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Oakland Park Overview
Oakland Park’s first permanent settlers were the Whidby family, moving from Georgia to South Florida in 1901. By 1918 several other farming families had moved into the area, built permanent homes. In 1923 a Miami land development company initiated the Oakland Park Subdivision with one of the biggest barbecues ever held in Broward County.
In early 1925 a group of international investors, primarily European royalty led by the Earl and Countess of Lauderdale, purchased an area which approximates the current size of Oakland Park and incorporated the City of Floranada. Intended to be a resortfor rivaling Palm Beach, this vision was carried away with the winds of a hurricane on September 18, 1926. On June 10, 1929 the City was reorganized and reincorporated as Oakland Park.
The 1930 decennial census indicated a population of 562 people in Oakland Park. Today the City’s population is estimated at 30,966. In 1941 a volunteer Fire Department was organized and operated until 1958 when the City first employed professional firefighters.
The original City Hall was constructed in 1946 by the volunteer Fire Department and City employees and was located on NE 36 th Street, just west of Dixie highway. In 1963 the current City Hall was built at 3650 NE 12th Avenue.
How did Oakland Park get its name?
Oakland Park earned its name from the massive oak trees that lined the Middle River when the community was established.
What popular industry was once slated for operation in the City?
A movie studio was planned for construction within Oakland Park by Miamibased Screen Talent Studios in 1922. A 10 acre plot was purchased at a cost of $3,000,000 to establish a Greenwich type village to house the production crew for the studios. In August 1922, Miami Movie Magazine started a 30 day subscription campaign that gave away a lot of land in Oakland Park with each subscription sold.
What year was Oakland Park incorporated?
The City of Oakland Park was incorporated in 1929. However, the subdivision of Oakland Park was established in 1923. The opening of the subdivision was celebrated with a barbecue with an estimated attendance of 5,000 people from Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Despite offers from Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, the citizens of Oakland Park agreed that the community could be run more efficiently as an independent city.
Which school in Oakland Park is the oldest school in Broward County?
Oakland Park Elementary, founded in 1925, is the oldest school in Broward County still in operation. In 1926, the school was used as shelter for local residents during the catastrophic hurricane that ripped through South Florida. The school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its significant contribution to the region’s history and heritage.
What famous Country Club was once developed in Oakland Park?
In 1925, Oakland Park was incorporated into the now defunct Floranada Club Development. The resort was billed as a residential and resort community intended to rival Palm Beach. Plans for the resort included two 18-hole golf courses, a polo field, an aviation field, tennis courts, and a waterfront yacht club.
The city’s most renowned residents included John S. Pillsbury, Agnew J. Dice, President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and the Earl and Countess of Lauderdale of London. Bankruptcy and the devastating damage caused by the1926 hurricane brought forth the end of the development.
What is the current population in Oakland Park?
In 1922, the area encompassing Oakland Park was comprised of just six families. In 1932, the official Federal census documented 562 people in the City of Oakland Park. By 1970, the population skyrocketed to 16,261. With the recent annexation, the city is proud to have a population of 42,421 citizens.
Check out more on Oakland Park at
http://www.oaklandparkfl.org/
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