Southwest Ranches, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Southwest Ranches, Florida
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| Town of Southwest Ranches | |
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| Motto(s):
"Preserving Our Rural Lifestyle" (official) and "The pavement stops here!"
(unofficial) |
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Location of Southwest Ranches within Broward County
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Broward |
| Incorporated | June 6, 2000 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.02 sq mi (33.71 km2) |
| • Land | 12.98 sq mi (33.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 9 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,607 |
| • Density | 586.24/sq mi (226.35/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
33029, 33330-33332
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| Area code(s) | 754, 954 |
| FIPS code | 12-68135 |
Southwest Ranches is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is a suburban area that is part of the Miami metropolitan area. The town is located on the eastern edge of the Everglades. It is about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Fort Lauderdale and 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Miami.
Southwest Ranches is special because it has three parts that are not connected, but they are very close to each other. The town was officially formed in 2000. This happened so it would not be taken over by the nearby city of Pembroke Pines. The people living there wanted to keep their quiet, country-like way of life. They chose the name "Southwest Ranches" because the area has many horse ranches and is in the southwestern part of Broward County.
In 2020, the town had 7,607 people living there. Southwest Ranches includes areas that used to be separate communities like Country Estates and Sunshine Ranches. To help keep its country and horse-friendly style, the town has built many trails for horses.
Contents
History of Southwest Ranches
Before Europeans arrived, the Tequesta people lived in southeastern Florida for nearly 2,000 years. This was from about 500 BCE to the 1700s CE. In the 1970s, scientists found an old Tequesta burial site in the town. It had items that were over a thousand years old. There is also an old trading post from Native American times in the town.
In 1996, the city of Pembroke Pines wanted to take over some nearby areas. These areas included what is now Southwest Ranches. Hundreds of people from Southwest Ranches protested this idea. They wanted the right to form their own town. Because of their efforts, the state government passed a law. This law allowed the people of Southwest Ranches to vote in March 2000. They could choose to join Pembroke Pines, join Davie, or become a new town.
A group called the Southwest Ranches Homeowners Association worked to make a new town happen. They formed a committee to see if a new town would have enough money to run itself. They found that hiring companies for services, instead of having full-time staff, would save money. This idea is called a "contract city."
On July 3, 1999, the homeowners association held a parade and picnic to celebrate their independence. Many important leaders spoke at the event. The people wanted to form their town sooner than planned. So, a new committee worked quickly to create a plan for the town's government, called a charter. They used the nearby town of Weston's plan as a guide.
A contest was held to name the new town. People sent in 122 different names! On October 12, 1999, they voted and chose "Southwest Ranches." On March 14, 2000, the residents voted. Most people chose to form a new town instead of being taken over by another city.
One big discussion was whether to have different areas (districts) for electing leaders. Most people felt that leaders should be chosen from anywhere in the town. But some thought leaders should represent specific areas. When the vote happened on June 6, 2000, people chose to have districts. The town's leaders were elected on July 25, 2000, and Southwest Ranches officially became a town.
The town is mostly residential. Most homes are on large pieces of land, usually one acre or more. Some properties are small farms or horse ranches. The town has rules to keep its country feel. For example, homes cannot be built on lots smaller than one acre. Also, there are generally no streetlights or sidewalks to keep the rural lifestyle.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 6,779 | — | |
| 2010 | 7,345 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 7,607 | 3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
This section tells us about the people who live in Southwest Ranches. This information comes from the United States Census, which counts everyone in the country every ten years.
2020 Census Data
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 3,380 | 44.43% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 343 | 4.51% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 12 | 0.16% |
| Asian (NH) | 291 | 3.83% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Some other race (NH) | 49 | 0.64% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 292 | 3.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,240 | 42.59% |
| Total | 7,607 | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,607 people living in Southwest Ranches. There were 2,024 households and 1,730 families.
2010 Census Data
| Southwest Ranches Demographics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Census | Southwest Ranches | Broward County | Florida |
| Total population | 7,345 | 1,748,066 | 18,801,310 |
| Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010 | +8.3% | +7.7% | +17.6% |
| Population density | 562.5/sq mi | 1,444.9/sq mi | 350.6/sq mi |
| White or Caucasian (including White Hispanic) | 85.9% | 63.1% | 75.0% |
| (Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian) | 56.4% | 43.5% | 57.9% |
| Black or African-American | 5.4% | 26.7% | 16.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 33.3% | 25.1% | 22.5% |
| Asian | 2.8% | 3.2% | 2.4% |
| Native American or Native Alaskan | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Two or more races (Multiracial) | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Some Other Race | 2.4% | 3.7% | 3.6% |
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,345 people living in the town. There were 2,210 households and 1,844 families.
Parks and Recreation
Southwest Ranches has many miles of trails for different uses. People often ride horses, bicycles, or walk on these trails throughout the town. Since it became a town, Southwest Ranches has also bought seven open-space parks. Only one of these parks has been developed so far. This park has areas for horse training and shows. It also has the Equestrian Oasis, which is an art piece that provides drinking water for horses.
Education
Schools in Southwest Ranches are part of the Broward County Public Schools system.
- Hawkes Bluff Elementary School
- Silver Trail Middle School
- West Broward High School
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Southwest Ranches:
- River Alexander, actor
- Ricou Browning, actor and film producer
- Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian model
- Vernon Carey, American football player
- Miss Cleo, television psychic
- Daunte Culpepper, American football player
- Karlos Dansby, American football player
- Vontae Davis, American football player
- T. J. Duke, racing driver
- Juan Gabriel, Mexican singer, songwriter, and actor
- Udonis Haslem, basketball player
- Tyreek Hill, American football player
- Dwayne Johnson, actor and former professional wrestler
- Sean Kingston, rapper and singer
- Raw Leiba, actor and film producer
- Trippie Redd, rapper
- Rick Ross, rapper and record executive
- Reggie Wayne, American football player
- Uncle Louie, American talent manager, music producer, and actor
See also
In Spanish: Southwest Ranches para niños
