"Fairy Dusting", a phenomena associated with gay men moving in and renovating entire city blocks, began in the Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods of Victoria Park and Wilton Manors. Today, property values in in some of  the original "neighborhoods" have tripled and even  quadrupled. A modest home in Vickie Park may cost $350K which is why the area is now home to a predominantly older and more established gay community. The younger crowd, usually in their 20s-40s, have taken their feather dusters and Home Depot credit cards and headed for nearby areas like Lake Ridge, Middle River Terrace, and into the cities of Wilton Manors, and Lake Emerald in Oakland Park.

Wilton Manors, sandwiched between Fort Lauderdale and Oakland Park, now has the highest percentage in the nation of households headed by unmarried partners (single), 10.6 percent, according to census statistics. Take 10.6 percent and add roommates and partners and estimates are that 30 and 35 percent of the city population is gay. In other words, Wilton Manors officially "The Gayest Place is the World" is now only a couple hours from "The Happiest Place in World"....hmmm! how convenient.

Wilton Manors recently became only the second city in the country to have a gay majority in the city council. It is one of only a handful of cities to have an openly gay mayor. 

Gays and lesbians, limited by Wilton Manors 2.5 square miles of land and higher real estate prices, are again on the move.  The City of Oakland Park was recently ranked 13th with 9.4 percent of the population unmarried, according to 2000 census statistics. There is a growing gay presence in the Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods of Middle River Terrace, Progresso, and North Andrews Garden (an unincorporated area to the North) as more gays and lesbians are looking for cheaper real estate prices.

Warm winters, beautiful beaches, dozens of guesthouses, and gay friendly communities featuring a wide variety of businesses, restaurants and cultural activities attract hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian tourists. They make  the pilgrimage every year from cities like Chicago, Montreal, New York City, and San Francisco.  Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors has become a home away from home for many gays and lesbians and for thousands it has become their permanent home.  It is estimated that more than 300,000 gays and lesbians live in Broward and Miami-Dade County. 

Due to the large gay and lesbian population of Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, and Fort Lauderdale, a social climate exists which is more tolerant of "alternative lifestyles". For the most part gays and straights in the area live, work, and play together with very little tension between the two. The straight community tends to not only tolerate the gay community, but embrace it as well. Straight guys shrug it off and act coy and well, as one women put,

Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and Oakland Park continue to experience stable if not accelerated economic growth. The city's government officials and business community have produced and implemented strategic business plans which have attracted major corporations and financial institutions lending stability to an economy that is driven, for the most part, by the tourism industry. 

"Mom and Pop" (actually more like "Pop and Pop") businesses are also prospering in Fort Lauderdale's "New Economy". Gay-owned and operated businesses are everywhere and most businesses are very gay friendly, they can't afford not to be. Whether you're at the pet store, grocery store, Home Depot, Galleria Mall, or the retail outlet Target, which gay men call "Tar-jay" (as if it were some expensive French cologne), someone gay is just around the corner.

Entrepreneurs are finding their niche and successfully discovering how to create and manage businesses that are not so dependent on the hundreds of thousands of tourists that vacation here from October to May. It remains largely a tourism driven economy and a huge and audible sigh of relief can be heard when the first New York or Ontario license plate passes the "Welcome to Fort Lauderdale" sign.

The www.southfloridapride.com Relocation Guide provides you with an in-depth guide to Fort Lauderdale and neighboring cities. If you are planning on relocating to the area, we hope that you will find this resource useful. 

On behalf of the staff at www.southfloridapride.com, welcome to the neighborhoods!

Oakland Park, with a population of approximately 30,000, lies to the north of Wilton Manors and is partly encircled by Fort Lauderdale to the North and the unincorporated area of North Andrews Terrace and North Andrews Gardens. First settled in 1901, Oakland Park was originally incorporated as the City of Floranada in 1925. European investors and European royalty, the Earl and Countess of Lauderdale,  planned to build a massive resort intended to rival Palm Beach. A year later a hurricane devastated much of the areaand the plans to build the resort were abandoned. The city reincorporated as Oakland Park in 1929.

Let the fairy dusting begin. With property values in Fort Lauderdale and "Hot" Wilton Manors continuing to climb, gays and lesbians are once again on the move. The community has turned north to Oakland park looking for good deals on property. A little TLC... a fresh coat of Ralph Lauren... a little tile here... a couple slabs of marble there... a trunk-load of shrubs and a palm tree tied on top... a quick trip to Pottery Barn and "POOF", another neighborhood is transformed.

Witon Manors

life in the city appears to revolve around one city block located on the "corner" of Wilton Drive and 26th St. The Shoppe's of Wilton Manors is Wilton Manors, with a population of approximately 12,600 (about 13,000 on Long Island Ice Tea Night at Georgie's Alibi), covers 2.5 square miles and is bordered by rivers and canals, hence the moniker "Island City".  The ubiquitous city of Fort Lauderdale lies on the other side of the Middle River. To the north is the City of Oakland Park. 

The area of Wilton Manors, once home to the Seminole Indians, incorporated in 1947. Neither the Seminoles or the first settlers could have imagined that one day Wilton Manors would become the Gay Mecca of the Universe.  The Miami Herald recently reported that Wilton Manors now has the highest percentage in the nation of households headed by unmarried partners (single), 10.6 percent, according to census statistics.

During the 2000 elections, Wilton Manors became only the second city in the US to elect a majority gay city council. And, that majority stood firm in 2002 when local businessman Jim Stork was elected as the city's second openly gay mayor. It is estimated  that between 30 and 35 percent of the city population is gay. home to Better Bodies Gym, the most popular gym in the area, where hot-bodied boys get pumped up before a night on the town. Kicks Sports Bar, a popular lesbian bar, is located just down the street from the gym. Grab a bite to eat across the street at Costello's Restaurant where the waiters, like little eye appetizers, are often as yummy as the food. Law offices, retail stores, clubs, real estate offices, hair salons, and several restaurants are located within a block of the Wilton Manors' epicenter.

These and many other gay and lesbian owned business combined with the ingenuity of city planners has transformed Wilton Manors from a city of boarded up business and deteriorating neighborhoods to a thriving and vibrant community.  Both commercial and residential property values continue to rise providing proof to the Island City's economic rejuvenation. The area's booming real estate market has even lured Home Depot to purchase property just outside the city. According to reports, the giant home improvement chain is planning on building a 2-story building which will house a Home Depot and Home Expo.  "Heaven, I'm in heaven."

Wilton Manors gay population is predominantly in their 20s to 40's. Many work in cities like Fort Lauderdale and Miami but live and play in Wilton Manors. The average income is approximately $47K and nearly a quarter of the residents are college educated. Wilton Manors also has one of the lowest crime rates in the area. 

When looking to relocate to Wilton Manors area, keep in mind it's only 2.5 square miles and land is limited. Many ads will say "Located in HOT Wilton Manors" when the property may actually be outside the city limits. Buying a small single family home in "HOT" Wilton Manors is going to cost  approximately *$150,000 and up.  Just outside Wilton Manors, you can still find homes for less than a *$100,000 but you are going to need to get out the power tools... not those tools... and get ready to do some serious fairy dusting. *Check the www.southfloridapride.com Real Estate Guide for more information regarding property values in some of Wilton Manors' neighborhoods.