Florida

Florida was admitted to United States as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)

Governor - Rick Scott

Capital - Tallahassee

Nickname - Sunshine State

State Flower - Orange Blossom


 * [|(Click Here)]** for Florida symbols

Number of [|Counties] in Florida - 67

Form of Government - Governor and independent cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture. [|(Click Here)] for additional information on Florida's cabinet process.

Legislature - 120 House Districts, 40 Senate Districts, 23 Congressional Districts

Total Area - 58,560 Square Miles

Land Area - 54,252 Square Miles

Total Water Area - 4,308 Square Miles

Rank Among States in Total Area - 22nd

Length North to South - 447 Miles

Width East to West - 361 Miles

Distance from Pensacola to Key West - 792 Miles by Road

Highest Natural Point - 345 Feet near Lakewood in Walton County

Geographic Center - 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County

Coastline - 1,197 Statute Miles

Tidal Shoreline - 2,276 Statute Miles

Beaches - 663 Miles

Florida has more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams & waterways

Longest River - St. Johns at 273 miles

Largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee at 700 square miles (the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the United States)

Largest County - Palm Beach at 2,578 square miles

Smallest County - Union at 245 square miles

Number of Lakes greater than 10 acres - Aprox. 7,700

Number of First Magnitude Springs - 27 (Florida has more first magnitude springs than any other state.)

Number of Islands Greater than 10 Acres - Aprox. 4,500 (Florida ranks 2nd in the nation by this measure and only Alaska ranks higher.)

More Florida water information: [|(Click Here)]


 * Florida History **

Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida in 1513 when he lands in NE Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine, to claim Florida for Spain. This is when written records about life in Florida began.

First permanent European settlement is established in 1565 in St. Augustine by Spain.

Florida becomes a U.S. Territory in 1821. [|General Andrew Jackson] serves as military governor until Congress ratifies a territorial constitution.

[|William P. Duval], Florida's first civil governor, calls the first Legislative Council into session in Pensacola on June 19, 1823.

Admitted to U.S. as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)

See our front page for more "Historic" information links: [|(Click Here)]


 * Florida Population **

Population Rank - 4th in U.S. behind California, Texas & New York

Florida population estimates: Florida’s Population (2011) - 19,057,542 Florida's Population (2003) - 17,019,068 Florida's Population (2002) - 16,713,149Florida's Population (2001) - 16,396,515Florida's Population (2000) - 15,982,378Population (1990) - 12,937,926Population (1980) - 9,746,961Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) - 23.5%**City Population Rank (2010):** Florida Panther
 * 1. || Jacksonville || 821,784 ||
 * 2. || Miami || 399,457 ||
 * 3. || Tampa || 335,709 ||
 * 4. || St. Petersburg || 244,769 ||
 * 5. || Orlando || 238,300 ||
 * 6. || Hialeah || 224,669 ||
 * 7. || Tallahassee || 181,376 ||
 * 8. || Fort Lauderdale || 165,521 ||
 * 9. || Port St. Lucie || 164,603 ||
 * 10. || Pembroke Pines || 154,750 ||
 * 11. || Cape Coral || 154,305 ||
 * 12. || Hollywood || 140,768 ||
 * 13. || Gainesville || 124,354 ||
 * 14. || Miramar || 122,041 ||
 * 15. || Coral Springs || 121,096 ||
 * 16. || Clearwater || 107,685 ||
 * 17. || Miami Gardens (Carol City-Norland) || 107,167 ||
 * 18. || Brandon || 103,483 ||
 * 19. || Palm Bay || 103,190 ||
 * 20. || West Palm Beach || 99,919 ||
 * 21. || Pompano Beach || 99,845 ||
 * 22. || Spring Hill || 98,621 ||
 * 23. || Lakeland || 97,422 ||
 * 24. || Davie || 91,992 ||
 * 25. || Miami Beach || 87,779 ||
 * State Nickname ** - The Sunshine State
 * State Motto ** - "In God we trust."
 * State Mammal**
 * State Mammal**

Mockingbird [|Manatee]
 * State Marine Mammal**