There was a time when Fort Lauderdale was known as the Spring Break capital of Florida, but times change. Fort Lauderdale has grown up, if you will, and has become more sophisticated.
Sure you still have the beach and the famous “Strip” that has been there since it’s hay day, but now there is so much more to love about the city. Known as the place where the very popular 1960 film “Where the Boys Are” was shot and also the 1986 film “Flight of The Navigator”; the Arts are still very important to the city.
Located approximately 20 miles north of Miami and 40 miles south of Palm Beach; Fort Lauderdale covers 33 square miles, is the 7th largest city in Florida and largest of the 30 municipalities that make up Broward County. The Cypress Creek Canal separates the northwest section of the city as it flows under I-95.
History of Fort Lauderdale
Known as the “Venice of America” because of it’s extensive, intricate canal system the area that is now called Fort Lauderdale was inhabited for more than 1,000 years by the Tequesta Indians. Before the 20th century Fort Lauderdale was known as the “New River Settlement” and in the 1830’s there were about 70 settlers along the river.
The original stockade named Fort Lauderdale was built in 1838 but was abandoned in 1842, after the Second Seminole War. “Fort Lauderdale” takes its name from three Forts, the first, which was built at the fork of the New River, then one at Tarpon Bend and the last in the Bahia Mar Marina area. The ‘Lauderdale’ part of the name comes from Major William Lauderdale, the commander of the soldiers who built the first fort.
Fort Lauderdale Strip
It wasn’t until 1896 when the Florida East Coast Railroad built a route through the area that the real development began. In 1911 the city was incorporated, in 1915 it became the county seat of Broward County, which had just been formed. It was during the Florida land boom of the 1920’s that the first real development of Ft. Lauderdale began and when World War II began the area became a US Navy base including a Naval Air Station, with training schools for both radar and fire control operators, there was also a Coast Guard base set up at Port Everglades.
Fort Lauderdale Today
Today it is estimated that there are over 185,000 people in the City of Ft. Lauderdale itself and over 5 million in the South Florida Metro Area, of which Ft. Lauderdale is a principal part. In 2006, it was further estimated that 10 million visitors came to visit the then some 4,100 restaurants and 120 nightclubs in the area making the city a very popular tourist destination; it is also a major yachting center.
Weather
The best word to describe the climate of Fort Lauderdale is tropical; it has hot humid summers and dry, warm winters. The average temperature of any month has never gotten below 64.4 degrees, in the summer temperatures can climb to 100 degrees, especially when you factor in the humidity. As is true with all of Florida, Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to November 30th, but don’t worry Fort Lauderdale hasn’t taken a direct hit since 1964 when Hurricane Cleo hit, in 2005 Katrina and Wilma came close but weren’t direct hits. With all this perfect beach weather and all the beaches Fort Lauderdale takes its public safety very seriously there are lifeguard stations dotted all along the sand.
Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale has an extensive Art and Entertainment district that runs east-west along Las Olas Blvd, from the beach to the heart of the city. This is where you’ll find the Broward Center for the Performing Arts as well as the “Elbow Room”, which was featured in ‘Where the Boys Are”. In March, the city also hosts the annual Langerado music festival, where everything from Rap to Reggae is welcomed. As for dinning, dancing and shopping, be sure to check out the trendy Riverfront.
Places to Stay in Fort Lauderdale
Old Southern charm in the heart of a city is what you’ll find at the Lafayette in Ft. Lauderdale. If a resort is more your style try the Ocean Sky Hotel and Resort or the Sea Club Resort located right on the beach. For the smaller budget the Days Inn Ft. Lauderdale/ Oakland Park or the Red Carpet Inn Airport are great for business travelers or those with more simple needs.