Broward County

Broward County: Florida's All American Community

Resting on Florida’s Southeastern coast just north of bustling Miami-Dade and south of Palm Beach, Broward County offers a homey feel that reflects the glories of American diversity.

At the northern tip is Deerfield Beach, known for its great pier fishing, while down at the southern end, the retired community and Miami commuters calls Pembroke Pines home.

Like most of coastal Florida, Broward has miles of palm-lined beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. The county also boasts an international airport, coral reefs close to shore, and several universities.

The sports-minded are often attracted to Broward County, which boasts many beautiful golf greens. For those looking for ice in the Sunshine State, the NHL Florida Panthers play their home games in Sunrise.

Fun Facts About Broward County

    • Number of square miles: 1,320
    • Population: 1.8 million
    • County Seat: Fort Lauderdale
    • Named for: Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, Florida governor from 1905 to 1909
    • Number of square miles of underdeveloped Everglades conservation area: 900
    • Number of butterflies at Butterfly World at Tradewinds Park: 10,000+
    • Number of species of fern at Fern Forest Nature Center: 30+
    • Languages spoken in Broward County (in order of popularity): English, Spanish, French Creole, French, Portuguese, Italian, German.

Higher Education

Broward County is a place that values learning. The county supports the sixth largest school district in the country, and is the home of eight collegiate institutions, including:

      • Florida International University
      • The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
      • Florida Atlantic University
      • Nova Southeastern University
      • DeVry University.

Sawgrass Mills: Ultimate Mall and Outlet Shopping

This super-mall -- 2.1 million square feet -- draws nearly as many visitors each year as Disney World. And why not? This shopping world, located in the western Broward town of Sunrise, features 350 stores and high-end shopping outlets from such powerful names as Neiman Marcus, Salvatore Ferragamo and Burberry, to name just a few. Sawgrass is only 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale International Airport, and hosts busloads of foreign visitors each day.

Broward Natural Wonders

Everglades Holiday Park: Enjoy a day at this Fort Lauderdale nature park with airboat rides, camping, and live alligator shows. You can also fish for large-mouth bass from your own rented boat or with professional guides.

Flamingo Gardens: Learn about alligators, Florida panthers, sandhill cranes, and, of course, flamingos at this not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary, aviary, and botanical garden in Davie, just West of Fort Lauderdale. The park maintains 60 acres with more than 3,000 species of tropical plants, such as orchids, ferns and bromeliads, 200-year-old oak trees, and hundreds of species of palms.

Butterfly World: Watch thousands of butterflies feed, court, and live their lives at the largest butterfly park in the world. You’ll also observe free-flying hummingbirds, lorikeets, and thousands of plants that feed caterpillars and provide nectar for adult butterflies.

Broward Fishing

Try your hand at catching dinner in the deep seas off the coast of Broward County, or watch the sharks swim under the fishing pier at Deerfield Beach.

If the fish aren’t biting, you can learn more about the sport at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach. This 60,000-square-foot fishing museum has 34 interactive kiosks, rod and reel displays, replicas of 173 species of fish, and tributes to such illustrious fisherman as Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway.

Racing

You can bet on the greyhounds at the Mardi Gras Casino, a dirt dog track in Hallandale Beach. It features daily dog races, and a 70,000-square-foot gaming space with slots and live poker.

Snorkeling and Diving

When you visit Broward County, don’t miss Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, a calm part of the 23-mile stretch of Greater Fort Lauderdale-area beaches, known for its beautiful sand and outdoor concerts. Its close-in, three-tier natural coral reef system rates as a natural wonder. You can swim out to the reef and watch many species of sponges and tropical fish.

Museum of Discovery and Science

Located in downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Museum of Discovery and Science boasts the largest number of visitors of any museum in Florida. It is a place where visitors can learn about the flora and fauna native to Florida and even take an amazing, simulated trip to another planet.

The museum features the "Great Gravity Clock," a kinetic energy sculpture and one of only three such timepieces in the world; an AutoNation 3D IMAX movie theatre, a simulated trip to Mars; and personal visits with native fauna.

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