The south part of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is situated between Fort Lauderdale and Sea Ranch Lakes, while the north half borders Pompano Beach. The town is on land that is essentially a long narrow island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal waterway (spanned by drawbridges), stretching approximately one-half dozen city blocks to the Atlantic Ocean. The town is centered on the junction of State Road A1A and Commercial Boulevard. The main industry is tourism; the town has many hotels, motels, and residences used especially during the winter by visitors. At the ocean end of Commercial Boulevard is a long wooden fishing pier.
