Weston, Florida


Weston is a master planned suburban community in Broward County, Florida, United States. Located 32 miles northwest of Miami, Weston established itself as a city in 1996, much of the community was developed by Arvida/JMB Realty 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. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 65,333. 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. In 2006, it was ranked as the city with the largest job growth in Florida and 18th largest in the nation. BusinessWeek ranked Weston as one of the "best affordable suburbs" in the United States in November 2006.
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. 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. It was recently named by Family Circle Magazine one of the Ten Best Towns for Families for 2015. In February 2018, the City of Weston was ranked #8 in the Top 100 Safest Cities in the U.S. by NeighborhoodScout.

Climate

The climate in South Florida is tropical. 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.

Geography

Weston is located at 26°6'27" north, 80°23'17" west, 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, of which is land and is water. The total area is 4.49% water.

Demographics

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%.
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, the fourteenth highest percentage of Colombian residents in the US, at 6.19% of the city's population,
seventy-fifth highest percentage of Cubans, at 4.05% of Weston residents, and had the forty-seventh highest percentage of Peruvians in the US, with 1.19% of the population Also, Puerto Ricans, made up 4.1% of residents.

Economy

According to a 2010 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $93,553 and the median per capita income was $40,432. 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.
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.

Transportation

Major highways in Weston include:
Other major roads and Arterial Streets include:
The city is served by bus routes of Broward County Transit, e.g. route 23.

Education

Public schools

operates public schools.
Public elementary schools:
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Middle schools:
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High schools:
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.
On October 16–18, 2013, Weston hosted the World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship. Weston currently has an agreement with American Youth Soccer Organization 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. 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.

Parks

There are many parks located in Weston. Additionally, , a large County Park is located in Sunrise just north of the City. 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.

Country Isles Park

A four-acre park located near Weston Town Center. This park includes a shaded playground, gazebo, exercise path, and is dog friendly.

Eagle Point Park

Adjacent to Eagle Point Elementary School, this seven acre park features two baseball fields, sand volleyball court, shaded playground, exercise path, and a lakefront area.

Emerald Estates Park

A five-acre park featuring shaded playground, basketball court, tennis courts, two picnic shelters with grills, exercise path, fitness stations, waterfront views, and is dog friendly.

Gator Run Park

is located next to Gator Run Elementary School. It's a 7-acre community park with one shaded playground and three pavilions.

Heron Park

Adjacent to Country Isles Elementary School, this 5.25 acre park includes two baseball fieldsand a soccer/football field.

Indian Trace Park

A five-acre neighborhood park featuring a baseball field, shaded playground, football/soccer field, basketball court, and is dog friendly. This park is adjacent to Indian Trace Elementary School.

Weston Library Park

Located across from Cypress Bay High School, this five acre park serves as a bridge between Cypress Bay High School and the Weston Library. The park provides outdoor classroom/local gathering space with its three gazebos. The fountain near the entrance has several benches surrounding it; the builders intended for this to be a peaceful reading park. Bronze plaques are scattered throughout the park for two informational strolls called "Ring of Florida Authors" and "Walk of Discovery."

Peace Mound Park

Peace Mound Park is an 8.16-acre park located by Indian Trace Road and Three Village Road, located behind La Morada neighborhood. The park includes shaded playground, exercise-bike path, fishing dock, two small picnic shelters with table, dog-friendly, and waterfront setting. The park was built around the Tequesta Trace burial mound. Bronze plaques surround the park and explain the history of this location.

Tequesta Trace Park

is adjacent to . It has 42 acres of community park, four baseball fields, shaded playground, one hockey rink, and a main football field with a track, followed with a trail.
Home of FUTSOC, Weston Rattlers, Weston Warriors and Okapi Wanderers Rugby FC.

Weston Town Center Park

This 6 acre linear park has an outdoor amphitheater that hosts many local concerts and events. The park stretches across the surrounding canal to create a water-front path.

Vista Park

is located next to Cypress Bay High School and Falcon Cove Middle School. It has 30 acres of community park, four baseball/softball fields and four soccer fields.

Weston Regional Park

is a 102-acre park that consists of the Weston Family YMCA along with swimming pools, eight baseball fields, eight football/soccer fields, eight basketball courts, two roller hockey rinks, one Astroturf rink, skate park, two shaded playgrounds, three sand volleyball courts, event stage, three picnic shelters with grills, and hiking trails. This park first opened in the year 2000. It is the home of the Weston Hawks.

Windmill Ranch Park

Adjacent to Everglades Elementary School, this park provides a shaded playground and one soccer/football field for the school and local residents.

Weston Town Center

is a shopping center located on the corner of Royal Palm Boulevard and Bonaventure Boulevard. It features salons and boutiques such as and . Also, it provides casual and fine dinning options for its visitors like , and .
The initial construction of Weston Town Center began in November 1999. This 32-acres project cost $42 million. Apart from boutique and dining, this center of town has a bell tower, the Weston Town Center Park, 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.

Notable people