Originally called "Sunset," the name did not sit well with the retirees whom developers wanted to attract,[4] so a change was made to "Sunrise."

That first elected mayor was John Lomelo Jr., a former Miami nightclub owner who was drawn to Sunrise Golf Village by the Upside-Down House.

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.

In the mid-1980s, growth gave way to challenges, as the City was faced with financial difficulties, limited economic opportunities and a lack of adequate civic amenities.

In the early 1990s, Sunrise worked to put its financial house in order, rebuild its infrastructure and establish itself as a center for business headquarters.

It features 350 outlet and value retailers; food courts and full-service restaurants; movie theater and family entertainment venues.

Its location at the center of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties—in close proximity to the Florida Turnpike and I-95, and bordered by the Sawgrass Expressway, I-75 and I-595—makes Sunrise accessible to area residents and visitors alike.

Sunrise operates its own utility services, including water, wastewater, and natural gas, as well as municipal fire-rescue and police departments.

The Sunrise Civic Center includes a 300-seat theater, an art gallery, an athletic club, and banquet facilities.

Sunrise has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with hot, humid summers and warm winters.As of the 2020 United States census, there were 97,335 people, 34,356 households, and 21,852 families residing in the city.

)[27] It also had the fourteenth most Jamaican-populated area in the US, with 7.6% of all residents,[28] and the fifty-third highest concentration of Haitians (tied with Lake Alfred and Miami Gardens' Bunche Park neighborhood) at 2.8% of the population.

Air France's United States reservations call center is located in the Sawgrass Technology Park in Sunrise.

Emerson Electric Company announced on July 26, 2011 that it would locate its Latin America headquarters at Sawgrass International Corporate Park.

Under this innovative new program, The City of Sunrise will reimburse homebuyers up to $2,000 for select improvements to a newly purchased single-family foreclosure or short sale home.

Highlights include: Earth Day Festival: This celebration of green living sponsored by the city's Utilities Department.

The Earth Day Festival features live music; children's rides and activities; a farmer's market; unique, handcrafted goods, ethnic and traditional foods, and eco-conscious organizations.

On June 24, 2024, the Panthers won their first Stanley Cup, with a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, in the seventh game of the finals, on home ice in front of their fans.

It now features a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse with a pro shop, locker rooms and a 120-seat dining area available for breakfast, lunch and catered events.

Dr Lauren Lerner, Fran Wade and Sue Krinsky all of HealthSouth Sunrise Rehabilitation Hospital as well as members of the board of directors for the Spinal Cord Injury Support Group saw a need to develop a wheelchair basketball program for the disabled.

The Sunrise Utilities Department operates a water and wastewater system that spans approximately 70 miles and serves more than 200,000 residential and commercial customers.

The Utilities Department also oversees the sixth largest municipal gas system in Florida, serving nearly 10,000 homes and businesses.