History
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 2,387,170, making it the most populous county in Florida. The county seat is the City of Miami.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,431 square miles (6,297 km²), of which, 1,946 square miles (5,040 km²) of it is land and 485 square miles (1,257 km²) of it (19.96%) is water, most of which is Biscayne Bay, with another significant portion in the adjacent waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The western portion of the county extends into the Everglades National Park and is unpopulated. East of the mainland in Biscayne Bay is Biscayne National Park, making Miami the only metropolitan area in the U.S. that borders two national parks.
The inhabitants at the time of first European contact were the Tequesta people, who controlled much of southeastern Florida. Juan Ponce de León was the first European to visit the area in 1513 by sailing into Biscayne Bay. The first permanent European settlers arrived in the early 1800s.
Dade County was created on January 18, 1836 under the Territorial Act of the United States. The county was named after Major Francis L. Dade, a soldier killed in 1835 in the Second Seminole War. On November 13, 1997 voters changed the name of the county from Dade to Miami-Dade to acknowledge the international name recognition of Miami.
Incorporated Cities, Towns & Villages:
Source: Wikipedia - Miami-Dade County, Florida |
County Location in Florida
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Founded: January 18, 1836
County Seat: Miami
Total Area: 2,431 Square Miles
2007 Population: 2,387,170 (estimated)
Time Zone: Eastern
Miami-Dade County Website
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