Hallandale Beach: Wall St. of the South
Hallandale Beach, resting between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, is a great place to make money: Its official financial district is filled with bank branches and brokerage houses. Hallandale Beach is an even better place to lose money: It's known for its dog and thoroughbred racing parks.
Whatever your relationship with your riches, Hallandale Beach is a beautiful and balmy retreat with a close community spirit and sense of fun and excitement. The city faces both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, and also boasts rivers and two lakes.
Fun Facts About Hallandale Beach
- Although the city attracts many snowbirds from the U.S. Northeast, the city is known as "the southernmost Canadian city" because it's also a popular winter destination for snowbirds from Quebec.
- Hallandale Beach has 36,000 year-round residents. The number swells to 45,000 during winter.
- City of Hallandale officially changed its name to Hallandale Beach in August, 1999.
- Hallandale originally was a farming community.
- 359 grocery stores have set up shop in Hallandale Beach.
- Joseph is the most common first name of dead people from Hallandale.
- Gangster Meyer Lansky lived in Hallandale Beach.
Location
Hallandale Beach is centrally located on Florida's eastern coast, south of Hollywood and north of Adventura. You can arrive there via Fort Lauderdale International Airport (just 15 minutes away), Miami International Airport and Port Everglades, from which cruise ships depart regularly. The area is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, providing ample opportunity for fishing, boating and relaxing on the beach.
Very Short History
Until its development, Hallandale Beach was a swamp with gray sand where the Seminole Indians gathered coontie roots to make arrowroot starch, a popular treatment for poison arrow wounds. The area wasn't settled until the tail end of the 1800s when train magnate Henry Morrison Flagler expanded the Florida East Coast Railway to Palm Beach, north of Hallandale.
Early Scandanavian settlers -- only a dozen families by 1900 -- were farmers who used Hallandale's beaches for recreation.
Sixty years later, the famous Diplomat Hotel opened and drew such famous performers as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Peggy Lee.
Historic Sites
Hallandale Beach boasts three historically significant sites.
- Villa Providence, a Mediterranean-style villa constructed in 1924 by Hallandale settler Frank Anthony Curci and his wife Rosina (they had 11 children). When the Great Hurricane of 1926 hit the city, neighbors sought shelter in the villa, which sustained only minor damage.
- Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, established in 1902, the first church in Hallandale Beach.
- Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, which has served Hallandale for 100 years.
Parks and Recreation
Hallandale Beach features lush, tropical parks for kid and adult fun.
B.F. James Park has two acres that feature a pavilion available for rent, playground, baseball field and outdoor basketball courts. Peter Bluestein Park features racquetball and sand volleyball courts. And the Golden Isles Tennis Complex/Bocce Courts boasts six lighted tennis courts and three lighted bocce ball courts.
Financial District
East Hallandale Beach Boulevard has more financial institutions in one mile than any Broward County area, earning the nickname "Wall Street Of The South."
Beach Fun
Just south of Hallandale Beach Boulevard lies almost five acres of pristine beaches, announced by the Hallandale water tower, painted in primary colors that remind one of a giant beach ball. The quiet, off-the-beaten-track beach is lined with condos and features food concessions, a playground and picnic spots.
Boating
Hallandale is a big boating spot in South Florida, where sailboats, fishing boats and yachts moor in private docks and marinas located along the area's lakes, canals and Intracoastal Waterway.
Racing
If you like to bet on the ponies or the doggies, Hallandale is for you.
The Gulfstream Park Racetrack and Casino is one of the most important horse racing venues in the nation. January through April, Triple Crown contenders pass through this Hallandale Beach racing park to compete in the $750,000 Florida Derby held there every year. Gulfstream features a casino complete with 850 slot machines and 20 live-action poker tables.
Fans of greyhound racing should try their luck at the Mardi Gras Casino, a dirt track that also has 70,000 sq. ft. of gaming space, four restaurants and one bar. Live and simulcast races are held daily. The track, opened in 1934 as the Hollywood Kennel Club, also sports 1,300 gaming machines.
If you're in town to work or play, Hallandale Beach has got something for everybody.
