Changing Miami: Then and Now

An interesting comparison of 1952 and 2016 aerials illustrating the impact of expressways penetrating through various Miami neighborhoods and districts.

Miami Beach Incorporated in 1915, the area of Miami Beach, known as South Beach, was largely built out by 1952. It’s one of the few areas of Miami-Dade County that has not been significantly impacted by highway construction of the mid-to-late 20th century.

South Beach Since 1952, before and after aerials suggest that the beach has actually increased in size.

South Miami The City of South Miami was home to 4,809 residents in 1950. Today, it features a compact city center developed around MDT Metrorail’s South Miami station.

University of Miami The University of Miami was established in 1925 with George Merrick’s donation of 160 acres and $5 million. Merrick was the founder of Coral Gables. Over the years, the main campus has expanded to 239-acres.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Adobe Photoshop aerial overlays by Ennis Davis, AICP. 2016 aerials courtesy of Google Earth. 1952 historic aerials courtesy of the University of Florida George A. Smathers libraries Digital Collection. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com