Fort Lauderdale Beach Real Estate > Fort Lauderdale Beach Community Info

Fort Lauderdale Beach, part of Fort Lauderdale, is located in Broward County. Fort Lauderdale Beach has 168,000 residents. The city is the largest in Broward County and is the county seat. Greater Fort Lauderdale Beach has 23 miles of beaches. Fort Lauderdale Beach is named for Major William Lauderdale, who settled the area in 1838. The city, called the “Venice of America” because of the miles of canals, waterways and rivers, is primarily residential and a leading Florida resort area. Commercial activities include the marine industry and citrus groves.

Children living in Fort Lauderdale Beach attend Broward County Public Schools. The Fort Lauderdale Beach Parks and Recreation Department oversees 15 regional parks, 35 neighborhood parks and more than 20 natural areas. Classes, sports leagues and activities are offered for all ages. Hugh Taylor Birch State Recreation Area originally belonged to Hugh Taylor Birch, an attorney from Chicago. Beginning in 1893, Birch bought land along the beach until he owned a three-and-a-half mile stretch of beachfront property covering 180 acres. He donated the land to the state for use as a public park, which opened in July 1949. There are native biological areas in the park, including the last significant remnant of a maritime tropical hardwood forest in Broward County. A fresh water lagoon is home to ducks, hawks and wading birds. Visitors can camp, canoe, hike, fish, swim and engage in beach activities.

There are hundreds of holes of golf to be played and miles of trails to be hiked and biked. Community activities include boat shows, garden clubs, fish fries, live music, photo contests, “Taste of the Beach,” arts and crafts shows, an Easter egg hunt, pancake breakfasts, golf tournaments, the WinterFest Boat Parade and Christmas by the Sea.

Area attractions include the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Discovery and Science, the Blockbuster IMAX Theater, Sawgrass Recreation Park, the Old Fort Lauderdale Beach Museum of History, the Stranahan House, riverboat cruises and boat tours.