General Info
Broward County ranks as the second-most populous county in the state, following Miami-Dade County, with a population of 1,944,375 according to the 2020 census. Fort Lauderdale serves as both the county seat and the largest city, with a population of 182,760.
The area’s original inhabitants were the Tequesta people, who inhabited much of southeastern Florida, including present-day Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and the southern portion of Palm Beach County. The Tequesta were primarily engaged in fishing, hunting, and foraging for fruits and roots, lacking any agricultural practices. In their burial customs, they interred smaller bones with the body while placing larger bones in a box for the community’s viewing. They are also recognized for creating the Miami Circle.
Broward County was established on April 30, 1915, originally proposed to be called Everglades County, but the bill was changed by Ion Farris, then-Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, to honor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, who served as Florida’s governor from 1905 to 1909.
