| Miramar, Florida | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | Beauty and Progress |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Broward |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | May 26, 1955 |
| Government Type: | Commission-Manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Wayne M. Messam |
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Alexandra P. Davis |
| Leader Title2: | Commissioners |
| Leader Name2: | Winston F. Barnes, Maxwell B. Chambers, and Yvette Colbourne |
| Leader Title3: | City Manager |
| Leader Name3: | Dr. Roy Virgin |
| Leader Title4: | City Clerk |
| Leader Name4: | Denise A. Gibbs |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 80.50 |
| Area Land Km2: | 74.73 |
| Area Water Km2: | 5.77 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 31.08 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 28.85 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 2.23 |
| Area Water Percent: | 5.66 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 134721 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Est: | 137228 |
| Pop Est Footnotes: | [3] |
| Population Rank: | 201st in the United States 14th in Florida |
| Population Density Km2: | 1836.32 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 4756.60 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Coordinates: | 25.9789°N -80.2825°W |
| Elevation M: | 2 |
| Elevation Ft: | 9 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 33023, 33025, 33027, 33029 |
| Area Code: | 754, 954 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 12-45975[4] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0286974[5] |
Miramar is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, United States. It is a key suburb of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to 6.14 million people in 2020. As of the 2020 census, the population was 134,721, making it the second-largest city in Broward County, the fourth-largest city in the Miami metro area, and the 11th-largest city in Florida.
Miramar was founded by A.L. Mailman to serve as a "bedroom community" for nearby Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Mailman bought the original property he was to develop from H.D. Perry Sr. in 1953. He built 56 homes on the property that were inexpensive homes of concrete and flat roofs. These homes sold quickly because of the low cost of both the homes and the land, and the city of Miramar came into being.
The city was incorporated on May 26, 1955, and was named for the Miramar area of Havana, Cuba where Mailman had a summer home (Miramar translates to "look at the sea" in Spanish).[6] At the time of incorporation, the city had a population of less than 200 people. With approximately 2.9 square miles of land area, Miramar's original city boundaries were Southwest 64 Avenue on the east, University Drive on the west, the Dade County line on the south, and Pembroke Road on the north. On June 20, 1955, the city's first mayor (Robert Gordon) and city council were sworn in, all of whom were appointed by the governor and served until January 1959, at which time the first municipal election was held. Mayor Robert Gordon is the individual who is attributed to have given the city its name. The city seal is inscribed with the motto "Beauty and Progress".
H.D. Perry Sr.'s part in Miramar did not cease with selling the land to Mailman for development. He is recognized as one of the pioneers in the history of Miramar. His character and civic-activities influenced not only the lives of early residents but continues to the present day, as evidenced by the schools and parks in the city which bear his family's name. Many long-time residents fondly recall the community barbecues hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Perry during those early years. Others are grateful to Mr. Perry for the lessons in animal husbandry, which he conducted for the benefit of Miramar's youth so that they could learn something of farm life.
The only major roads when Miramar was developed were U.S. 441 which was a two-lane road at that time, Hallandale Beach Boulevard to Southwest 66 Terrace and Pembroke Road which was a dirt road to University Drive. There were no other transportation routes of any kind supplying access to the new community. Miramar's early city fathers advocated the philosophy of planned and controlled growth. The city adopted a Comprehensive Land Use Plan in 1972 before cities and counties were mandated to do so. This provided the framework for the orderly development of future growth. Two-thirds of the land within city limits is currently undeveloped.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 81km2, of which 76.5km2 is land and 4.6km2 (5.66%) is water.[7]
A 2017 study put the city in fifth place for US cities most vulnerable to coastal flooding, with 93,000 residents living within FEMA's coastal floodplain.[8]
The city is bordered by the following municipalities:
To the north:
To the northeast:
To the east:
To the south:
| Historical racial composition | 2020 | 2010 | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 8.0% | 11.6% | 21.6% | 65.6% | 90.6% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 41.1% | 36.9% | 29.4% | 17.3% | 7.8% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 41.1% | 43.5% | 42.0% | 14.5% | 0.8% | |
| Asian and Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 5.7% | 5.2% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 0.8% | |
| Native American (non-Hispanic) | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | ||
| Some other race (non-Hispanic) | 1.0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.2% | ||
| Two or more races (non-Hispanic) | 2.9% | 2.1% | 3.2% | N/A | N/A | |
| Population | 134,721 | 122,041 | 72,739 | 40,663 | 32,813 |
| Demographic characteristics | 2020[9] [10] [11] | 2010[12] [13] [14] | 2000[15] [16] [17] | 1990 | 1980[18] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 43,826 | 40,294 | 25,905 | 14,395 | 11,647 | |
| Persons per household | 3.07 | 3.03 | 2.81 | 2.82 | 2.82 | |
| 88.5 | 89.3 | 90.8 | 93.1 | 94.0 | ||
| Ages 0–17 | 23.6% | 29.1% | 31.0% | 26.7% | 25.9% | |
| Ages 18–64 | 65.3% | 64.0% | 62.6% | 63.6% | 62.7% | |
| Ages 65 + | 11.1% | 6.9% | 6.3% | 9.7% | 11.4% | |
| Median age | 37.3 | 33.6 | 31.8 | 32.3 | 32.9 | |
| Population | 134,721 | 122,041 | 72,739 | 40,663 | 32,813 |
| Economic indicators | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–22 American Community Survey | Miramar | Broward County | Florida | |
| [19] | $44,901 | $39,690 | $37,826 | |
| [20] | $81,812 | $70,331 | $67,917 | |
| Poverty rate[21] | 8.2% | 12.4% | 12.9% | |
| [22] | 91.2% | 90.0% | 89.3% | |
| 30.8% | 34.9% | 32.3% | ||
| 11.4% | 13.3% | 12.1% | ||
| Language spoken at home | 2020 | 2010 | 2000[23] | 1990[24] | 1980[25] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 53.0% | 48.8% | 59.4% | 77.6% | 85.0% | |
| Spanish or Spanish Creole | 31.7% | 35.8% | 29.6% | 15.9% | 7.3% | |
| French or Haitian Creole | 9.2% | 9.6% | 6.8% | 2.6% | 1.4% | |
| Italian | N/A | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.1% | 2.9% | |
| Other languages | 6.1% | 5.6% | 4.0% | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Nativity | 2020 | 2010 | 2000[26] [27] | 1990[28] | 1980 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % population native-born | 61.3% | 57.1% | 59.3% | 79.9% | 89.9% | |
| ... born in the United States | 58.1% | 53.1% | 55.6% | 76.3% | 87.8% | |
| ... born in Puerto Rico or Island Areas | 2.0% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.1% | |
| ... born to American parents abroad | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.0% | ||
| % population foreign-born | 38.7% | 42.9% | 40.7% | 20.1% | 10.1% | |
| ... born in Jamaica | 7.9% | 10.1% | 12.5% | 5.2% | N/A | |
| ... born in Haiti | 6.5% | 5.7% | 3.9% | 1.4% | N/A | |
| ... born in Cuba | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 2.5% | 1.7% | |
| ... born in Colombia | 2.9% | 3.8% | 2.6% | 1.2% | N/A | |
| ... born in Venezuela | 2.0% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.1% | N/A | |
| ... born in the Dominican Republic | 1.3% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.7% | N/A | |
| ... born in other countries | 12.3% | 15.1% | 13.7% | 9.0% | 8.4% |
As of 2000, Miramar had the fifth highest percentage of Jamaican residents in the United States, with 15.4% of the population,[29] the 58th highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 2.51% of the city's population,[30] and the 48th highest percentage of Cuban residents in the US, at 8.77% of the city's population.[31] It also had the 78th most Dominicans in the US, at 1.98%,[32] while it had the 31st highest percentage of Haitians (tied with West Little River), at 6% of all residents.[33] Miramar's Trinidadian community had the 12th highest percentage of residents, which was at 1.2% (tied with Wheatley Heights, New York, and Neptune City, New Jersey).[34]
Spirit Airlines moved to Miramar from Eastpointe, Michigan, in November 1999.[35] JL Audio and Arise Virtual Solutions are also headquartered in Miramar.
The Leadership in Energy & Environment Design in Miramar houses the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Miami field office and a General Services Administration (GSA) office; named after two FBI agents who died in the 1986 FBI Miami Shootout,[36] it is a 330000square feet Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) facility located on a 20acres site. The FBI field office, previously in North Miami Beach, moved to Miramar on December 8, 2014.[37] The building was dedicated on April 10, 2015.
According to Miramar's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[38] the top employers in the city were:
| Employer |
| Percentage of total city employment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comcast of South Florida | 1530 | 4.30% | |
| 2 | Strayer University | 1401 | 3.94% | |
| 3 | Royal Caribbean Cruises | 1174 | 3.31% | |
| 4 | Memorial Hospital Miramar | 1147 | 3.23% | |
| 5 | City of Miramar | 1059 | 2.98% | |
| 6 | Humana Medical Plans | 887 | 2.49% | |
| 7 | Interactive Response Technologies/iQor | 707 | 1.99% | |
| 8 | Spirit Airlines | 622 | 1.75% | |
| 9 | Carnival | 583 | 1.64% | |
| 10 | Quest Diagnostics | 472 | 1.33% |
The Miramar Cultural Center and ArtsPark was created to celebrate creativity and diversity within the city. Located in the heart of the Miramar Town Center, situated adjacent to City Hall and centrally located, the center is visible and accessible from Red Road, Miramar Boulevard and Hiatus Road and features ample free parking on-site.
The Miramar Branch Library Education Center's collection consists of over 80,000 items in all media and genres. The library also offers video games in several PlayStation, Xbox and Wii formats. Other features include a 100-seat multi-purpose room, conference room, group study room, several tutoring rooms and over 50 public computers and printed with instruction and special software available in its Computer Center.
The Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater provides an opportunity for live concert performances and outdoor entertainment to be housed and produced in a uniquely developed venue in South Florida. An open-air venue that will seat 5,000 people (3,000 covered canopy; 2,000 grass area), it is also used for film and television production. Amenities includes a ticket booth, electronic signage, lakes, and fountains.
Miramar is served by Broward County Public Schools.[39]
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami operates Catholic schools. Saint Bartholomew Catholic School is in Miramar.
Saint Stephen Catholic School opened in 1956.[46] It opened in the 1950s and closed in 2009,[47] with the building rented to a charter school.[48]
On June 20, 1955, the city's inaugural mayor and city council were sworn in, all having been appointed by the Governor of Florida.[49] They all served until the city's first municipal elections were held in 1959.[49]
The city's current mayor is Wayne Messam.
Miramar currently operates under a council–manager government.[50]
Up until March 13, 1991, the city had previously operated under the "strong mayor" form of the mayor–city council form of government.[50] In 1989, by unanimous accord of the mayor and the Miramar City Commission, work was laid to study changing to a council–manager form of government.[50] On March 14, 1990, Miramar voters approved a referendum to change to this form of government.[50]
| Name | Period served | |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Gordon | June 1955 – January 1959 | |
| Charles Knapp | January–February 1959 | |
| Samuel Winfield | April 1959 – January 1960 | |
| Richard Calhoun | January 1960 – March 1975 | |
| Harry Rosen | March 1975 – March 1979 | |
| Joe Veins | March 1979 – March 1983 | |
| Frank Branca | March 1983 – April 1989 | |
| Viciki Coceano | June 1989 – March 1999 | |
| Lori Cohen Moseley | March 1999 – March 2015 | |
| March 2015 – present |
Miramar is a part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood media market, which is the twelfth largest radio market[51] and the seventeenth largest television market[52] in the United States. Its primary daily newspapers are the South Florida-Sun Sentinel and The Miami Herald, and their Spanish-language counterparts El Sentinel and El Nuevo Herald. WTVJ, the Miami area's NBC owned and operated station and WSCV, the Telemundo station also owned by NBC shares their studios and administrative offices in Miramar.