Think You Know Broward? 5 Surprising History Facts About Our Backyard

When people think of Broward County, they usually picture miles of golden beaches, beautiful backyard canals, and the bustling streets of Fort Lauderdale. But if you take a closer look at our history, you’ll find that the cities we call home today—like Coral Springs, Dania Beach, and Hollywood—have some incredibly unique, quirky, and outright surprising origin stories.

Whether you're a lifelong local or just unpacked your boxes, here are five local history facts that will completely change how you look at your daily commute.

1. Coral Springs Has Exactly Zero Natural Springs (and Used to Be a Bean Farm)

Let’s start right in our main hub! If you’ve ever wondered where the "springs" are in Coral Springs, the answer is: nowhere. Geographically, Florida’s natural springs are all located in the central and northern parts of the state. Before it was chartered as a master-planned community in 1963, the 20,000 acres that make up our beautiful city were mostly marshy wetlands used as a massive green bean farm and cattle field. When developers bought the land for $1 million in 1961, they chose the name "Coral Springs" simply because it sounded beautiful and upscale. Other names considered? Curran Village and Quartermore. We definitely got the better end of that deal!

2. Hollywood, FL Was Designed to Rival the "Other" Hollywood

When Joseph Young founded Hollywood, Florida, in 1925, he didn't just borrow the name from California on a whim—he actually wanted to build an East Coast movie empire. Young envisioned his new city as a cinematic hub, complete with its own massive film production studios. He even successfully lured a few silent film companies down to shoot movies in the Florida sunshine. While the devastating 1926 hurricane put an end to his grand movie-studio dreams, his vision of a glamorous, entertainment-focused city survived, leaving us with the iconic Hollywood Beach Boardwalk we love today.

3. Dania Beach is the "Oldest Brother" of Broward County

While Fort Lauderdale gets a lot of the spotlight, Dania Beach holds the title of the very first incorporated city in Broward County (back in 1904).

The town was originally settled by a pioneer named W.C. Valentine under the name "Modello." However, in the late 1890s, a wave of Danish immigrants moved down from Chicago and Wisconsin to farm the land. When it came time to incorporate the town, the 35 residents voted to change the name to "Dania" to honor their Danish heritage.

4. Pompano Beach Got Its Name From a Dinner Menu

Ever wonder how Pompano Beach got its name? It wasn't named after a famous founder or a historic landmark. Legend holds that in 1908, a surveyor named Franklin Sheen was mapping out the local farming village. After a long day of work, he sat down for a meal and was served a particularly delicious, locally caught pompano fish. He enjoyed the meal so much that he scribbled the word "Pompano" onto his official map, and the name stuck forever.

5. Broward County Was Formed Because of a Gun-Smuggling Captain

Our county is named after Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, the 19th Governor of Florida. But before he entered politics, Broward was a daring, high-seas riverboat captain.

In the late 1890s, he famously used his steamboat, The Three Friends, to secretly smuggle guns and ammunition from Florida down to Cuban revolutionaries fighting for independence from Spain. His legendary status as a daring captain propelled him into the governor's mansion in 1905, where he made it his mission to "drain the Everglades" and open up inland Broward County to the agriculture and residential communities we live in today.

The Vision That Built Our Communities

What makes the real estate market in areas like Coral Springs so resilient is that it was built with a plan. Our early founders didn't just build houses; they designed strict architectural city codes to ensure neighborhoods remained green, beautiful, and family-oriented for generations to come.

When you buy a home here, you aren't just buying concrete block and stucco—you are buying into a rich legacy of Florida visionaries.

Want to find your own piece of Florida history? Whether you are looking for a historic home near the coast or a perfectly planned property in Coral Springs, let's connect to find the neighborhood that fits your story.

Carlos Guerrero
Operations Manager | The Penn Team 
(954) 281-9543