Miam-Dade County is a county with a population of about 2,700,000 located at the very southern tip of Florida. Not only is Miami-Dade County Florida’s most populous county, it is also the 3rd largest county in the state. 34 incorporated cities are located within the county as well as quite a few unincorporated communities. The county is also home to the Miccosukee Reservation and The Florida Everglades, an expansive “sea of grass” that stretches across miles of the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Biscayne National Park, including Elliott Key, Totten Key, Old Rhodes Key, and several other small keys are also part of the county to the east.
The original county was simply named “Dade County” in honor of Major Francis L. Dade, who died while fighting in the Second Seminole war. It became a county in 1836. At the time, the county included several of the Florida Keys to the south including Key Largo. The county seat was at Indian Key for eight years and then moved to Miami. The current boundaries that exist today were established in 1915.
The name of the county was later changed to Miami-Dade in 1997 both in recognition of the well-known city of Miami, and to help ease the confusion that stemmed from the fact that the site of the Dade Massacre, as well as Dade City, are located much further north.
The Miami-Dade County features miles of beaches that stretch alongside both the Atlantic ocean and the Biscayne Bay. It is an incredibly diverse part of Florida with a large Cuban population. In addition, the county is a center for education, and has a thriving economy.
Miami-Dade County Cities and Towns
Miami
Downtown Miami
The Hammocks
palmetto bay
Cutler bay
Medley
Indian Creek
Kendall
Sunny Isles
Coral Gables
Doral
Hialeah