Florida is one of the South Atlantic states of the US and the southernmost of the contiguous states. It is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama, Georgia, the Atlantic Ocean, the Straits of Florida. The state of Florida is the fourth most populated state of the 50 United States. Florida's name was derived from Spanish, meaning "feast of flowers." (Easter)
Today, Florida has a highly diversified economy, driven by tourism, international trade, health and financial services, high-technology manufacturing, and the production of citrus fruits and other agricultural commodities. Millions of tourists visit Florida each year, lured by the warm climate and attractions like the John F. Kennedy Space Center, on Cape Canaveral and Walt Disney World, a group of four large theme parks, near Orlando. Florida's population experienced nearly a six fold increase between 1950 and 2000, many of the new inhabitants being retired persons from other parts of the US and immigrants from Caribbean countries.
Florida Almanac: Florida Facts & Figures |
|
---|---|
Official Name | Florida |
Capital | Tallahassee |
Nicknames | Sunshine State (1970) ...and more |
Motto | In God We Trust |
Location Region |
30.45700 N, 084.28139 W Southern South Atlantic |
Constitution Ratified | 1969 |
Statehood | March 03, 1845 27th state |
Population | 18,801,310 (2010) 301.57 sq. mi. 4th |
Largest City (by population) |
10 largest cities (2010: Jacksonville, 821,784; Miami, 399,457; Tampa, 335,709; St. Petersburg, 244,769; Orlando, 238,300; Hialeah, 224,669; Tallahassee, 181,376; Fort Lauderdale, 165,521; Port Saint Lucie, 164,603; Pembroke Pines, 154,750 |
Bordering States | North: Alabama and Georgia East: Atlantic Ocean South: Straits of Florida (separating it from Cuba) West: Gulf of Mexico and Alabama Coastline: 1350 mi |
Major Industry | tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatos), electronics |
Major Rivers | St. Johns River, St. Marys River, Suwannee River |
Major Lakes | Lake Okeechobee, Lake George |
Florida Counties | 67 Counties in Florida |
Largest County (by population) |
Miami-Dade County 2,496,435 (2010) 1,945 sq. mi. |
Largest County (by area) |
Palm Beach County 2,034 sq. mi. |
State forests | 31 (more than 890,000 ac.) |
State parks | 159 (over 723,000+ ac.) |
Electoral Votes | 27 (as of the 2004 Presidential Election) |
US Congress | 2 Senators; 23 Representatives (25 Representatives as of the 2002 election) |
Time Zone | Central Standard Time & Eastern Standard Time |
Zip Codes | NANPA |
State Quick Facts | Census Bureau Quick Facts |
Florida Climate and Weather |
|
---|---|
Florida climate is best described as subtropical with mild winters and quite warm summers. The state is essentially a long peninsula with no place more than 80 miles from either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Florida temperatures are greatly influenced by the surrounding water which has a moderating effect on both the high and low temperatures. Generally, the interior of the state tends to warm more rapidly and reach higher temperatures during the day while cooling more rapidly and falling to lower temperatures during the night. The summer months of June, July, August and even into September are the rainiest months of the year. During this period thunderstorms are common. Many welcome these rain showers as they provide cooling relief during hot afternoons. One must be wary, however, since these thunderstorms sometimes become quite severe with very strong winds and intense lightning. Winter brings dryer weather to Florida and of course the occasional cold front. Northern Florida feels the effects of cold fronts much more than southern Florida. Northern Florida will experience numerous days where the low temperature falls below freezing at times, while this rarely occurs in south Florida. Still, the average low temperature even in the coldest months in north Florida is above 40F in most areas with high temperatures averaging in the 60s. In south Florida the coldest months bring low temperatures that typically average in the 60s with highs reaching well into 70s. Snow is very rare in Florida. Although snow is rare in Florida, tropical storms and hurricanes are not. Florida Hurricane season is from June 1st through November 30th. While these tropical cyclones can bring devastation to Florida, modern weather surveillance systems, which Florida is well known for provide plenty of notice of approaching storms. |
|
Highest Temperature | 109 degrees June 29, 1931 - Monticello |
Lowest Temperature | -2 degrees February 13, 1899 - Tallahassee- |
Avg. Temp: High - Low |
91.7 degrees 39.9 degrees |
Florida Points of Interest |
|
The 'Sunshine
State' of Florida is justifiably one of the most popular destinations on the planet. Besides sandy beaches (north to south), watersports activities of all description and world-class golf courses, major attractions include historic St. Augustine, Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, Disney World, Everglades, Florida Keys, the electrifying City of Miami, Kennedy Space Center, Sea World and Universal Studios... just to name but a few. |
|
Florida Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet) |
|
Mean Elevation: 100 feet | |
Highest Point: Lakewood (Britton Hill) Sec. 30, T6N, R20W, Walton County: 4345 feet The highest point in the state is Britton Hill in Lakewood Park near the Alabama border. Soaring to 345 feet above sea level, this high point is the lowest of the 50 states. Only rarely is it snow-capped. It is the only state highest point comprised of sand. |
|
Lowest Point: | Atlantic Ocean Sea level |
Florida Land Area (Square Miles) |
|
Geographic Center | In Hernando County, 12 mi. NNW of Brooksville Longitude: 81°37.9'W Latitude: 28°8.0'N |
Total Area | 65,754.59 sq. mi. 22nd |
Land Area | 53,926.82 sq. mi. 82.02% |
Water Area | 11,827.77 sq. mi. 17.98% |
Forested Land Area | 47% |
Dimensions (Length - Width) |
500 miles 160 miles |
Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval /City of Jacksonville, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington