The City of Lauderdale Lakes was incorporated on June 22, 1961, by a Charter approved by the State Legislature. The City comprises an area of approximately four square miles in the "heart" of Broward County, with its center at the crossroads of State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard. In the beginning, six founders came together to discuss the incorporation of the City. They went on to serve as the City's inaugural Council after its formation. The City's first Resolution served to appoint the officers of the City. The first two positions appointed were the City Clerk and the Chief of Police, who both who served pro-bono, as the City did not have any funding at the time. Likewise, there were only two departments, the Office of the City Clerk and the Police Department. At the time of incorporation, there were approximately 300 residents in the area. The physical appearance of the City was vastly different than it is today. State Road 7, then a two-lane undivided road, was the main thoroughfare through the City. Cattle and horses wandered along State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard. In those early years, the Police Chief was often called to chase the animals off the road.