Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

The south part of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is situated between Fort Lauderdale and Sea Ranch Lakes, while the north half of the town borders Pompano Beach. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,198. The town is located entirely on a the barrier island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway (spanned by drawbridges), stretching approximately one-half dozen city blocks to the Atlantic Ocean.

The town is centered on the junction of State Road A1A and Commercial Boulevard where you will find over 30 restaurants and bars, and plenty of boutiques, galleries and t-shirt shops. The town has many hotels, motels, and private residences that are quite popular during the winter months. Many of the older buildings in town reflect mid-century modern (MiMo) architecture design. Housing options are diverse with plenty of oceanfront condo buildings and homes along the Intracoastal Waterway.

At the ocean end of Commercial Boulevard is Anglins Fishing Pier, which was damaged by a storm in 2022 and scheduled to be rebuilt in 2026. Under the pier and to the south snorkelers and divers will find abundant sea life and a reef line just 100 yards off shore. In fact, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is known as the official Shore Diving Capital of Florida. On the north side of the beach you’ll find the SS Copenhagen, a 19th-century British steamship that sank in 25 feet of water in May 1900 after hitting a coral reef. Now a Florida archaeological underwater preserve, the wreck serves as a popular diving site and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical significance.