Fort Lauderdale is situated on the Atlantic coast in Florida State. According to the Census of the year 2010, the city of Fort Lauderdale had a population of 165,521. The city of Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County. Additionally, it is a principal city of the South Florida Metropolitan Area. The 2010 Census listed the region as being home to 5,564,635 residents.
With over 10.35 million visitors each year, Fort Lauderdale is a famous tourist location. The city of Fort Lauderdale has been nicknamed the "Venice of America," due to its intricate and expansive canal system. The city is home to a huge yachting center. In 2006, there were 100 marinas together with 42,000 resident yachts. The city of Fort Lauderdale is situated 37 km or 23 miles north of Miami City. During 2006, the city and its adjacent area had more than 120 nightclubs and over 4,000 restaurants.
The name of the city is taken from a series of forts that were constructed during the Second Seminole War. These forts assumed the name of Fort Lauderdale from Major William Lauderdale, who was a commander of the soldiers who constructed the first fort. The development of the city of Fort Lauderdale did not commence until 50 years after the forts were abandoned to end the conflict. At first, 3 forts called "Fort Lauderdale," were built. The first one was at the fork of the New River. The second fort was situated at Tarpon Bend on the New River between the Rio Vista and the Colee Hammock neighborhoods. The 3rd fort was constructed near the Bahia Mar Marina.
The first inhabitants in the area were the Seminole Indians. In the 2nd Seminole War, New River Fort was constructed in the year 1838, at the site of the existing city of Fort Lauderdale. During 1893, the very first trading post was built in a house that served likewise as the town hall, the very first post office and the bank. In 1911, Fort Lauderdale was officially incorporated as a township.
The cities economy is largely dependent upon tourist since the tourism industry in the city has built a reputation as a spring time destination starting as far back as the 1940s all the way up to the 1980's. A lot of the tourism within the city is derived from cruise ships and nautical recreation. Today, the city of Fort Lauderdale attracts a more affluent and sophisticated crowd and is less dependent on the college atmosphere.
Fort Lauderdale serves as a key centre for the manufacture and maintenance of yachts. The county provides over 109,000 jobs in the boating business alone. With the city's nearness to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, along with its numerous canals, Fort Lauderdale has become a popular yachting and vacation stop. The world's 3rd largest boat show, the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is a popular event that brings over 125,000 visitors to the region on an annual basis.