Miramar is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, part of the Miami metropolitan area and one of the region's larger suburbs. Incorporated in 1955, the city began as a planned residential development on former agricultural land in southwestern Broward County, conceived by developer A.L. Mailman to provide affordable housing for Miami-area commuters. At incorporation it held fewer than 200 residents; it was named for the Miramar neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, where Mailman kept a summer home. The Spanish name translates to 'look at the sea,' even though the city lies inland. From that modest start, Miramar grew into a diverse, family-oriented community of roughly 135,000 people, ranking as the fourth-largest city in Broward County. Its growth accelerated as Broward County's suburbs expanded westward. The city's neighborhoods span mid-century single-family subdivisions in the older eastern sections and newer gated and lakefront communities such as SilverLakes and Monarch Lakes in the west. The Miramar Town Center area has emerged as a downtown-style focal point with civic buildings and nearby residential development. Education is provided by Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation's largest districts, and recreation centers on the 173-acre Miramar Regional Park, which offers sports fields, an aquatics complex, and an amphitheater, plus more than forty neighborhood parks. Major roadways including Interstate 75 and Florida's Turnpike place Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the region's airports and seaports within convenient reach. For families and professionals, Miramar offers a suburban setting with strong highway access, a large park system, and a diverse community, positioning it as a practical and growing corner of Broward County.