Fort Lauderdale, known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate canal system, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 152,397. The city is also sometimes referred to as "Fort Liquordale" because of its beaches, many bars, nightclubs, strip clubs, and overall party atmosphere.[1] According to the 2004U.S. Census Bureau's Estimates, the city grew to 164,578. Annexation of unincorporated areas in 2005 has boosted the city population to 170,823. It is the county seat of Broward County, and forms a part of the South Florida metropolitan area.
Fort Lauderdale has a Commission-Manager form of government. City policy is set by a city commission of five elected members; the mayor and four district commission members. Administrative functions are performed by a City manager, who is appointed by the city commission.
Mayors of Fort Lauderdale
The mayor of Fort Lauderdale serves a three-year term, no greater than six consecutive terms, for a total of eighteen years. The current mayor, Jim Naugle, will be ineligible for reelection in 2009.
Fort Lauderdale is located at (26.135763, -80.141810).
Fort Lauderdale beach sunrise
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 93.3 km² (36.0 mi²). 82.2 km² (31.7 mi²) of it is land and 11.1 km² (4.3 mi²) of it (11.91%) is water. Fort Lauderdale is known for its extensive network of canals, and is an especially popular destination for fishing and yachting.
The city of Fort Lauderdale is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, and includes several miles of beachfront. borders the following municipalities on its outside borders:
The northwesternmost section of Fort Lauderdale is separate from the remainder of the city, except for the Cypress Creek Canal as it flows under I-95. This section of Fort Lauderdale borders the cities of Tamarac and Oakland Park on its south side.Oakland Park also borders Fort Lauderdale on the west side of its northeastern portion. The greater portion of Fort Lauderdale in the south is bordered, along its north side by Wilton Manors.
The first inhabitants of the land were Seminole Indians who arrived in the 18th century. During the Second Seminole War, Major William Lauderdale led his Tennessee Volunteers into the area and raised New River Fort on the site of the modern city in 1838. In 1893, a young Ohioan named Frank Stranahan arrived and built a house that served as the first trading post, post office, bank and town hall of the area. The house was built near the site of the New River Fort and still stands today as a museum. Fort Lauderdale was officially incorporated as a town in 1911 and began as a predominantly agricultural community, raising dairy cows and citrus groves. The city and its surrounding suburbs have experienced tremendous growth following the end of World War II.
In one of the city's worst traffic disasters, on March 17, 1993, an Amtrak passenger train collided with a loaded Hessgasoline truck at the Cypress Creek Road crossing of the CSX Railroad track in north Fort Lauderdale. The truck was unable to move due to heavy rush hour traffic. The collision and fire killed the truck driver and as well as five motorists that were stopped at the crossing. Nobody on the train was seriously injured.
Intersection of Las Olas and A1A. Fort Lauderdale beach, once notoriously crowded during Spring Break, still attracts a large number of seasonal tourists
Fort Lauderdale's economy is heavily reliant on tourism. During the 1970s, the city was known as a spring break destination for college students; since the 1980s, police have cracked down on underage drinking and other illicit activity, and the tourist dollars have been largely redirected toward cruise ships and other nauticalrecreation. In the last few years however, Fort Lauderdale has welcomed back spring breakers with open arms, due in part to the large infusion of cash for the local economy they provide. Police for their part have kept problems to a minimum, and the scene is nowhere near the anarchy of the 1970s and 1980s crowds. Today the entertainment district runs West to East along Las Olas Boulevard, from the heart of downtown to the beach. The district is anchored in the West by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and runs through the city to arrive at the intersection of Las Olas and A1A. This intersection is the "ground zero" of Fort Lauderdale Beach, and is the site of the "Elbo Room" bar featured in the 1960's film Where the Boys Are, which led in large measure to the city's former reputation as a spring break mecca.
Fort Lauderdale is a major manufacturing and maintenance center for yachts. The boating industry is responsible for over 100,000 jobs in the area. With its many canals, and proximity to the Bahamas and Caribbean, it is also a popular yachting vacation stop. The boating industry is in transition as high land cost are forcing marinas to sell and relocate out of the area. Addtionally, the number of boat slips are declining as marinas are more actively seeking the large mega-yachts.
Fort Lauderdale skyline, featuring Las Olas River House, completed in 2004
Local transportation includes Broward County Transit (BCT), which is the county bus system. BCT provides for connections with the bus systems in other parts of the metropolitan area: Metrobus in Miami-Dade County and Palm Tran in Palm Beach County. Tri-Rail, a commuter rail system, connects the major cities and airports of South Florida. Broward County voters may soon be asked to approve a 1-cent tax to fund transportation projects such as light rail and expanding the bus system.
Several railroads pass through Fort Lauderdale. Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) and CSX Systems are freight lines. Amtrak provides passenger service to other cities on the Atlantic coast, and Tri-Rail provides commuter service from Palm Beach County, through Broward County/Fort Lauderdale, and into Miami-Dade County.
Fort Lauderdale is served by Port Everglades, the nation's 2nd busiest cruise port. It is Florida's deepest port, and is an integral petroleum receiving point.
Broward County is served by three Major Interstates (I-75, I-95, I-595) and some U.S. Highways including U.S. Route 1, US 27 and US 441. It is also served by Florida's Turnpike and State Highway 869, also known as the Sawgrass Expressway.
As space becomes increasingly unavailable in and around Fort Lauderdale, high-rises are springing up in formerly single family and light industrial areas. This rapid development faces intense opposition from many longtime residents.
As of the census of 2000, there were 152,397 people, 68,468 households, and 33,001 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,854.4/km² (4,803.1/mi²). There were 80,862 housing units at an average density of 984.0/km² (2,548.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.27% White, 28.88% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.45% of the population.
There were 68,468 households out of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.8% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 110.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,887, and the median income for a family was $46,175. Males had a median income of $34,478 versus $27,230 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,798. About 13.8% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Fort Lauderdale is a popular location for gay and lesbian residents and visitors. In the last decade many gays and lesbians have moved to the city in rather large numbers. Fort Lauderdale is also home to the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.
