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This circa 1939 Map of Greater Miami, Florida provides a comprehensive view of the rapidly expanding urban landscape of Miami and its surrounding areas during the late 1930s.
Commissioned by The Miami Daily News, the map includes detailed layouts of the city and smaller communities such as Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Allapattah, Silver Bluff, Coconut Grove, Lemon City, and West Little River. The map reflects Miami's significant population and infrastructure growth during the early 20th century, which had been catalyzed by the Florida land boom, the construction of the Florida East Coast Railway, and its strategic geographic location.
In the 1920s, Miami experienced a massive population increase as northern migrants and investors flooded into the city. This period, often referred to as the "Miami Land Boom," saw rapid real estate speculation and the development of new neighborhoods and communities, many of which are included in this map. Despite setbacks such as the 1926 hurricane and the Great Depression, the city continued to grow, and by 1939, Miami's population had surged to over 170,000. This expansion is evident in the map’s depiction of newly incorporated towns like Coral Gables, Hialeah, and Miami Shores, alongside established areas such as Downtown Miami and Bayfront Park.
Key infrastructure developments that supported Miami's growth are also notable in this era. The map illustrates the layout of roads, railways, and waterways that facilitated connectivity between Miami and its neighboring areas. Significant landmarks of the 1930s such as the Civic Center, Burdine Stadium, and the Liberty Square housing complex, which opened in 1937, highlight the city’s investment in public services and housing. Additionally, recreational and cultural landmarks, including the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (1938) and Parrot Jungle (1936), had recently opened. ss to infrastructure.
The Map of Greater Miami is thus a valuable historical snapshot, capturing the dynamic growth of Miami between the two World Wars, reflecting the city's expansion, evolving infrastructure, and the challenges it faced amidst its rapid transformation.
![(18th-Century Southern Borderlands) [Collection of manuscript letters to Secretary of War James McHenry from confidential U.S. agent John McKee, relating to southern borderlands, Native Americans and Panton, Leslie & Co.; a letter from John McKee written from Mobile, Alabama, to William Blount of Blount's Conspiracy fame; a letter from William Panton concerning John McKee; and letters from Felix D. St. Hilaire, concerning General Victor Collot]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/90005.jpg)
