Three forts named "Fort Lauderdale" were constructed: the first was at the fork of the New River, the second was at Tarpon Bend on the New River between the present-day Colee Hammock and Rio Vista neighborhoods, and the third was near the site of the Bahia Mar Marina.

Due to the more than 4,000 bars, restaurants and nightclubs that permeated the popular tourist spots, the city became known as Fort Liquordale.

Until July 1961, only whites were allowed on Ft. Lauderdale beaches. There were no beaches for African-Americans in Broward County until 1954, when "the Colored Beach," today Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, was opened in Dania Beach--but no road was built to it until 1965. On July 4, 1961, African Americans started a series of wade-ins as protests at beaches that were off-limits to them, to protest the failure of the county to build a road to the Negro beach. On July 11, 1962, a verdict went against the city's policy of racial segregation of public beaches, and Broward County beaches were finally desegregated in 1962.

Snow has only been recorded once in the history of Fort Lauderdale: January 19, 1977. It was such a surprise that local newspapers ran headlines which were nearly as big as it would be for major national or world events.

The Elbo Room became a Fort Lauderdale Beach landmark after it was featured in the 1960 film, which followed the misadventures of four college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale and led in large part to the city's former reputation as a spring break mecca.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is recognized as the official hall for the aquatics sports. The first members of the hall of fame were inducted in 1965 and included American actor, Olympian and swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who was known for portraying Tarzan the Ape Man in numerous films, as well as having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century.

Built in 1901 by city founder Frank Stranahan and his wife Ivy, the Stranahan House is the oldest standing building in Fort Lauderdale. Suffering from depression after the collapse of the Florida land boom left him broke, Stranahan committed suicide in 1926 by jumping into the river in front of his house. His widow lived in the house until she died there in 1971, at age 90. Reports of Frank's ghost haunting the home surfaced mere days after his death, and visitors frequently report the scent of roses, Ivy's favorite perfume, in the master bedroom. Most eerily, there are rumors that visitors who call upon the spirits of Frank and Ivy Stranahan and take a photograph will see their manifestations appear.

Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger Jr. was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 29 January 1942 for his actions on 12 January 1942 in Abucay, Bataan, Philippines, during the Japanese invasion. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "This officer, though assigned to another company not then engaged in combat, voluntarily attached himself to Company K ... while that unit was being attacked by enemy force superior in firepower. Enemy snipers in trees and foxholes had stopped a counterattack to regain part of position. In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, 2d Lt. Nininger repeatedly forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and hand grenades and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes and enemy snipers. Although wounded 3 times, he continued his attacks until he was killed after pushing alone far within the enemy position."

The New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals used to conduct spring training in the city at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

Annual average precipitation is 60.95 inches (1,550 mm), with most of it occurring during the wet season from May through October.