Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Fort Lauderdale, a coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida, is situated along the Atlantic Ocean 30 miles (48 km) north of Miami. With an estimated 182,760 residents as of the 2020 census, it was the county seat and largest city in Broward County, ranking eighth in Florida. The Miami metropolitan region has a population of 6,166,488 in 2019. Fort Lauderdale is the second principal city (as recognized by the U.S. government) in the Miami metropolitan area, following Miami. 

Fort Lauderdale, which was established in 1838 and named after a string of American forts constructed during the Second Seminole War, was originally incorporated in 1911. Major William Lauderdale (1782–1838), the younger brother of Lieutenant Colonel James Lauderdale, gave the forts their name. After the forts were abandoned at the end of the war, it took 50 years for the city to start growing. There were three "Fort Lauderdale" forts built: the first at the New River's fork, the second at Tarpon Bend on the river between the modern neighborhoods of Colee Hammock and Rio Vista, and the third not far from the Bahia Mar Marina. 

Called the "Venice of America," "165 miles of inland canals crisscross Fort Lauderdale. 

Fort Lauderdale has a diverse economy that includes, in addition to tourism, the marine, manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, high technology, avionics/aerospace, film, and television industries. With an average annual temperature of 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) and 3,000 hours of sunlight, the city is a well-liked vacation destination. In 2018, Greater Fort Lauderdale, which includes all of Broward County, welcomed almost 13 million overnight visitors. Port Everglades is the third-largest cruise port in the world, receiving close to 4 million cruise passengers annually. Fort Lauderdale is sometimes referred to be the yachting capital of the world because it has over 50,000 registered yachts and 100 marinas." 

Climate 

In terms of precipitation, Fort Lauderdale has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), which is just a little bit higher than a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am). Although there isn't a genuine dry season in the city, May through October sees the majority of the annual rainfall. Although the winters are generally dry and sunny, drought can occasionally be a problem. 

USDA hardiness zone 10b is where Fort Lauderdale is located. 

The wet season lasts from May through October, and the average high temperature ranges from 86 to 90 °F (30 to 32 °C) and the average low temperature ranges from 73 to 78 °F (23 to 26 °C). More than half of summer days during this time may feature brief afternoon or evening thunderstorms with lightning and heavy downpours. On June 22, 2009, and August 4, 1944, 100 °F (38 °C), the record high temperature, was observed. 

The dry season often starts around the end of November and lasts until the beginning or middle of April. Weather that is in season is frequently warm, dry, and sunny. The dry season typically has highs of 75–83 °F (24–28 °C) and lows of 60–70 °F (16–21 °C). Rarely, cool fronts may reach Fort Lauderdale all the way from the north, bringing with them a day or two of highs in the 60s °F (16–21 °C) and lows in the 40s °F (4–10 °C). Every few decades, there are rare frosts, and the only time snow flurries have been documented in the air in history was on January 19, 1977. In many years, brush fires can be a worry during the dry season (winter). 

The amount of precipitation is 60.95 inches (1,550 mm) on average per year, with the most of it falling from May through October. But even in the dryer months from November through April, rainfall occurs every month. An average of 131 days per year see precipitation in Fort Lauderdale. Major hurricanes are most likely to hit the city or state in September and October during the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Along with Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma, which both slammed the city in 2005, Hurricane Irma in 2017 was the most recent hurricane to have a direct impact on the area. Additional direct impacts included Hurricane King in 1950, Hurricane Cleo in 1964, and the Hurricane that devastated Fort Lauderdale in 1947. 

Economy 

The economy of Fort Lauderdale has changed over time. The city was popular with college students for spring break from the 1940s to the 1980s. However, the number of college students has since decreased as the city now draws more affluent visitors. The foundation for a large portion of the money made by tourism is provided by cruise ships and maritime activities. A convention center with 600,000 square feet (55,742 m2) of space, including a 200,000-square-foot (18,581 m2) main exhibit hall, is located southeast of downtown and west of the beach. Conventions held at the facility are attended by about 30 percent of the city's 10 million yearly visitors. 

Beginning in 2002, the downtown area underwent initial reconstruction and is now home to a large number of brand-new hotels and high-rise condominium buildings. While other cities in the county having commercial centers, the city's core business district is the county's largest downtown. Las Olas River House, Las Olas Grand, 110 Tower (formerly AutoNation Tower), Bank of America Plaza, One Financial Plaza, Broward Financial Center, One East Broward Boulevard, Barnett Bank Plaza, PNC Center, New River Center, One Corporate Center, SunTrust Centre, 101 Tower, and SouthTrust Tower are just a few examples of office buildings and high-rises in the area. 

A significant yacht servicing and manufacturing hub is Fort Lauderdale. In the county, the boating industry supports around 109,000 jobs. With its numerous canals, close proximity to the Bahamas, and home port to 42,000 vessels, 100 marinas, and boatyards, it is also a well-liked yachting vacation destination. The largest boat exhibition in the world, the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, also draws over 125,000 visitors to the area each year. 

Culture and the Arts 

The city's population varies significantly from season to season, similar to many other areas of Florida, as "snowbirds" from the north of the United States, Canada, and Europe spend the winter and spring in Florida. The city is well-known for its bars, nightclubs, and history as a spring break destination for tens of thousands of college students during the 1960s and 1970s. Yet from the middle of the 1980s, the city has actively prevented college students from visiting the region by enacting stringent legislation designed to stop the chaos that prevailed in the 1970s and 1980s. Over spring break 1985, the city welcomed approximately 350,000 student travelers; by 1989, that number had decreased to about 20,000. Throughout the 1990s, Fort Lauderdale has become more and more popular with individuals wanting a year-round or seasonal resort lifestyle. It also frequently serves as a host city for numerous professional venues, concerts, and art exhibitions. 

The Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District in Fort Lauderdale extends along Las Olas Boulevard from the shore to the center of the city, running east to west. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts serves as the district's western anchor, and it extends through the city to the Las Olas and A1A crossroads. The Elbo Room pub, which was featured in the 1960 movie Where the Boys Are, is located at this crossroads, which serves as the "ground zero" of Fort Lauderdale Beach and contributed significantly to the city's prior status as a spring break hotspot. Over 4,100 restaurants and over 120 nightclubs can be found in the city and its surrounds, many of which are located in the arts and entertainment zone. The city also served as the backdrop for the 1986 motion picture Flight of the Navigator and is home to the Langerado music festival each year. According to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the county hosted over 1.3 million LGBT visitors in 2013, who spent about $1.5 billion at local eateries, hotels, attractions, and stores. 

Sports 

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, who participated in the most recent North American Soccer League season, called Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale their home. The original Fort Lauderdale Strikers, who competed in the first season of the North American Soccer League, called it their home. From 1998 to 2001, this stadium served as the home field for the Miami Fusion of Major League Soccer. From 2003 to 2010, Florida Atlantic University's football team played their home games at Lockhart Stadium. 

At Fort Lauderdale Stadium, the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals once held their spring training games. 

The International Swimming Hall of Fame's Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex is also located in Fort Lauderdale. It has two competitive pools of 25 yards (23 meters) by 50 meters and a diving well measuring 20 yards by 25 yards (23 meters). Since it opened in 1965, the complex has been utilized in numerous national and international events and is accessible to residents of Fort Lauderdale. From Catie Ball's 100-meter breaststroke record in 1966 to Michael Phelps' 400-meter individual medley record in 2002, ten world records have been established there. 

As the interim home of 2020 MLS expansion team Inter Miami CF until Miami Freedom Park was completed, DRV PNK Stadium was opened in 2020 as the venue for Inter Miami CF II (formerly Fort Lauderdale CF), which competed in USL League One from 2020 to 2021 and MLS Next Pro from 2022. 

Since it opened in 1950, the War Memorial Auditorium has staged professional wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts events. With plans to remodel the space and add hockey facilities, the Florida Panthers and the venue inked a 50-year lease in 2019. 

Government 

The form of government in Fort Lauderdale is called Commission-Manager. The mayor and the four district commission members make up the city commission, which has five elected members. The term limit for mayors was added to the municipal code in 1998. Currently, the mayor of Fort Lauderdale is elected to a three-year term, and they are only allowed to serve three terms in a row. Dean Trantalis, who took over as mayor in 2018, succeeded Jack Seiler. Jim Naugle served as mayor for the longest, from 1991 to 2009. A city manager, who is chosen by the municipal commission, handles administrative duties. Fire and emergency medical services are provided by the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department. 

In 1911, Kossie A. Goodbread was chosen by the Town Council of Fort Lauderdale to serve as the city's first City Marshal. G. D. Tenbrook was the first person to hold the position of Chief of Police after being appointed Marshal in 1920. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department expanded from two to 26 officers between 1924 and 1926. Scott Israel served in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department from 1979 to 2004 before becoming the county's sheriff and the police chief in Opa-locka. The department had 499 officers as of 2022. 

Population 

The city of Fort Lauderdale is situated in Florida's Broward County. It serves as Broward County's County seat as well. It is the 142nd largest city in the United States and the 10th largest city in Florida with a projected population of 187,932 in 2023. Fort Lauderdale's population has grown by 2.83% from the most recent census, which showed a population of 182,760 in 2020, and is now rising at a pace of 0.93% annually. Fort Lauderdale, which spans more than 36 miles, has a population density of 5,434 persons per square mile. 

Fort Lauderdale has an 18.24% poverty rate and a $99,308 average household income. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. In Fort Lauderdale, the average age is 42 years, 43 years for men, and 40.4 years for women.