Morris Cooper founded Cooper City — hence the name — after arriving in 1959, when the land was mostly used for orange groves and cattle grazing. In fact, Cooper City wouldn’t experience widespread growth beyond its agrarian roots until about 15 years after its creation. Now that it has, a town that feels sleepy in all the best senses has emerged. Cooper City's peaceful vibe may counter its name’s metropolitan-sounding second half. However, this Broward County area southwest of Fort Lauderdale is full of things you perhaps wouldn’t expect in suburban South Florida, including a velodrome and professional cricket grounds. Regardless, Cooper City has an overall small-town feel, where residents walk or bike around to get to nearby restaurants, food markets, and boutique shopping. Ocean beaches, the Everglades, and international airports in Fort Lauderdale and Miami all sit a simple trip away.