Hollywood, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hollywood, Florida
City
Skyline
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Diamond of the Gold Coast
Hollywood, Florida Location in Florida Show map of Florida Hollywood, Florida Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Broward
Founded	February 18, 1921
Incorporated	November 28, 1925
Government
• Type	Commission-manager
Area
• Total	30.78 sq mi (79.71 km2)
• Land	27.25 sq mi (70.58 km2)
• Water	3.52 sq mi (9.13 km2)  11.23%
Elevation	9 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	153,067
• Estimate  (2022)	152,650
• Rank	176th in the United States 12th in Florida
• Density	5,601.83/sq mi (2,162.79/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	33004, 33009, 33019-33021, 33023, 33024, 33312, 33314, 33316
Area code(s)	954, 754
FIPS code	12-32000
GNIS feature ID	0284176

Hollywood is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is part of the larger Miami metropolitan area. In 2020, about 153,067 people lived there. This makes Hollywood the third-largest city in Broward County and the twelfth-largest in all of Florida. The weather is usually warm, with average temperatures between 69 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit (20-28 degrees Celsius).

Hollywood's History: From Dream City to Today

Hollywood Beach in late October 2020.

In 1920, a man named Joseph Young came to South Florida. He had a big dream to build a "Dream City in Florida." He imagined a city stretching from the Atlantic Ocean beaches to man-made lakes. He also planned for roads, parks, schools, churches, and golf courses.

Young spent a lot of money building the city. In 1925, he became its first mayor. The city quickly became popular with people from the northern states, often called "snowbirds." These visitors would come to Florida to escape the cold winters. By 1960, Hollywood had many hotels and homes. Young bought thousands of acres of land and named his new town "Hollywood by the Sea." This name helped tell it apart from another project he had in New York.

The "Florida guide" from the Federal Writers' Project described how Hollywood grew. It was an early example of a planned community in Florida. These planned communities became very popular in the 1920s.

In the early days, 1,500 trucks and tractors worked to clear land and build streets. Two yacht basins were dug and connected to the Intracoastal Waterway. A large power plant was built. When the city lights turned on for the first time, ships at sea thought Miami was on fire! Their alarms and the red glow in the sky brought people from far away to help.

People interested in buying land were offered free hotel stays and entertainment. They were driven around the future city, even through wild areas. Some parts were so empty that some women reportedly fainted! Young's vision included lakes, golf courses, a fancy beach hotel, country clubs, and a main street called Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1926, a strong hurricane hit Miami and Hollywood. Hollywood was badly damaged. After Young passed away in 1934, the city faced more hurricanes and a stock market crash.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused damage and power outages in Hollywood. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity started a program called Rebuild Florida. This program helped families rebuild their homes after the hurricane. It focused on helping people who needed it most, like the elderly and families with young children.

Hollywood's Key Dates

• 1921 – Joseph Wesley Young planned "Hollywood by the Sea."
• 1923 – The Hollywood Hotel opened.
• 1925 – Hollywood officially became a city. The Police Department was started. Joseph Wesley Young became the first mayor.
• 1926 – The Hollywood Beach Hotel opened. A major hurricane hit the city.
• 1928 – Port Everglades opened nearby.
• 1930 – The city's population was 2,689.
• 1935 – The "Fiesta Tropicale" event began.
• 1948 – Broward County International Airport opened.
• 1950 – Population grew to 14,351.
• 1953 – Hollywood Memorial Hospital opened.
• 1957 – The Seminole Tribe of Florida gained official recognition.
• 1960 – Population reached 35,237.
• 1970 – Population grew to 106,873.
• 1971 – Topeekeegee Yugnee Park opened.
• 1975 – The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood opened.
• 1981 – The Seminole Tribe of Florida won the right to have high-stakes bingo games.
• 1982 – West Lake Park opened.
• 1996 – The city's website went online.
• 2004 – The Seminole Tribe of Florida's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood opened.
• 2010 – Population was 140,768.
• 2016 – Josh Levy became mayor.
• 2019 – The guitar-shaped Hard Rock Live hotel opened.

Hollywood's Geography and Climate

Hollywood covers about 30.8 square miles (79.7 square kilometers). About 3.46 square miles (9.13 square kilometers) of this area is water.

The city is in southeastern Broward County. It has about 5 to 6 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach.

Hollywood's Tropical Climate

Hollywood has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it has long, hot, and humid summers with lots of rain. Winters are short, warm, and dry.

Hollywood Beach in March 2008

Hollywood's People: Demographics and Languages

Hollywood is a diverse city. Its population has grown a lot over the years.

Many different languages are spoken in homes across Hollywood. While English is the most common, Spanish is also widely spoken. Other languages like French and Italian are also heard. This mix of languages shows how many different cultures live in the city.

Hollywood's Economy: Jobs and Tourism

Hollywood is home to several important companies. HEICO, which makes aerospace and electronics parts, has its main office here. The Invicta Watch Group, known for watches, is also based in Hollywood.

Top Employers in Hollywood

Many people in Hollywood work for these top employers:

Tourism and Fun in Hollywood

Tourism is a big part of Hollywood's economy. You can take guided tours along the Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway runs next to the ocean and is a great place to see nature.

Young Circle, named after the city's founder, is a lively area. It has many shops, restaurants, and bars. Every Monday, a "Food-Truck Takeover" happens there. Dozens of food trucks offer all kinds of food. You can find Cuban, Venezuelan, Mexican, Jamaican, and Peruvian dishes. There are also barbecue, burgers, and delicious desserts.

Parks, Recreation, and Beaches

Hollywood has many places for outdoor fun. There are about 60 parks and seven golf courses. The city is also famous for its sandy beaches.

Hollywood Beach has a long "broadwalk" that stretches about 2.5 miles along the ocean. You can park nearby or in garages for a fee. Public trolleys also run throughout the day. Along the broadwalk, you'll find restaurants, hotels, a theater, and a children's playground. There are also shops where you can rent bicycles, buy ice cream, or find souvenirs. The broadwalk is perfect for walking, jogging, biking, and rollerblading.

Education in Hollywood

Hollywood has many schools for students. The public schools are managed by the Broward County Public Schools.

Public Schools in Hollywood

There are 24 public schools in Hollywood. This includes four high schools, six middle schools, and 14 elementary schools.

The public high schools are:

• Hollywood Hills High School
• McArthur High School
• South Broward High School
• Sheridan Technical College and High School

The public middle schools include:

• Apollo Middle School
• Attucks Middle School
• Driftwood Middle School
• McNicol Middle School
• Olsen Middle School
• Beachside Montessori Village

Transportation in Hollywood

A Tri-Rail commuter train at Sheridan Street Station.

Hollywood is served by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. This is a busy airport that connects the city to many places.

You can also get around Hollywood using Broward County Transit buses. These buses have routes that go through the city. For longer trips, Tri-Rail commuter trains stop at Sheridan Street and Hollywood stations.

The Hollywood Police Department helps keep the city safe.

Famous People from Hollywood

Many well-known people have lived in or are from Hollywood, Florida. Some of them include:

• Davey Allison (1961–1993), a racing driver
• Jayne Atkinson (born 1959), an actress
• Steve Blake (born 1980), a basketball player
• Ethan Bortnick (born 2000), a pianist
• Marquise Brown (born 1992), an American football player
• Janice Dickinson (born 1955), a model
• Joe DiMaggio (1914–1999), a famous baseball player
• Josh Gad (born 1981), an actor
• Victoria Justice (born 1993), an actress and singer
• Veronica Lake (1922–1973), an actress
• Norman Reedus (born 1969), an actor
• John Walsh (born 1945), a television producer

Hollywood's Sister Cities

Hollywood has "sister cities" around the world. These are cities that partner together to promote cultural ties and understanding.

Images for kids

• 

  Hollywood Beach in March 2008

See also

In Spanish: Hollywood (Florida) para niños