Florida (IPA: /'fl?r?d?/) is a state
located in the southeastern region of the United States. Most of
the state is a large peninsula with the Gulf of Mexico on its west
and the Atlantic Ocean on its east. Much of the state has a humid
subtropical climate; southern Florida has a tropical climate.[3]
Florida was named by Juan Ponce de León, who landed on the
peninsula on 2 April 1513, during Pascua Florida (Spanish for "Flowery
Easter," referring to the Easter season). Florida is the fourth
most populous state in the country.[4][5]
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Geography
2.1 Boundaries
2.2 Climate
2.3 Fauna
2.4 Environmental issues
3 Demographics
3.1 Population
3.2 Ancestry Groups
3.3 Metropolitan areas
3.4 Largest cities and towns
3.5 Languages
3.6 Religion
4 Government
5 Economy
6 Education
7 Transportation
7.1 Highways
7.2 Intercity rail
7.3 Airports
8 Sports
8.1 Spring training
8.2 Auto-racing tracks
9 Sister states
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
History
Bernard Picart copper plate engraving of Florida Indians, Circa
1721 "Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous
les Peuples du Monde"
Winter in Florida, 1893Main article: History of Florida
See also: Seminole Wars and Florida in the American Civil War
Archaeological research indicates that Florida had been inhabited
for thousands of years before any European settlements. Of the many
indigenous peoples, the largest known were the Ais, the Apalachee,
the Calusa, the Timucua and the Tocobago tribes. Juan Ponce de León,
a Spanish conquistador, named Florida in honor of his discovery
of the land on April 2, 1513, during Pascua Florida, a Spanish term
for the Easter season (Juan Ponce de León may not have been
the first European to reach Florida; according to one report, at
least one indigenous tribesman who he encountered in Florida in
1513 spoke Spanish.[6]). From that date forward, the land became
known as "La Florida" , although from 1630 until the 19th
century Tegesta (after the Tequesta tribe) was the name of choice
for the Florida peninsula following publication of a map by the
Dutch cartographer Hessel Gerritsz in Joannes de Laet's History
of the New World [7].
Over the following century, both the Spanish and French established
settlements in Florida, with varying degrees of success. In 1559,
Spanish Pensacola was established by Don Tristán de Luna
y Arellano as the first European settlement in the continental United
States, but it had become abandoned by 1561 and would not be reinhabited
until the 1690s. French Huguenots founded Fort Caroline in modern-day
Jacksonville in 1564, but the fort was conquered by forces from
the new Spanish colony of St. Augustine the following year. After
Huguenot leader Jean Ribault had learned of the new Spanish threat,
he launched an expedition to sack the Spanish settlement; en route,
however, severe storms at sea waylaid the expedition, which consisted
of most of the colony's men, allowing St. Augustine founder Pedro
Menéndez de Avilés time to march his men over land
and conquer Fort Caroline. Most of the Huguenots were slaughtered,
and Menéndez de Avilés marched south and captured
the survivors of the wrecked French fleet, ordering all but a few
Catholics executed beside a river subsequently called Matanzas (Spanish
for 'killings'). The Spanish never had a firm hold on Florida, and
maintained tenuous control over the region by converting the local
tribes, briefly with Jesuits and later with Franciscan friars. The
local leaders (caciques) demonstrated their loyalty to the Spanish
by converting to Roman Catholicism and welcoming the Franciscan
priests into their villages.
The area of Spanish Florida diminished with the establishment of
English colonies to the north and French colonies to the west. The
English weakened Spanish power in the area by supplying their Creek
Indian allies with firearms and urging them to raid the Timucuan
and Apalachee client-tribes of the Spanish. The English attacked
St. Augustine, burning the city and its cathedral to the ground
several times, while the citizens hid behind the walls of the Castillo
de San Marcos.
The Spanish, meanwhile, encouraged slaves to flee the English-held
Carolinas and come to Florida, where they were converted to Roman
Catholicism and given freedom. They settled in a buffer community
north of St. Augustine, called Gracie Real de Santa Teresa de Mose,
the first completely black settlement in what would become the United
States.
Great Britain gained control of Florida diplomatically in 1763
through the Peace of Paris. The British divided the colony into
East Florida, with its capital at St. Augustine, and West Florida,
with its capital at Pensacola. Britain tried to develop the Floridas
through the importation of immigrants for labor, including some
from Minorca and Greece, but this project ultimately failed. Spain
regained the Floridas after Britain's defeat by the American colonies
and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783, continuing the
division into East and West Florida. They offered land grants to
anyone who settled in the colonies, and many Americans moved to
them.
After settler attacks on Indian towns, Seminole Indians based in
East Florida began raiding Georgia settlements, purportedly at the
behest of the Spanish. The United States Army led increasingly frequent
incursions into Spanish territory, including the 1817 – 1818
campaign against the Seminole Indians by Andrew Jackson that became
known as the First Seminole War. Following the war, the United States
effectively controlled East Florida. In 1819, by terms of the Adams-Onís
Treaty, Spain ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for
the American renunciation of any claims on Texas and $5 million.
As settlement increased, pressure grew on the United States government
to remove the Indians from their lands in Florida. To the chagrin
of Georgia landowners, the Seminoles harbored and integrated runaway
blacks, and clashes between whites and Indians grew with the influx
of new settlers. In 1832, the United States government signed the
Treaty of Payne's Landing with some of the Seminole chiefs, promising
them lands west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave
Florida voluntarily. Many of the Seminoles left at this time, while
those who remained prepared to defend their claims to the land.
White settlers pressured the government to remove all of the Indians,
by force if necessary, and in 1835, the U.S. Army arrived to enforce
the treaty.
The Second Seminole War began at the end of 1835 with the Dade
Massacre, when Seminoles ambushed Army troops marching from Fort
Brooke (Tampa) to reinforce Fort King (Ocala), killing or mortally
wounding all but one of the 108 troops. Between 900 and 1,500 Seminole
Indian warriors effectively employed hit and run guerrilla tactics
against United States Army troops for seven years. Osceola, a charismatic
young war leader, came to symbolize the war and the Seminoles after
he was arrested at truce negotiations in 1837 and died in prison
less than a year later. The war dragged on until 1842. The U.S.
government is estimated to have spent between US$20 million and
US$40 million on the war, at the time an astronomical sum. Even
after three bloody wars, the U.S. failed to force all of the Seminole
Indians in Florida to the West.[8] Though most of the Seminoles
were forcibly exiled to Creek lands west of the Mississippi, about
300, including Seminole leader Aripeka (Sam Jones), remained in
the Everglades and refused to leave the native homeland of their
ancestors. Their descendants remain there to this day.
On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States
of America. Its population grew slowly. White settlers continued
to encroach on lands used by the Seminoles, and the United States
government resolved to make another effort to move the remaining
Seminoles to the West. The Third Seminole War lasted from 1855 to
1858, and resulted in the removal of most of the remaining Seminoles.
By 1860 Florida had only 140,424 people, of whom 44% were enslaved.
There were fewer than 1000 free people of color before the Civil
War.[9]
On January 10, 1861, before the formal outbreak of the Civil War,
Florida seceded from the Union; ten days later, the state became
a founding member of the Confederate States of America. The war
ended in 1865. On June 25, 1868, Florida's congressional representation
was restored.
Until the mid-twentieth century, Florida was the least populous
Southern state. The climate, tempered by the growing availability
of air conditioning, and low cost of living made the state a haven.
Migration from the Rust Belt and the Northeast sharply increased
the population. Economic prosperity combined with Florida's sudden
elevation in profile led to the Florida land boom of the 1920s,
which brought a brief period of intense land development before
the Great Depression brought it all to a halt.
Florida's economy did not fully recover until World War II. Today,
with an estimated population over 18 million, Florida is the most
populous state in the Southeastern United States, the second most
populous state in the South behind Texas, and the fourth most populous
in the United States. The Census Bureau estimates that "Florida,
now the fourth most populous state, would edge past New York into
third place in total population by 2011".[10]
Geography
A map of Florida showing county names and boundaries.Further information:
List of counties in Florida
See also: List of Florida state parks
Much of the state of Florida is situated on a peninsula between
the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida.
It extends to the northwest into a panhandle, extending along the
northern Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the north by the states
of Georgia and Alabama, and on the west, at the end of the panhandle,
by Alabama. It is near several Caribbean countries, particularly
the Bahamas and Cuba. Florida's extensive coastline made it a perceived
target during World War II, so the government built airstrips throughout
the state; today, approximately 400 airports are still in service.
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, Florida has
131 public airports, and more than 700 private airports, airstrips,
heliports, and seaplane bases.[11] Florida is one of the largest
states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and Michigan
are larger in water area.
The Florida peninsula is a porous plateau of karst limestone sitting
atop bedrock. Extended systems of underwater caves, sinkholes and
springs are found throughout the state and supply most of the water
used by residents. The limestone is topped with sandy soils deposited
as ancient beaches over millions of years as global sea levels rose
and fell. During the last Ice Age, lower sea levels and a drier
climate revealed a much wider peninsula, largely desert. The Everglades,
an enormously wide, very slow-flowing river encompasses the southern
tip of the peninsula.
Everglades National Park in Southern FloridaBecause Florida is not
located near any tectonic plate boundaries, earthquakes are very
rare, but not totally unknown. In January, 1879, a shock occurred
near St. Augustine, Florida. There were reports of heavy shaking
that knocked plaster from walls and articles from shelves. Similar
effects were noted at Daytona Beach, Florida 50 miles (80 km) south.
The tremor was felt as far south as Tampa and as far north as Savannah,
Georgia. In January 1880, Cuba was the center of two strong earthquakes
that sent severe shock waves through the city of Key West, Florida.
Another earthquake centered outside Florida was the great Charleston,
South Carolina earthquake of 1886. The shock was felt throughout
northern Florida, ringing church bells at St. Augustine and severely
jolting other towns along that section of Florida's east coast.
Jacksonville residents felt many of the strong aftershocks that
occurred in September, October, and November of 1886.[12] As recently
as 2006, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake centered about 260 miles (420
km) southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico sent shock waves through
southwest and central Florida. The earthquake was too small to trigger
a tsunami and no damage was reported.[13]
Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, FloridaAt 345 feet (105 m) above mean
sea level, Britton Hill is the highest point in Florida and the
lowest highpoint of any U.S. state.[14] Much of the state is low-lying
and fairly level; however, some places, such as Clearwater, feature
vistas that rise 50 to 100 feet (15 – 30 m) above the water.
Much of the interior of Florida, typically 25 miles (40 km) or more
away from the coastline, features hills with elevations ranging
from 100 to 250 feet (30 – 76 m). The highest point in peninsular
Florida, Sugarloaf Mountain, is a 312-foot (95 m) peak in Lake County.
[15]
Areas under control of the National Park Service include:
The beach at Bahia Honda in the Florida KeysBig Cypress National
Preserve, near Lake Okeechobee
Biscayne National Park, in Miami-Dade County south of Miami
Canaveral National Seashore, near Titusville
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, in St. Augustine
De Soto National Memorial, in Bradenton
Dry Tortugas National Park, at Key West
Everglades National Park in Southern Florida
Fort Caroline National Memorial, at Jacksonville
Fort Matanzas National Monument, in St. Augustine
Gulf Islands National Seashore, near Gulf Breeze
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, in Jacksonville
Areas under the control of the USDA United States Forest Service
include:
Apalachicola National Forest along the east bank of the Apalachicola
River,
Choctawhatchee National Forest near Niceville,
Ocala National Forest in Central Florida, and
Osceola National Forest in Northeast Florida.
Boundaries
The state line begins in the Atlantic Ocean, traveling west, south,
and north up the thalweg of the Saint Mary's River. At the origin
of that river, it then follows a straight line nearly due west and
slightly north, to the point where the confluence of the Flint River
(from Georgia) and the Chattahoochee River (down the Alabama/Georgia
line) used to form Florida's Apalachicola River. (Since Woodruff
Dam was built, this point has been under Lake Seminole.) The border
with Georgia continues north through the lake for a short distance
up the former thalweg of the Chattahoochee, then with Alabama runs
due west along latitude 31°N to the Perdido River, then south
along its thalweg to the Gulf via Perdido Bay. Much of the state
is at or near sea level.
Climate
Main articles: Climate of Florida and Climate change
See also: List of Florida hurricanes and List of all-time high and
low temperatures by state
The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by its proximity to
water. The state has a humid subtropical climate, except for the
southern part below Lake Okeechobee, which has a true tropical climate.[16]
Cold fronts can occasionally bring high winds and cool to cold temperatures
to the entire state during late fall and winter. One such front
swept through the peninsula on November 25, 1996, bringing cold
temperatures and winds up to 95 miles per hour (150 km/h), knocking
out power to thousands and damaging mobile homes. The seasons in
Florida are actually determined more by precipitation than by temperature
with mild to cool, relatively dry winters and autumns (the dry season)
and hot, wet springs and summers (the wet season). The Gulf Stream
has a moderating effect on the climate, and although much of Florida
commonly sees a high summer temperature over 90 degrees Fahrenheit
(32 °C), the mercury seldom exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38
°C). The hottest temperature ever recorded in the state was
109 °F (43 °C), set on June 29, 1931 in Monticello. The
coldest was – 2 °F (-19 °C), on February 13, 1899,
just 25 miles (40 km) away, in Tallahassee. Mean high temperatures
for late July are primarily in the low 90s Fahrenheit (32 –
35 °C). Mean low temperatures for late January range from the
low 40s Fahrenheit (4 – 7 °C) in northern Florida to the
mid-50s (˜13 °C) in southern Florida.
Florida taken from NASA Shuttle Mission STS-95 on October 31, 1998The
Florida Keys, surrounded by water, have a more tropical climate,
with lesser variability in temperatures. At Key West, temperatures
rarely exceed 90 °F (32 °C) in the summer or fall below
60 °F (16 °C) in the winter, and frost has never been reported
in the Keys.
Florida's nickname is the "Sunshine State", but severe
weather is a common occurrence in the state. Central Florida is
known as the lightning capital of the United States, as it experiences
more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country.[17] Florida
has the highest average precipitation of any state, in large part
because afternoon thunderstorms are common in most of the state
from late spring until early autumn. A fair day may be interrupted
with a storm, only to return to sunshine. These thunderstorms, caused
by collisions between airflow from the Gulf of Mexico and airflow
from the Atlantic Ocean, pop up in the early afternoon and can bring
heavy downpours, high winds, and sometimes tornadoes. Florida leads
the United States in tornadoes per square mile (when including waterspouts)[18]
but these tornadoes do not typically reach the intensity of those
in the Midwest and Great Plains. Hail often accompanies the most
severe thunderstorms.
Snow in Florida is a rare occurrence. During the Great Blizzard
of 1899, Florida experienced blizzard conditions; the Tampa Bay
area had "gulf-effect" snow, similar to lake-effect snow.[19]
The Great Blizzard of 1899 is the only time the temperature in the
state is known to have fallen below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 °C).
The most widespread snowfall in Florida history happened on 19 January
1977, when snow fell over much of the state, as far south as Homestead.
Snow flurries fell on Miami Beach for the only time in recorded
history. A hard freeze in 2003 brought "ocean-effect"
snow flurries to the Atlantic coast as far south as Cape Canaveral.[20]
The 1993 Superstorm brought blizzard conditions to the panhandle,
while heavy rain and tornadoes beset the peninsula. The storm is
believed to have been similar in composition to a hurricane, and
even brought storm surges of six feet or more to regions of the
Gulf coast.
Although some storms have formed out of season, tropical cyclones
pose a severe threat during hurricane season, which lasts from June
1 to November 30. Florida is the most hurricane-prone US state,
with subtropical or tropical water on three sides and a lengthy
coastline. It is rare for a hurricane season to pass without any
impact in the state by at least a tropical storm. August to October
is the most likely period for a hurricane in Florida.
Hurricane Frances near peak strength.In 2004, Florida was hit by
a record four hurricanes. Hurricanes Charley (August 13), Frances
(September 4 – 5), Ivan (September 16), and Jeanne (September
25 – 26) cumulatively cost the state's economy US$42 billion.
In 2005, Hurricane Dennis (July 10) became the fifth storm to strike
Florida within eleven months. Later, Hurricane Katrina (August 25)
passed through South Florida and Hurricane Rita (September 20) swept
through the Florida Keys. Hurricane Wilma made landfall in Florida
in the early morning of October 24 as a Category 3 hurricane, with
the storm's eye hitting near Cape Romano, just south of Marco Island,
according to the National Hurricane Center.
Florida was the site of the second costliest weather disaster in
U.S. history, Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than US$25 billion
in damage when it struck on August 24, 1992. In a long list of other
infamous hurricane strikes are the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane, the
1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane
Donna in 1960, and Hurricane Opal in 1995. Recent research suggests
the storms are part of a natural cycle and not a result of Global
Warming.[21][22]
Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Florida Cities
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jacksonville[23] 65/43 68/45 74/50 80/56 86/64 90/70 92/73 91/73
87/70 80/61 73/51 66/44
Key West[24] 75/65 76/66 79/69 82/72 85/76 88/78 89/80 90/80 88/78
85/76 80/71 76/67
Melbourne[25] 72/51 73/53 77/57 81/61 85/67 88/71 90/73 90/73 88/72
83/67 78/60 73/53
Miami[26] 76/60 77/61 80/64 83/68 86/72 88/75 90/77 90/77 88/76
85/72 81/67 77/62
Pensacola[27] 61/43 64/46 70/51 76/58 84/66 89/72 90/74 90/74 87/70
80/60 70/50 63/45
Tallahassee[28] 64/40 67/42 73/48 80/53 87/62 91/69 91/72 91/72
88/68 81/57 72/47 66/41
Tampa[29] 71/51 72/52 77/57 82/62 88/68 90/73 90/75 90/75 89/73
84/66 77/58 72/52
Fauna
People Birding in Florida.Florida is host to many types of wildlife
including:
Marine Mammals : Bottlenose Dolphin, Pilot Whale, Northern Right
Whale, Manatee
Reptiles : Alligator, Crocodile, Eastern Diamondback and Pygmy Rattlesnakes,
Gopher Tortoise, Green & Leatherback Sea Turtles, Indigo Snake
Mammals : Panther, Whitetail Deer, Key Deer, Bobcats, Southern Black
Bear, Armadillos
Birds : Bald Eagle, Crested Caracara, Snail Kite, Osprey, Pelicans,
Sea Gulls, Whooping & Sandhill Cranes, Roseate Spoonbill, Florida
Scrub Jay (State endemic), and many more. Note : Florida is a winter
home for most species of eastern North American birds.
Since their accidental importation from South America into North
America in the 1930s, the Red imported fire ant population has increased
its territorial range to include most of the Southern United States,
including Florida. They are more aggressive than most native ant
species and have a painful sting.[30]
Environmental issues
The Florida Scrub Jay is found only in Florida.Main article: Environment
of Florida
Florida ranks forty-fifth in total energy consumption per capita,
despite the heavy reliance on air conditioners and pool pumps. This
includes coal, natural gas, petroleum, and retail electricity sales.[31]
It is estimated that approximately 4% of energy in the state is
generated through renewable resources.[32] Florida's energy production
is 6.0% of the nation's total energy output, while total production
of pollutants is lower, with figures of 5.6% for Nitrogen Oxide,
5.1% for Carbon Dioxide, and 3.5% for Sulfur Dioxide.[32]
It is believed that significant energy resources are located off
of Florida's western coast in the Gulf of Mexico, but that region
has been closed to exploration since 1981.[33] Governor Charlie
Crist and both of Florida's senators, Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez,
oppose offshore drilling and exploration. Former governor Jeb Bush,
originally opposed to all drilling,[34] changed his position on
a bill introduced introduced into the House of Representatives in
2005, which would allow unrestricted drilling 125 miles or more
from the coast.[35] Martinez, Nelson, and Crist opposed that bill,
but Martinez and Nelson voted for a Senate alternative which prohibited
drilling within 125 miles of the Panhandle coast, and 235 miles
of the peninsular coast.[36]
In July 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced plans to
sign executive orders that would impose strict new air-pollution
standards in the state, with aims to reduce so called "greenhouse-gas"
emissions by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. Crist's orders would
set new emissions targets for power companies, automobiles and trucks,
and toughen conservation goals for state agencies and require state-owned
vehicles to use alternative fuels.[37]
Red tide has also been an issue on the Southwest coast of Florida.
While there has been a great deal of conjecture over the cause of
the toxic algae bloom, there is no evidence that it is being caused
by pollution or that there has been an increase in the duration
or frequency of red tides.[38]
Demographics
Population
Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1830 34,730 —
1840 54,477 56.9%
1850 87,445 60.5%
1860 140,424 60.6%
1870 187,748 33.7%
1880 269,493 43.5%
1890 391,422 45.2%
1900 528,542 35.0%
1910 752,619 42.4%
1920 968,470 28.7%
1930 1,468,211 51.6%
1940 1,897,414 29.2%
1950 2,771,305 46.1%
1960 4,951,560 78.7%
1970 6,789,443 37.1%
1980 9,746,324 43.6%
1990 12,937,926 32.7%
2000 15,982,378 23.5%
Est. 2007 18,251,243 14.2%
Florida has the 4th highest state population in the United States
. The center of population of Florida is located in Polk County,
in the town of Lake Wales.[39] As of 2007, Florida's population
was 18,251,243.[40] The state grew 321,647, or 1.8% from 2005. Florida
grows an average of 26,803 every month, 6700 every week, and 957
daily. Florida is the nation's third-fastest-growing state.[41]
Ancestry Groups
Demographics of Florida (csv)
By race White Black AIAN Asian NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native — NHPI is Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population) 82.45% 15.66% 0.75% 2.11% 0.16%
2000 (Hispanic only) 15.94% 0.74% 0.14% 0.09% 0.03%
2005 (total population) 81.47% 16.31% 0.84% 2.52% 0.18%
2005 (Hispanic only) 18.48% 0.87% 0.21% 0.11% 0.04%
Growth 2000–2005 (total population) 9.99% 15.93% 23.95% 33.09%
29.08%
Growth 2000–2005 (non-Hispanic only) 5.43% 15.23% 15.67% 32.55%
24.49%
Growth 2000–2005 (Hispanic only) 28.99% 29.93% 58.98% 45.89%
45.66%
The largest reported ancestries in the 2000 Census were German
(11.8%), Irish (10.3%), English (9.2%), American (8%), Italian (6.3%),
French (2.8%), Polish (2.7%) and Scottish (1.8%).[42]
Florida Population Density MapBefore the American Civil War, when
slavery was legal, and during the Reconstruction era that followed,
African Americans made up nearly half of the state's population.[43]
Their proportion declined over the next century, as many moved north
in the Great Migration while large numbers of northern whites moved
to the state. Recently, the state's proportion of black residents
has begun to grow again. Today, large concentrations of black residents
can be found in northern Florida (notably in Jacksonville, Gainesville
and Pensacola), the Tampa Bay area, the Orlando area (especially
in the city of Orlando and Sanford), and South Florida (where their
numbers have been bolstered by significant immigration from Haiti
and Jamaica).
Florida's Hispanic population includes large communities of Cuban
Americans in Miami and Tampa, Puerto Ricans in Tampa and Orlando,
and Central American migrant workers in inland West-Central and
South Florida. The Hispanic community continues to grow more affluent
and mobile: between the years of 2000 and 2004, Lee County in Southwest
Florida, which is largely suburban in character, had the fastest
Hispanic population growth rate of any county in the United States.
Whites of all ethnicities are present in all areas of the state.
Those of British and Irish ancestry are present in large numbers
in all the urban/suburban areas across the state. There is a large
German population in Southwest Florida, a large Greek population
in the Tarpon Springs area, a sizable and historic Italian community
in the Miami area, and white Floridians of longer-present generations
in the culturally southern areas of inland and northern Florida.
Native white Floridians, especially those who have descended from
long-time Florida families, affectionately refer to themselves as
"Florida crackers." Like all the other southern states,
they descend mainly from Scots-Irish as well as some British settlers.
Metropolitan areas
See also: List of urbanized areas in Florida (by population) and
Florida census statistical areas
Distribution of Metropolitan Statistical Areas in FloridaFlorida
has nineteen Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the
United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Thirty-eight
of Florida's sixty-seven counties are in an MSA. Reflecting the
distribution of population in Florida, Metropolitan areas in the
state are concentrated around the coast of the peninsula. They form
a continuous band on the east coast of Florida, stretching from
the Jacksonville MSA to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
MSA, including every county on the east coast, with the exceptions
of Monroe County. There is also a continuous band of MSAs on the
west coast of the peninsula from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
MSA to the Naples-Marco Island MSA, including all of the coastal
counties from Hernando County to Collier County. The interior of
the northern half of the peninsula also has several MSAs, connecting
the east and west coast MSAs. A few MSAs are scattered across the
Florida panhandle. The largest metropolitan area in the state as
well as the entire southeastern United States is the Miami-Fort
Lauderdale-Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, with over
five million people.
Largest cities and towns
Miami
Orlando
Fort Lauderdale
Tampa
West Palm Beach
St. Petersburg
JacksonvilleMain articles: List of cities in Florida and Florida
locations by per capita income
City Population > 700,000
Jacksonville
City Population > 300,000
Miami
Tampa
City Population > 200,000
St. Petersburg
Hialeah
Orlando
City Population > 150,000
Fort Lauderdale
Pembroke Pines
Cape Coral
City Population > 100,000
Clearwater
Coral Springs
Gainesville
Hollywood
Miami Gardens
Miramar
Port Saint Lucie
Pompano Beach
Tallahassee
West Palm Beach
Languages
As of 2000, 76.91 percent of Florida residents age 5 and older spoke
only English at home as a first language, while 16.46 percent spoke
Spanish, and French-based creole languages (predominantly Haitian
Creole) was spoken by 1.38 percent of the population. French was
spoken by 0.83 percent, followed by German at 0.59 percent, and
Italian at 0.44 percent of all residents.[44]. Florida's climate
makes it a popular state for immigrants. Florida's public education
system identifies over 200 first languages other than English spoken
in the homes of students. In 1990, the League of United Latin American
Citizens (LULAC) won a class action lawsuit against the state Department
of Education that required educators to be trained in teaching English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Article II, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution provides that
"English is the official language of the State of Florida."
This provision was adopted in 1988 by a vote following an Initiative
Petition.
Religion
Florida is mostly Protestant, with a Roman Catholic community that
is growing because of immigration; it is now the single largest
denomination in the state. There is also a sizable Jewish community,
located mainly in South Florida; no other Southern state has such
a large Jewish population. Florida's current religious affiliations
are shown in the table below:
Government
Main article: Government of Florida
See also: List of Florida Governors and United States Congressional
Delegations from Florida
Florida Capitol buildings (Old Capitol in foreground)Presidential
elections results Year Republican Democratic
2004 52.10% 3,964,522 47.09% 3,583,544
2000 48.85% 2,912,790 48.84% 2,912,253
1996 42.32% 2,244,536 48.02% 2,546,870
1992 40.89% 2,173,310 39.00% 2,072,698
1988 60.87% 2,618,885 38.51% 1,656,701
1984 65.32% 2,730,350 34.66% 1,448,816
1980 55.52% 2,046,951 38.50% 1,419,475
1976 46.64% 1,469,531 51.93% 1,636,000
1972 71.91% 1,857,759 27.80% 718,117
1968 40.53% 886,804 30.93% 676,794
1964 48.85% 905,941 51.15% 948,540
1960 51.51% 795,476 48.49% 748,700
The basic structure, duties, function, and operations of the government
of the State of Florida are defined and established by the Florida
Constitution, which establishes the basic law of the state and guarantees
various rights and freedoms of the people. The state government
consists of three separate branches: judicial, executive, and legislative.
The legislature enacts bills, which, if signed by the governor,
become Florida Statutes.
The Florida Legislature comprises the Florida Senate, which has
40 members, and the Florida House of Representatives, which has
120 members. The current Governor of Florida is Republican Charlie
Crist. The Florida Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and
six Justices.
There are 67 Counties in Florida, but some reports show only 66
because of Duval County, which is consolidated with the City of
Jacksonville. There are 379 cities in Florida that report regularly
to the Florida Department of Revenue, but there are other incorporated
municipalities that do not. The primary source of revenue for the
State government is sales tax, but the primary revenue source for
cities and counties is property tax.
Florida was traditionally a Democratic state; at one time, 68.5
percent of all Floridians were registered Democrats. In the last
decades of the twentieth century, the realignment of the "Solid
South" has led many conservative Democrats of Florida to vote
with the Republican Party. This tendency, combined with explosive
population growth, which has brought many Republicans into the state
as well as Cuban immigration has given Florida a Republican edge
in practice. For instance, the Tampa area, once a major center of
Democratic union support, is now almost evenly split between registered
Republicans and Democrats, making it part of the important I-4 Corridor
swing region. As a result, Republicans control the governorship
and most other statewide elective offices: both houses of the state
legislature, 16 of the state's 25 seats in the House of Representatives,
and one of the state's two Senate seats. Because of the state's
population and number of electoral votes, political analysts consider
it to be a key swing state in presidential elections, which became
obvious during the 2000 election where Florida played a key role
in the election. In recent elections, people have tended to vote
Republican in the Panhandle, Jacksonville, the southwest and in
the predominantly Cuban areas near Miami. People have voted Democrat
in Tallahassee, Gainesville and most of South Florida.[citation
needed]
Economy
Florida's state quarter.
Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia from Kennedy Space Center.
Walt Disney World, a major tourist attraction in Central Florida.
Florida's climate is ideal for growing sugarcane.The gross state
product of Florida in 2005 was $596 billion. Its GDP is one of the
fastest-growing in the nation, with a 7.7% increase from 2004 to
2005.[45] Personal income was $30,098 per capita, ranking 26th in
the nation.
Tourism makes up the largest sector of the state economy. Warm
weather and hundreds of miles of beaches attract about 60 million
visitors to the state every year. Amusement parks, especially in
the Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The
Walt Disney World Resort is the largest vacation resort in the world,
consisting of four theme parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena
Vista, Florida; it, and Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens,
SeaWorld, and other major parks drive state tourism. Many beach
towns are also popular tourist destinations, particularly in the
winter months.
The second largest industry is agriculture. Citrus fruit, especially
oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the
majority of citrus fruit grown in the U.S. – in 2006 67 percent
of all citrus, 74 percent of oranges, 58 percent of tangerines,
and 54 percent of grapefruit. About 95 percent of commercial orange
production in the state is destined for processing (mostly as orange
juice, the official state beverage).[46] Citrus canker continues
to be an issue of concern. Other products include sugarcane and
celery.[47] The Everglades Agricultural Area is a major center for
agriculture. The environmental impact of agriculture — especially
water pollution— is a major issue in Florida today.
The Port of Miami, the largest container port in Florida, as well
as the "Cruise Capital of the World" and "Cargo Gateway
of the Americas".Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone
Valley, is the state's third-largest industry. The state produces
about 75 percent of the phosphate required by farmers in the United
States and 25 percent of the world supply, with about 95 percent
used for agriculture (90 percent for fertilizer and 5 percent for
livestock feed supplements) and 5 percent used for other products.[48]
Since the arrival of the NASA Merritt Island launch sites on Cape
Canaveral (most notably Kennedy Space Center) in 1962, Florida has
developed a sizable aerospace industry.
In addition, the state has seen a recent boom in medical and bio-tech
industries throughout its major metropolitan areas. Orlando was
recently chosen as the official site for the new headquarters of
the Burnham Institute, a major bio-tech and medical research company.
The state was one of the few states to not have a state minimum
wage law until 2004, when voters passed a constitutional amendment
establishing a state minimum wage and (unique among minimum wage
laws) mandating that it be adjusted for inflation every six months.
Currently, the minimum wage in the state of Florida is $6.79 as
of January 01, 2008.
Historically, Florida's economy was based upon cattle farming and
agriculture (especially sugarcane, citrus, tomatoes, and strawberries).
In the early 1900, land speculators discovered Florida, and businessmen
such as Henry Plant and Henry Flagler developed railroad systems,
which led people to move in, drawn by the weather and local economies.
From then on, tourism boomed, fueling a cycle of development that
overwhelmed a great deal of farmland.
In 2004 and 2005, key industries along the west coast — commercial
fishing and water-based tourist activities (sports fishing and diving)
— were threatened by outbreaks of red tide, a discoloration
of seawater caused by an efflorescence of toxin-producing dinoflagellates.
Florida is one of the nine states that do not impose a personal
income tax (list of others). The state had imposed a tax on "intangible
personal property" (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market
funds, etc.), but this tax was abolished after 2006. The state sales
tax rate is 6%.[49] Local governments may levy an additional local
option sales tax of up to 1.5%. A locale's use tax rate is the same
as its sales tax rate, including local options, if any. Use taxes
are payable for purchases made out of state and brought into Florida
within six months of the purchase date. Documentary stamps are required
on deed transfers and mortgages. Other taxes include corporate income,
communication services, unemployment, solid waste, insurance premium,
pollutants, and various fuel taxes.
Education
Century Tower, University of Florida.
Westcott Building at Florida State University.See also: Education
in Florida
Florida's public primary and secondary schools are administered
by the Florida Department of Education.
The State University System of Florida manages and funds Florida's
eleven public universities:
Florida A&M University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida International University
Florida State University
New College of Florida
University of Central Florida
University of North Florida
University of Florida
University of South Florida
University of West Florida
Supplementing the state's public university system is a network
of 28 community colleges, with over 100 locations throughout the
state.[50] Florida's largest community college, Miami-Dade College,
is the second-largest degree-granting institution in the United
States, with over 160,000 students enrolled, and Broward Community
College is among the 50 largest colleges and universities.[51][52]
Florida has many private universities as well, the largest of which
are Nova Southeastern University, University of Miami, Saint Leo
University, and Barry University. The "Independent Colleges
and Universities of Florida", a group representing 28 private
colleges and universities, reported that their member institutions
served over 121,000 students in the fall of 2005.[53]
Transportation
See also: Transportation in Florida
Florida map, with major roads/cities.
Highways
I-395 heading towards Downtown Miami.Florida's interstates, state
highways and U.S. Highways are maintained by the Florida Department
of Transportation.
Florida's interstate highway system contains 1,473 miles (2,371
km) of highway, and there are 9,934 miles (15,987 km) of non-interstate
highway in the state, such as Florida state highways and U.S. Highways.
Florida's primary interstate routes include:
I-4, which bisects the state, connecting Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando,
and Daytona Beach, having junctions with I-95 in Daytona Beach and
I-75 in Tampa.
I-10, which traverses the panhandle, connecting Jacksonville, Lake
City, Tallahassee and Pensacola, with junctions with I-95 in Jacksonville
and I-75 in Lake City.
I-75, which enters the state near Lake City (45 miles west of Jacksonville)
and continues southward through Gainesville, Ocala, Tampa's eastern
suburbs, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples, where it crosses
the "Alligator Alley" as a toll road to Fort Lauderdale
before turning southward and terminating in Hialeah/Miami Lakes
having junctions with I-10 in Lake City and I-4 in Tampa.
I-95, which enters the state near Jacksonville and continues along
the Atlantic Coast through Daytona Beach Melbourne/Titusville, Palm
Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, West Palm
Beach, and Fort Lauderdale before terminating in Downtown Miami,
with junctions with I-10 in Jacksonville and I-4 in Daytona Beach.
Prior to the construction of routes under the Federal Aid Highway
Act of 1956, Florida began construction of a long cross-state toll
road, Florida's Turnpike. The first section, from Fort Pierce south
to the Golden Glades was completed in 1957. After a second section
north through Orlando to Wildwood (near present-day The Villages),
and a southward extension around Miami to Homestead, it was finished
in 1974.
North-south state highways are all odd numbered, two-digit, with
low numbers on the east coast and higher numbers on its west coast
and in the panhandle. East-west state highways have three digits.
They are low numbered in the north, high numbered in the south.[54]
County roads often follow this same system.
Intercity rail
Florida is served by Amtrak: Sanford, in Greater Orlando, is the
southern terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train, which originates at
Lorton, Virginia, south of Washington, DC. Orlando is also the eastern
terminus of the Sunset Limited, which travels across the southern
United States via New Orleans, Houston, and San Antonio to its western
terminus of Los Angeles. Florida is served by two additional Amtrak
trains (the Silver Star and the Silver Meteor), which operate between
New York City and Miami.
Airports
See also: List of airports in Florida
Major international airports in Florida which processed more than
15 million passengers each in 2006 are Orlando International Airport
(34,128,048), Miami International Airport (32,533,974), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
International Airport(21,369,577) and Tampa International Airport
(18,867,541).
Secondary airports, with annual passenger traffic exceeding 5 million
each in 2006, include Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort
Myers) (7,643,217), Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm
Beach) (7,014,237),[55] and Jacksonville International Airport (5,946,188).
Regional Airports which processed over one million passengers each
in 2006 are Pensacola (1,620,198) and Sarasota-Bradenton (1,423,113).
Sanford, which is primarily served by international charter airlines
processed 1,649,565 passengers in 2006.[56]
Sports
See also: List of sports teams in Florida
The American Airlines Arena in Miami, home of the Miami Heat.
Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, home of the Florida Marlins and
the Miami Dolphins.Although Florida is the traditional home to Major
League Baseball's spring training, and nearly 2/3 of all MLB teams
still have a spring training presence in the state, Florida did
not have a permanent major-league-level professional sports team
until the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins in 1966.
The state now has three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams,
and two NHL teams. With two of its most historically-important teams,
Florida is one of the most important markets for the Arena Football
League. Golf, tennis and auto racing are also popular. Florida also
hosts a variety of minor league baseball, football, basketball,
ice hockey, soccer and indoor football teams.
Club Sport League Venue
Jacksonville Jaguars Football National Football League Jacksonville
Municipal Stadium
Miami Dolphins Football National Football League Dolphin Stadium
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football National Football League Raymond James
Stadium
Miami Heat Basketball National Basketball Association American Airlines
Arena
Orlando Magic Basketball National Basketball Association Amway Arena
Florida Panthers Ice hockey National Hockey League BankAtlantic
Center
Tampa Bay Lightning Ice hockey National Hockey League St. Pete Times
Forum
Florida Marlins Baseball Major League Baseball Dolphin Stadium
Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Major League Baseball Tropicana Field
Orlando Predators Arena football Arena Football League Amway Arena
Tampa Bay Storm Arena football Arena Football League St. Pete Times
Forum
Spring training
Florida is the traditional home for Major League Baseball spring
training, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit
League." As of 2004, Florida hosts the following major league
teams for spring training:
Club Location
Atlanta Braves Walt Disney World
Baltimore Orioles Fort Lauderdale
Boston Red Sox Fort Myers
Cincinnati Reds Sarasota
Cleveland Indians Winter Haven
Detroit Tigers Lakeland
Florida Marlins Jupiter
Houston Astros Kissimmee
Los Angeles Dodgers Vero Beach
Minnesota Twins Fort Myers
New York Mets Port St. Lucie
New York Yankees Tampa
Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater
Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton
Saint Louis Cardinals Jupiter
Tampa Bay Rays St. Petersburg
Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin
Washington Nationals Viera
Daytona International Speedway
Auto-racing tracks
Daytona International Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Sebring International Raceway
Streets of St. Petersburg
Walt Disney World Speedway
Sister states
Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Nueva Esparta, Venezuela
Taiwan Province, Taiwan
Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Western Cape, South Africa
CONTACT
msn: milantoplica@hotmail.com or mob: +381
63 427 577
