The City of Sunrise was incorporated in 1961 by Norman Johnson, an innovative developer who purchased 2,650 acres on what was then the remote western edge of Broward County in southeast Florida. Florida Governor Farris Bryant appointed Johnson as the first Mayor of the City’s original 350 residents.

Originally known as Sunrise Golf Village, the City became a tourist destination due to the popular Upside-Down House developed by Johnson to attract prospective property owners and neighbors to the community. This famed model home on Sunset Strip featured every item memorably inverted upside-down, including the furniture, fixtures, landscaping, and a convertible in the carport. The house drew 12,000 visitors in its first four days and was later featured in a two-page spread in Life Magazine, boosting the national recognition of Sunrise.

The City had a population of 4,300 and comprised just 1.75 square miles by 1967.  During the 1970s—as Broward County began to push west—the City experienced its first real growth. Further development grew the population to 15,000 by 1971, when a referendum officially changed its name to the City of Sunrise. Sunrise’s famed Upside-Down House was sadly demolished in 1975, but it attracted more than one million visitors during its years of exhibition and contributed greatly to our community’s continued prominence.

Through annexation, Sunrise eventually expanded to its current boundaries - encompassing more than 18 square miles, reaching the Everglades and dropping south of I-595/State Road 84. The City is situated approximately six miles west of Fort Lauderdale, and is adjoined by the communities of Weston, Davie, Tamarac, Lauderhill and Plantation.

By October 1984, the City had reached an estimated population of 50,000. Residents and City Commission leaders saw an opportunity to further enhance the City’s financial stability, economic landscape, and civic amenities. The City of Sunrise began a transformation that encouraged more modern neighborhoods and attracted national and international corporate headquarters. In 1987, the addition of the 612-acre Sawgrass International Corporate Park, one of Florida’s largest, added new business development opportunities. The 1990 opening of Sawgrass Mills mall, one of the nation’s largest retail shopping destinations, further contributed to Sunrise’s popularity. By the mid 1990s, the City was recognized as one of the leading municipalities in South Florida.

In 1998, the Amerant Bank Arena opened its doors to tremendous fanfare. This state-of-the-art arena—one of the largest in the nation—serves as the home of the 2-time NHL Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers hockey team and hosts top national entertainment and events. Additions like these to the Sunrise Business & Entertainment District have developed the City into one of Florida's top tourist destinations, attracting several million national and international visitors each year with an extensive assortment of shopping and entertainment choices. Free on-demand transportation is now offered within the District, improving mobility and amenities to residents, businesses, and visitors.

The City's appeal is further enhanced by its convenient, accessible location in the heart of the tri-county area. The City is in close proximity to the Florida Turnpike and I-95, and is bordered by the Sawgrass Expressway, I-75 and I-595. These major highways offer convenient access to three airports and three seaports.

Since 2014, the City has fulfilled a commitment to improving residents' quality of life with approximately $356 million in capital improvements completed or underway. This investment in outstanding amenities, including the upgrade or expansion of nearly every park, is one of the most significant public investments made by any municipality in Broward County. As part of that investment, a new 95,000-square-foot Sunrise City Hall opened in 2023 to unite most City departments under one roof for the benefit of the community. Significant developments were also made in advancing public art, including beautifying traffic control boxes, commissioning art murals and sculptures, and dedicating a beautiful outdoor gathering space as a Village Art Plaza. At the same time, Sunrise has not raised the property tax millage rate since 2009.

Sunrise offers its 98,000+ residents a variety of attractive, well-maintained neighborhoods - from private luxury communities to affordable housing options that include high-quality rental properties. Sunrise continues to be one of Broward County's leaders in providing its growing population with first-rate services and quality-of-life facilities. The City offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including 20 parks, a golf course, a tennis club, playgrounds and municipal swimming pools - as well as a Senior Center and a Civic Center complex featuring a 300-seat theater, an art gallery and banquet facilities. Sunrise is also home to eleven public schools, two post offices and a public library.

From humble beginnings, Sunrise has also grown into a sophisticated city of culture with its own flourishing job market. Today, the City of Sunrise also continues to offer residents and visitors abundant opportunities to experience art, theatre, fine dining and first-class entertainment, making it one of the very best communities to live, work, play, learn, shop, and eat!