Located near the Atlantic Ocean, Coral Springs, Florida real estate sits just south of the Palm Beach County line. With a population of 124,804 (2004 U.S. census estimate), Coral Springs has witnessed phenomenal growth since its incorporation in 1963. Coral Springs has quickly become the 13th-largest city in the Sunshine State. Broward County (population: 1,777,638) is easily the second-largest county in Florida, after Miami-Dade County, which is directly south and has about 600,000 more residents. The metropolitan area, which includes Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, has a combined population of more than 5.4 million people, making it the largest metro area in the Southeastern U.S.

Broward County covers 1,320 square miles, but a great majority of its population lives in the eastern third of the county. Swamp land covers much of Broward County?s western two-thirds, where Interstate 75, also known as Alligator Alley, leads west into the Big Cypress National Preserve, which is just north of the Florida Everglades.

Eastern Broward County is intensely urban, with nine of the county?s cities among Florida?s 25 largest cities. Other large cities in Broward County include: Fort Lauderdale (population: 164,578), the seventh-largest city in Florida; Pembroke Pines (population: 150,104), the state?s ninth-largest city; Hollywood (population: 144,535), the state?s 10th-largest city; Miramar (population: 101,486), the fastest-growing city in the state with a 39 percent growth rate; Sunrise (population: 89,136); Pompano Beach (population: 88,874); Plantation (population: 85.497); and Davie (population: 82,579). Combined with Coral Springs, these cities are home to more than 1 million people.

In all, Broward County contains 31 cities and towns, including at least 37 distinct, named neighborhoods within those incorporated areas, as well as 14 unincorporated communities.

The balmy climate of Coral Springs produces 90-degree days during the summer months, while the average high in January is in the middle 70s and the average low in January is in the mid- to low-60s. Hurricanes often threaten the Coral Springs area. In 1926 and 1947, hurricanes made direct hits on Broward County.

Coral Springs, Florida real estate has evolved from the edge of swamp land into a teeming community in less than half a century. Coral Springs was ranked No. 27 on a 2006 list of Best Places to Live by Money Magazine, the highest ranking of any city in Florida. Research firm Morgan Quitno also named Coral Springs the 23rd-safest city in the U.S.

Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years before Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century. In 1838, Maj. William Lauderdale and his troops established a stockade on the New River. That fort and a later one built on the beach became Fort Lauderdale, which was incorporated in 1911. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, a former Florida governor, championed Everglades drainage and the county was named for him in 1925. While the results of drainage in the Everglades were mixed, the drainage did open up much of today?s urban Broward County for development, first as agricultural land and, later, as residential, which allowed Coral Springs to grow.

Originally developed by Westinghouse Co. and marketed as a ?city in the country,? Coral Springs was built on a former bean farm, but many of the farms and cow pastures have gradually disappeared, giving way to new housing.

Coral Springs works hard to burnish its image. The city has long adhered to corporate ideals: city government strives to serve its customers (the citizens) and has been recognized for its efforts by the state. The city is well-planned, with ample parks and gas stations, shops and other businesses built only along major roadways. Traffic flows fairly easily, even though Coral Springs is one of the state?s most-populous and fastest-growing cities. Code enforcement is strict, to the point where the local McDonald?s is reportedly the only one in the U.S. without golden arches due to city sign restrictions.

In the past decade, Coral Springs has become more diverse, with a rise in single-parent families. Of families with children, more than one in five was headed by a single parent, according to recent census data. Coral Springs residents of Puerto Rican ancestry doubled in the last 10 years.

Coral Springs, Florida real estate is located within easy access of all that South Florida has to offer. The area is not just a great place to play but also an attractive location for business. From the luxury hotels that drape the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to the east to the natural wonders of the Everglades and Big Cypress Preserves to the west, Coral Springs has a multi-faceted appeal. Outdoor activities, special events year round, outstanding shops and dining, golf and entertainment are all within easy access, creating a comfortable lifestyle for families.

Coral Springs has 43 parks on 675 acres, most of them in residential areas. The city is already known for Sportsplex, its elaborate 182-acre aquatic, ice skating and tennis complex. The Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital will open at the Sportsplex in 2006. One Charter Place, a decade-long $25 million redevelopment project at the intersection of West Sample Road and University Drive kicked off in 2005.

When you consider the pristine beauty of the Atlantic beaches and the Big Cypress and Everglades national preserves in addition to the bevy of golf courses (about 80 courses within 30 miles, including TPC Heron Bay, former site of the PGA?s Honda Classic and ?one of the top 10 daily fee courses in Florida? according to Golf Magazine) and the nearby high-energy nightlife of Miami, you can understand why Coral Springs is such a popular place to live. A Seminole Casino is nearby in Coconut Creek. For sports fans, Miami is the only city in Florida that offers all four major American team sports.

Broward County is home to Nova Southeastern University and Broward Community College, while Florida Atlantic University is located nearby in Boca Raton and Miami offers the University of Miami and Florida International University.