Also known as the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale or Ft. Lauderdale is bordered by the Lauderdale by the Sea and Sea Ranch Lakes on the east, Hollywood and Dania Beach on the south, Plantation and Lauderdale Lakes on the west, and Pompano Beach and Wilton Manors on the north.
It also includes 7 miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean.
Fort Lauderdale’s northwest section is separated by from the rest of the city and is only connected via the Cypress Creek Canal.
Historically, the city was founded by the Tequesta Indians some 2,000 years ago when it was still a largely undeveloped area. It was only known as the “New River Settlement.”
The area then served as a stockade in 1838 before it was abandoned after the Second Seminole War in 1842.
It was only in 1893 to 1896 that the area became populated as a result of Florida East Coast Railroad’s construction.The city was incorporated in 1911 and became the Broward county seat four years after.
The city’s development began during the 1920 Florida boom but was also greatly hampered during the Second World War when the area served as a major US base where naval air pilots were trained. Today, Fort Lauderdale serves as one of the most thriving Florida cities that have continually attracted investors, tourists, A-list celebrities and businessmen.
Ft. Lauderdale has a Commission-manager type of government. The U.S. Postal Service operates its office at 1900 West Oakland Park.
Getting around the city is easy as residents are served by the Broward County Transit, which also connected with other bus systems in the area including Metrobus of the Dade County and Palm Tran of the Palm Beach County.
The city is also served by the commuter trail system of the Tri-Rail, which brings residents to major South Florida cities. There are currently four major railroads serving the city. Both the CSX Transportation and FEC are freight lines, while Amtrak brings passengers to Atlantic coast cities via the Ft. Lauderdale Station. Tri-Rail interconnects Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Fort Lauderdale residents also have easy access to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport located at Dania Beach. Port Everglades is also located at the city. It is one of the busiest cruise port in the country.
Nearby Attractions
Fort Lauderdale, aside from its pristine beaches, has a lot of interesting places to visit. This includes historical landmarks and structures that were included in the National Register of Historic Places such as the Bonnet House, Dr. Willard Van Orsdel King House and Stranahan House. Along the riverside of the New River is the former house of the well-known mobster Bugsy Siegel.
The district is home to more than 4,000 restaurants, 132 nightclubs, 100 marinas with over 45,000 yachts, 16 museums, 63 golf courses, 12 shopping centers, and 278 parkland campsites so residents indeed have a load of things in their plate. This is also one of the reasons why tourist flock Fort Lauderdale. There are just so many places to explore.
For one, Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop is a popular flea market home to the world’s biggest drive-in movie theater equipped with 13 screens.
International Swimming Hall of Fame is an interesting place that houses research libraries, museum, theater and even a huge aquatic complex. To explore the natural wonder of the city, residents head out to the 180-acre Hugh Taylor Birch State Park that features hiking trails, picnic areas, and canoe areas.
Of course, a visit to Ft. Lauderdale wouldn’t be complete without stepping into the Everglades.
Another favorite among tourists are the Las Olas Boulevard and the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District where a host of activities await.
Fort Lauderdale Real Estate
Fort Lauderdale is home to an estimated total population of 178,590, representing a 7.9% change in residents. Covering a total area of 38.6 square miles, the city has a population density of 4,626.68 persons per square mile.
Many of the residents in Fort Lauderdale are single or never married individuals. The median age in the city is 41 years old, mostly working individuals with a median household income of $48,852.
Residents greatly benefit from the numerous educational systems in the city as about 36% of them have college degrees.
About 60% of the properties in Fort Lauderdale are owner-occupied. In the 75,000 households in the city, about 19.7% are vacant. Other properties are being rented out with an average monthly rent of $2,100. Due to the recent influx of tourists, rental rates have gone up by 2% in the past month.