The City of Miami is a coastal metropolis located in Miami-Dade County in southeastern Florida. With a population of 442,241 as of the 2020 census, it is the second-most populous city in Florida, eleventh-most populous city in the Southeast, and 44th-most populous city in the United States. Miami is the core of the nation's eighth-largest metropolitan area with 6,138,333 people. The city has the third-largest skyline in the United States with over 300 high-rises, 58 of which exceed 491 ft (150 m). 

With an extreme southern location and beach-laden peninsula, Florida is one of the most unique states. And South Florida—made up of Miami’s metropolitan area, the Florida Keys and surrounding towns and cities—only underscores that point of view.

Per a 2017 Forbes study, South Florida is home to 27 of the 400 richest people in America. It boasts 6 of the 20 richest “millionaire enclaves” and is home to the wealthiest city by income in the United States: Fisher Island. The region is often viewed as a 76-degree paradise, dripping in bling and boasting the best nightclubs, bay-front mansions and flashy cars. It is home to celebrities and pro athletes as well as business moguls and fashion models.



 

But paradoxically, cities within South Florida have a large population of citizens below the federal poverty line. Only Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee, and St. Louis ranked higher in terms of citizens living at the federal government-established poverty income level.

Rich or poor, famous or not so much, one thing is certain: The people of South Florida need Christ.

 

In this dense population zone, 78.8 percent of the population is lost. “In South Florida, you will find some of America’s wealthiest people,” said James Peoples, South Florida’s Send Region Missionary. “At the same time, you’ll find many in extreme poverty. Both the rich and the poor believe that if they just had a little more, then they would be happy. Many in South Florida lose themselves in their materialistic pursuit and try to gain as much as possible—yet they are still unsatisfied. But the hope of Christ can change that. “The Church can offer something beyond what money can buy, which is real hope in the good news of Christ,” adds Peoples. “Regardless of one’s financial status, anyone can receive the promise of eternal and abundant life in Christ.” From planting a church to partnering with those already on mission in South Florida, we can make a difference for the cause of Christ.

 

Miami is a major center and leader in finance, commerce, culture, arts, and international trade. The metro area is by far the largest urban economy in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States, with a GDP of $344.9 billion as of 2017. In 2019, Miami ranked seventh in the United States and 31st among global cities in business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement. According to a 2018 UBS study of 77 world cities, the city was ranked as the third-richest in the world and the second-richest in the United States in purchasing power. Miami is one of the largest majority-minority cities in the United States and the fourth-largest majority-Hispanic city in the United States, with 70.2% of its population being Hispanic in 2020. 

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Greater Downtown Miami has one of the largest concentrations of international banks in the United States, and is home to many large national and international companies. The Health District, home to Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami and others, is a major center for hospitals, clinics, and the biotechnology and medical research industries. Port Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world in both passenger traffic and cruise lines, and refers to itself as the "Cruise Capital of the World". Miami is also a major tourism hub for international visitors, ranking second in the country after New York City. Miami has been called the Gateway to Latin America.