Pompano Beach is a city in Broward County on Florida's southeast Atlantic coast, positioned roughly 36 miles north of Miami and just north of Fort Lauderdale, between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean. Its 2020 census population of about 112,000 makes it one of the larger cities in Broward County, and its shoreline, inlets, and canals give it a distinctly maritime identity within the Miami–Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area.
The city takes its name from the Florida pompano, a prized food fish that was abundant in its waters and attracted the area's first commercial fishermen. The Tequesta people inhabited the coast for centuries before European settlement, and by the early 20th century Pompano had grown into a fishing and farming community. The Florida land boom of the 1920s brought development, and in later decades Pompano Park's harness racing made the city a regional sports destination. The Pompano Beach Airpark, still home to the Goodyear Blimp, reflects the city's long aviation history as well.
Today the economy balances tourism, marine industries, and a substantial downtown revitalization. The Community Redevelopment Agency has guided a transformation of the urban core — realigning Atlantic Boulevard, adding public spaces, and attracting new residential and commercial development — while the beachfront and Fisher Family Pier anchor the tourism economy. The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, at the city's northern edge, remains an iconic landmark.
Education is provided by Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation's largest districts, and Pompano Beach High School has earned recognition among Florida's top public high schools. Recreation is woven into the city's fabric: the beach, the pier, boating through Hillsboro Inlet, and waterfront parks give residents direct access to the Atlantic and Intracoastal. For homebuyers, Pompano Beach offers oceanfront condominiums, canal-front homes, established neighborhoods, and new downtown living, all within the heart of South Florida.
