Known today as a tropical paradise by day and an urban playground by night, Miami, Florida, is a vibrant coastal city that serves as the county seat of Miami-Dade County. Situated in the southern part of the Sunshine State, it anchors the expansive Miami metropolitan area, which boasts a population of 6.14 million, making it the second-largest metropolitan hub in the Southeast, surpassed only by Atlanta, Georgia. With a 2020 census population of 442,241, Miami ranks as Florida’s second-most populous city after Jacksonville. Its impressive skyline, featuring over 300 high-rises—61 of which exceed 491 feet—is the third largest in the U.S. The city’s name originates from the Miami River, itself derived from Mayaimi, the historic name for Lake Okeechobee and the indigenous people who inhabited its shores until the 17th or 18th century.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the Tequesta tribe held sway over the Miami area for approximately 2,000 years. Archaeological evidence points to a significant village at the mouth of the Miami River, dating back to 500-600 BC, home to hundreds of people.
The Enigmatic Tequesta People
The Tequesta Indians were intrinsically linked to the powerful Calusa nation. Historical accounts describe them as cruel, shrewd, and mercenary. Their practices reportedly included human sacrifice of captives, scalping, and dismemberment of slain enemies, and they were frequently accused of cannibalism. They were notoriously hostile towards European newcomers, murdering many priests, explorers, and adventurers who ventured among them or were unfortunate enough to be shipwrecked on their coast.
At the time of initial European contact, the Tequesta inhabited the southeastern Atlantic coast of Florida. Their subsistence relied on fishing, hunting, and gathering fruits and plant roots, as they did not engage in agriculture. The mysterious Miami Circle, an ancient archaeological site, is attributed to their craftsmanship. Despite their long presence, the Tequesta had only infrequent contact with Europeans and had largely migrated from the area by the mid-18th century.
European Arrival and Spanish Claims
In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon became the first European to visit the Miami region, sailing into Biscayne Bay. It remains uncertain whether he disembarked or interacted with the native inhabitants.
As white settlers began exploring and colonizing Florida, the state was home to several closely related yet dialectically distinct Indian tribes. Though residing in villages, these groups often exhibited semi-nomadic behaviors, adapting to seasonal food sources or responding to occasional floods. Their primary diet consisted of fish and game, supplemented by fruits and vegetables. As a
