The
larger metropolitan Miami with a population over 5
million, has experienced explosive population growth in recent years driven by internal
and migration from other parts of the country as
well as by immigration. Greater Miami is regarded as a cultural
melting pot, heavily influenced both by its very large
population of ethnic
Latin American and
Caribbean islanders. The region's importance as an international financial and
cultural center has elevated Miami to the status of
International City; because of its cultural and linguistic ties to
all of the Americas and the Caribbean it is sometimes called "The Gateway of
the Americas." Miami, ranks as one of the most important business centers
in the Southeastern United States.
