South Florida's Equestrian Town
Welcome to Davie, Broward County's largest town and South Florida's equestrian heart, home to Nova Southeastern University, miles of horse trails, and a rodeo tradition.
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, situated about 24 miles north of Miami and southwest of Fort Lauderdale, near the western edge of the county's urbanized core. With a population of roughly 110,000, it is the largest town in Florida by population — a designation that reflects both its size and its deliberate choice to remain a town rather than incorporate as a city. Founded in the early 1900s as an agricultural and cattle-raising settlement on the fringes of the Everglades, Davie developed around ranches, citrus groves, and horse properties. That western and equestrian character is not incidental. Town leadership and residents consciously preserved it through zoning and land-use rules, producing one of the most horse-friendly communities in the country. Equestrian trails run through residential areas, ranch-style properties remain common, and the Davie Rodeo Arena hosts professional rodeo events that anchor the town's cowboy identity. Western Town, along the Griffin Road corridor, maintains old-west architectural codes that reinforce the theme throughout the built environment. Davie is equally known as an education center. Nova Southeastern University's main campus is located in the town, and it clusters with Florida Atlantic University's Broward campus, the University of Florida's regional facilities, and McFatter Technical Center in the South Florida Education Center area, one of the largest generators of activity in Broward County. This combination of colleges, a working equestrian culture, and suburban neighborhoods gives Davie a character that sets it apart from its coastal neighbors. Residential areas span established single-family subdivisions, gated communities, and equestrian estates with acreage for horses, while an extensive system of parks and trails connects neighborhoods to open space. For residents who want a South Florida location with a distinctly outdoorsy, small-town feel, Davie offers a rare blend of rural tradition, academic energy, and convenient access to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Davie is located in Broward County, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. The town sits about 24 miles north of Miami and southwest of Fort Lauderdale, near the western edge of the county's urbanized core.
Public schools in Davie are part of Broward County Public Schools. The town is also a major higher-education center, home to Nova Southeastern University's main campus and the South Florida Education Center cluster of colleges.
Davie is known for its western and equestrian character, including horse trails, ranch properties, and the Davie Rodeo Arena. It is also recognized as Florida's largest town by population and as home to Nova Southeastern University.
Davie is incorporated as a town, the largest in Florida by population, with roughly 110,000 residents. It has deliberately retained its town status and western character rather than incorporating as a city.
Davie offers an extensive network of parks and trails for walking, biking, and horseback riding, anchored by the Bamford Sports Complex at Pine Island Park. The town's rodeo arena hosts professional events that reflect its equestrian heritage.
City Guide
Davie's housing stock spans several eras and styles. Established single-family neighborhoods from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Scarborough, offer traditional homes near shopping and dining, while newer gated communities provide contemporary options. A defining feature is the town's equestrian housing: ranch-style properties and estates with acreage for horses, reflecting zoning that protects the area's western character. Townhomes, condominiums, and apartment communities near the colleges and education corridor round out the mix, serving students and professionals. The result is a market that ranges from suburban convenience to semi-rural acreage, unusual for densely developed Broward County.
Davie's neighborhoods reflect its dual identity as a suburb and horse country. Scarborough, a well-established 1980s-90s community, offers traditional single-family homes and community amenities. Forest Ridge is noted for its tree-lined streets and family-oriented feel. Equestrian-oriented areas such as Long Lake Ranches, Imagination Farms, and The Vineyards provide larger lots and horse-friendly living near the trail network. Along the Griffin Road corridor, Western Town preserves the town's old-west architectural codes. Gated communities and estates elsewhere add privacy and newer construction, giving buyers a wide range of neighborhood characters within a single town.
Davie blends suburban South Florida living with a distinctly western culture. Horses are part of everyday life, from trail rides and ranch properties to the professional rodeo events at the Davie Rodeo Arena. The presence of Nova Southeastern University and several other colleges adds an academic dimension, bringing students, faculty, and cultural activity to the town. Dining and shopping cluster around the Plaza at Davie and other retail centers. The combination of equestrian tradition, college-town energy, and a relaxed, outdoorsy pace gives Davie a personality that stands apart from Broward County's beachfront communities.
Davie's public schools are part of Broward County Public Schools, one of the nation's largest districts. The town's greater distinction is as a higher-education hub: Nova Southeastern University's main campus is located in Davie, and it sits within the South Florida Education Center alongside Florida Atlantic University's Broward campus, University of Florida facilities, and McFatter Technical Center. This cluster of institutions makes the education corridor a major generator of activity in Broward County and gives Davie a strong academic presence unusual for a town of its size.
Davie sits roughly 24 miles north of Miami and southwest of Fort Lauderdale, at the western edge of Broward County's urban area. Major regional highways connect the town to Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and the wider South Florida metro, supporting commutes to coastal employment centers. Proximity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the region's seaports adds to its accessibility. Within the town, the equestrian trail system and local roads reflect its spread-out, low-rise character, with most travel by car.
Davie's recreation is anchored by its parks and an extensive trail system that links residential communities with open space, schools, and Broward County's environmentally sensitive lands. The Bamford Sports Complex, also known as Pine Island Park, serves as the town's central recreation hub. Equestrian trails are a signature feature, supporting the horse culture that defines the town, while paved and forested paths accommodate walking, running, and cycling. The Davie Rodeo Arena adds a uniquely western dimension, hosting professional rodeo and community events. Nearby, the Everglades and regional preserves extend outdoor recreation beyond the town's own parks.
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