In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina passed directly over the city as a category-one storm. In its wake, it left downed power lines and trees, especially in the Chapel Trail and Silver Lakes developments. But the city experienced even stronger winds two months later, with gusts up to 101 mph (163 km/h), when the eye of Hurricane Wilma passed 20 miles to the north. Most of the city was left without power, and schools remained closed for two weeks.

Bella Thorne was born and raised in Pembroke Pines before moving to California and finding fame as CeCe Jones on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up (2010-2013).

The Broward Correctional Institution opened in 1977 to house a male inmate population, but throughout its history, it housed only female inmates. It housed female death row inmates until February 2003 when the female death row was moved to Lowell Annex. The facility was closed in 2012 due to high costs and a relatively low population.