Introduction to Deerfield Beach, Florida
The Florida city of Deerfield Beach, part of Broward County, is located on the Atlantic Ocean about 3 miles south of Boca Raton and 20 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. Incorporated in 1925, the town of Deerfield was named for the large number of deer that once grazed along the Hillsboro River. In 1939, the name of the town was changed to Deerfield Beach. Although chiefly an agricultural community until the late 1940s, the town soon began to be discovered by tourists attracted to the town’s scenic oceanfront. The burgeoning tourism industry spawned a proliferation of new hotels and motels along the shoreline, and in 1951 the town became the City of Deerfield Beach. Although still heavily influenced by tourism, the city's economy today is more diversified and includes manufacturing and office services among its industries.
Points of interest in Deerfield Beach
The Deerfield Beach Arboretum, also known as the Tree Zoo, contains more than 200 different species of trees and palms from around the world. Although closed for five months following heavy losses sustained from Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the Arboretum is back in business with an assortment of palms, tropical fruit trees, exotic flowering and canopy trees, bamboos and miscellaneous exotic trees. Another Deerfield Beach attraction is Quiet Waters Park, a 430-acre venue which includes a freshwater swimming beach, a lake for cable water-skiing, and Splash Adventure, a high-tech water playground for kids. Fishing, camping and picnicking are also featured in the Park. Deerfield Island Park, another of the city's attractions, is an "urban wilderness area" located on an island bordered by the Hillsboro Canal, and the Intracoastal and Royal Palm Waterways.
Annual events in Deerfield Beach include the Deerfield Beach Mango Festival. Held in June, this three-day celebration is one of South Florida's largest multicultural festivals. Kicked off by a gala ball and dinner, the festival draws more than 120,000 people who come to enjoy a festive parade, arts and crafts, international food and beverages and two stages with live continuous entertainment. The Florida Renaissance Festival, held on five weekends during February and March, features sights and sounds of court jesters, jousting knights, games of chance and gala 5-course feasts.
Sports fans can travel a few miles to the city of Sunrise to catch National Hockey League action played by the Florida Panthers. Less than an hour further south are other Miami-area major league sports teams, including Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins, the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and the National Basketball Association's Miami Heat.
