What was Pembroke Pines like in the 80s & how it developed since? (Hollywood: how much)

[Oldschooler81]

Most of my relatives live in PP and the Lauderdale area while I've always lived in California (long story). I remember visiting them there as a kid in the 80s, so I have sentimental value and interest in this area. My grandparents lived at the Century Village senior center from 1984 to '89 and that's probably my biggest memory. There were a few shopping centers closeby, but even those must've been pretty new at the time. I guess that was the very beginning of when it was starting to develop, though still pretty rural.

I visited my relatives out there again in '95 and it was definitely starting to explode and resemble the way it is now...although still definitely not as much, and there were pockets of open space around.

Its just amazing how much its grown overall, I'd love to see or hear more stories about how it was way back in the day. It seemed almost like another world. For instance, I did some reading about the Hollywood Sportatorium on wikipedia (I noticed some of my favorite rock bands played there in the early-mid 80s), and apparently Pines Blvd was still two lanes, and there were major traffic jams, performing delays, and tailgate parties on the way there. The place looked teeny from a few old pics and aerials I've found too!

Aside from my own personal memories and relatives living there, just overall, stuff like that not only seems like so much fun in retrospect, but its like something there's no trace of today either.

[Nolefan34]

Never saw it in the 80's. But from what I understand, Pembroke Pines grew rapidly in the 90's because of Hurricane Andrew refugees.

[Oldschooler81]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

Never saw it in the 80's. But from what I understand, Pembroke Pines grew rapidly in the 90's because of Hurricane Andrew refugees.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I actually heard that before and it makes some sense. Especially the really rural part west of I-75. My uncle says that was practically ALL undeveloped before then.

[BorninPittsburgh]

Hi! I lived in Pembroke Pines from 1984 until 1991, off of Johnson Street and a couple of blocks from University Drive. There were still a lot of cow pastures as you drove north on University. And Flamingo Road was the end of civilization. Everything west of Flamingto was very rural. And I do remember the traffic backed up for many miles on Saturday nights going to the Sportatorium, although I never made it to a concert there (wish I had, though). Enjoyed living there then.