Broward County, Florida

Broward County is a county in Florida, United States, located in the Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with 1,944,375 residents as of the 2020 census. The county's biggest city and where the government is based is Fort Lauderdale, which had a population of 182,760 as of 2020.

Broward County is one of the three counties that make up the Miami metropolitan area, a place home to 6.14 million people as of 2020. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the whole country. By 2022, Broward County had a large economy with a gross domestic product of $124.8 billion, making it the second-largest GDP of Florida's 67 counties and the 25th-largest among all 3,033 counties in the nation.

History

The earliest people in the Miami area lived there about 12,000 years ago. They were the Tequesta people, who lived in what is now Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and part of Palm Beach County. They fished, hunted, and gathered food but did not farm.

Broward County was created on April 30, 1915. It was named after Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, who was the governor of Florida from 1905 to 1909. Before becoming governor, the town of Dania was the first to be officially recognized in what is now Broward County. This was followed by Pompano in 1908 and Fort Lauderdale in 1911. In 1915, land from Palm Beach and Dade counties was combined to form Broward County.

Napoleon Bonaparte Broward (1857–1910)

After Broward County was created, it grew quickly. The first tourist hotel in Fort Lauderdale opened in 1919. Developers started turning wetlands into islands for communities. A big storm in 1926 slowed growth for a time, but after World War II, the area began to grow fast as more people moved there.

In 1975, new rules were created for how the county would be run. That same year, the Seminole Tribe of Florida began operations that would bring in money over the years. A major highway, Interstate 95, was finished through Broward County in 1976.

In 1980, more than 1 million people lived in Broward County. A big storm in 1992 caused damage and left many people without homes. By 2000, the population had grown to over 1.6 million. Another big storm hit in 2005, causing widespread damage and power losses across the area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Broward County covers 1,323 square miles (3,430 km²), with 1,210 square miles (3,100 km²) of land and 113 square miles (290 km²) of water. The county sits about six feet (1.8 m) above sea level and is made mostly of special kinds of rocks and stones.

Broward County is close to the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Everglades on the other. Many people live there, with about 3,740 people living in each square mile.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,944,375. The median age was 41.4 years, with 20.5% of residents under the age of 18, and 17.2% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 39.9% White, 27.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, and 3.9% Asian.

Ethnic origins in Broward County

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	5,135	—
1930	20,094	291.3%
1940	39,794	98.0%
1950	83,933	110.9%
1960	333,946	297.9%
1970	620,100	85.7%
1980	1,018,200	64.2%
1990	1,255,488	23.3%
2000	1,623,018	29.3%
2010	1,748,066	7.7%
2020	1,944,375	11.2%
2025 (est.)	2,013,317	3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1920–1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2022

Historical racial composition	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980
White (non-Hispanic)	33.1%	43.5%	58.0%	74.9%	84.3%
Hispanic or Latino	31.3%	25.1%	16.7%	8.6%	4.0%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	26.6%	25.7%	20.0%	14.9%	10.9%
Asian (non-Hispanic)	3.8%	3.2%	2.3%	1.3%	0.8%
Native American (non-Hispanic)	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
Some other race (non-Hispanic)	1.1%	0.5%	0.4%	0.1%
Two or more races (non-Hispanic)	3.8%	1.7%	2.4%	N/A	N/A
Population	1,944,375	1,748,066	1,623,018	1,255,488	1,018,200

Demographic characteristics	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980
Households	860,329	810,388	741,043	528,442	417,517
Persons per household	2.26	2.16	2.19	2.38	2.44
Sex Ratio	93.4	93.9	93.3	91.9	91.0
Ages 0–17	20.5%	22.4%	23.6%	20.4%	21.0%
Ages 18–64	62.3%	63.3%	60.3%	58.8%	57.0%
Ages 65 +	17.2%	14.3%	16.1%	20.8%	22.0%
Median age	41.4	39.7	37.8	37.6	38.7
Population	1,944,375	1,748,066	1,623,018	1,255,488	1,018,200

Economic indicators
2018–22 American Community Survey	Broward County	Florida
Median income	$39,690	$37,826
Median household income	$70,331	$67,917
Poverty Rate	12.4%	12.9%
High school diploma	90.0%	89.3%
Bachelor's degree	34.9%	32.3%
Advanced degree	13.3%	12.1%

Language spoken at home	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980
English only	57.5%	62.5%	71.2%	82.3%	88.3%
Spanish or Spanish Creole	27.6%	22.9%	16.3%	8.0%	3.7%
French or Haitian Creole	7.0%	7.2%	5.4%	3.3%	1.4%
Other Languages	7.8%	7.4%	7.1%	6.4%	6.6%

Nativity	2020	2010	2000	1990	1980
% population native-born	64.6%	68.6%	74.7%	84.2%	88.9%
... born in the United States	61.0%	65.7%	72.2%	82.3%	87.8%
... born in Puerto Rico or Island Areas	2.1%	1.9%	1.7%	1.1%	1.0%
... born to American parents abroad	1.4%	1.1%	0.8%	0.8%	1.0%
% population foreign-born	35.4%	31.4%	25.3%	15.8%	11.1%
... born in Jamaica	4.5%	4.5%	3.7%	1.8%	0.5%
... born in Haiti	4.4%	4.1%	2.9%	1.5%	N/A
... born in Colombia	3.4%	2.8%	2.0%	0.8%	N/A
... born in Cuba	3.2%	2.5%	2.0%	1.3%	0.8%
... born in Venezuela	2.5%	1.2%	0.6%	0.1%	N/A
... born in Brazil	1.5%	1.1%	0.9%	0.2%	N/A
... born in Peru	1.2%	1.2%	0.8%	0.3%	N/A
... born in the Dominican Republic	1.0%	0.9%	0.6%	0.2%
... born in Mexico	1.0%	0.8%	0.7%	0.2%	0.1%
... born in Canada	0.8%	1.0%	1.3%	1.2%	1.4%
... born in Honduras	0.8%	0.6%	0.3%	0.1%	N/A
... born in Trinidad and Tobago	0.7%	0.7%	0.6%	0.5%	N/A
... born in Argentina	0.6%	0.4%	0.3%	0.2%	N/A
... born in India	0.6%	0.5%	0.3%	0.1%	0.1%
... born in China	0.5%	0.35%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%
... born in El Salvador	0.5%	0.4%	0.3%	0.1%	N/A
... born in Ecuador	0.5%	0.6%	0.3%	0.2%	N/A
... born in the United Kingdom	0.4%	0.5%	0.6%	0.7%	0.7%
... born in Russia	0.3%	0.2%	0.2%	0.5%	0.9%
... born in Italy	0.2%	0.3%	0.4%	0.5%	0.8%
... born in Germany	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%	0.6%	0.8%
... born in Poland	0.2%	0.2%	0.4%	0.6%	0.7%
... born in other countries	6.9%	6.6%	5.6%	4.1%	4.3%

Law, government, and politics

Broward County mayors

The Broward County Charter separates the roles of making laws and running the government. The Board of County Commissioners is responsible for making laws. It has nine members, each elected from a specific area. Each year, the Commission chooses a mayor and a vice mayor. The mayor mainly helps with ceremonies and represents the county. The Commission also chooses important leaders like the County Administrator, Attorney, and Auditor. They also pick many other leaders for different groups.

The County Commission meets the first four Tuesdays of each month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center. Many people in Broward County can watch these meetings on television or online.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO) is the biggest sheriff's department in Florida, with 5,400 employees. It was started in 1915. Sheriff Gregory Tony has led the agency since 2019, after Sheriff Scott Israel, who was Sheriff from 2013.

Politics

Overview

Broward County has often voted for Democratic leaders in elections since 1992. It is now one of the most reliable places in Florida for Democratic votes, even when Democrats lose big in other areas. In every election from 1996 to 2024, the Democratic nominee got more than 60% of the votes, except in 2024 when Kamala Harris got less than 60% for the first time since 1992. In 2022, Democrat Charlie Crist also got less than 60% in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election.

From 1948 to 1988, the county often voted for Republican leaders, except in 1976. It even supported Republican Barry Goldwater by a 56–44 margin when he lost the national election.

Unlike Miami-Dade County, where many immigrants are Republican-leaning Cuban-Americans, Broward County has fewer Cuban immigrants. The county also has over 25% African American residents, who usually vote for Democratic leaders.

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Democrats have the most registered voters in Broward County. The county is also one of the few in Florida where people with no party affiliation are more numerous than Republicans.

Ordinances

Broward County has rules and regulations to make sure the government works well and responds to people's needs.

The county has a special rule called the Cone of Silence. This rule stops staff working on buying things from talking to bidders once a request is made. It also stops County Commissioners from talking to bidders from when bids are opened until the contract is awarded or all bids are rejected.


Name	Start of Term	End of Term
Beam Furr	November 19, 2024
Nan H. Rich	November 28, 2023	November 19, 2024
Lamar P. Fisher	November 29, 2022	November 28, 2023
Michael Udine	November 16, 2021	November 29, 2022
Steven A. Geller	November 17, 2020	November 16, 2021
Dale V.C. Holness	November 19, 2019	November 17, 2020
Mark Bogen	Nov. 2018	Nov. 2019
Beam Furr	Nov. 2017	Nov. 2018
Barbara Sharief	November 17, 2016	November 17, 2017
Marty Kiar	November 17, 2015	November 17, 2016
Tim Ryan	November 18, 2014	November 17, 2015
Barbara Sharief	November 19, 2013	November 18, 2014

Previous gubernatorial election results
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2022	41.97% 251,238 (DeSantis/Incumbent)	57.35% 343,286 (Crist)	0.68% 4,083
2018	31.30% 222,012 (DeSantis)	67.98% 482,152 (Gillum)	0.68% 5,015
2014	29.52% 138,394 (Scott/Incumbent)	68.02% 318,950 (Crist)	2.46% 11,549
2010	33.40% 140,445 (Scott)	64.59% 271,606 (Sink)	2.01% 8,480
2006	35.09% 143,043 (Crist)	62.81% 256,072 (Davis)	2.10% 8,558
2002	40.02% 175,756 (Bush/Incumbent)	59.05% 259,370 (McBride)	0.93% 4,076
1998	37.93% 137,494 (Bush)	62.07% 225,010 (McKay)	0.00% 8
1994	34.61% 138,333 (Bush)	65.39% 261,368 (Chiles/Incumbent)	0.00% 11
1990	34.37% 113,869 (Martinez/Incumbent)	65.63% 217,422 (Chiles)	0.00% 12

Registered voters as of April 30, 2025:
Total population	2,037,472
Registered voters	1,181,801	~58%
Democratic	521,669	44.14%
Republican	279,154	23.62%
Democratic–Republican spread	+242,515	+20.52%
Minor parties	28,741	2.43%
No party affiliation	352,237	29.80%

Economy

Some companies have their main offices in Broward County. For example, Silver Airways has its headquarters at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Spirit Airlines moved its headquarters to Dania Beach in April 2024, after being in Miramar for 24 years.

The county is also known for its plant farms, growing things like flowers and grass for decoration.

Education

Broward County has a big school district, one of the largest in the country, helping many students learn and grow.

Broward College South Campus administration building

The county is also home to several colleges and universities, including Broward College, Florida Atlantic University, and Nova Southeastern University.

The Broward County Library has many branches and offers helpful resources like courses for students and computer classes for adults. You can also find bus passes and download useful apps through the library system.

Sites of interest

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Fort Lauderdale

Museums and historical collections

Broward County has many interesting museums and places to learn about history. Some of these include the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens also in Fort Lauderdale, and the Coral Springs Museum of Art in Coral Springs. Other notable spots are the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, the Fort Lauderdale History Center, and the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum. You can also visit the NSU Art Museum, the Plantation Historical Museum, and the Stranahan House. Additional attractions include the International Game Fish Association in Dania Beach, the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, the Museum of Discovery and Science, the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Young at Art Museum in Davie.

Stranahan House, Fort Lauderdale

Nature and wildlife areas

Broward County offers many beautiful natural places to explore. You can visit the [Anne Kolb Nature Center] in Hollywood, Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, a special garden filled with butterflies, and Everglades Holiday Park, where you can ride airboats and see alligators. Other great spots include the Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, Flamingo Gardens with its gardens and wildlife, Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach, and Sawgrass Recreation Park.

Other areas and attractions

Broward County has many fun places to visit beyond museums and nature areas. You can explore Beach Place, a row of shops and restaurants near the beach in Fort Lauderdale, and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts for shows and events. Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is a lively boardwalk, and you can catch a game at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, home of the NHL's Florida Panthers. The Festival Flea Market Mall in Pompano Beach is a huge indoor market, and the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop is a popular local market. Don’t miss Sawgrass Mills, a big outlet mall in Sunrise, and the Riverside Hotel, Fort Lauderdale’s oldest hotel that’s still open. The Riverwalk (Fort Lauderdale) is a nice spot to stroll along the river.

With 23 miles of beautiful beaches, Broward County is a favorite place for scuba diving, snorkeling, and many visitors during Spring break from all over the world.

Transportation

Airports

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport is the main airport for the area. It is located near the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach. The airport is close to cruise terminals at Port Everglades and is popular with tourists visiting the Caribbean. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States and handles many international travelers. Other airports in the area include:

Public transportation

Major expressways

Broward County has many major highways, including:

Interstate 95
Interstate 75
Interstate 595 (Port Everglades Expressway)
Florida's Turnpike (SR 91)
Homestead Extension (SR 821)
State Road 869 (Sawgrass Expressway)

Railroads

People can ride trains thanks to services from Amtrak, Brightline, and Tri-Rail. There are also freight rail services provided by Florida East Coast Railway and CSX Transportation.

Street grid

Broward County has a system of streets that helps connect different places. The streets are mainly based on the cities of Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and Pompano Beach.

Greenways System

Work is happening to build a network of trails for walking and biking. These trails will connect cities and interesting spots in the county.

Communities

Broward County has many places where people live. Some of these places are towns or cities, and others are smaller areas that are not part of a town or city.

There used to be areas in Broward County that were not part of any town or city. In the 1980s, leaders decided that all these areas should become part of a town or city. By 2018, many of these areas had joined existing towns or helped create new ones.

Even today, some small areas in Broward County are still not part of a town or city. These include places like Boulevard Gardens, Broadview Park, Franklin Park, Hillsboro Pines, Roosevelt Gardens, Washington Park, and Hillsboro Ranches. There are also places like the Hollywood Seminole Indian Reservation and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport that are not part of any town or city.

#	Incorporated community	Designation	Date incorporated	Population
1	Parkland	City	July 10, 1963	34,670
2	Coconut Creek	City	February 20, 1967	57,833
3	Deerfield Beach	City	June 11, 1925	86,859
4	Coral Springs	City	July 10, 1963	134,394
5	Margate	City	May 30, 1955	58,712
6	Pompano Beach	City	June 6, 1908	112,046
7	Lighthouse Point	City	June 13, 1956	10,486
8	Hillsboro Beach	Town	June 12, 1939	1,987
9	Tamarac	City	August 15, 1963	71,897
10	North Lauderdale	City	July 10, 1963	44,794
11	Lauderdale-by-the-Sea	Town	November 30, 1927	6,198
12	Sea Ranch Lakes	Village	October 6, 1959	540
13	Oakland Park	City	June 10, 1929	44,229
14	Wilton Manors	City	May 13, 1947	11,426
15	Lazy Lake	Village	June 3, 1953	33
16	Fort Lauderdale	City	March 27, 1911	182,760
17	Lauderdale Lakes	City	June 22, 1961	35,954
18	Lauderhill	City	June 20, 1959	74,482
19	Sunrise	City	June 22, 1961	97,335
20	Plantation	City	April 30, 1953	91,750
21	Weston	City	September 3, 1996	68,107
22	Davie	Town	November 16, 1925	105,691
23	Dania Beach	City	November 30, 1904	31,723
24	Hollywood	City	November 28, 1925	153,067
25	Southwest Ranches	Town	June 6, 2000	7,607
26	Cooper City	City	June 20, 1959	34,401
27	Pembroke Pines	City	March 2, 1959	171,178
28	Miramar	City	May 26, 1955	134,721
29	West Park	City	March 1, 2005	15,130
30	Pembroke Park	Town	October 10, 1957	6,260
31	Hallandale Beach	City	May 11, 1927	41,217