Introduction

Self-proclaimed the City of Choice, Hallandale Beach lives up to its motto. World class shopping, pristine beaches and easy access to international air and sea ports are just some of the features of this South Florida community. Also known as the "Wall Street of South Florida" due to its considerable banking institutions and investment and brokerage firms, Hallandale Beach is a city of approximately 31,500 residents year round, increasing to an estimated 42,500 during tourist season.

Geography

Located in the heart of the tri-county area of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the city is a progressive city which has carefully maintained its small town feel.

History

Hallandale Beach started out, literally, as a one-horse town. According to Hallandale Beach pioneer Carl Ericsson, the early local farmers actually shared the same horse. The area now known as Hallandale Beach wasn't settled until the late 1800s, when the Florida East Coast Railway was expanded to Palm Beach in 1895. Prior to the expansion, there wasn't much to the area except for swamp and gray, sandy soil. The Seminole Indians would hunt in the area and gather coontie root which they used to make a starchy dough.

A lack of natural resources or transportation and fear of the Seminole kept settlers away in the beginning, but the railroad changed all that. With the railroad providing regular train service to Miami in 1896, South Florida’s had the means to attract settlers.Henry Morrison Flagler, the man who expanded the Florida East Coast Railwayk recruited Luther Halland, son of a Swedish minister and brother-in-law to one of Flagler’s agents, to start a Swedish settlement south of the Danish settlement of Dania. With the assistance of an fellow immigrant, Halland began promoting the subtropical climate and cheap land of Halland, which later became Hallandale Beach. Halland set up a small trading post in the new community and became its first postmaster.

Settlement was slow, with seven Swedish, three English, and two black families making up the population in the beginning. The first school was built in 1904 and had only ten students.  Originally, Hallandale Beach was a farming community, with farmers using the beach only for recreation.

Meanwhile, South Florida continued to grow. The first bridge over the Intracoastal Canal was built by Army engineers during the World War I era. During the 1920’s Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and Hollywood-By-The Sea were developed.

Hallandale, by this time named Hallandale Beach, officially became a town on May 14, 1927. By that time, there were 1500 residents, street lights, and electricity in the community. Following the disastrous hurricanes of 1926 and 1928, Hallandale Beach and the rest of the South Florida slipped into a financial depression even before the stock market crash.

There was very little population growth during the Great Depression. Finally, Hallandale Beach began to take off around World War II. South Florida was used extensively for training soldiers at this time due to its warm climate.  The soldiers would later return to the area after the war, with their families.  In 1947, Hallandale, now known as Hallandale Beach, was reincorporated as a city, and was allowed annex land to the east.

Rapid growth began in 1955, when H.B. Layne began to develop Golden Isles. The first home was ready in 1957 and Layne moved into it himself.  Later he built Park Layne Towers; the nation’s first federally insured condominium building. Other developers began building in Hallandale Beach as well. The Diplomat Country Club was established in 1957 by Samuel Friedman, the Golden Bay Lodge was constructed in 1959, and the Golden Bay Manor was built in 1960. Hallandale High School was established in 1977.By the end of the 1970s, the population of permanent residents was about 36,500.

Commercially, Hallandale Beach grew as well. The Bank of Hallandale became the first established bank in the city in 1960. The Diplomat Mall was built in 1970. Today, Hallandale Beach is preparing to enter the next millennium.

Recreation and Attractions

The city boasts 12 recreational centers and/or parks with modern facilities. Two of South Florida premiere race tracks are located in Hallandale Beach - Gulfstream Park, home of world-class thoroughbred horse racing, and the Hollywood Greyhound Track, which features exciting dog racing action six months a year.

Housing

The city of Hallandale Beach provides a diverse array of housing options in quiet, landscaped neighborhoods. It also offers condominium and rental apartments on the Atlantic Ocean. We can help you find the home of your dreams in Hallandale.  Call now!

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

Anderson Villas Atlantic Shores Diplomat Golf Estate

Golden Isles Estates Gulfstream Estates Hallandale Park

Harbourwood Lake Forest