Barrier Island (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Barrier Island

Barrier Island
Barrier Island Barrier Island Show map of Florida Barrier Island Barrier Island (North Atlantic) Show map of North Atlantic
Geography
Location	North Atlantic
Coordinates	26°5′38″N80°6′34″W / 26.09389°N 80.10944°W / 26.09389; -80.10944
Administration
United States
State	Florida
County	Broward
City	Fort Lauderdale
Additional information
Time zone	EST (UTC-5:00)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4:00)

Barrier Island is a heavily developed island in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, located between the Atlantic Ocean to the East, the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, and Port Everglades to the south. ^[1] Spanning approximately seven miles of coastline, the island is a hub for the city's tourism industry and maritime activities. It is characterized by its high-rise condominiums and the iconic white "wave wall" along the beach promenade. ^{[2] [3]}

History

Main article: History of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Before the 20th century, the island was largely uninhabited, consisting of mangrove swamps and coastal dunes. In 1917, Las Olas Boulevard was constructed as a dirt road crossing the wetlands to provide the first reliable access to the beach. ^[4]

Geography

The island is part of a long chain of Holocene-era offshore bars that protect the Florida mainland. ^{[5] [6]} It is separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway and is accessible via several bascule bridges. ^[7] It extends from the Port Everglades Inlet in the south to the northern city limits at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida. ^[8] The island is approximately seven miles long. ^[9]

Landmarks

Located on the island is Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, a 180-acre Florida state park. ^{[10] [11]}

The Bonnet House and Pier Sixty-Six are also located on the island. ^[12]

See also

• Brickell Key
• Bird Key (Miami)
• Deerfield Beach Island

References

1. "Barrier Island Access Pass Application". fortlauderdale.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
2. "Fort Lauderdale Beach Revitalization". edsaplan.com. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
3. Webb, Alice (September 8, 2014). "Fort Lauderdale Wave Wall and Promenade". landperspectives.com. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
4. "History of the Land at Hugh Taylor Birch". floridastateparks.org. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
5. "Holocene coastal development on the Florida peninsula". United States Geological Survey . December 31, 1992. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
6. Finkl, Charles W. "East Florida's Barrier Islands: Natural vs. Man-Made". coastalcare.org. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
7. "Fort Lauderdale: The Venice Of The Americas". piersixtysixresidences.com. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
8. "Town Facts". lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
9. "Fort Lauderdale". worldatlas.com. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
10. "History". floridastateparks.org. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
11. "City of Fort Lauderdale". visitflorida.com. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
12. Lyons, David (December 10, 2021). "Developers reveal a striking new plan for Pier 66, including 480-foot towers with balcony pools". Sun Sentinel . Retrieved January 10, 2026.