About Fort Lauderdale
City of Fort Lauderdale Overview
 Incorporated
on March 27, 1911, the City of Fort Lauderdale is situated
on the southeast coast of Florida, centrally
located
between
Miami
and Palm
Beach. Encompassing more than 33 square miles with a population
of nearly 190,000, Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward
County's 30 municipalities and the seventh largest city in
Florida. Embraced by the Atlantic Ocean, New River and a
myriad of
scenic inland
waterways,
Fort Lauderdale
truly lives up to its designation as the "Venice of
America."
The City of Fort Lauderdale is named for a Second Seminole War fortification built on the banks of New River in 1838. In that year, Major William Lauderdale led a detachment of Tennessee Volunteers south along the east coast of Florida to capture Seminole agricultural lands and battle the elusive Indian warriors. Altogether, three forts named after Major Lauderdale would be constructed: the first at the fork of New River; the second at Tarpon Bend; and the largest on the beach at the site of Bahia Mar.
None of the forts survives today. There is more historical information at http://www.oldfortlauderdale.org/.
An advantageous economic climate
is helping the City of Fort Lauderdale establish itself
as a world-class international business
center and one of the most desirable locations for new,
expanding or relocating businesses. Once known strictly
as a tourism-based economy, Fort Lauderdale now supports
a diverse range of industries, including marine, manufacturing,
finance, insurance, real estate, high technology, avionics/aerospace,
film and television production.
Fort Lauderdale also offers an outstanding quality of life,
highlighted by a semi-tropical climate, rich natural beauty
and array of cultural, entertainment and educational amenities.
Blessed with over 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and pleasant
year-round ocean breezes, world-famous Fort Lauderdale Beach
offers premier opportunities for recreation,
relaxation
and
enjoyment.
The
picturesque
Riverwalk serves as the cornerstone of the City's arts, science,
cultural and historic district which features the Broward
Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of Discovery and Science,
Museum of Art and Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum.
Las Olas Boulevard has gained international acclaim as Fort
Lauderdale's centerpiece of fashion, fine dining and entertainment.
In addition, the City's downtown area is home to Broward
Community College, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International
University, the award-winning Broward County Main Library,
federal, county and school district offices.
Through the cooperative efforts of residents, businesses
and local government, Fort Lauderdale has evolved into a
City that offers the best of both worlds - an attractive
business environment and an outstanding quality of life.
Fort Lauderdale is a great place to live, work and raise
a family, and the City looks forward to continuing to build
upon its success to meet the
challenges
of the 21st
Century
and beyond.
Location
Fort Lauderdale is located in the east-central portion of
Broward County, Florida approximately 23 miles north of Miami
and 42 miles south of Palm Beach. The City shares boundaries
with nine other municipalities, as well as unincorporated
areas of the County. Encompassing more than 33 square miles
with a population of nearly 167,000, Fort Lauderdale is the
seventh largest city in Florida and the largest of Broward
County’s 30 municipalities.
Useful Links
Here are some other links to sites with useful information:
Relocation Information
Many real estate agents will provide free relocation
information, as well as information on housing and neighborhoods.
Try searching on a site such as Yahoo! or Google for "relocating
to Fort Lauderdale." You can also find many sites with
information on rentals and home prices.
Selected Statistics for the City of Fort Lauderdale
Total Population (2005; estimated) |
187,160 |
Average Household Size |
2.78 |
Median Household Income |
$37,887 |
Median Family Income |
$46,175 |
Miles of Public Beach |
7 |
Miles of Navigable Waterways |
165 |
Public Parks |
85 |
Acres of Public Parks |
972.5 |
Boat Slips and Moorings |
200 |
See a complete list of Statistics, Demographic Data, and
Selected Population and Housing Characteristics  .
(Note: None of the above third-party sites are officially
sponsored or endorsed by the City of Fort Lauderdale.)
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