Welcome to Coral Springs - a gracious, inviting, upscale city where the sun shines most of the year and the average daily temperature is a balmy 77 degrees.

Ideally located in southwest Florida, just minutes from the sugar sand beaches of the Gold Coast between West Palm Beach and Miami, Coral Springs is right in the heart of an exciting metropolitan area, yet far enough away from it all that locals like to refer to it as the "city in the country."

Just over forty years ago, Coral Springs was only a glimmer of a vision for local developer James Hunt, who had the goal of building a new city with old Southern charm. His dream of a planned community in the country featuring brick Colonial style buildings, wide boulevards planted with flowers and a covered bridge as its centerpiece became not only a reality, but also one of the most desirable and fastest growing cities in South Florida.

With its famed covered bridge -  the only structure of its kind on public land in the state -  and the City Hall  based on Jefferson's renowned design for the University of Virginia, and its forty parks and a performing arts center and museum, Coral Springs has so much to offer that it's no wonder the city has experienced such explosive growth in the last two decades. Despite blossoming into a city of more than 125,000 residents, Coral Springs has retained its friendly, small town, rural feel with safe and secure streets and excellent schools. Quite a feat, since it sits at the very center of one of the nation's most popular tourist destinations with world class amenities.

Enjoy upscale shopping at the Coral Square Mall or dine at any of the more than 200 restaurants, many serving up the freshest, most delicious seafood imaginable. If physical activity holds more interest, enjoy the 180 acre Sportsplex - a city owned, professional level aquatics/tennis/ice skating complex that is also home to major community festivals such as the yearly Fourth of July celebration.

You can golf and play tennis year round in some of the finest facilities ever developed, take in a Florida Panthers hockey practice at the Incredible Ice Rink, or a Baltimore Orioles spring training game at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. The PGA tour Honda Classic brings some of the best golfers to local greens, and there are 732 acres of local parkland for hiking, biking, picnics or simple reflection.

Delight in wonderful residential neighborhoods ideal for growing families, retirees and busy professionals who appreciate the easy commute to Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton or even Miami. Discover lovely residences in every style and price range, from value priced condos and townhomes, to detached villas and single-family homes and luxury estates worthy of the most distinguished buyers. The prices offer some of the best value for your money in this extremely sought-after area, and wise planning keeps Coral Springs expanding with new homes and developments, all the while preserving the essential quaint and attractive qualities that make it so desirable.

Coral Springs is governed by a commission, administered by a City Manager and actively encourages citizen involvement in the community. Residents are encouraged to participate on citizen advisory commissions and to volunteer in the community. There are 11 houses of worship for a diversity of faiths, local medical care of the highest caliber as well as a wide variety of civic organizations and social clubs to share interests with other locals. The city also sponsors activities for all ages, from teens to seniors. Come home to Coral Springs and start really living!

LOCATION

Coral Springs has a prime location in southeast Florida's Broward County, approximately 20 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale and 10 miles southwest of Boca Raton. Considered part of the Metro Fort Lauderdale area, Coral Springs is situated just west of the I-95 and US-441 with the Atlantic Ocean and sugar sand beaches of the Gold Coast about a thirty-minute drive east.

Surrounding cities and towns include Coconut Creek with its famed Butterfly World attraction just 5 miles south as well as the fabulous seaside communities of Pompano Beach, 8 miles east, Deerfield Beach, 10 miles northeast and Boca Raton, 12 miles northeast. Exclusive Palm Beach is 45 miles north, exciting Miami is 45 miles south and the state capital at Tallahassee is 475 miles northwest.

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS

Sitting at the heart of one of the most dynamic and expanding regions of the country, Coral Springs location in booming South Florida means that it is surrounded by well maintained highways, roads and bridges offering easy access to airports, train stations, there's even a nearby cruise port. Convenient local routes include I-95, I-75, US-441, US-27, US-1 and State Route-869.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is just a thirty-minute drive where 29 airlines offer nonstop flights to more than 40 domestic and international destinations. Other airport options include Miami International, 40 miles south and Palm Beach International, 40 miles north, both an easy hour's drive.

Coral Springs benefits from an excellent public transportation system provided by Broward County Transit that covers 410 of Broward County's 1,200 square miles. Ride buses that traverse the city and connect to surrounding communities for an adult fare of $1.00 with .50 youth and senior fares while children under forty inches ride for free. The City of Coral Springs also provides a free community transit service that offers an easy and convenient way to get around town for seniors and the disabled.

Rail service includes the regional Tri Rail system operated by the South Florida Regional Transportation Service. It connects various points throughout South Florida with multiple stops across Broward and Miami/Dade Counties. There are stations in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Pompano Beach plus it connects to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.

Amtrak trains stop in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Deerfield Beach including the Silver Service/Palmetto Line connecting New York City and Miami featuring sleeping and dining cars, business class level travel, even movies and wine tastings in the evenings. Greyhound also has a full service station in Fort Lauderdale where buses depart to all areas of the state and nation.

BRIEF HISTORY

Just over forty years ago, Coral Springs was only a glimmer in the imagination of local developer James Hunt who had the goal of building a new city with old Southern charm. His dream of a planned community in the country featuring brick Colonial style buildings, wide boulevards planted with flowers and a covered bridge as its centerpiece became not only a reality, but also one of the most desirable and fastest growing cities in glittering South Florida.

Incorporated on July 10, 1963, the City of Coral Springs was a very different place back then. Born out of the South's largest bean fields and pastureland, it became a product of planning, imagination and sheer guts. Coral Ridge Properties (CRP), which had begun developing large tracts of land in the Fort Lauderdale area in the 1960s, was running out of property when a 3,860-acre parcel in the northwest end of the county became available. Although it was mostly swampland, CRP President James S. Hunt handed over a $1 million check to the Lyons family in 1961 launching an amazing transformation.

With a vision and a master plan, CRP leveraged the power of advertising and celebrity endorsement to generate an unprecedented land rush to the "City in the Country." It was still possible then to unearth archeological finds left by the Tequesta Indians who had inhabited the area as long ago as 1500 BC. In what is now Mullins Park, a dig yielded bones of ancient mammoths, some dating back 10,000 years.

The first residents were four members of Coral Ridge Properties who lived in three small wooden houses that were towed to what is today Wiles Road, then the only entry into Coral Springs. They were recruited in order to have enough residents to qualify as an incorporated municipality. The new city was almost named "Quartermore", because if a buyer purchased three acres of land, another acre, or a "quarter more," was thrown in with the deal.

The Covered Bridge was the first structure built in the City of Coral Springs because. Hunt wanted to convey a sense of the Old South on the otherwise barren landscape. He contacted the American Snuff Company in Winston-Salem, NC for chewing tobacco designs to make the bridge appear more seasoned. They supplied two designs plus an artist to paint the murals that adorn the bridge. The Bull of the Woods logo on the east side of the bridge was first used in 1876. The Peach Snuff logo on the west side was created in 1950 to appeal to ladies. It includes a historic marker for the State of Florida in recognition of its architecture and historical significance to the state.

In 1965 a "Land Rush" sale and BBQ was held with Johnny Carson as the MC. Ten thousand people showed up, ate three tons of barbecue and two miles worth of hot dogs with eleven hundred lots sold, totaling three hundred acres, for $5 million. Coral Springs hasn't stopped growing since.

In 1966 the first post office was established and that same year City Hall was opened. With a design based on Jefferson's University of Virginia, a gorgeous, three-wing brick building with white columns was constructed tying the city visually to the Old South of Hunt's dreams. The building even includes bricks from pre-Civil War buildings in Atlanta and the black spots on some them is said to be damage from the burning of city by General Sherman.

By 1968, one new home was being built per day and by 1970 the population had reached 3,750. Over the next decade the new city grew rapidly and by 1983 the city counted its 50,000th resident. Just over 20 years later, Coral Springs now has a population over 125,000 with 38 schools, 40 parks, as well as a fine arts center and a museum to serve the community's cultural life. There is an active Chamber of Commerce and the city government makes every effort to address the needs of a diverse and growing population.

Originally conceived as a retirement community, the city quickly moved in the other direction and has become one of the most popular family communities with a strong emphasis on youth, education, parks and recreation. Coral Springs short history has seen it grow into one of the premier cities in Florida to live, work and raise a family.

ABOUT EDUCATION

Coral Springs is part of the Broward County Public School system with 38 local primary and secondary schools. A community that cares about education featuring strong parental involvement, students routinely score above the average for Broward County on state tests. Public schools serve 30,000 students at 21 elementary schools, 12 middle schools and 5 high schools. There is also one charter school as well as 7 private schools both religious and secular, offering instruction to children at all grade levels.

There are plenty of higher education opportunities at area community colleges and universities whether you're a recent high school graduate, mid career professional or a senior searching for intellectual enrichment. Universities and colleges serving the area include Keiser College, Broward Community College, Nova Southeastern University, and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, all located in nearby Fort Lauderdale plus Florida-Atlantic University located in Boca Raton. Renowned University of Miami at Coral Gables is about 40 miles south, approximately an hour's drive.

Call me to find a home in any of the following neighborhoods:

Addison Court Addison Estates Alta Vista  Applewood/Grenadier Arbors at Coral Creek Bay Point at Wyndham Lakes Beachwood  Beachwood Heights Breezewood Brentwood Village  Broken Woods Estates Brookside  Brookside Court at North Springs Brookside Grove  Brookside Isle Butler Farms at Hidden Hammocks  Butler Farms at Oakbrook Carriage Point Estates at Royal Land Chelsea at Kensington  Chevy Chase Cinnamon Crossings  Classics at Kensington Clusters  Coral Creek at Windsor Bay Coral Key Harbor  Coral Shore at Wyndham Lakes Coral Shores  Coral Springs Better  Coral Springs Country Club  Coral Springs Hills Coral Springs Lakes Coral Springs University  Coral Springs Village Coral Trace Country Club West Countrywoods Estates at Ramblewood Coventry Cove at Wyndham Lakes Coventry Place at Wyndham Lakes Covingtry at Royal Land  Crossings Cypress Glen Cypress Grove  Cypress Isle  Cypress Lakes Cypress Run Villas Cyress Glen  Cyress Run Deer Run Springs Dells  Diaflor Eagle Trace

Eagle Creek at Wyndham Lakes Eagle Lake at Westchester Eagle Lake Coral Springs  Eagle Point  Eagle Trace Landings  Eastridge Isles Eastridge Village Elan at Coral Springs  Electra Lab at Village Green Enclave at Heron Bay Enclave at Wyndham Lakes Estate Turtle Run Fairway Views Forest Hills French Quarters Georgetown at Eagle Trace  Glen Isles  Glen Oaks  Glen Walk Glenwood Goden Bay Golden Bay at Wyndham Lakes Governors Walk at Ramblewood  Grand Isles at Wynhdam Lakes Grand Reserve at Coral Creek Greenwood Grenadier Estates Hidden Hammocks Hidden Lake Highland Place  Island at Wyndham Lakes North Isles East Isles of West Glen Isles West Kenilworth Kensington Kensington Classics Kensington Commons Kensington Gardens  Kensington Glen Kensington Green Kensington North Kensington South  Laguna Springs  Lakeview West Lennox Isles L'Hermitage at Heron Bay  Long Cove Main Street Maplewood

Maplewood at Treasure Island Mariners Cove  Mayfair at Wyndham Lakes Newport at Turtle Run Oakbrook at Hidden Hammocks Park Place at Wyndham Lakes Pelican Isles at Wyndham Lakes  Pelican Trail East - Wyndham Lakes Pelican Trail West - Wyndham Lakes Pine Crest - Pine Ridge South Pine Grove 7 Pine Landing Pine Ridge North Pine Ridge South  Pine Ridge Villas  Pinewood Preserve at Woodside Estates Ridgeview Crossing  Ridgview Riverside Walk Royal Palm Village Running Brook  Rushwood Sanctuary Shadow Wood Springs Springs Hamlet Villa Springs Pointe St. Johns Woods Summer Hill Estates Thunderbird Villas  Tivoli at Grand Reserve Treasure Island Turtle Run Turtle Run Estates Turtle Run Harbour Turtle Run Newport Vanderbilt Estates Venetian Isles Vizcaya at Lake Coral Vizcaya at Lake View  West View Estates Westchester at Applewood Westchester Lakes  Westview Estates  Westview Village Whispering Woods Estates Windings  Windsor By at Coral Creek Wood Lake Yardley Estates at Brookside