Unless you’re into golf or live in South Florida, you may never have heard of Doral, a 15-square-mile city wedged between Miami International Airport and the sultry green expanse of the Everglades.
That would be understandable. This rapidly growing city — home to large employers like Carnival Cruise Lines, lushly landscaped suburban neighborhoods and a vibrant new downtown district — is only 23 years old.
“It’s kind of my baby, in a way,” said Juan Carlos Bermudez, the founding mayor, now a lawyer representing the city as a member of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
Location: West of Miami and Hialeah, between Miami International Airport and the Everglades.
Population: 81,634, up nearly 79 percent since 2010 (U.S. Census Bureau)
Area: 15 square miles
Housing: 47 percent owner-occupied (U.S. Census Bureau)
The Vibe: Small bustling city, with a pan-Latin, tropical feel that infuses all aspects of life. (Eighty six percent of the population identifies as having Hispanic or Latin heritage, like much of Miami-Dade County.)
