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Fort Lauderdale, Florida

"Venice of America"
Famous for spring break, yachts, and canals, Fort Lauderdale transformed from party town to upscale coastal city with more canals than Venice.
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Founded 1838 | Population 194,579 | Peak 194,579 (2024) | County Broward County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Fort Lauderdale, Florida

1
1838 Fort Built in Seminole Wars: Major William Lauderdale built a fort during the Second Seminole War along the New River.
2
1911 City Incorporated: Fort Lauderdale incorporated with just 143 residents, beginning its growth as a resort town.
3
1960 Spring Break Capital: The movie 'Where the Boys Are' made Fort Lauderdale the nation's spring break destination, drawing hundreds of thousands annually.
4
1985 Port Everglades Boom: Port Everglades grew into the world's largest cruise port by passenger volume.
5
2017 Airport Shooting: A gunman killed 5 people at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in the baggage claim area.
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Latest News in Fort Lauderdale

May 15, 2026
Wheel of Fortune Player Wins $75k After Solving This Tough Puzzle Super Fast
Fans of Wheel of Fortune are in for a major surprise this week as the long-running game show rolls out a high-stakes tournament fe…
May 1, 2026
‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Loses $55,000 After Failing To Solve This Difficult Puzzle
“Wheel of Fortune” viewers are once again crying foul after a contestant came painfully close to winning big — only to lose …
Apr 30, 2026
From a Prison Cell Birth To Hollywood Royalty: She’s Now a True Screen Legend & Married To Her Co-Star
Leighton Meester may always be remembered as Blair Waldorf — the impeccably dressed, sharp-tongued queen of Manhattan’s elite …
Mar 31, 2026
Random Stabbing of Pregnant Woman in Parking Lot Underscores Persistent Risks of Everyday Urban Violence
In broad daylight on March 18, 2026, a 38-year-old pregnant woman loading her 3-year-old child into her car in the parking lot of …
Mar 7, 2026
Southwest Flight 2094 Diverted Over Bomb Threat Claim
Southwest Airlines Flight 2094, en route from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, encountered a harrowing situation late last n…
Mar 5, 2026
Oregon Democrats Block ICE Notification for Felony Convicts
Oregon Democratic senators have unanimously blocked a bill that would have mandated state authorities to notify U.S. Immigration a…

Complete Historical Timeline

1838 Government
Fort built during Seminole Wars
1911 Government
Incorporated with 143 residents
1926 Disaster
Hurricane devastates city
1960 Culture
Spring Break capital after film
1985 Business
Port Everglades becomes cruise hub
2005 Disaster
Hurricane Wilma damages coast
2017 Disaster
Airport shooting kills 5
2023 Government
Population approaches 195,000

Did You Know?

1
Fort Lauderdale has 165 miles of waterways — more canals than Venice, Italy.
2
Port Everglades is the third-busiest cruise port in the world, serving nearly 4 million passengers annually.
3
The city banned spring break rowdiness in the 1980s, successfully rebranding as an upscale destination.

Famous People from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

CE
Chris Evert
Tennis Player · Born Dec 21, 1954 · Age 71
SC
Sofia Carson
Actor, Composer · Born Apr 10, 1993 · Age 32
JB
Justin Bartha
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Jul 21, 1978 · Age 47
LS
Logan Sargeant
Racing Automobile Driver, Formula One Driver · Born Dec 31, 2000 · Age 25
L
Lita
Professional Wrestler · Born Apr 14, 1975 · Age 50

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