Whether Miami Beach continues to remain real and inhabitable land in the face of threats from global warming and sea-level rise remains to be seen. To this day, the City of Miami Beach still has to dredge sand to fill its beaches because, again, it is not a naturally occurring geographical feature. This set the scene for Miami Beach being a land built on artificiality, the crazy ambitions of men seeking money and glamor, and the exploitation of cheap labor. Of course, laborers were subjected to high heat and mosquitoes. In Miami Beach, laborers had to clear out the mangroves, deepen the channels of water around it, and fill in the area with actual soil to create honest-to-not-God land. True, much of South Florida is built on drained swampland, but compared to the creation of Miami Beach, that was relatively easy. By 1915, the town would officially be incorporated, and Collins partnered with Carl Fisher and the banking Lummus brothers to turn the beach into an honest hunk of land. Collins bought the area and had more success growing crops, but that didn't mean it was anything more than a mangrove and some sand at that point. Henry and Charles didn't make very good Floridians. They tried to turn it into a coconut farm, but either rats or rabbits (depending upon which version you hear) ate the coconuts. New Jersey residents Henry Lum and son Charles decided to buy this sandbar for 25 cents an acre. In 1870, Miami Beach was a glorified sandbar and mangrove ridge. Throughout the vast majority of human existence, our species has been content with living on land that already exists and is readily inhabitable. Before we blow out those 100 candles on the Beach's cake, let's take a look at the lowlight reel. ![]() After all, not only the good times but also the tough times shape a place's character.Īnd Miami Beach has one hell of a history of crime, corruption, racism, economic downfall, and even a brush with war. But that isn't the only history that has made the Beach what it is today. You're sure to hear all about Miami Beach's proudest memories: the epic hotels, the unique architecture, the celebrities and creativity, and the unique culture. To celebrate its centennial, the city is throwing itself a grand, 100-hour celebration, and local media outlets are putting out nostalgic looks back at the Beach's finest moments. Exactly 100 years ago, March 26, 1915, the 33 registered voters of Miami Beach officially incorporated the new city.
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