Doral

About Doral

Doral is a municipality in Florida's Miami-Dade County, located just a mile from Miami International Airport and 12 miles from Miami's downtown area. The Ronald Reagan Turnpike lies on Doral's western side, and the Palmetto Expressway is on its eastern border. A quickly-growing population calls Doral home, and the city also hosts tens of thousands of daily commuters during the work-week. It's a relatively young city, but it's already attracting attention from major businesses and a diverse population of new residents.

The Founding of Doral

In the late 1950s, real estate moguls Doris and Alfred Kaskel purchased 2,400 acres of swampland where Doral now sits. They built a hotel and country club with several golf courses on the site and named it Doral, a blend of their first names. Now called the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, the site today hosts several key tournaments, including an annual PGA event.

The Kaskels' grandson Bill went on to develop the land around the resort in the early 1980s. Young families flocked to the communities he called Doral Estates and Doral Park, attracted to the affordable housing and quality lifestyle. Residents began to campaign for incorporation in 1995, and finally got their way in 2003 when Doral was officially recognized as a city.

The Doral Economy

Doral's unemployment rate sits below the national average, which is good news if you're planning to join the local job market. The city has a very strong economy thanks to its diverse array of businesses. Doral is home to more than 250 company headquarters and more than 100 multinational companies.

Household names, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Carnival Cruise Lines, Sears Roebuck & Co., Univision Network Limited and Walmart, are just some of the major employers in Doral. The trade and logistics field is especially strong, with thousands of companies in this industry sector represented in the Florida city. Fourteen local business parks help nurture industries in Doral and provide convenient office locations for commuters and locals alike.

Doral Schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is responsible for Doral's public schools. You can also consider Doral's many charter schools, or the Divine Savior Academy, the city's largest private school.

Although Doral isn't as large as other major cities in Florida, it's still host to a generous number of higher education institutions. Carlos Albizu University, Miami Dade College's West Campus, Millennia Atlantic University and West Coast University are among your choices if you're considering pursuing a college degree.

Resources for Moving to Doral

Here are a few resources to make your move to Doral as easy as possible:

• Utilities: Florida Power & Light (FPL) provides electricity to Doral, while water services are managed by Miami-Dade County.
• Garbage and Recycling: A handful of private companies provide trash and recyclables collection in Doral, all monitored by the city to ensure compliance and quality service.
• Transportation: The Doral Trolley is a free, fixed-route transit system that offers transportation around the city.

Doral Housing

Doral has a variety of housing options to suit all tastes, from low-maintenance apartments and townhouses to modern homes and exclusive properties in private gated communities. The median home price in Doral is only slightly more expensive than the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area average.