<P> On November 13 , 1997 , voters changed the name of the county from Dade to Miami - Dade to acknowledge the international name recognition of Miami . Voters were acting pursuant to home rule powers granted to Dade County , including the ability to change the name of the county without the consent of the Florida Legislature . The change in name also addressed a source of public dissatisfaction with the name `` Dade '' which was chosen to honor of Francis L. Dade , who had been killed in the Dade Massacre in the 1830s . The massacre did not occur in South Florida , but in the west central part of the state , in present - day Sumter County , near Bushnell . There is also a Dade City , which is closer to the site of the massacre . </P>
<P> On November 13 , 1997 , voters changed the name of the county from Dade to Miami - Dade to acknowledge the international name recognition of Miami . Voters were acting pursuant to home rule powers granted to Dade County , including the ability to change the name of the county without the consent of the Florida Legislature . The change in name also addressed a source of public dissatisfaction with the name `` Dade '' which was chosen to honor of Francis L. Dade , who had been killed in the Dade Massacre in the 1830s . The massacre did not occur in South Florida , but in the west central part of the state , in present - day Sumter County , near Bushnell . There is also a Dade City , which is closer to the site of the massacre . </P>
when did dade county become miami dade county
when did dade county become miami dade county
November 13 , 1997
November 13 , 1997