Florida Facts and Information

Basic Information

Florida, located in the southeastern United States, is known for its sunny climate and diverse attractions.

Capital

Tallahassee

Largest City

Jacksonville

Area

65,757 sq mi

Population

21,538,187 (2020)

Demographics

Florida's population is diverse, with a mix of retirees, tourists, and residents from various ethnic backgrounds.

Ethnic Composition

White:77.3%
Hispanic:26.4%
African American:17.0%
Asian:3.0%
Native American:0.4%

Languages

English:74.5%
Spanish:21.5%
Other:4.0%

Age Distribution

Under 18:20.3%
18-64:60.5%
65+:19.2%

Population Growth

Annual Rate:1.5%
Natural Increase:80,000
Migration:240,000

Economy

Florida's economy is driven by tourism, agriculture, construction, and aerospace.

GDP

$1.2 trillion (2022)

Major Industries

Tourism
Agriculture
Construction
Aerospace
International Trade
Financial Services
Healthcare

Employment Rate

Employed:96.0%
Unemployment:4.0%

Major Companies

Publix Super Markets
NextEra Energy
Carnival Corporation
Jabil Inc.
Raymond James Financial
AutoNation
Office Depot

Key Ports

PortMiami
Port Everglades
Port Tampa Bay
Jacksonville Port Authority

Climate

Florida has a subtropical and tropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Seasons

Summer:Hot and humid (avg. 90°F)
Winter:Mild (avg. 65°F)
Spring/Fall:Warm

Rainfall

50-60 inches/year

Hurricanes

June to November (hurricane season)
prone to tropical storms and hurricanes.

Visiting Florida

Florida offers a wide range of attractions, from theme parks and beaches to natural wonders and cultural sites.

Best Time to Visit

Spring/Fall:Mild temperatures and fewer crowds
Summer:Beach activities and water sports

Transportation

Major Airports:Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Train Routes:Amtrak Silver Service
Highway System:Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike, Interstate 75

Accommodation

Hotels:Various options in cities and resorts
Vacation Rentals:Popular for families and groups
Average Hotel Rate:$150-$250/night

Tourist Information

Visitor Centers:Located throughout the state
Tourism Website:Visit Florida
Info Hotline:1-888-7FLA-USA

Popular Attractions

Florida's attractions range from theme parks and beaches to natural wonders and cultural sites.

Theme Parks

Walt Disney World Resort
Universal Orlando Resort
SeaWorld Orlando
Legoland Florida
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Beaches

Miami Beach
Clearwater Beach
Daytona Beach
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Siesta Key Beach
Panama City Beach

Natural Attractions

Everglades National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park
Florida Keys
Silver Springs State Park
Ocala National Forest
Biscayne National Park

Cultural Attractions

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Salvador Dalí Museum
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Ringling Museum of Art
St. Augustine Historic District

History

Florida's history is marked by early Native American settlements, Spanish colonization, and its role as a U.S. state.

Early History

Native American Tribes:Seminole, Timucua, Calusa
Spanish Exploration:1513 (Juan Ponce de León)
French Settlement:1564 (Fort Caroline)
Spanish Colony:1565 (St. Augustine)
First permanent european settlement in us:St. Augustine

Colonial Era

British Control:1763
Spanish Return:1783
Second Spanish Period:1783-1821
U.S. Acquisition:1821

19th Century

Seminole Wars
Statehood:1845
Civil War and Reconstruction
Development of citrus and tourism industries
Henry Flagler and the East Coast Railway

20th Century

Land boom and bust
World Wars and economic changes
Space Age and Kennedy Space Center
Growth of tourism and retirement communities
Development of Miami and South Florida

Recent History

Hurricane Andrew (1992)
Economic diversification
Environmental conservation
Population growth and urbanization
Impact of tourism and development on ecosystems

State Symbols

Florida has adopted various official state symbols that represent its natural and cultural heritage.

State Animals

State Animal:
Florida Panther
State Bird:
Northern Mockingbird
State Fish:
Atlantic Sailfish
State Insect:
Zebra Longwing Butterfly
State Saltwater Mammal:
Manatee
State Freshwater Fish:
Largemouth Bass

State Plants

State Flower:
Orange Blossom
State Tree:
Sabal Palm
State Wildflower:
Coreopsis

Cultural Symbols

State Colors:
Gold and White
State Song:
"The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)"
State Motto:
"In God We Trust"
State Play:
"Cross and Sword"

Other Symbols

State Gemstone:
Moonstone
State Shell:
Horse Conch
State Beverage:
Orange Juice
State Soil:
Myakka Fine Sand

State Facts

Interesting and unique facts about Florida that showcase its distinctive character and achievements.

Geographic Facts

Highest Point:
Britton Hill (345 ft)
Longest River:
St. Johns River
Largest Lake:
Lake Okeechobee
Lowest Point:
Sea level (along the coast)
Largest Spring:
Wakulla Springs

Records & Rankings

Longest coastline in the contiguous U.S.
Home to numerous theme parks and tourist attractions
Significant hub for space exploration
Known for its citrus industry
Largest producer of tomatoes in the US

Notable Firsts

First scheduled airline flight (St. Petersburg to Tampa, 1914)
Significant contributions to space exploration
Early development of air conditioning
First underwater hotel:
Jules' Undersea Lodge

Unique Features

Diverse ecosystems, including the Everglades and coral reefs
Rich cultural heritage with Spanish and Caribbean influences
Significant tourism and retirement industries
Vulnerable to hurricanes and sea-level rise
Home to the only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S.

Government & Politics

Florida has a constitutionally mandated structure encompassing Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.

Governor

Ron DeSantis (as of 2023)

Legislature

Bicameral:State Senate and House of Representatives

Political Trends

Historically Democratic, shifting Republican trends

Key Political Issues

Tourism and Economic Development
Environmental Conservation
Education Funding
Healthcare Access
Hurricane preparedness and recovery
Immigration and border security

Major Political Parties

Republican Party
Democratic Party

Electoral Votes

30

Time Zones

Florida observes Eastern Time Zone (ET) and Central Time Zone (CT), with daylight saving time observed.

Eastern Time Zone

Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC -5)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC -4)

Central Time Zone

Central Standard Time (CST, UTC -6)
Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC -5)

Education

Florida has a public education system that includes K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities.

Major Public Systems

University of Florida System
Florida State University System
University of Central Florida
Florida Atlantic University
University of South Florida

Notable Private Institutions

University of Miami
Rollins College
Stetson University
Barry University
Nova Southeastern University

K-12 System

Public school system with local control

Key Educational Initiatives

STEM education focus
Early childhood education programs
Workforce development initiatives
School choice programs

Average Teacher Salary

$48,000

Culture & Festivals

Florida's cultural scene is rich with diverse influences, including Caribbean, Latin American, and Southern traditions.

Major Festivals

Art Basel Miami Beach
Florida Film Festival
Calle Ocho Festival
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Daytona Bike Week
Fantasy Fest (Key West)

Music & Arts

Miami City Ballet
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Ringling Museum of Art
Wynwood Walls
Florida Grand Opera
American Stage Theatre Company

Cultural Influences

Caribbean and Latin American traditions
Southern and Gulf Coast heritage
Diverse immigrant communities
Tourist and entertainment culture
Significant influence of retirees

Food & Drink

Cuban cuisine (Miami)
Seafood and stone crab
Citrus-based dishes
Craft breweries and rum distilleries
Key lime pie
Conch fritters

Florida