Miami Beach Relocating Guide

Among all the cities in Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach is undoubtedly the most iconic one. The historic Art Deco District, state of the art hotels, a massive blend of culture, and a rich food variety have made this place a must-go for tourists. But this guide is not intended for tourists. Rather, we plan to entail the appeal of Miami Beach city to people who’re planning to relocate. If you’re one of them and you’re going through cities in Miami-Dade County, you’re in the right place.

Miami Beach At a Glance

Miami Beach is known to the world for its many wonders. The interesting thing is that the majority of them are not recent. This small area on the oceanfront was uninhabited until the 1870s! Henry Lum and his son Charles Lum reportedly bought massive areas of land for a mere 75 cents an acre. The current Miami Coast Guard Station is the oldest structure in Miami Beach, commissioned in 1876! Well, it was not a coast guard station back in the day. Rather, it was no.5 of the 5 major House of Refuges built in the last 1870s across Florida. The authority behind this development was the United States Life Saving Service. The purpose of these stations was to rescue shipwrecked sailors and give them shelter. The Biscayne House of Refuge was seriously damaged in the 1926 hurricane. It was later turned into the Coast Guard Station you see now. In later days, many investors came forward to develop the empty area, most agriculturists. John S. Collins is one of the notable ones who bought out his partner’s lands to farm avocados. These were the same lands the Miami Beach city is located right now! Somewhere in the process, the Collins family realized the potential for a resort town as the Atlantic Ocean was right there. The very first hotel was built in 1915, the same year as the town was incorporated. It’s the Brown Hotel. Interestingly, you can still visit this place, located at 112 Ocean Drive!

Population and Geography

While the total area of Miami Beach is just over 15 square miles, half of it is water! This leaves only 7.69 square miles of area to be inhabited. As for the population, it’s 82,890 according to the 2020 census. Geographically, Miami Beach is one of the lowest cities in the world. It’s just 4.4 feet over the mean sea level. This is one of the main reasons Florida sees floods and hurricanes so commonly! Tidal flooding during the annual King Tides is a very common phenomenon in Miami Beach. Also, the traditional protective measures taken in other countries will not work for Miami Beach city. It comes down to the porous nature of the land and the limestone that holds the land. Thankfully, the government as well as real estate professionals have started accounting for the upcoming sea level rise. They’re introducing new legislation in the building code as well as road development projects to better protect against flooding. The census data also tells us that more than 50% of the population is Hispanic and Latino while white people are in the 40% range. The rest of the population are African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, etc. Interestingly, the demographic was not like this even in the 1970s! The economic expansion after the 2^nd world war brought a massive influx of immigrants to the Florida shore which created diversity. It also attracted huge communities of Jewish people to Miami Beach. To this day, there are many communities including Synagogues and Yeshivas. Another interesting aspect of Miami Beach is that it’s been considered a gay mecca since before the days when gay marriage was legalized. Last but not least, is the climate. While cities and villages in Florida are notoriously known for their hot, wet, and humid climate, Miami Beach barely sees the extreme ends of it. This is one of the reasons this place has become such a massive tourist attraction in the world! The average temperature remains between 20 and 30 for the most part.

What’s Miami Beach’s Economy Like?

How do you think the economy of this ever-green and ever-booming city is? The 7+ square miles of the area is packed with various business organizations that keep the wheel of the economy moving in this city. There’s a massive 46,690 labor force with only a 1.8% unemployment rate! The community has been doing extremely well in bringing down the unemployment rate. Just one year ago, it was at 3.3%! The employment sector is very sustainable in this area. At over 10,600 institutions, there are more than 18,000 jobs! However, the majority of businesses hire between 1 to 4 people. Only 0.64% of organizations have an employee tab of 100 or more! The median household income reported in the 2020 census is $60,702. While it’s nothing to drop your jaw on, it’s surely something to be proud of. Among the residents of Miami Beach city, 62% are renters. According to Florida state law, there is no state income tax. But there is a 5.5% state corporate income tax and a 6% sales tax. Check out the potential area of employment in Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County.

Office and administration support
Food preparation, Serving
Sales
Executive, managers, and administrators
Business and Financial operations

Quality of Education in Miami Beach

Education is the backbone of any nation. There’s no wonder people look for the quality of schools in any area before moving. We’re assuming it’s no different for you in case you’re planning to move to Miami Beach. The drawback in this regard is that there are no schools or colleges within the city limits. It’s not unusual if you consider the total area of the city. Within a 50-mile radius of this city, however, there are 86 educational institutions! It’s the Miami-Dade County school district we’re referring to. From elementary to junior high to high to college, you’ll find a school that fits your needs. Some of the best institutions in our opinion are:

School for Advanced Studies Miami
Young Women’s Preparatory Academy
Design and Architecture Senior High School
International Studies Charter High School
iPrep Academy
Jose Marti Mast 6-12 Academy
Terra Environmental Research Institute
New World School of the Arts

Miami has one of the best teacher-student ratios. On average, only 17 pupils depend on one teacher. This low concentration helps maintain the quality of education across the board.

Things to Do in Miami Beach

Things you can do in an area have a big role to play when you’re thinking of moving. Miami Beach is one of the most iconic cities in the United States. Needless to say, there are countless things to do for both tourists and residents.

The Beaches

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the beaches are the prime attraction in a city called Miami Beach. When we say “beaches”, we’re referring to the South Beach, the Mid Beach, and the North Beach. The South Beach Area has been featured plenty of times in pop culture. Of course, it’s the Ocean Drive area. Chances are strong that you’ve played GTA Vice City and Ocean Drive is one of the main attractions in the game! It’s also home to the historic Art Deco District, also known as the Miami Beach Architectural District. The infamous Italian designer Gianni Versace lived in Ocean Drive and this is where he died in an assassination. South Beach in Miami Beach is also a prominent tourist attraction for its nightlife, art & culture, and fine dining. Mid Beach, on the other hand, is the central area of Miami Beach city. This is a lot more modern compared to the South Beach area. Lavish hotels with picturesque views are one of the main attractions of Mid beach. Last but not least, we have a calm and quiet North Beach. The North Beach Oceanside Park adds a calm flair to the whole area. The beaches here are also not as crowded. So, if you’re looking for a beach where you can go frequently and relax, North Beach might be the answer.

The Beachwalk

If you don’t do it, you’ll miss out on the infamous Beachwalk in Miami. It’s the paved road that connects all 3 beaches we just explored. Get a bicycle or start walking to consume the mesmerizing beauty of the Atlantic Ocean and the greenery of Biscayne. If a bicycle ride is a choice of commute, simply use Citi Bike, the Miami Beach bike sharing, and rental system.

Art & Culture

If you’re wondering why we cut the things to do section in half short, it’s simply because a lot of it overlaps with the art and culture you can find in Miami Beach. Very few places on earth have such a rich blend of cultures as well as representation in such a beautiful way. Let’s take a quick look at some of the events that encapsulate the beautiful culture of the city.

North Beach Bandshell

The open-air music area at the heart of North Beach is a massive crowd-gathering zone in the city. Every evening, hundreds of people gather to celebrate life with Latin Jazz and rare world music. The string lights on top of your head will instantly fill your heart with warmth.

Faena District

The Faena Chain of luxury hotels is not unknown to anyone. Its Miami Beach branch hosts all kinds of public gatherings including Cabaret shows, interactive art shows, and Jazz! Jazz is a recurring theme in Miami Beach.

LIV

The most famous club in South Beach. If you plan on getting lost in LED flashes and soulful music, you must go to LIV at least once in your life! The club did a million-dollar renovation to make it the top club back in 2017. From Justin Beiber to Travis Scott, many world-famous artists have had concerts at the LIV.

The Bass

Yet another cultural center in Miami Beach. This is a contemporary art museum that encapsulates the essence of modern art. Apart from the art pieces, you can walk around the gift shops, cafes, and the Creativity Center.

Places to Eat & Drink

Along with its beaches and cultural hubs, Miami Beach is also known for its collection of fine dining places. While you might be planning on fine dining every day as a resident, you should know about the places for special occasions!

Joe’s Stone Crab: With over a hundred years of legacy, Joe’s Stone Crab is one of the must-visit places if you set foot in Miami. The reputation surely precedes the service. You must try the world-famous snow crab specialties along with chilled shrimp. A side of cottage fried chips wouldn’t hurt too.
Osteria Morini: In case you’re looking for Authentic Italian cuisine, this is the place you want to be. The food comes with the iconic Italian flavor, no matter what you order. A bowl of Zuppa di Zucca along with some Rosemary Potatoes is our initial recommendation. Go crazy on the menu!
Byblos Miami: Almost everywhere in Miami, you’ll notice a touch of Mediterranean. So, it only makes sense that you try this Mediterranean restaurant too.

As for places to drink, the options are endless. We’ll let you be the judge of what you like as you keep exploring the city by yourself.

Highways and Transportation

Miami-Dade Transit is tasked with managing the public transportation in the county. A huge portion of the city residents use the public transport system along with Downtown Miami and Brickell. Plenty of Metrobus lines go through the city. A very impactful introduction in this area is the Airport-Beach Express (Route 150). It’s a direct bus line to connect all major points in South Beach and Miami International Airport. As for highways surrounding the city, we have to go with Dolphin Expressway, Airport Expressway, and Palmetto Expressway.

Political Status

Miami Beach city follows a commission-manager government system. In this form of government, the officials or the “commission” are elected by the residents to portray their desires. The executions, on the other hand, happen through the hands of the city manager who’s appointed by the commission. The current city manager of Miami Beach is Alina T. Hudak. The head of the commission, as in the Mayor, is Dan Gelber.