1981 Map of Fort Lauderdale

About this map

The eastern coast of South Florida in the early 1980s reveals a sharp boundary between dense urban development and the immense wilderness of the Everglades. This transition is clearly defined by the massive water control infrastructure of the era, including the Hillsboro Canal, North New River Canal, and South New River Canal. While the coastal strip is heavily populated with cities like Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Boca Raton, the western portion of the map is dominated by vast conservation and management zones. These include the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.