About Our Community

Fort Lauderdale is the city you never want to leave. From the rich, natural beauty of our world-famous beach, waterways, and cultural offerings, to the array of entertainment and educational opportunities,

 Fort Lauderdale offers an outstanding quality of life.

Our 165-miles of scenic inland waterways wind through the city, highlighting what makes Fort Lauderdale unique and why it truly lives up to its designation as the “Venice of America.”

Our semi-tropical climate is highlighted by more than 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and pleasant year-round ocean breezes. 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 College, Florida Atlantic University, the award-winning Broward County Main Library, federal, county and school district offices.

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 is establishing itself as a world-class international business center and one of the most desirable locations for new, expanding or relocating businesses.

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.

Our History

The City of Fort Lauderdale is named for a Second Seminole War fortification built on the banks of the New River in 1838. 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 survive today.

Incorporated on March 27, 1911, encompassing approximately 36 square miles with an estimated population of 186,220, Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward County's 31 municipalities and one of the ten largest cities in Florida.