1. People In Fort Lauderdale Think They’re Cooler Than They Actually Are
Maybe it’s all the rich people or the art, but in the downtown and beach sections of Fort Lauderdale the people act like their city has the very best of everything–not just art, but restaurants, entertainment, you name it. And they fancy themselves all refined foodies, art aficionados, trendy clubbers and bar-goers, and haute couture shoppers like they don’t realize that this is Florida, not Manhattan.
The local businesses love to bolster this snobbery too, so you’ll be looked down upon by everyone if you don't follow their lead.
2. No One In Fort Lauderdale Knows The Meaning Of “Work”...
Yeah, you read that right. When you’re out grabbing lunch with colleagues or fetching coffee for your boss, you might wonder what people here do for a living because every day there are tons of people on the beach, shopping and just generally... not working.
Granted, some of them are tourists. But a lot of them are full-time residents who are retired, college students or people who work flexible hours.
So if you think you can hop over to the store in the middle of the week when it’ll be empty, think again.
3. … Probably Because They're All Trying To Be Artists
This city is full of artsy people. They produce art in Flagler Arts and Technology Village, nicknamed FATVillage, which has turned into a hub for artists. Over 150 artists show off their artistry at the annual Las Olas Art Fair, which draws huge crowds. They paint, play music and show their art once a month during the NOBE Artwalk in the North Beach Arts District and local artists open their studios and galleries to the public to show their creative process once a year in the Third Avenue Arts District.
4. Everyone In Fort Lauderdale Has A Yacht Superiority Complex
If you don’t have a yacht here, you’re out of the loop. The city is often called the “Yachting Capital of the World,” with a total of more than 50,000!
If someone isn't rich enough to actually own one, they can charter one. And Fort Lauderdalians who win the “whose yacht is bigger” contests usually have megayachts or superyachts, whichever you prefer to call them, that are up to 250 feet long. Seriously.
5. No One In Fort Lauderdale Is A True Fort Lauderdalian
You'll be hard pressed to find someone who was actually born and bred in Fort Lauderdale. Residents come here at some point from other Florida cities, other states and even other countries. Over 21 percent of Fort Lauderdale residents are foreign born.
And a huge portion of the people you’ll encounter in the city don't even live there—they’re visiting, passing through to catch a cruise or a plane to another destination or commuting there for work.
6. People In Fort Lauderdale Are Obsessed With Being On the Water...
And how could you not be a water person when you live in the “Venice of America”? You’ve got the Atlantic Ocean and hundreds of miles of waterways.
Even if they don’t have a yacht, these people find endless ways to be on the water and boating of all sorts is huge, from riverboat cruises to water taxis. You’ve got Port Everglades -- a huge port for cruise ships and cargo, THE International Boat Show and of course,
Fort Lauderdale beaches.
Basically, everyone ends up on the water at some point in this city.
7. ...And With Being Basically Anywhere Outside All The Time
It’s probably not hard to imagine people in Fort Lauderdale spending a lot of time outdoors, but it’s really true. After all, they have weather that lets them go outside practically all year, so why not enjoy it?
And the city is set up so people can do just that. Parks and natural areas are always filled with people, as well as outdoor bars and restaurant patios, and even the sidewalks in the outdoor shopping centers and downtown strips.
And these people don’t need no gym. You’ll just see them outside walking, jogging or riding a bike.
8. Everyone In Fort Lauderdale Accepts Everyone Else...
The people of Fort Lauderdale are pretty liberal. That’s something that could be said about people in a lot of cities, but consider this: More same-sex couple households are concentrated here than in any other city in the entire country. You probably figured it was San Francisco, right? Wrong.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, trust me. You can’t throw a stone without hitting a Fort Lauderdalian obsessed with those “new age” and extreme vegan/vegetarian lifestyles.
9. But They All Prefer To Be Left Alone, Thank You Very Much
When you live in or visit Fort Lauderdale, don’t expect people to be up in your business. Residents pretty much like to keep to themselves and to stick with their sub-groups.
It's a very diverse city where people are all part of different groups and different sections, speak different languages, and where a lot of people come and go without ever really calling the place “home."
So most people just do their thing and don’t worry too much about everyone else.
10. The “Rich And Famous” Aren't The Only People In Town
In Fort Lauderdale, you’ve got a very distinct split. On one hand there are the people who have more money than they know what to do with but always find a way to show it off, and on the other there are people who can barely stay afloat. Economically speaking.
When you’re on that riverboat cruise of the waterways, you can get a tour of all those mansions on the waterfront owned by people with more money than you can imagine. Fort Lauderdale even made it on Forbes’ list of America’s Millionaire Capitals.
But as soon as you move away from the waterfront properties, you enter a completely different world with working class and poor people who live more like sardines in smaller, condensed houses or apartment buildings.
