Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city situated in the U.S. state of Florida, located thirty miles north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It serves as the seat of government for Broward County and stands as its most populous municipality. The city lies within the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area, anchoring a region that encompasses over six million residents. Its geographic position places it adjacent to the ocean, with borders touching municipalities such as Hollywood, Dania Beach, and Pompano Beach.

The area was inhabited by Indigenous peoples for millennia before Spanish contact in the sixteenth century. The first United States stockade, Fort Lauderdale, was constructed in 1838 during the Second Seminole War, named after Major William Lauderdale. Development began decades later when Frank Stranahan established a ferry crossing in 1893 and the Florida East Coast Railroad arrived. The city was incorporated in 1911 and designated the county seat of newly formed Broward County two years later.

Known as the Venice of America, the city features an extensive network of 165 miles of inland waterways. It is also recognized as the yachting capital of the world, boasting over fifty thousand registered yachts and one hundred marinas. The urban landscape includes the historic Stranahan House, which served as an early trading post and town hall. The city offers seven miles of beaches and is bordered by Osborne Reef, an artificial reef made of discarded tires that has become an ecological concern.

Fort Lauderdale is a major tourist destination known for its diverse economy, including marine, manufacturing, finance, and aerospace industries. It hosts significant cultural events, having been the center of Spring Break in the 1960s following the film Where the Boys Are. The city attracts millions of visitors annually, with Port Everglades serving as a major cruise port handling nearly four million passengers each year. Its appeal is enhanced by an average year-round temperature of 75.5 degrees Fahrenheit and three thousand hours of sunshine.

The population was recorded at 182,760 in the 2020 census, making it the tenth-most populous city in Florida. The economy is diversified beyond tourism, supporting high technology, real estate, and film production sectors. Access to the region is facilitated by Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and extensive road networks connecting it to surrounding suburbs. The climate is tropical rainforest, characterized by humid summers with frequent afternoon showers and warm, dry winters.