Top 5 Things You May Not Know About Lauderhill

From A "Country For Cows" To A Developing Residential Enclave

Looking at Lauderhill now, I bet you wouldn't even guess it was acres of land primarily used for dairy farming, am I right?

Originally known as "Dairy Farm Country," when thousands of acres had cows that produced milk for the well-known company McArthur Dairy Farm, Lauderhill was a planned community established in 1959 by its "Founding Father," a builder and developer Herbert Sadkin. 

That said, it wasn't until the '60s that this dream community started taking shape. 

The city gradually developed from beautiful grazing pastures to a single-family home community, and Lauderhill's growth was further aided by the Inverrary Country Club, which was built in 1970. 

Finally, the community took off in 1972, when its golf course became home to the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic.

Lauderhill's Etymology

Did you know that Lauderhill was originally to be named "Sunnydale?" 

The plan didn't happen, though, as William Safire, a friend of the developer, Herbert Sadkin, convinced him to change his mind. 

Safire voiced his opinion about the name, saying that "Sunnydale" sounded like a neighborhood in Brooklyn. 

Sadkin said there were no hills in the new town, to which Safire replied, "There are probably no dales in Lauderdale, either!" 

From that discussion, the name "Lauderhill" was coined. 

The development eventually grew to become Lauderhill, just as Safire suggested.

Thank you, William!

A Melting Pot of Cultures

Much like its growth and development as a residential area, Lauderhill's populace has also taken a 360-degree turn from an all-White retiree community of mostly "snowbirds" to an ethnically diverse city, even winning an "All-America City" award for it!

In fact, most agree that Lauderhill is emblematic of a change sweeping throughout South Florida. 

In 1970, Lauderhill had just one Black resident. 

By the 2000 Census, the city's Black population had grown to 33,355 (60 percent of the population). 

But the Black community isn't the only race well-represented in Lauderhill. 

A big chunk of Lauderhill's residents come from the Caribbean (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Haiti) and began to immigrate to the area during the 1980s. 

Lauderhill's multicultural mix includes Latin American immigrants, South Asians, and Arabs. 

So, yes, I GUESS you can say everyone's welcome here in Lauderhill, no matter the race and culture!

The First Enclosed Air-Conditioned Mall In Southeastern United States

While the Lauderhill Mall originally opened in 1966, back when the city wasn't fully developed, it was the first enclosed air-conditioned mall to open in the southeastern United States!

Yes, folks, you're looking at the first-ever shopping enclave in the area, an air-conditioned one at that! 

The mall was sold in 2006 to redevelop into a $150 million New Urban residential, retail and office hub.

And as redevelopment ensues, plans to transform the 45-acre mall call for as many as 1,000 apartments and condos and 1 million square feet of shops and offices. 

Apart from this, plans to transform the mall entrance into an art and entertainment destination, a walkable street with an ambiance similar to Las Olas Boulevard, are set to happen in the near future.

So, I guess we're about to (yet again!) see a jaw-dropping transformation from Lauderhill! 

Events Galore, All-Year Round!

Did you know that aside from an array of tourist attractions and recreational activities, Lauderhill also hosts many events throughout the year? 

Below is a sample of the city's reoccurring events:

• Jazz Picnic in the Park
• Jazz Under the Stars
• Lauderhill Flavafest
• Annual Haitian Flag Day Festival
• Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
• Senior Activities

Never a dull moment in Lauderhill, eh?