The town where horses once outnumbered the human population
In short: Founded in 1963 to preserve a rural ranch style, this Florida suburb once prioritized equestrian life so heavily that horses exceeded the human population. While it eventually transitioned into a modern urban community, the city still maintains strict zoning laws to protect its original park-like character and environment.
In 1963, a city charter was passed to establish Parkland as an undeveloped, rural ranch-style town. The name was chosen by Representative Emerson Alsworth to reflect founder Bruce Blount's vision of a town set apart from the building boom of Broward County. The official recognition of the city occurred on August 12, 1963, signed by Governor C. Farris Bryant. Before this, Blount attempted to establish the area as BBB Ranches using his private land. He previously served as a city commissioner and mayor in Pompano Beach.
The city's zoning laws were specifically designed to preserve a "park-like" character. This emphasis on environmental preservation and equestrianism was so strong in the early years that horses actually outnumbered the human population during the town's first decade. The city is situated in northern Broward County, approximately 30 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. Its northern edge meets the Palm Beach County border. To the west, the landscape is bounded by the Everglades.
The community maintained a rural feel for so long that there were no stores or traffic lights until the mid-1990s and early 2000s. This shift occurred primarily due to the construction of large neighborhood developments like Heron Bay and Parkland Isles. The population reached 34,670 by 2020, with a median age of 40.3 years. About 52.2% of the 10,848 households include children under 18. The median household income was estimated at $131,340 in 2016.
Today, Parkland is a suburban city in the Miami metropolitan area. While it retains its tropical rainforest climate—one of the few such climates in the contiguous United States—it has evolved into an urban area where 100% of residents live in urban settings as of the 2020 census. The area features a tropical rainforest climate, which is similar to the Caribbean. It borders a tropical monsoon climate. The city covers 12.8 square miles, with roughly 3.97% of that total area being water.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Parkland, Florida
- Also: Wikidata — Parkland · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/places-parkland-florida.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Americas · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics
