Local city information for Pembroke Pines, FL

Pembroke Pines is a city in Broward County, Florida, The United States of America. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 150,064, making it the second most populous city in Broward County, the eleventh most populous in Florida, and the 157th most populous in the United States. Its official motto is "Join Us and Progress with Us.". Pembroke Pines was named one of the best cities to live in America.

Pembroke Pines won the National Civic League's coveted "All-America City Award" in 2004 and was a finalist community in 2003. Pembroke Pines also received an "outstanding achievement award" in the "2005 City Livability Awards" Program, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Many of Pembroke Pines schools have received the "Five Star School Award" from the Florida Department of Education as schools that have shown evidence of exemplary community involvement.


Pembroke Pines was incorporated in 1960, and took the name Pembroke from its location along Pembroke Road and the many pine trees in the area. But the name Pembroke may date back much further. The name may have been from an early landowner from Britain known as the Earl of Pembroke.

The first inhabitants estimate in the city are Indians that first appeared about 4,000 years ago. Skeletal remains of animal hunters dating about 10,000 years old were found around Broward County, showing that perhaps human beings have lived around here even earlier.

The town started as agricultural land occupied by dairy farms and grew after the war as servicemen were retiring, including large eastern sections that were part of the Waldrep Dairy Farm. The first two tiny subdivisions were called Pembroke Pines. One of the first homes in the city belonged to Dr. and Mrs. Walter Smith Kipnis, built in 1956. Dr. Kipnis was also the first mayor. It was then known as the “Village of Pembroke Pines” and was incorporated into a town in 1959. Builders contested the incorporation, so a legal battle was brought out concerning the boundaries of the new town that were incorrectly stated in the ballot. City services were added in the 1960s with the building of the first fire department building near North Perry Airport. However, University Drive was the western edge of habitable land for residents.

In January 1960, Pembroke Pines held another election when the town became a city. This small property was less than a square mile and was between Hollywood Boulevard and SW 72nd Avenue, and had the Florida Turnpike to the east. Pembroke Pines sought to give citizens involvement so they organized the Pembroke Pines Civic Association. The square-mile city was unable to expand due to North Perry Airport and the South Florida State Hospital. Joseph LaCroix, a developer, had his land north of Pines Boulevard annexed to the city. This gave a new pathway to proceed westward. In 1977, a maximum security prison known as the Broward Correctional Institution was built in northwestern part and Cooper City. It has a capacity for 611 inmates and has academic programs, vocational programs, wellness education services, library services, substance abuse programs, chaplaincy services, institutional betterment programs, and many other programs. In 1980, property from Flamingo Road to U.S. 27 was incorporated into Pembroke Pines, doubling the size of the city. This expansion included the property that is currently C.B. Smith Park as well as the Hollywood Sportatorium and the Miami-Hollywood Motorsports Park. At this time the new highway I-75 was built.

The city’s expansion was part of effect of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Thousands of southern Miami-Dade County residents moved northward to Broward County, many to Pembroke Pines. The resulting boom ranked the City of Pembroke Pines third in a list of Fastest Growing Cities in the United States in 1999. Over the years, the increase in population has caused the need for schools. In 2003, Charles W. Flanagan High School had close to 6,000 students, making it the most populated high school in Florida. In response to Broward County's need to keep up with demands, Mayor Alex Fekete and City Manager Charles Dodge started a Charter School System. As of 2006, Pembroke Pines had the largest Charter School System in the county. The city is also home to a campuses for Broward Community College and Florida International University. The city's population has grown from (1990 pop. 65,452) to an estimated 2005 population of 148,000.

In 2001, Pembroke Pines was once home to the most dangerous road intersection (Pines Boulevard and Flamingo Road) in the United States, according to State Farm Insurance. Later vote was passed by city residences on a bond initiative to allow the city to begin construction to redesign the intersection. The intersection has been expanded with additional east/west Pines Boulevard lanes.

Over the past decade as developers expanded Pembroke Pines west ward, more hurricanes have affected the city and its residents. In 1999 Hurricane Irene dumped up to of rain in the city. The western communities such as Chapel Trail and Silver lakes saw an estimated . Then in 2004, Hurricane Frances and Jeanne passed to the north (Palm Beach County) but brought Tropical Storm forced winds and left minor tree and shrub damage. The 2005 Hurricane Season left a mark on the city. Hurricane Katrina passed directly over the city,near the Miami Dade/Broward County line westward to Naples and Ft. Myers into the Gulf of Mexico heading north to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi as a forecasted Cat5. Katrina was a Cat1 when it struck the city of Pembroke Pines and in her wake, she left the city without power, major trees and shrubs damage, many pool screen enclosures in shamble,as well as, damages to the roofs of many homes, especially, in the Chapel Trail and Silver Lakes developments. Then in late October Hurricane Wilma's eye had passed about toward the north of the city and the city saw the strongest winds it has seen in decades. The strongest wind officially recorded in the city was a 92 MPH substained wind, with a 101 MPH wind gust. Most of the city was left without power for days, lights at intersections had been destroyed, a riot at a gas station which led to it being closed, most landscaping was destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and left minor structural damage (mainly roof and screen damage). In addition, schools remain closed for two weeks. Life in the city is still recovering and has far to go before it is back to normal and the damages repaired.

List your home on the MLS in Pembroke Pines, Florida

Copyright © Owners.com 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy • Terms & Conditions • Site Map

Equal Housing Opportunity