The term Miami-Dade County, Fla. refers to the county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. It is the most populous county in the state and the seventh most populous county in the United States. The county seat is Miami, which is also the largest city in the county. The county was created in 1836 and was originally named Dade County after Major Francis L. Dade, a soldier killed in the Second Seminole War. In 1997, the county was renamed Miami-Dade County to reflect the county's diverse population and its strong ties to the city of Miami.