"HIstory of Hollywood Florida" Top 5 Page for this destination Hollywood Local Custom Tip by kymbanm

Joseph Young came to south Florida in 1920 with a dream. He wanted his city to be accessible to the rich, as well as to the average worker. Beginning as an undeveloped tract of pine forests, palmetto plants, tangled undergrowth interspersed with tomato farms, and low lying marshland, it has become the second-most populated city in Broward County and the ninth largest city in the State of Florida. With Fort Lauderdale to the north, and Miami to the south, Hollywood is idealy situated for exploration of southwestern Florida.

The municipal charter, signed in 1925 gave this community ‘city’ status. Originally composed of only 1 square mile, Hollywood Florida is now almost 29 square miles in area. The Hollywood boardwalk, with a casino, and luxury hotel, became known as the Atlantic City of the south. In 1926 a hurricane hit the southern Florida coast, and decimated the growing city. Lives were lost and buildings were flattened. Financial concerns led most of the new residents to sell of their land for whatever they could get, and the once hopeful city of Hollywood was heading toward financial ruin.

Despite all of his efforts, Joseph Young lost his holdings to bankruptcy in 1930. He continued to live in his utopian city until his untimely death at the age of 51, in 1934. Other investors took over Mr. Young’s dream and the city continued to grow. By the end of WWII, the city was prosperous and profitable. In 1975, the city adopted the ame, “Diamond of the Gold Coast”. Hollywood has continued to grow and prosper throughout the years, and is a tourist attraction for Americans and foreign nationals.