Fort Lauderdale, the city in South Florida has fittingly earned the nickname of “Venice of America”. A well-deserved nickname indeed, having in mind its lovely boating canals. The city offers its visitors 23 miles of golden sandy beaches, beachfront promenades, shopping, and dining. And it doesn’t stop there! For the sailor in you, Fort Lauderdale offers world-class sailing in the blue-green waters on a catamaran or diving beneath the surface to experience the local sea life. Take a look below for 30 amazing and awesome facts about Fort Lauderdale.
1. Fort Lauderdale is also known as the yachting capital of the world and a premium tourist destination.
2. Yachting is a way of life in Fort Lauderdale! The city boasts with more than 100 marinas and 50,000 registered yachts.
3. It’s also the site of the world’s largest boat show – Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
4. Greater Fort Lauderdale includes all of Broward County, Florida, and 31 cities and municipalities.
5. Initially, there were three Fort Lauderdales. The first was established in 1838.
6. Integrated in 1911, Fort Lauderdale was largely built out by 1970.
7. The oldest section of the city is the Himmarshee Historic District with many buildings dating back to the Florida land boom of the 1920s.
8. Today Himmarshee Village is a blooming collection of bars, music sites, eclectic clubs, cafes, and restaurants.
9. After the 1920s, the area began to develop. What made that possible? The invention of air conditioning!
10. Before it was named Fort Lauderdale the city was called ‘Little River Settlement’.
11. On the 18th of September 1926, Fort Lauderdale experienced the worst hurricane. The damage caused by the storm represented an ending to the land boom. It literally sent the area into an economic depression.
12. Fort Lauderdale has more than 300 miles of inland canals that are also known as the Intracoastal Waterway.
13. Safe from many of the hazards of open-ocean travel, the waterways are a fundamental component of the city’s economy, culture, and recreation.
14. Clean beaches with perfect sand are a trademark for Fort Lauderdale.
15. Six of Fort Lauderdale’s beaches have been “Blue Wave Certified” by the Clean Beach Council: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Fort Lauderdale Beach, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood Beach, and Dania Beach.
16. Fort Lauderdale Beach is currently under huge $1.5 billion renewal, including a renovation for Los Olas Corridor, a new Aquatics Complex, and an enlarged Las Olas Marina.
17. In 1959, the public schools in the city became desegregated.
18. Fort Lauderdale quickly became one of the top Spring Break destinations in America for college students after featuring as the setting for the hit 1960 film: “Where the Boys Are”.
19. Today, the city is better known for upscale dining, high-end shopping, and well-off waterfront living.
20. The city’s average low temperature in January is 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and there are over 3,000 hours of sunshine every year.
21. Once there was snow! The day that went down in history was the 19th of January, 1977 as the day when the Fort Lauderdale citizens witnessed snow. It melted quickly, but still, snow is snow!
22. Looking for celebrities? Then keep your eyes open for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lee Majors, David Cassidy, Marilyn Manson, and many more.
23. One of the largest ship terminals in the world is situated in Fort Lauderdale. It is home to nine major cruise lines, and over 40 gigantic cruise ships.
24. There are over 4,000 eating establishments in the city to choose from, therefore there’s always something new to try.
25. Scuba enthusiasts can enjoy a three-tiered coral living coral reef system right off the coast, along with 76 artificial reefs.
26. One of Fort Lauderdale’s newest luxury communities is Galleria Lofts. It represents a modern urban oasis with inventive design, high-end facilities, and remarkable style.
27. The Hollywood International Airport, in Fort Lauderdale, serves 21.4 million passengers each year.
28. The airport offers 24 hours service to more than 85 U.S. cities and global networking to more than 62 international destinations in 33 countries.
29. In 2013, Greater Fort Lauderdale was visited by more than 13.1 million people spending $10.6 billion on the local economy.
30. Greater Fort Lauderdale also boasts of its arts and culture scene. The culture scene encompasses arts districts, festivals, and a county-wide $100 million art in programs for public spaces.
