Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Americas,” Miami is the fourth-largest urban area in the United States, with more than five million residents in the greater metropolitan area. Found on the very southern tip of Florida, Miami has a significant impact musically, culturally, and economically that can be observed internationally. The city's location on the Atlantic Ocean has also opened many
opportunities for the city, which counts the busiest cruise port in the world and the highest concentration of international banks in the United States amongst its impressive features. Miami first experienced impressive growth when a local citrus grower named Julia Tuttle spoke with a railroad developer and convinced him that he should expand his tracks to Miami. The next population boom for Miami occurred during World War II, when the city was instrumental in fighting submarines from Germany. The city grew to nearly half of a million people following the war, and was boosted even more when Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959, as many Cubans sought refuge in Miami. Miami has become a major center for international business, and is one of the most important financial centers in the United States. Many large companies are headquartered in the city, including several cruise lines and companies catering to the Latin American markets. The city is also an important transportation hub, with much of the cargo from the Caribbean and South America being processed through the Port of Miami or Miami International Airport. There are more than 60 neighborhoods that make up the city, including some internationally celebrated locales like South Beach and Little Havana, the center of Cuban influence in Miami. The city also boasts an impressive art community, with some of the best facilities and talented individuals in the nation. The largest performing arts center in Florida, the Adrienne Arscht Center for the Performing Arts, and the Florida Grand Opera are merely two of the many ideal locations for the arts in the city. While the performing arts are certainly a strong part of Miami, the city has become somewhat of a visual arts mecca in recent years, with a particularly strong fashion industry. The Wynood Art District has more than fourty galleries and seven art complexes, all of which feature local artists and their work. Miami also hosts two annual fashion weeks, in addition to hosting Art Basel Miami Beach, the largest art exposition in the world.
