Hacienda Village facts for kids

Hacienda Village was a small town in central Broward County, Florida, in the United States. It was started in 1949. Even though it had its own police and fire departments, it still depended on Broward County for many services.

In 1984, Hacienda Village was officially closed down as a town. This happened after a disagreement involving its police department and state officials. After it was disincorporated, the area became part of the nearby town of Davie, Florida.

What Was Hacienda Village Like?

Hacienda Village was a very small community. It had about 14 mobile homes and three junkyards. Its population was small, usually between 150 and 200 people.

A Town on Busy Roads

The town was located at a busy intersection. This was where State Road 7 and State Road 84 met. These are two important roads in South Florida. Hacienda Village had the power to enforce laws on these roads within its small boundaries.

How the Town Made Money

People living in Hacienda Village did not have to pay local taxes. The town always had plenty of money. This money came mostly from traffic fines. Many of these fines were given to tourists. These visitors often did not know about the town's special rules.

The "Speed Trap" Reputation

Hacienda Village was known as a "speed trap." This means it was a place where police often gave out many speeding tickets. The town used tricky speed limit signs. These signs were often hard to see or understand. Police officers were very good at enforcing these limits.

Other Traffic Rules

Another way the town collected fines was by enforcing a rule about turning. This rule said drivers could not cross double yellow lines when making a turn. Many drivers were caught when turning into places like restaurants or rest stops along the road.

Losing Its Power

In August 1970, Hacienda Village stopped giving out tickets on the state roads. They were waiting for a decision about their authority. In October 1970, the Florida State Attorney General made a ruling. The Attorney General ordered the town to stop giving tickets on state roads.

State Road Rules

The ruling stated that all state roads are under the control of the state government. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is the only law enforcement agency allowed to give tickets and investigate accidents on state roads. This meant Hacienda Village lost a major source of its income.

The Impact of New Highways

Just like another small community called Andytown, Hacienda Village was greatly affected by new highways. The construction of Interstate 595 was a big change. This highway was built along the State Road 84 path.

Traffic Changes

Interstate 595 redirected most of the traffic away from State Road 84. This meant fewer cars drove through Hacienda Village. With less traffic, the town collected far fewer fines. This loss of income was a major reason for the town's decline. Interstate 595 runs from the Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale International Airport to I-75.