Hallanddale Beach began life as a settlement named "Halland," after Luther Halland. Luther was hired by Henry Flagler to create a community south of Dania along the route of Florida East Coast Railway. Halland arrived in 1895 and by 1900, there were 12 families living in his settlement. By the time Hallandale was incorporated as a town (in 1927) there were about 1,500 residents with electricity and street lights in place. The town incorporated as a city in 1947 and that allowed Hallandale to grow through annexing adjacent unincorporated land. It was after that that Hallandale annexed the beach area along the Atlantic coast. The name was officially changed to Hallandale Beach in 1999.

Hallandale Beach is home to the racetrack and casino of Gulfstream Park and the casino and greyhound track of Mardi Gras Casino.