History of the city of Dania, Florida

Once known as the “Tomato Capital of the World”, Dania is a city in Broward County in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area in Florida, USA. Dania is also the home of one of the largest Jai Alai frontons in the United States. IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum and Boomers amusement are both located in Dania.

Dania’s history began when W.C. Valentine planned to develop a settlement called Modello. Subsequently, 12 Danish families from Chicago settled in this area around 1890s. After three years, 30 Danes coming from Oconto, Wisconsin also transferred in this area. The first home was then built by A.C. Frost who also established the first general store in 1902. He was also the leading post office official and the one who initiated for the formation of the settlement’s first two schools. And in 1903, Dania Methodist Church, the town’s first place of worship, was built.

Later on Modello was established as the first city in the Broward County in 1904. Since most of its 35 residents were Danish, the city’s name was change into Dania. After almost a decade, Dania became a prosperous community with a population of more or less 12000 people. The population have further increased during the 1920s. Through the years, Dania City met a lot of problems. Like in 1925, a fire has destroyed Dania Hotel. On the same year, the Bank of Dania got bankrupt due to the anomalies in the Bank’s home office in Atlanta. Natural disasters also have struck Dania. One of them was the ’26 hurricane which caused a lot of damage to the town, including its important buildings - the Dania Methodist Church. Due to the city’s huge damages, the people initiated to vote for an annexation to the city of Hollywood. But then in 1927, the two cities were deannexed.

The city prospered quickly through its Tomato Farming Industry. In 1910, the Florida East Coast Railway was transporting tomatoes in the northern states of the United States. And by that, Dania was then hailed as the “Tomato Capital of the World”. In 1927, the first “Tomato Day Celebration” was held. Over 5000 persons attended the said celebration and continued into the 1940s involving a Miss Tomato Festival Pageant, and a messy but fun tomato fight. Unfortunately, during the post world war, the tomato farming industry ended when the crops began to fail. 

Another window opened in Dania City when the antique business started to flourish. The Antique Business Industry began when Genevieve and Williard Ely put up a shop in 1945. After many years, Dania once again made a name in history, known as the Antique Capital of the South. And if you go to Dania, you will see over 100 antique shops selling the most elegant and valuable antiques in the world.

Dania Beach

In 1999, Dania formally changed its name to Dania Beach, though Dania City is still widely-used by people. And in 2001, the city included several areas of Broward County. Today, the city has a population around 28 831.

For more info about Dania Beach, Florida, check the video (History of Dania Beach, Florida) below.