Miami and Miami Beach are considered separate cities, with their mayors and city councils. However, these distinctions are only the tip of the iceberg. For the locals, the issue draws a clear line in the sand, and the mere thought of traveling “across the causeway” had caused many relationships to fizzle out before they even had a chance to begin.
Both the city of Miami and the city of Miami Beach are considered separate municipalities, with their mayor and city council. However, aside from the climates of the two cities being similar, you would never guess that they are so close to one another based on either.
Continue reading for more information if you are curious about these two cities, what sets one apart from the other, and if you are interested in learning more about how they compare and contrast.
Art In Miami And Miami Beach
Most people envision the city’s famous beaches, vibrant nightlife, and exciting attractions when they think of Miami. However, many people include works of art in this category. It wasn’t until Art Basel moved to Miami Beach in 2002 that the city established itself as a central international arts hub.
The Swiss art fair, widely regarded as the most prestigious in the world, was relocated to Miami after a group of powerful collectors convinced the fair’s directors that the city could attract wealth and talent from Latin America, Europe, and the United States.
Miami And Miami Beach Nightlife
To call the nightlife in Miami and Miami Beach legendary would be an understatement. In Miami, you can choose between the megaclubs of South Beach and the trendy warehouse scene in Wynwood and Downtown, ensuring a memorable night.
Although South Beach is best known for its all-night parties, the neighborhood also has many hip local bars and low-key lounges. In addition, numerous bars and clubs are located throughout the city, making it simple to find a place that suits your mood for the evening. We have listed some great places to check out below.
1. Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove is a historic neighborhood with views of Biscayne Bay and the Dinner Key Marina. It is well-known for its bohemian and charming atmosphere. There are plenty of sports bars, laid-back lounges, and laid-back waterfront bars for people who have just disembarked from their sailboats.
Because it is close to the University of Miami, Coconut Grove is a popular hangout for college students looking for a night on the town. As a result, it is experiencing a revival, as evidenced by the proliferation of trendy new hotels and restaurants.
2. South Beach
The South Beach scene is mainly responsible for Miami’s reputation as a top destination for a thriving nightlife scene. The South Beach neighborhood of Miami is known for its numerous nightclubs and bulges out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Famous international DJs, hip-hop artists, and pop stars regularly perform live for adoring crowds of clubgoers at these clubs. In addition, many celebrities hang out in the club’s VIP area when they aren’t throwing their parties. That has been the happening spot that has made South Beach famous since the mid-1990s and shows no signs of slowing down.
3. Wynwood
In Wynwood, you can immerse yourself in culture in a vibrant setting. Some of Miami’s hippest bars, restaurants, and boutiques, as well as some of the world’s finest art galleries, can be found in the mural-covered arts district.
It would be best to start at Wynwood Walls to understand the Wynwood street art scene. The area’s hipsters and other creative types make it a great place to spend a night out on the town. In addition, Wynwood has a diverse range of bars, clubs, and restaurants, making it easy to have a relaxing night out.
They Have Different Cultures
Although only about 10 miles (16 kilometers) separate the two cities, the cultural and ideological distance can often feel much more significant. When it comes to culture and cuisine, any local will tell you that Miami and Miami Beach are two very different sides of the same coin. They are, however, both in the same city.
The Different Foods Of Miami And Miami Beach
Restaurants provide a wide variety of cuisines on both sides of the causeway, but most people head to Miami for genuinely authentic Latin food.
Miami Cuisine: Guests can sample dishes from Latin American and Caribbean restaurants, beginning with Cuban coffee and croquetas at Vicky Bakery and progressing to pupusas at Mi Ranchito Salvadoreo, Bandeja de paisa at Colombia’s San Pocho, and Haiti’s griot at Chef Creole.
Many restaurants along the Miami River (and beyond) specialize in locally caught seafood. Examples include Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market, Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill, and La Camaronera Seafood Joint & Fish Market.
Miami Beach Cuisine: The dining scene in Miami Beach is dominated by the trendier, celebrity-chef-driven fare that expertly makes the most of all available ingredients.
From molecular gastronomy-inspired creations at Jose Andres’ The Bazaar and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Spanish plates at the Matador Room to ‘Top Chef’-manned eateries like Jeremy Ford’s Stubborn Seed and Jeff McInnis’ Stiltsville Fish Bar, there are plenty of opportunities to see and be seen to go along with your culinary masterpiece. You can find these establishments in the city of Las Vegas.
Which Is Safer?
The city of Miami itself is not a particularly safe place for tourists to visit, but Miami Beach is. Particularly during the night and along Washington Street, pickpocketing is a significant problem, as it is in most popular tourist destinations. Therefore, when venturing into uncharted territory, it is advisable to do so in a group, particularly at night.
Miami Beach, FL Crime
Miami Beach has an incredibly high crime rate compared to other cities, with 70 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. That is true regardless of the size of the communities under consideration. One in every 14 people in this city will be a victim of a violent crime, and one in every 21 will be a victim of a property crime. Over 99.99 percent of Florida communities have a lower crime rate than Miami Beach.
While larger cities tend to have higher crime rates, comparing a city’s crime rate to similarly sized communities is always interesting and important. While Miami Beach may perform well or poorly compared to other cities and towns in the United States, it performs poorly compared to other places with a comparable population. Miami Beach has been measured to have one of the highest crime rates of any city of its size.
Miami, FL Crime
Miami’s crime rate is significantly higher than the national average across all communities in America, from the largest to the smallest. However, it is not among the communities with the highest crime rate, with 36 crimes per thousand residents. In Miami, the chances of becoming a violent or property crime victim are 1 in 28. According to FBI crime statistics, Miami is not one of the safest cities in America.
Compared to the rest of Florida, Miami has a higher crime rate than 86 percent of the cities and towns of all sizes. So how does the crime rate in Miami compare to other communities of similar size in the United States? When NeighborhoodScout compared Miami to other communities of similar size, they discovered that the crime rate was close to the national average.
How Different Is The Weather In Miami And Miami Beach?
The weather and climate in these two cities are similar, with only a few subtle differences. For example, Miami Beach has 0.2% fewer rainy days than Miami and 1.6% more sunny days than Miami. Summers in Miami Beach are hot and sticky, with frequent cloud cover, whereas winters are mild and humid, with frequent wind and clear skies.
Temperature extremes are highly uncommon, below 51 degrees Fahrenheit or above 92 degrees Fahrenheit. The typical temperature range is between 63 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the temperature in Miami typically ranges from 62°F to 90°F throughout the year, it is rarely below 50°F or above 92°F.
History Of Miami
Tequesta tribe members lived in Miami for about 2,000 years before European contact. Between 500 and 600 BCE, a townhouse for hundreds of people stood at the mouth of the Miami River. By the mid-1700s, it was widely assumed that the tribe’s members had arrived in Cuba.
Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established Spanish sovereignty over what is now known as Florida in 1566. A year later, the Spanish built a mission on the land. However, before Spain finally handed Florida to the United States of America in 1821, the British and Spanish fought over the control of the territory.
As part of its expansion into Florida Territory and campaign to exterminate the native Seminole people, the United States of America established Fort Dallas on the banks of the Miami River in 1836. As a result, the Second Seminole War eventually made its way to the Miami area.
History Of Miami Beach
In 1870, Henry and Charles Lum, father, and son, paid $1 for 75 acres of Miami Beach land. The Biscayne House of Refuge, built-in 1876 by the United States Life-Saving Service in response to an order from President Ulysses S. Grant, was the first structure to be built on this stretch of uninhabited oceanfront near 72nd Street.
Its mission was to assist shipwrecked people in returning to civilization by providing them with necessities such as food and water. Unfortunately, the building was destroyed in the 1926 Miami Hurricane due to disuse, and it was never rebuilt after the Life-Saving Service merged with the United States Coast Guard in 1915.
Next, in the 1880s, New Jersey businessmen Ezra Osborn and Elnathan T. Field attempted and failed to establish a coconut plantation that would become Miami Beach. However, John S. Collins, an agriculturist, the pine trees that line what is now known as Pinetree Drive protected Collins’ plantations from erosion.
About Miami, FL
The sprawling metropolis of Miami is located in Miami-Dade County in the southeastern corner of the state of Florida. The official name of the city is Miami. Jacksonville, Florida’s second-most populous city, ranks 11th in the Southeast and 44th in the United States, with a population of 471,525.
With a population of 6.138 million in 2020, Miami’s metro area will be the ninth largest in the United States and the 34th largest in the world. The city has the third largest skyline in the United States, owing to over 300 high-rise buildings, 58 of which are taller than 491 feet (150 m).
About Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach, Florida, is a popular tourist destination in Miami-Dade County. The municipality is situated on natural and artificial barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. The bay separates the rest of Miami, which is on the mainland, from Miami Beach.
South Beach, the southernmost 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of Miami Beach, forms the economic heart of South Florida, along with Downtown Miami and PortMiami. South Beach is located near the southern end of Miami Beach. Eighty-two thousand eight hundred ninety (82,890) people are living in Miami Beach, according to the 2020 census.
Comparison Chart
We put this chart together to provide an overview of the key distinctions between these two cities.
Miami, FL | Miami Beach, FL | |
Population | 471,525 | 87,726 |
Average Age | 39.1 | 40.2 |
Average Income | $30,858 | $42,547 |
Average Home Price | $398,100 | $375,400 |
Average Commute Time | 28.13 minutes | 26.62 minutes |
Unemployment Rate | 8.3% | 5.9% |
Rainfall | 59.3% | 59.2% |
Sunny | 248 | 252 |
Average Temp July High | 89.2% | 88.2% |
Average Temp Jan. Low | 60.6% | 60.1% |
Violent Crime Rate | 48.8% | 50.2% |
Property Crime Rate | 62.7% | 95.7% |
Expense Per Student | $9,613 | $9,613 |
Grade School Education | 14.4% | 6.3% |
High School Education | 75.6% | 88.7% |
Conclusion
There are mayors and councils in both the city of Miami and the city of Miami Beach. Even though only a thin strip of land separates the two cities, each one still maintains distinctive characteristics that help differentiate it from the other.
Both culturally and gastronomically, Miami and Miami Beach are two entirely different cities, and any local will be happy to tell you that they couldn’t be further from one another.
References
- http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-miami-and-miami-beach
- https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/132778
- https://www.bestplaces.net/compare-cities/miami_fl/miami_beach_fl/overview
- https://blog.unpakt.com/why-living-in-miami-beach-is-better-than-in-miami/