downtown residents get around by foot, bicycle, Metromover or by taxi. The Metromover is a popular alternative to walking in the area, especially on rainy, hot or cold days, as the Metromover is free, and stations are located roughly every two blocks throughout the area. Recently, the City of Miami, along with the Downtown Development Authority, has begun bicycle initiatives promoting citywide bike parking and bike lanes, that have made bicycling much more popular for residents. Bike lanes and bike sharrows are currently planned for the majority of Downtown streets to be painted by the end of 2010. The Venetian Causeway is a popular bicycle commuter route that connects South Beach to Downtown. The
Rickenbacker Causeway The Rickenbacker Causeway is a causeway that connects Miami, Florida to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne across Biscayne Bay. Background The Causeway is a toll road, owned and operated by Miami-Dade County. Automobiles ...
is very popular on weekends for recreational bicyclists, and often, bicycles can outnumber cars on the causeway.


Tri-Rail expansion

In the 2025 and 2030 long range transportation plans, Miami's
commuter rail Commuter rail, or suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Downtown, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns. Generally commuter r ...
system, Tri-Rail, has envisioned moving to or adding service on the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor, which runs along the region's densest neighborhoods, parallel to Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, and Federal Highway in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Tri-Rail service on the FEC line would bring Tri-Rail to Downtown's transit hub, Government Center Station, connecting Downtown directly to Midtown Miami/ Miami Design District, Upper East Side/
Miami Shores Miami Shores is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. History By the early 1900s, the area encompassing today's Miami Shores Village was occupied by a starch (coontie) mill, a tomato packing plant, a saw mill, a pineapple planta ...
, North Miami, North Miami Beach/ Aventura, Downtown Hollywood, and Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Currently, rail commuters must transfer onto the
Metrorail METRORail is the light rail system in Houston, Texas (United States). In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of . METRORail ranks as the second most-traveled light rail system in the Southern United States and the 12th ...
in
Hialeah Hialeah ( ; ) is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. With a population of 223,109 as of the 2020 census, Hialeah is the sixth-largest city in Florida. It is the second largest city by population in the Miami metropolitan area, whi ...
to get to Downtown. Miami's Downtown Development Authority along with Miami-area politicians are actively lobbying to bring Tri-Rail to the city core.


Taxis

Taxis are popular in Downtown, especially from Downtown to South Beach, Design District or to
Coconut Grove Coconut Grove, also known colloquially as The Grove, is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, S ...
. Since many Downtown residents choose to not have cars, taxis are also popular for rides within Downtown neighborhoods, especially after midnight when the Metromover stops running. Taxis can be hailed on the street, or phoned.


Economy

Downtown is home to many companies, corporations and organizations. Downtown has about of office space, and is the central financial and business hub of South Florida.Miami Downtown Development Authority
. Miamidda.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
Some private companies with headquarters in Downtown are Akerman Senterfitt,
Arquitectonica Arquitectonica is an international architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and urban planning design firm headquartered in Miami, Florida’s Coconut Grove neighborhood. The firm also has offices in ten other cities throughout ...
, Espírito Santo Financial Group,
Florida Justice Institute The Florida Justice Institute (FJI) is a nonprofit public interest law firm in Miami, Florida. It was established in 1978 by Randall C. Berg Jr. The institute has been dedicated to improving conditions in Florida's prison system and has initia ...
,
Greenberg Traurig Greenberg Traurig is a multinational law firm founded in Miami in 1967. As of 2022, the Greenberg Traurig is the 9th largest law firm in the United States. The firm has 43 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and ...
,
Holland & Knight Holland & Knight LLP is an American multinational law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers and other professionals in 35 offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and North Africa. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the firm provides repre ...
, Macy's Florida, '' Miami Herald'', ''
Miami Today ''Miami Today'' is a weekly newspaper headquartered in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The newspaper reports on business, government and civic life in Miami-Dade County commentating on the economy, real estate and development, ...
'',
Shutts & Bowen Shutts & Bowen LLP is an Am Law 200 Florida-based law firm with 270 attorneys in seven offices in the State of Florida. Shutts & Bowen was founded in 1910. Frank B. Shutts came to Miami in 1909 and became the legal representative of Henry M. Flag ...
, Terremark Worldwide,
Vector Group Vector Group Ltd. is an American diversified holding company with two major businesses: Liggett Group LLC (tobacco) and New Valley LLC (real estate), including Douglas Elliman. Bennett S. LeBow founded Vector Group in 1986. Since then, he has ...
, World Property Channel, and Zyscovich Architects. Sanford Group Company and Sanford Fiduciary Investor Services, Inc., and
LTU International LTU, legally incorporated as ''LTU Lufttransport-Unternehmen GmbH'', was a German leisure airline headquartered in Düsseldorf. It operated medium and long-haul routes and maintained hubs at Düsseldorf Airport, Munich Airport and Berlin Tegel Ai ...
had headquarters in Downtown. Public organizations with their main offices in Downtown include, the central offices of the Beacon Council, the Downtown Development Authority,
Miami-Dade County government Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Florida and the seventh-most populous county in ...
,
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and, , the fourth la ...
, Miami Police Department, Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation], and other City of Miami departments despite city hall's location in
Coconut Grove Coconut Grove, also known colloquially as The Grove, is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, S ...
.


Consulates

Several countries have consulates based in Downtown, most of which are located along Biscayne Boulevard and
Brickell Avenue Brickell Avenue is a north–south road that was formerly part of U.S. Route 1, in Miami, Florida, just south of the Miami River. North of the Brickell Avenue Bridge, U.S. Route 1 is known as Biscayne Boulevard. Brickell Avenue is the main ro ...
. These include: *
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
* Bahamas *
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
*
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
* Colombia *
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...
*
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...
*
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
*
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
* Guatemala * Haiti *
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
*
Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
* Japan *
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
* Paraguay *
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
*
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
*
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
*
Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
* Suriname * Bolivia *
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
*
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
Japan first opened its consulate in Miami in 1992. As of 1992 this consulate gives logistical support to Japanese embassies in the Caribbean and Latin America. Japan opened a consulate in Miami after Japanese investors purchased several major real estate properties in Florida.


Chambers of commerce

Downtown is also home to many international
chambers of commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...
, these include: *British American Business Council *Italy-America Chamber of Commerce *Spain-United States Chamber of Commerce *German American Business Chamber *Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce *French American Chamber of Commerce.


Historic districts

Downtown has three
U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
historic districts A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from cer ...
. The Downtown Miami Commercial Historic District, the Downtown Miami Historic District, and the Lummus Park Historic District. The Downtown Miami Historic District comprises in the heart of Downtown with over 60 buildings within its jurisdiction. Many of the buildings within the area are of the Moderne style and Classical Revival style with uses for government, residential, and commercial. Periods of significance within this area are from 1900 to 1924, 1925 to 1949, and 1950 to 1974. The Downtown Miami Commercial Historic District was designated a historic district in 1988 and comprises 20 buildings on the east side of Downtown with 19th and early 20th-century revival styles. The
Lummus Park Historic District The Lummus Park Historic District or simply Lummus Park, is on the National Register of Historic Places and a locally historic designated district in Miami, Florida. It is roughly bound by Northwest Fifth Street to the north, Flagler Street to t ...
is west of Downtown in the neighborhood of Lummus Park. It is west of
I-95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadia ...
surrounding Lummus Park along the Miami River. The historic district was designated historic in 1988 and then expanded in 2006. The area is large with 43 different buildings mostly owned by private entities and the local government. Prominent styles include late 19th and early 20th-century revival styles,
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...
, and Bungalow style, with prominent periods of 1900–1924 and 1925–1949.


Parks

Downtown's largest and most popular parks are Bayfront Park, Museum Park, and Pace Park. Bayfront Park is host to the free DWTWN Concert Series, put on weekly in the park's amphitheater, as well as various other annual events such as the Orange Drop for New Year's, Bike Miami, and the "America's Birthday Bash at Bayfront Park" for Independence Day. Bayfront Park hosts many large outdoor concerts such as
Warped Tour The Warped Tour was a traveling rock tour that toured the United States plus three or four stops in Canada annually each summer from 1995 until 2019. It was the largest traveling music festival in the United States and the longest-running touri ...
and
Ultra Music Festival Ultra Music Festival (UMF) is an annual outdoor electronic music festival that takes place during March in Miami, Florida, United States. The festival was founded in 1999 by Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes. It was first held on Miami Beach, ...
. Formerly Bicentennial Park, Museum Park has been redone, and is now the site for new buildings for the
Miami Art Museum Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at th ...
and the
Miami Science Museum The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (formerly known as the Miami Science Museum or Miami Science Museum and Space Transit Planetarium) is a science museum, planetarium, and aquarium located in Miami, Florida, United States. The museum ...
. Other parks in the Downtown area include: * Fort Dallas Park, Central Business District * Lummus Park, Central Business District *Paul S. Walker Park, Central Business District *Joan Lehman Sculpture Plaza, Central Business District *Robert F. Clark Plaza, Central Business District *Southside Park, Brickell * Simpson Park, Brickell * Alice Wainwright Park, Brickell *Brickell Park, Brickell *Miami Circle, Brickell *Brickell Key Park, Brickell *Brickell Plaza Mini Park, Brickell


Government and infrastructure

As the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of Miami-Dade County, Downtown is home to the central offices and departments of the Miami-Dade County government, mainly located in the Government Center area. The Stephen P. Clark Government Center is the central headquarters of Miami-Dade government with the offices of the Miami-Dade Mayor. Although city hall for the City of Miami is in
Coconut Grove Coconut Grove, also known colloquially as The Grove, is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, S ...
, many offices of Miami's city government are in Downtown, including the city's Planning Department. The Miami Police Department also has its central offices in Downtown. Downtown is home to many city, county, state, and federal courthouses, jails, judge offices, and law firms. Some of the courthouses in Downtown are the Dade County Family Court, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, U.S. District Court Clerk, Miami-Dade County Courthouse, Federal Courthouse, U.S. Magistrate Judge, City of Miami courthouses and many others. The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in Downtown. They are the Brickell Post Office and the Flagler Miami Post Office. The Federal Detention Center, Miami, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is located in Downtown.


Fire stations

The City of Miami Fire and Rescue Department operates 4 of its 14 fire stations within the Downtown area. Each are listed below. *Fire Station # 1 – 144 NE 5th Street – Midtown/Overtown (''Downtown'') *Fire Station # 2 – 1901 N Miami Avenue – Wynwood/Edgewater *Fire Station # 3 – 1103 NW 7th Street – Little Havana/Overtown *Fire Station # 4 – 1105 SW 2nd Avenue – Brickell/The Roads (''Downtown'')


Cost of living

The average apartment sale price was $347,729 in 2010, up 15% from 2009, with the average apartment price at $300 per square foot. During the Miami building boom of the first decade of the 21st century, 23,628 condominium and apartments were built in numerous high-rise towers that quickly transformed the city. Over 85% of these apartments are now occupied as of early 2011. It is estimated that about 550 new residents move to Downtown every month. Renters make up 56% of the residents in Downtown. In July 2011, Downtown's office vacancy rate was reported at 21% dropping from a high of 26% in mid-2010. Downtown also reported an average commercial asking rate of $36.33, making it the eighth-highest in the nation after Manhattan, Washington DC, Fairfield County, Connecticut, San Francisco, and Boston. Downtown has over 6,000 hotel rooms in numerous hotels. Downtown has Miami's largest concentration of hotel rooms, and is the city's hub for business travellers. Many of these hotels are geared for business travellers, mostly along
Brickell Avenue Brickell Avenue is a north–south road that was formerly part of U.S. Route 1, in Miami, Florida, just south of the Miami River. North of the Brickell Avenue Bridge, U.S. Route 1 is known as Biscayne Boulevard. Brickell Avenue is the main ro ...
, some for luxury leisure stays, and others as bargain tourist hotels.


Retail

Historically, Flagler Street has been Downtown's major shopping street dating back to the 19th century. Today, it is still Downtown's major shopping street, with Florida's flagship Macy's (formerly Burdines) on Flagler Street and Miami Avenue from 1912 to 2018, as well as Miami's own local department stores: La Época, on Flagler and SE 2nd Av; Alberto Cortes, on Flagler and SE 3rd Av. Flagler Street is also home to many well-known and established jewelry, jewelers, many of whom have been in Downtown since the early 20th century (i.e.: Morays Jewelers, founded in 1900). This area is called the Miami Jewelry District and comprises four Downtown blocks from Miami Avenue to SE 2nd Av on Flagler Street and NE 1st St. After many years of decay, recently, much focus has been placed on revitalizing Flagler Street to its former grandeur. In recent years, a renewed investment interest has been placed on Flagler Street, and many new restaurants and stores have opened up, new landscaping and pavers have been placed, as well as enforced security and tourist guides. Three new pocket parks opened on Flagler St in 2009, Paul S. Walker Park, Robert F. Clark Plaza, and the Joan Lehman Sculpture Plaza. These new parks have brought more green space, benches, art, and rest areas to the street. Besides Flagler Street, Downtown has two other major shopping areas, Bayside Marketplace and Mary Brickell Village in
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
. Bayside Marketplace was built in 1987, and is one of Miami's most visited tourist attractions averaging over 15 million visitors a year. It is an outdoor shopping mall overlooking
Biscayne Bay Biscayne Bay () is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida. The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is la ...
at Bayfront Park. Bayside Marketplace has many national retail chains, as well as local Miami stores. Mary Brickell Village is on Miami Avenue and SE 10th Street in Brickell. Mary Brickell Village is a major nightlife area and has many of Miami's upscale bars and restaurants that stretch along Miami Avenue from around SE 6th Street to Broadway (SE 15th Road).


Education


Public schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and, , the fourth la ...
operates Downtown Miami's public schools, which include:


Elementary schools

*Downtown Miami Charter School *Southside Elementary School *Miami Children's Museum School *Bridgepoint Academy of Greater Miami (Charter)


High schools

*Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial High School, a magnet school *New World School of the Arts, an arts magnet school


Public school zoning

Downtown children are zoned based on the neighborhood they live in within Downtown, roughly split into Brickell, Central Business District (CBD), and Arts & Entertainment District/Edgewater.Services Near You
*Elementary schools: **Southside Elementary School, for Brickell children **Riverside Elementary School, for CBD children **Frederick Douglass Elementary School, for CBD children **Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, for Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater children *Middle schools: **Shenandoah Middle School, for Brickell children **José de Diego Middle School, for CBD, Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater children *High schools (open to all Downtown residents): **Young Women's Preparatory School, all-girls **Young Men's Preparatory School, all-boys **The Booker T. Washington High School (Miami, Florida), Booker T. Washington High School


Private schools

Plans are currently underway for a 1,700-student University-preparatory school, preparatory school in Brickell at 1742 SW 2nd Avenue, named "Brickell Preparatory Academy". Other private schools in Downtown are: *First Presbyterian International Christian School *Gordon Day School (Jewish) *Prima Casa Montessori School


Colleges and universities

*Florida International University (Florida International University#Downtown Miami Center, Downtown Center), a public university at 1101 Brickell Avenue *Miami Dade College (Miami Dade College (Wolfson Campus), Wolfson Campus), a public college *Miami International University of Art & Design, a private university *Miami Culinary Institute, a public college *University of Miami, highly-ranked private research university in neighboring Coral Gables, Florida, Coral Gables


Cultural institutions


Museums and historic sites

*Pérez Art Museum Miami *Historical Museum of Southern Florida *Miami Children's Museum *Wagner Home *Freedom Tower (Miami), Freedom Tower *City of Miami Cemetery * Downtown Miami Historic District *
Lummus Park Historic District The Lummus Park Historic District or simply Lummus Park, is on the National Register of Historic Places and a locally historic designated district in Miami, Florida. It is roughly bound by Northwest Fifth Street to the north, Flagler Street to t ...
*Miami Circle


Theatres and performance arts

* Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts **Ziff Ballet Opera House **Knight Concert Hall **Florida Grand Opera *Olympia Theater and Office Building, Gusman Center for the Performing Arts *Miami City Ballet *Miami Wind Symphony


Libraries

*Miami-Dade Public Library, Miami Main Library


Places of worship

* Central Baptist Church (Miami, Florida), Central Baptist Church (Built in 1925) * First Church of Christ, Scientist (Miami, Florida), First Church of Christ Scientist (1925) * First Presbyterian Church (Miami, Florida), First Presbyterian Church (1898) * First United Methodist Church (Miami, Florida), First United Methodist Church (1966) * Gesu Church (Miami, Florida), Gesu Catholic Church (1896) * Greater Bethel AME Church (Miami, Florida), Greater Bethel AME Church (1927) * Miami Central Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church (Miami, Florida) (1925) * St. Jude Melkite Catholic Church, St. Jude Catholic Church (1946) * Temple Israel of Greater Miami (1926) * Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Miami, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (1925) * Immanuel Lutheran Church * Temple Israel of Greater Miami * Central Korean Presbyterian Church * The Shul of Downtown and Brickell


Bookstores

* Books and Books – Wachovia Financial Center * Miami Book Fair International, an annual literary festival held at Miami Dade College


Festivals and events

*DWNTWN Concert Series, free performances every 2nd Friday of the month at 5:30pm, Bayfront Park *New Year's Big Orange Drop, Bayfront Park *Miami Marathon, marathon held in January *
Ultra Music Festival Ultra Music Festival (UMF) is an annual outdoor electronic music festival that takes place during March in Miami, Florida, United States. The festival was founded in 1999 by Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes. It was first held on Miami Beach, ...
, electronic music festival held in March *Miami International Film Festival, held in March *Winter Music Conference, held in March *Independence Day Celebration, Bayfront Park *Miami Book Fair International, literary festival held in November *Art Basel Miami, art exhibition held in December *Miami International Boat Show *The Arts Of Storytelling, held in March *The Best of the Best Reggae Concert


Sports facilities

*American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat


Downtown skyscrapers


Office towers

*Four Seasons Hotel Miami *Southeast Financial Center *Bank of America Tower (Miami), Miami Tower *One Biscayne Tower *1450 Brickell *701 Brickell Avenue *Brickell Financial Centre *Brickell Arch *Sabadell Financial Center *Brickell Bay Office Tower *Latitude on the River, Latitude One *SunTrust International Center *Alfred I. DuPont Building *Miami Center *Courthouse Center (Miami, Florida), Courthouse Center *Museum Tower (Miami), Museum Tower *Dade County Courthouse (Florida), Dade County Courthouse *New World Tower * Stephen P. Clark Government Center *Metropolitan Miami (development), Met 2 (Wells Fargo Center)


Residential towers

*900 Biscayne Bay *Ten Museum Park *1800 Club *Wind (Miami), Wind *Marinablue *One Miami, One Miami East Tower *One Miami, One Miami West Tower *Opera Tower *Quantum on the Bay, Quantum on the Bay North Tower *Quantum on the Bay, Quantum on the Bay South Tower *Riverfront West, The Ivy *Marquis Miami *Riverfront West, Mint *50 Biscayne *Met 1 *The Loft 2 *Everglades on the Bay, Everglades on the Bay North Tower *Everglades on the Bay, Everglades on the Bay South Tower


Hotel towers

*Four Seasons Hotel Miami (
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
) *Hotel Intercontinental Miami, Hotel InterContinental *The Grand Doubletree thumb


Gallery

File:Downtown Miami condos (J).jpg, Downtown Miami condos along Biscayne Boulevard File:Downtown Miami from west 20110401.jpg, Skyline of Downtown Miami from west, 2011 File:Miamiatnightpink.jpg, Bank of America Tower (Miami), Miami Tower lit in neon pink File:Downtown Miami at night American Airlines Arena.png, Downtown skyline, September 2008 File:Biscayne Boulevard south end.jpg, Biscayne Boulevard File:Downtown Miami aerial 2008.jpg, Aerial view of Downtown Miami and the neighborhoods of
Brickell Brickell ( ) is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida located directly east of Interstate 95, south of the historic CBD, and north of Coconut Grove. Brickell is known as the financial district in Miami, as well as South Florida. Brickell was found ...
, Park West, the
Arts & Entertainment District The Arts & Entertainment District, or previously known as Omni, is a neighborhood of Downtown Miami, Florida. It is bound roughly by North 19th Street to the north, North 10th Street to the south, North East 2nd Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Bo ...
, and Edgewater, June 2008 File:Downtown Miami from north 20080408.jpg, Daytime view of Downtown looking South, 2008 File:Miamiskyline20070811.jpg, Skyline as seen from South Beach with the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, Four Seasons Tower on the left File:Miami skyline 20080516.png, Downtown seen from the northeast File:JuliaTutteMiami.jpg, Statue of
Julia Tuttle Julia DeForest Tuttle (née Sturtevant; January 22, 1849 – September 14, 1898) was an American businesswoman who owned the property upon which Miami, Florida, was built. For this reason, she is called the "Mother of Miami." She is the only woma ...
in Bayfront Park File:Lummus Park Miami FL.jpg, Fort Dallas, built in 1836, military base from the Seminole Wars, circa 1930s File:Miamiriver.jpg, Brickell and the mouth of the Miami River in 1935. Current location of the Miami Circle Park and Icon Brickell File:Entrance to Fort Dallas Park, Miami, FL.jpg, Fort Dallas Park, 1905 File:1926 Miami Hurricane damage.jpg, Downtown after the 1926 Miami Hurricane File:Downtown Miami from north 20090303.jpg, Downtown seen from the north, 2009


See also

* Midtown Miami * Downtown Miami Historic District


References


External links


Official websiteMiami Downtown Development Authority
{{Florida Neighborhoods in Miami Economy of Miami Central business districts in the United States, Miami, Downtown Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida National Register of Historic Places in Miami