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Oakland Park,
Florida retains a small-town ambience
and refreshing community values while
basking in the bright lights of the dynamic
cities of
Ft. Lauderdale and
Miami. Oakland Park leaders strive for
a self-sustaining city providing a safe
haven for its thriving residents.
The first settlers of Oakland Park,
FL were the
Whidby family of
Georgia, who came in 1901. Originally
named Floranada, the
Earl of Lauderdale hoped to create a
resort town along the lines of elegant
Palm Beach. The catastrophic
Miami Hurricane of 1926 ended those
plans, leaving the town bankrupt. By 1929,
the community had reorganized and
incorporated as the City of Oakland Park,
named for the mighty oak trees lining Middle
River, which were still standing despite
nature's fury.
Today,
Oakland
Park,
FL is home to 30,966 people
(Census
2000). Estimates for 2005 place the
population at just under 32,000 citizens.
Per capita income for Oakland Park residents
was $18,873. The neighboring town of
Wilton Manors is undergoing enormous new
development, which is increasing property
values in Oakland Park. Median house
values in the year 2000 were just over
$120,000.
The
Florida East Coast Railway bisects the
city of Oakland Park, Florida, running
parallel to the
Dixie Highway. Both extend through
Oakland Park's delightful
downtown section. City leaders plan to
make the downtown a mix-used pedestrian
community. The
South Florida Folk Festival held here is
one of the highlights of the year.
Oakland Park residents reap the benefits
of living only three miles north of
Ft. Lauderdale and twenty-five miles
from glamorous
Miami. Oakland Park, Florida students
choose from twenty
colleges and universities within a
forty-mile radius, including such fine
institutes as
Palm Beach Atlantic University and the
University of Miami. Three major
hospitals in Ft. Lauderdale provide health
care and employment for Oakland Park
citizens. Choices for nightlife and
entertainment never end.
Outdoor recreation opportunities abound for
the people of Oakland Park, Florida. Along
with all the Ft. Lauderdale Atlantic beaches, residents enjoy the
John Lloyd Beach State Park, the
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, and inland
areas such as
Oleta River State Park, which showcase
Florida's native beauty. Deep-sea
fishing, canoeing and kayaking on the inland
waterways, biking and hiking sites all lay
within easy reach.
Oakland Park, Florida boasts a
tightly-knit community base and city leaders
with a strong vision. Oakland Park, FL
promises a bright future for its residents.
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