Weston, Florida

Weston established itself as a city on September 3, 1996.[6] Much of the community was developed by Arvida/JMB Realty (known for developing Walt Disney World) and is located near the western developmental boundary of Broward County. It is the most western city in Broward County, and its entire west side is next to the Everglades.[7] As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 65,333.[6] Weston is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6,012,331 people at the 2015 census.

In 2010, Money magazine ranked Weston 19th in America in the "Biggest Earners" category, with a median family income of $119,689.[8] In 2006, it was ranked as the city with the largest job growth in Florida and 18th largest in the nation.[9] BusinessWeek ranked Weston as one of the "best affordable suburbs" in the United States in November 2006.[10][11]

Weston consistently ranks high annually in CNN Money magazine's "Biggest Earners" category. In 2008, Money magazine ranked Weston as the 73rd best place to live in America, making it the best place to live in the state of Florida.[12] In 2012, Weston moved up eleven slots to the 62nd best place to live in America, once again topping the list in the state of Florida.[13] It was recently named by Family Circle Magazine one of the Ten Best Towns for Families for 2015.[14] In February 2018, the City of Weston was ranked #8 in the Top 100 Safest Cities in the U.S. by NeighborhoodScout.[15]

Weston has a tropical rainforest climate (Af). Winters are usually dry and warm during La Niña conditions, while El Niño conditions usually bring cool and wet conditions to the region. ENSO effects on South Florida are rather minimal during the summer months, with the exception of tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin.[16]

Weston is located at 26°6'27" north, 80°23'17" west (26.107534, −80.388151),[17] at the western edge of development in Broward County. It is bordered by:

On its northeast: Sunrise
On its east: Davie
On its south: Southwest Ranches
On its west and north: The Everglades

According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.2 km²), of which 25.2 square miles (65.2 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) is water. The total area is 4.49% water.[6]

Flowers and hedges line all across Weston

As of 2010, there were 24,394 households, with 13.0% being vacant. In 2000, there were 16,576 households, out of which 51.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.6% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.29.

In 2000, the age distribution of the city was as follows: 32.4% were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64 and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males.

In 2000, English was the sole language spoken at home by 62.5% of the residents, while Spanish speakers comprised 31.40% of the population, Portuguese speakers comprised 1.3% of the population, and French speakers 0.82%.[19]

As of 2010, Weston had the highest number and highest percentage of Venezuelans in the United States, at 9.4% of the city's residents,[20] the fourteenth highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 6.19% of the city's population,[21] seventy-fifth highest percentage of Cubans, at 4.05% of Weston residents,[22] and had the forty-seventh highest percentage of Peruvians in the US, with 1.19% of the population (tied with Orange, New Jersey.)[23] Also, Puerto Ricans (who are born U.S. citizens), made up 4.1% of residents.[24]

According to a 2010 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $93,553 [25] and the median per capita income was $40,432.[26] Males had a median income of $63,135 versus $38,119 for females. 2.3% of the population was below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 0.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[27]

Sundown in Windmill Ranches

Companies with operations in Weston include Ultimate Software, DHL, Marriott International, Abbott Laboratories, Mondelez, Cleveland Clinic, Wendy's, Caribbean, Rockwell Automation, American Express, and Rick Case Autos.

Major highways in Weston include:

• Interstate 75, which travels North and South along the Eastern Edge of the City, and East and West along the Northern edge of the City as "Alligator Alley".
• U.S. Highway 27, which travels along the western edge of the city.

Other major roads and Arterial Streets include:

• Griffin Road (State Road 818)
• South Post Road
• Weston Road
• Royal Palm Boulevard and then renamed Glades Parkway north of Saddle Club Road
• Indian Trace
• Bonaventure Boulevard

The city is served by bus routes of Broward County Transit, e.g. route 23.

The City contracts with the Weston Sports Alliance, Inc., Weston's own all volunteer organization, to manage its organized league athletics. The alliance is formed by six charter organizations, baseball/softball/t-ball, basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse and rugby, with more than 9,000 participants each year.[39]

On October 16–18, 2013, Weston hosted the World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship. Weston currently has an agreement with American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) to use Regional soccer fields. Soccer has become a very popular sport in the area, where FUTSOC has brought international soccer recognition with its number 1 national ranking in 2015, which was honored with a certificate of recognition by a proclamation from the City of Weston.[40] Also, Weston FC has grown into one of the largest and most respected competitive soccer clubs in the nation, even fielding a semi-pro Premier Development League team. Home to the Weston Hawks and Weston Rattlers travel baseball team and Weston Warriors football and lacrosse teams. Weston also has the largest rugby club in Florida, Okapi Wanderers Rugby FC, that trains and plays at Tequesta Trace Park.

Weston is also home to several golf facilities, the Weston Hills Country Club with two 18-hole courses, and Bonaventure Country Club with a championship 18-hole golf course.

There are many parks located in Weston. Additionally, Markham Park, a large County Park is located in Sunrise just north of the City. Sawgrass Recreation Park is located in the Everglades, north of the City on US 27. An 8,000-year-old paleo-Indian and Tequesta Indian burial mound is located in the city.[41]

Weston Town Center is a shopping center located on the corner of Royal Palm Boulevard and Bonaventure Boulevard. It features salons and boutiques. Also, it provides casual and fine dining options.[56]

The initial construction of Weston Town Center began in November 1999. This 32 acre (13 ha) project cost $42 million.[57] Apart from boutique and dining, this center of town has a bell tower, the Weston Town Center Park ( a 1.2 mile park hugging the lake), and an outdoor amphitheater to host city events. In 2011, the city approved plans to expand the northwest retail center to accommodate a new urgent care facility which is now Baptist Health Urgent Care.

• Alan Cohen, former owner of the NHL's Florida Panthers
• Daniel Dickey, comedian, humorist and political activist
• Sami Gayle, television and theater actress best known for her role on the CBS series Blue Bloods
• Art Ginsburg, "Mr. Food" cookbook author and television personality
• Jake Miller, hip-hop recording artist
• Billy Mitchell, recognized "Video Game Player of the Century," restauranter
• Dean Pelman (born 1995), Israeli-American baseball pitcher for the Israel National Baseball Team
• Manny Ramirez, professional baseball player for the EDA Rhinos
• Debbie Wasserman Schultz, US Representative
• Nina Ansaroff, mixed martial artist

• City of Weston official site