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South Florida Online Resources

South Florida encompasses a three-county area of the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The metropolitan area covers the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. The three counties are the three most populous in Florida, respectively. The term “South Florida” is roughly synonymous with the Gold Coast. The Principal Cities include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

Government Services:

Florida Property Tax Exemptions
Residents of Florida are exempt from paying taxes on the first $25,000 of the assessed value of their primary residence, provided they file for the exemption between Jan 1st and March 1st. Contact the Tax Collectors Office for the county in which you reside. Filing needs be done only once so long as you continue to live on the property.

Education:

Sports & Entertainment:

Here are some links to area activities and entertainment resources. There is so much to do here! Enjoy!

Entertainment:

Sports:

South Florida boasts great access to exciting college & professional sports teams.

Local News:

Transportation:

Broward County:

As of 2010, the population was 1,748,066; making it the second most populated county in Florida. It’s county seat is Fort Lauderdale.

Broward County currently has the sixth largest school district in the country and the second largest in the state after Miami-Dade. Broward County’s Library is one of the largest public library systems in the country, composed of 41 branch locations.

Fort Lauderdale:

Fort Lauderdale, known as the “Venice of America” due to its expansive and intricate canal system. The city is a popular tourist destination, with 12 million visitors in 2012. The city is a major yachting center, with 42,000 resident yachts and 100 marinas and boatyards.Fort Lauderdale and its suburbs host over 4100 restaurants and 120 nightclubs.

Fort Lauderdale is named after a series of forts built by the United States during the Second Seminole War. However, development of the city did not begin until 50 years after the forts were abandoned at the end of the conflict. Three forts named “Fort Lauderdale” were constructed; the first was at the fork of the New River, the second at Tarpon Bend, in what is now known as the Sailboat Bend neighborhood, and the third near the site of the Bahia Mar Marina.The forts took their name from Major William Lauderdale, who was the commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort.

Palm Beach County:

Palm Beach County is located in the state of Florida. As of 2010, the county had a population of 1,320,134 making it the third most populous in the states of Florida and the twenty-ninth most populous in the United States. Palm Beach County is Florida’s wealthiest county. Its largest city and county seat is West Palm Beach (Central County), which has an incorporated population of over 105,000 and an unincorporated population of 250,000. Boca Raton (South County), is the second largest city, and has a population approaching 90,000. Boynton Beach (South County), is the third largest city, with a population nearing 70,000 residents.

Business & Community:

Education:

All of Palm Beach County is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. And is the 13th largest public school system in the United States. The district operates 167 schools, including 25 high schools. Newsweek listed three Palm Beach County high schools in the top 50 schools in the list 1200 Top U.S. Schools – Atlantic Community High School, Suncoast High School and the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts, all public magnet schools.

Palm Beach Co. Colleges & Universities:

West Palm Beach:

The city has a very rich history. Prior to the founding of Miami, West Palm Beach, founded in 1894, was a thriving cultural center. Originally, Henry Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railroad to have its terminus in West Palm, but due to a deep freeze, he decided to extend the railroad to Miami. For many years West Palm Beach and Miami were rival South Florida cities and they both thrived in the early 20th century. Although it was originally intended to be a settlement for the servants of the wealthy Palm Beach Island neighbors, West Palm became a thriving center in its own right.