Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a small town in Broward County, Florida, situated on a narrow barrier-island strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, directly between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. It lies about 30 miles north of Miami and 33 miles south of Palm Beach, placing it in the heart of South Florida's coastal corridor. The town has roughly 6,000 permanent residents, a figure that more than doubles during the winter season as seasonal residents and visitors arrive. The community's history is tied to its beachfront. Pioneer Melvin Anglin built Anglin's Fishing Pier in 1941 to draw visitors to the small town, and the pier remains the community's defining landmark. The town developed through the mid-twentieth century with the low-rise motels and oceanfront properties that still characterize its shoreline, many now reborn as boutique hotels and residences. A 2013 streetscape project revitalized Commercial Boulevard, reinforcing the town's walkable, pedestrian-friendly center. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is widely known as Florida's Beach Diving Capital. A three-tiered natural coral reef system begins just about 100 yards offshore, close enough that snorkelers and divers can swim directly from the beach — a rarity among South Florida communities. This shore-accessible reef, along with the town's compact scale and two-coast layout, defines its identity. Public school students attend Broward County Public Schools, with access to the Pompano Beach magnet program. For those considering a move to the Fort Lauderdale area, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea offers an intimate, low-rise beach-town alternative: walkable streets, direct reef access, and a strong sense of place, with the larger urban amenities of the region just minutes away.