Top 5 Things You May Not Know About North Miami Beach

North Miami Beach A.K.A., "The Perfect City!"

When North Miami Beach caught the eye of Captain William H. Fulford during his Coast Guard patrol along the Atlantic side of the peninsula, Spanish-American War era, he envisioned it as a retreat from the fury of the Atlantic.

But he wasn't the only one with a vision for North Miami Beach.

In 1912, Lae Allen, a former newspaper owner, came to Florida with an associate and purchased Captain Fulford's original grant and an additional property to develop and sell lots. 

Eventually, in 1917, the duo purchased 557 acres of land, armed with a vision of the "Perfect City" — 80-foot wide residential streets, 100 and 125-foot wide business thoroughfares, and a serene place for locals to call home.

Today, North Miami Beach's street layout is as the pioneer pictured it in 1917, and though it's far from "perfect," North Miami Beach is thriving and developing as Lae Allen and Captain Fulford expected!

The "Fulford-By-The-Sea"...At Least Until 1931!

Did you know North Miami Beach had a different name back in 1926?

When Captain William H. Fulford of the U.S. Coast Guard discovered the area amid lowlands, marshes, and mangroves, he originally named it "Fulford-By-The-Sea."

Then, when the hurricane of 1926 ended the South Florida real estate boom, residents came together to alleviate their losses and the city damages, turning the community into the "Town of Fulford," eventually incorporated as the "City of Fulford!"

However, in 1931, the City of Fulford was renamed into North Miami Beach, which is the name we now all know and love!

The Forgotten Fulford-Miami Speedway

Before the creation of the famous Homestead-Miami Speedway, South Florida had another auto-racing capital of South Florida, located right in North Miami Beach!

In fact, it was in 1925 when Carl Fisher, the developer for the Indianapolis Speedway, built the Fulford-Miami Speedway, which was envisioned as the winter auto racing capital of the world.

Back then, Fulford-Miami Speedway was the world's fastest 1-1/4 mile "board track" (a wooden, oval race track), with outstanding features like 50-degree banked turns so steep they required a speed of at least 110 miles per hour to keep the race car from sliding down into the infield!

In 1926, the Fulford-Miami Speedway, located at the northern end of Flagler Boulevard (NE 19th Avenue), held its first and only racing event with a crowd of 20,000 spectators for up to $15 for a box seat!

However, during the hurricane of the same year, Fulford-Miami Speedway was demolished and now only remains a significant part of North Miami Beach's history.

North Miami Beach's Sister Cities

Like all other areas around South Florida, the City of North Miami Beach and the Mayor and Commission recognize the residents' special relationship with NMB's Sister Cities.

And if you'd like to know which cities we're talking about, here's a list of North Miami Beach's Sister Cities (in no particular order):

• City of San Pedro Sula, Honduras 
• City of Lucca, Italy
• City of Migdal, Israel 
• City of Ping Jenn, Taiwan, Republic of China City of Sosua, Dominican Republic
• City of Gonaives, Haiti 
• The City of Accra, Republic of Ghana
• City of Tabarre, Haiti
• City of La Chapelle, Haiti

The City of North Miami Beach established relationships with these cities for information sharing and cultural exchange to enhance North Miami Beach's diverse and rich cultural heritage and, of course, as a gesture of friendship!

You have to admit, that gave you an idea of which country to visit for your out-of-the-country trip, didn't it?

Take A Ride On The NMB Line!

Are you going somewhere around North Miami Beach?

Take a FREE ride on the North Miami Beach Line!

Known as NMB Line, this free, comfortable, and reliable transportation offers five routes six days per week to specific destinations in the city and immediate hotspots like the Aventura Mall, Golden Glades Interchange, Florida International University, and more!

But don't be fooled by their "old-town" facade!

These vintage-style trolleys carry multiple surveillance cameras to ensure rider safety, onboard Wi-Fi, and real-time arrival updates accessible through the "NMB Transit app."

Think of them as Uber rides — but cuter and, best of all, free of charge!