Florida - wikipedia Florida This article is about the U.S. state of Florida. For other uses, see Florida ( disambiguation ). State of Florida Flag Seal Nickname ( s ) : The Sunshine State Motto ( s ) : In God We Trust ( 2006 ) State song ( s ) : `` Old Folks at Home ( State Song ), Florida ( Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky ) ( State Anthem ) '' Official language English Spoken languages Predominantly English and Spanish Demonym Floridian, Floridan Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro Greater Miami Area Ranked 22nd Total 65,755 sq mi ( 170,304 km ) Width 361 miles ( 582 km ) Length 447 miles ( 721 km ) % water 17.9 Latitude 24 ° 27 ' N to 31 ° 00 ' N Longitude 80 ° 02 ' W to 87 ° 38 ' W Population Ranked 3rd Total 21,312,211 ( 2018 est. ) Density 384.3 / sq mi ( 121.0 / km ) Ranked 8th Median household income $48,825 ( 41st ) Elevation Highest point Britton Hill 345 ft ( 105 m ) Mean 100 ft ( 30 m ) Lowest point Atlantic Ocean Sea level Before statehood Florida Territory Admission to Union March 3, 1845 ( 27th ) Governor Rick Scott ( R ) Lieutenant Governor Carlos López - Cantera ( R ) Legislature Florida Legislature Upper house Senate Lower house House of Representatives U.S. Senators Bill Nelson ( D ) Marco Rubio ( R ) U.S. House delegation 16 Republicans 11 Democrats ( list ) Time zones Peninsula and `` Big Bend '' region EST : UTC − 5 / − 4 Panhandle west of the Apalachicola River CST : UTC − 6 / − 5 ISO 3166 US - FL Abbreviations FL, Fla. Website myflorida.com show Florida state symbols The Flag of Florida Living insignia Amphibian Barking tree frog Bird Northern mockingbird Butterfly Zebra longwing Fish Florida largemouth bass, Atlantic sailfish Flower Orange blossom Mammal Florida panther, manatee, bottlenose dolphin, Florida Cracker Horse Reptile American alligator, Loggerhead turtle Tree Sabal palmetto Inanimate insignia Beverage Orange juice Food Key lime pie, orange Gemstone Moonstone Rock Agatized coral Shell Horse conch Soil Myakka Song `` Old Folks at Home '' State route marker State quarter Released in 2004 Lists of United States state symbols Florida ( / ˈflɒrɪdə / ( listen ) ; Spanish for `` land of flowers '' ) is the southernmost contiguous state in the United States. The state is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida. Florida is the 22nd-most extensive ( 65,755 sq mi -- 170,304 km ), the 3rd-most populous ( 21,312,211 inhabitants ), and the 8th-most densely populated ( 384.3 / sq mi -- 121.0 / km ) of the U.S. states. Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. The Miami metropolitan area is Florida 's most populous urban area. Tallahassee is the state 's capital. About two - thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, approximately 1,350 miles ( 2,170 km ), not including the contribution of the many barrier islands. It is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the state is at or near sea level and is characterized by sedimentary soil. Florida has the lowest high point of any U.S. state. The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. The American alligator, American crocodile, American flamingo, Florida panther, bottlenose dolphin, and manatee can be found in Everglades National Park in the southern part of the state. Along with Hawaii, Florida is one of only two states that has a tropical climate, and is the only continental U.S. state with a tropical climate. It is also the only continental U.S. state with a coral reef called the Florida Reef. Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León -- who named it Florida, informally La Florida ( ( la floˈɾiða ) `` the land of flowers '' ) upon landing there in the Easter season, Pascua Florida -- Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845. It was a principal location of the Seminole Wars against the Native Americans, and racial segregation after the American Civil War. Today, Florida is distinctive for its large Cuban expatriate community and high population growth, as well as for its increasing environmental issues. The state 's economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also renowned for amusement parks, orange crops, winter vegetables, the Kennedy Space Center, and as a popular destination for retirees. Florida 's close proximity to the ocean influences many aspects of Florida culture and daily life. Florida is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance ; African, European, indigenous, and Latino heritages can be found in the architecture and cuisine. Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing and water sports. Contents 1 History 1.1 European arrival 1.2 Joining the United States ; Indian removal 1.3 Slavery, war, and disenfranchisement 1.4 20th and 21st century growth 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 2.2 Fauna 2.3 Flora 2.4 Environmental issues 2.5 Geology 2.6 Regions 3 Demographics 3.1 Population 3.2 Settlements 3.3 Ancestry 3.4 Languages 3.5 Religion 4 Governance 4.1 Elections history 4.1. 1 Elections of 2000 to present 4.2 Statutes 4.3 Law enforcement 5 Economy 5.1 Personal income 5.2 Real estate 5.3 Tourism 5.4 Agriculture and fishing 5.5 Industry 5.6 Mining 5.7 Government 6 Seaports 7 Health 8 Architecture 9 Media 10 Education 10.1 Primary and secondary education 10.2 Universities 11 Transportation 11.1 Highways 11.2 Airports 11.3 Intercity rail 11.4 Public transit 12 Sports 13 Sister states 14 See also 15 References 16 Bibliography 17 External links History Main article : History of Florida By the 16th century, the earliest time for which there is a historical record, major Native American groups included the Apalachee of the Florida Panhandle, the Timucua of northern and central Florida, the Ais of the central Atlantic coast, the Tocobaga of the Tampa Bay area, the Calusa of southwest Florida and the Tequesta of the southeastern coast. European arrival Main article : Spanish Florida Map of Florida, likely based on the expeditions of Hernando de Soto ( 1539 -- 1543 ). Florida was the first region of the continental United States to be visited and settled by Europeans. The earliest known European explorers came with the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. Ponce de León spotted and landed on the peninsula on April 2, 1513. He named the region Florida ( `` land of flowers '' ). The story that he was searching for the Fountain of Youth is mythical and only appeared long after his death. In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto skirted the coast of Florida, searching for a deep harbor to land. He described seeing a thick wall of red mangroves spread mile after mile, some reaching as high as 70 feet ( 21 m ), with intertwined and elevated roots making landing difficult. The Spanish introduced Christianity, cattle, horses, sheep, the Castilian language, and more to Florida. Spain established several settlements in Florida, with varying degrees of success. In 1559, Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano established a settlement at present - day Pensacola, making it the first attempted settlement in Florida, but it was mostly abandoned by 1561. The Castillo de San Marcos. Originally white with red corners, its design reflects the colors and shapes of the Cross of Burgundy and the subsequent Flag of Florida. In 1565, the settlement of St. Augustine ( San Agustín ) was established under the leadership of admiral and governor Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, creating what would become one of the oldest, continuously - occupied European settlements in the continental U.S. and establishing the first generation of Floridanos and the Government of Florida. Spain maintained strategic control over the region by converting the local tribes to Christianity. The marriage between Luisa de Abrego, a free black domestic servant from Seville, and Miguel Rodríguez, a white Segovian, occurred in 1565 in St. Augustine. It is the first recorded Christian marriage in the continental United States. Some Spanish married or had unions with Pensacola, Creek or African women, both slave and free, and their descendants created a mixed - race population of mestizos and mulattos. The Spanish encouraged slaves from the southern British colonies to come to Florida as a refuge, promising freedom in exchange for conversion to Catholicism. King Charles II of Spain issued a royal proclamation freeing all slaves who fled to Spanish Florida and accepted conversion and baptism. Most went to the area around St. Augustine, but escaped slaves also reached Pensacola. St. Augustine had mustered an all - black militia unit defending Spain as early as 1683. The geographical area of Florida diminished with the establishment of English settlements to the north and French claims to the west. The English attacked St. Augustine, burning the city and its cathedral to the ground several times. Spain built the Castillo de San Marcos in 1672 and Fort Matanzas in 1742 to defend Florida 's capital city from attacks, and to maintain its strategic position in the defense of the Captaincy General of Cuba and the Spanish West Indies. Grenadiers led by Bernardo de Gálvez at the Siege of Pensacola. Painting by Augusto Ferrer - Dalmau, 2015. Florida attracted numerous Africans and African Americans from adjacent British colonies who sought freedom from slavery. In 1738, Governor Manuel de Montiano established Fort Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose near St. Augustine, a fortified town for escaped slaves to whom Montiano granted citizenship and freedom in return for their service in the Florida militia, and which became the first free black settlement legally sanctioned in North America. In 1763, Spain traded Florida to the Kingdom of Great Britain for control of Havana, Cuba, which had been captured by the British during the Seven Years ' War. It was part of a large expansion of British territory following their victory in the Seven Years ' War. A large portion of the Floridano population left, taking along most of the remaining indigenous population to Cuba. The British soon constructed the King 's Road connecting St. Augustine to Georgia. The road crossed the St. Johns River at a narrow point called Wacca Pilatka, or the British name `` Cow Ford '', ostensibly reflecting the fact that cattle were brought across the river there. East Florida and West Florida in British period ( 1763 -- 1783 ) The British divided and consolidated the Florida provinces ( Las Floridas ) into East Florida and West Florida, a division the Spanish government kept after the brief British period. The British government gave land grants to officers and soldiers who had fought in the French and Indian War in order to encourage settlement. In order to induce settlers to move to Florida, reports of its natural wealth were published in England. A large number of British settlers who were described as being `` energetic and of good character '' moved to Florida, mostly coming from South Carolina, Georgia and England. There was also a group of settlers who came from the colony of Bermuda. This would be the first permanent English - speaking population in what is now Duval County, Baker County, St. Johns County and Nassau County. The British built good public roads and introduced the cultivation of sugar cane, indigo and fruits as well the export of lumber. As a result of these initiatives northeastern Florida prospered economically in a way it never did under Spanish administration. Furthermore, the British governors were directed to call general assemblies as soon as possible in order to make laws for the Floridas and in the meantime they were, with the advice of councils, to establish courts. This would be the first introduction of much of the English - derived legal system which Florida still has today including trial by jury, habeas corpus and county - based government. Neither East Florida nor West Florida would send any representatives to Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence. Florida would remain a Loyalist stronghold for the duration of the American Revolution. Spain regained both East and West Florida after Britain 's defeat in the American Revolution and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783, and continued the provincial divisions until 1821. Joining the United States ; Indian removal See also : Republic of East Florida, Florida Territory, and Seminole Wars A Cracker cowboy, 19th century Defense of Florida 's northern border with the United States was minor during the second Spanish period. The region became a haven for escaped slaves and a base for Indian attacks against U.S. territories, and the U.S. pressed Spain for reform. Americans of English descent and Americans of Scots - Irish descent began moving into northern Florida from the backwoods of Georgia and South Carolina. Though technically not allowed by the Spanish authorities and the Floridan government, they were never able to effectively police the border region and the backwoods settlers from the United States would continue to immigrate into Florida unchecked. These migrants, mixing with the already present British settlers who had remained in Florida since the British period, would be the progenitors of the population known as Florida Crackers. These American settlers established a permanent foothold in the area and ignored Spanish authorities. The British settlers who had remained also resented Spanish rule, leading to a rebellion in 1810 and the establishment for ninety days of the so - called Free and Independent Republic of West Florida on September 23. After meetings beginning in June, rebels overcame the garrison at Baton Rouge ( now in Louisiana ), and unfurled the flag of the new republic : a single white star on a blue field. This flag would later become known as the `` Bonnie Blue Flag ''. In 1810, parts of West Florida were annexed by proclamation of President James Madison, who claimed the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase. These parts were incorporated into the newly formed Territory of Orleans. The U.S. annexed the Mobile District of West Florida to the Mississippi Territory in 1812. Spain continued to dispute the area, though the United States gradually increased the area it occupied. In 1812, a group of settlers from Georgia, with de facto support from the U.S. federal government, attempted to overthrow the Floridan government in the province of East Florida. The settlers hoped to convince Floridans to join their cause and proclaim independence from Spain, but the settlers lost their tenuous support from the federal government and abandoned their cause by 1813. Seminoles based in East Florida began raiding Georgia settlements, and offering havens for runaway slaves. 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. The United States now effectively controlled East Florida. Control was necessary according to Secretary of State John Quincy Adams because Florida had become `` a derelict open to the occupancy of every enemy, civilized or savage, of the United States, and serving no other earthly purpose than as a post of annoyance to them. '' Florida had become a burden to Spain, which could not afford to send settlers or garrisons. Madrid therefore decided to cede the territory to the United States through the Adams -- Onís Treaty, which took effect in 1821. President James Monroe was authorized on March 3, 1821 to take possession of East Florida and West Florida for the United States and provide for initial governance. Andrew Jackson, on behalf of the U.S. federal government, served as a military commissioner with the powers of governor of the newly acquired territory for a brief period. On March 30, 1822, the U.S. Congress merged East Florida and part of West Florida into the Florida Territory. A contemporaneous depiction of the New River Massacre in 1836 By the early 1800s, Indian removal was a significant issue throughout the southeastern U.S. and also in Florida. In 1830, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and as settlement increased, pressure grew on the U.S. government to remove the Indians from Florida. Seminoles harbored runaway blacks, known as the Black Seminoles, and clashes between whites and Indians grew with the influx of new settlers. In 1832, the Treaty of Payne 's Landing promised to the Seminoles lands west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave Florida. Many Seminole left at this time. Some Seminoles remained, and the U.S. Army arrived in Florida, leading to the Second Seminole War ( 1835 -- 1842 ). Following the war, approximately 3,000 Seminole and 800 Black Seminole were removed to Indian Territory. A few hundred Seminole remained in Florida in the Everglades. On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America. The state was admitted as a slave state and ceased to be a sanctuary for runaway slaves. Initially its population grew slowly. As European settlers continued to encroach on Seminole lands, and the United States intervened to move the remaining Seminoles to the West. The Third Seminole War ( 1855 -- 58 ) resulted in the forced removal of most of the remaining Seminoles, although hundreds of Seminole Indians remained in the Everglades. Slavery, War, and disenfranchisement Further information : Florida in the American Civil War The Battle of Olustee during the American Civil War, 1864. American settlers began to establish cotton plantations in north Florida, which required numerous laborers, which they supplied by buying slaves in the domestic market. By 1860, Florida had only 140,424 people, of whom 44 % were enslaved. There were fewer than 1,000 free African Americans before the American Civil War. In January 10, 1861, nearly all delegates in the Florida Legislature approved an ordinance of secession, declaring Florida to be `` a sovereign and independent nation '' -- an apparent reassertion to the preamble in Florida 's Constitution of 1838, in which Florida agreed with Congress to be a `` Free and Independent State. '' Although not directly related to the issue of slavery, the ordinance declared Florida 's secession from the Union, allowing it to become one of the founding members of the Confederate States, a looser union of states. The confederal union received little help from Florida ; the 15,000 men it offered were generally sent elsewhere. The largest engagements in the state were the Battle of Olustee, on February 20, 1864, and the Battle of Natural Bridge, on March 6, 1865. Both were Confederate victories. The war ended in 1865. Following the American Civil War, Florida 's congressional representation was restored on June 25, 1868, albeit forcefully after Radical Reconstruction and the installation of unelected government officials under the final authority of federal military commanders. After the Reconstruction period ended in 1876, white Democrats regained power in the state legislature. In 1885 they created a new constitution, followed by statutes through 1889 that disfranchised most blacks and many poor whites. Until the mid-20th century, Florida was the least populous state in the southern United States. In 1900, its population was only 528,542, of whom nearly 44 % were African American, the same proportion as before the Civil War. The boll weevil devastated cotton crops. Forty thousand blacks, roughly one - fifth of their 1900 population, left the state in the Great Migration. They left due to lynchings and racial violence, and for better opportunities. Disfranchisement for most African Americans in the state persisted until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s gained federal legislation in 1965 to enforce protection of their constitutional suffrage. 20th and 21st century growth Key West Historic District Miami 's Freedom Tower Historically, Florida 's economy has been based primarily upon agricultural products such as cattle, sugar cane, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and strawberries. Economic prosperity in the 1920s stimulated tourism to Florida and related development of hotels and resort communities. Combined with its sudden elevation in profile was the Florida land boom of the 1920s, which brought a brief period of intense land development. Devastating hurricanes in 1926 and 1928, followed by the Great Depression, brought that period to a halt. Florida 's economy did not fully recover until the military buildup for World War II. In 1939, Florida was described as `` still very largely an empty State. '' Subsequently, the growing availability of air conditioning, the climate, and a low cost of living made the state a haven. Migration from the Rust Belt and the Northeast sharply increased Florida 's population after 1945. In the 1960s, many refugees from Cuba fleeing Fidel Castro 's communist regime arrived in Miami at the Freedom Tower, where the federal government used the facility to process, document and provide medical and dental services for the newcomers. As a result, the Freedom Tower was also called the `` Ellis Island of the South. '' In recent decades, more migrants have come for the jobs in a developing economy. With a population of more than 18 million according to the 2010 census, Florida is the most populous state in the southeastern United States and the third-most populous in the United States. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, a large population of Puerto Ricans began moving to Florida to escape the widespread destruction. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans arrived in Florida after Maria dissipated, with nearly half of them arriving in Orlando and large populations also moving to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Geography Main article : Geography of Florida See also : List of counties in Florida, List of places in Florida, List of municipalities in Florida, List of islands of Florida, and List of Florida state parks A topographic map of Florida Florida and its relation to Cuba and The Bahamas Much of Florida is on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Straits of Florida. Spanning two time zones, it extends to the northwest into a panhandle, extending along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the north by Georgia and Alabama, and on the west, at the end of the panhandle, by Alabama. It is the only state that borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is west of The Bahamas and 90 miles ( 140 km ) north of Cuba. Florida is one of the largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and Michigan are larger in water area. The water boundary is 3 nautical miles ( 3.5 mi ; 5.6 km ) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and 9 nautical miles ( 10 mi ; 17 km ) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. At 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. Much of the state south of Orlando lies at a lower elevation than northern Florida, and is fairly level. Much of the state is at or near sea level. However, some places such as Clearwater have promontories that rise 50 to 100 ft ( 15 to 30 m ) above the water. Much of Central and North Florida, typically 25 mi ( 40 km ) or more away from the coastline, have rolling hills with elevations ranging from 100 to 250 ft ( 30 to 76 m ). The highest point in peninsular Florida ( east and south of the Suwannee River ), Sugarloaf Mountain, is a 312 - foot ( 95 m ) peak in Lake County. On average, Florida is the flattest state in the United States. Climate Main article : Climate of Florida See also : List of Florida hurricanes and U.S. state temperature extremes Köppen climate types of Florida The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is distant from the ocean. North of Lake Okeechobee, the prevalent climate is humid subtropical ( Köppen : Cfa ), while areas south of the lake ( including the Florida Keys ) have a true tropical climate ( Köppen : Aw ). Mean high temperatures for late July are primarily in the low 90s Fahrenheit ( 32 -- 34 ° C ). Mean low temperatures for early to mid January range from the low 40s Fahrenheit ( 4 -- 7 ° C ) in north Florida to above 60 ° F ( 16 ° C ) from Miami on southward. With an average daily temperature of 70.7 ° F ( 21.5 ° C ), it is the warmest state in the U.S. In the summer, high temperatures in the state seldom exceed 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ). Several record cold maxima have been in the 30s ° F ( − 1 to 4 ° C ) and record lows have been in the 10s ( − 12 to − 7 ° C ). These temperatures normally extend at most a few days at a time in the northern and central parts of Florida. South Florida, however, rarely encounters below freezing temperatures. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 ° F ( 43 ° C ), which was set on June 29, 1931 in Monticello. The coldest temperature was − 2 ° F ( − 19 ° C ), on February 13, 1899, just 25 miles ( 40 km ) away, in Tallahassee. Due to its subtropical and tropical climate, Florida rarely receives measurable snowfall. However, on rare occasions, a combination of cold moisture and freezing temperatures can result in snowfall in the farthest northern regions. Frost, which is more common than snow, sometimes occurs in the panhandle. The USDA Plant hardiness zones for the state range from zone 8a ( no colder than 10 ° F or − 12 ° C ) in the inland western panhandle to zone 11b ( no colder than 45 ° F or 7 ° C ) in the lower Florida Keys. Average high and low temperatures for various Florida cities ° F Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jacksonville 65 / 42 68 / 45 74 / 50 79 / 55 86 / 63 90 / 70 92 / 73 91 / 73 87 / 69 80 / 61 74 / 51 67 / 44 Miami 76 / 60 78 / 62 80 / 65 83 / 68 87 / 73 89 / 76 91 / 77 91 / 77 89 / 76 86 / 73 82 / 68 78 / 63 Orlando 71 / 49 74 / 52 78 / 56 83 / 60 88 / 66 91 / 72 92 / 74 92 / 74 90 / 73 85 / 66 78 / 59 73 / 52 Pensacola 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 64 / 39 68 / 42 74 / 47 80 / 52 87 / 62 91 / 70 92 / 72 92 / 72 89 / 68 82 / 57 73 / 48 66 / 41 Tampa 70 / 51 73 / 54 77 / 58 81 / 62 88 / 69 90 / 74 90 / 75 91 / 76 89 / 74 85 / 67 78 / 60 72 / 54 ° C Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jacksonville 18 / 6 20 / 7 23 / 10 26 / 13 30 / 17 32 / 21 33 / 23 33 / 23 31 / 21 27 / 16 23 / 11 19 / 7 Miami 24 / 16 26 / 17 27 / 18 28 / 20 31 / 23 32 / 24 33 / 25 33 / 25 32 / 24 30 / 23 28 / 20 26 / 17 Orlando 22 / 9 23 / 11 26 / 13 28 / 16 31 / 19 33 / 22 33 / 23 33 / 23 32 / 23 29 / 19 26 / 15 23 / 11 Pensacola 16 / 6 18 / 8 21 / 11 24 / 14 29 / 19 32 / 22 32 / 23 32 / 23 31 / 21 27 / 16 21 / 10 17 / 7 Tallahassee 18 / 4 20 / 6 23 / 8 27 / 11 31 / 17 33 / 21 33 / 22 33 / 22 32 / 20 28 / 14 23 / 9 19 / 5 Tampa 21 / 11 23 / 12 25 / 14 27 / 17 31 / 21 32 / 23 32 / 24 33 / 24 32 / 23 29 / 19 26 / 16 22 / 12 Hurricane Andrew bearing down on Florida on August 23, 1992. Hurricane Irma right before landfall in Florida on September 10, 2017. Hurricane Jose can be seen to the lower right. 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. Florida has one of the highest average precipitation levels of any state, in large part because afternoon thunderstorms are common in much of the state from late spring until early autumn. A narrow eastern part of the state including Orlando and Jacksonville receives between 2,400 and 2,800 hours of sunshine annually. The rest of the state, including Miami, receives between 2,800 and 3,200 hours annually. Florida leads the United States in tornadoes per area ( when including waterspouts ), but they do not typically reach the intensity of those in the Midwest and Great Plains. Hail often accompanies the most severe thunderstorms. Hurricanes pose a severe threat each year during the June 1 to November 30 hurricane season, particularly from August to October. Florida is the most hurricane - prone state, with subtropical or tropical water on a lengthy coastline. Of the category 4 or higher storms that have struck the United States, 83 % have either hit Florida or Texas. From 1851 to 2006, Florida was struck by 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major -- category 3 and above. It is rare for a hurricane season to pass without any impact in the state by at least a tropical storm. In 1992, Florida was the site of what was then the costliest weather disaster in U.S. history, Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25 billion in damages when it struck during August ; it held that distinction until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina surpassed it, and it has since been surpassed by six other hurricanes. Andrew is currently the second costliest hurricane in Florida 's history. Hurricane Wilma, the third-most expensive hurricane in Florida 's history, made landfall just south of Marco Island in October 2005. Wilma was responsible for about $21 billion in damages in Florida. Although many tropical storms would continue to affect the state after Wilma, it would be eleven years until the next hurricane, Hurricane Hermine struck the state, and twelve years until the next major hurricane, Hurricane Irma. After devastating multiple Caribbean islands as one of the most powerful Category 5 hurricanes ever recorded, Irma struck the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane and made a second Florida landfall in Marco Island as a Category 3 hurricane. While Irma 's damage in Florida was far less than what was originally feared, it was still incredibly destructive, causing at least $50 billion in damages to Florida alone and around $66.8 billion in total, including damages to the many islands that were impacted. This made it the costliest hurricane in Florida 's history and the fifth costliest hurricane ever. Fauna Further information : Fauna of Florida An alligator in the Florida Everglades Key deer in the lower Florida Keys West Indian manatee Florida panther native of South Florida Florida is host to many types of wildlife including : Marine mammals : bottlenose dolphin, short - finned pilot whale, North Atlantic right whale, West Indian manatee Mammals : Florida panther, northern river otter, mink, eastern cottontail rabbit, marsh rabbit, raccoon, striped skunk, squirrel, white - tailed deer, Key deer, bobcats, red fox, gray fox, coyote, wild boar, Florida black bear, nine - banded armadillos, Virginia opossum Reptiles : eastern diamondback and pygmy rattlesnakes, gopher tortoise, green and leatherback sea turtles, and eastern indigo snake. In 2012, there were about one million American alligators and 1,500 crocodiles. Birds : peregrine falcon, bald eagle, northern caracara, snail kite, osprey, white and brown pelicans, sea gulls, whooping and sandhill cranes, roseate spoonbill, Florida scrub jay ( state endemic ), and others. One subspecies of wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, namely subspecies osceola, is found only in Florida. The state is a wintering location for many species of eastern North American birds. As a result of climate change, there have been small numbers of several new species normally native to cooler areas to the north : snowy owls, snow buntings, harlequin ducks, and razorbills. These have been seen in the northern part of the state. Invertebrates : carpenter ants, termites, American cockroach, Africanized bees, the Miami blue butterfly, and the grizzled mantis. The only known calving area for the northern right whale is off the coasts of Florida and Georgia. The native bear population has risen from a historic low of 300 in the 1970s, to 3,000 in 2011. 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. A number of non-native snakes and lizards have been released in the wild. In 2010 the state created a hunting season for Burmese and Indian pythons, African rock pythons, green anacondas, yellow anacondas, common boas, and Nile monitor lizards. Green iguanas have also established a firm population in the southern part of the state. There are about 500,000 feral pigs in Florida. Florida also has more than 500 nonnative animal species and 1,000 nonnative insects found throughout the state. Some exotic species living in Florida include the Burmese python, green iguana, veiled chameleon, peacock bass, lionfish, rhesus macaque, vervet monkey, Cuban tree frog, cane toad, monk parakeet, tui parakeet, and many more. Some of these nonnative species do not pose a threat to any native species, but some do threaten the native species of Florida by living in the state and eating them. Flora The Sabal palmetto is one of twelve palm tree species that are native to Florida and is the official state tree. Further information : Florida mangroves and List of invasive plant species in Florida There are about 3,000 different types of wildflowers in Florida. This is the third-most diverse state in the union, behind California and Texas, both larger states. On the east coast of the state, mangroves have normally dominated the coast from Cocoa Beach southward ; salt marshes from St. Augustine northward. From St. Augustine south to Cocoa Beach, the coast fluctuates between the two, depending on the annual weather conditions. Environmental issues Main article : Environment of Florida See also : Environmental issues in Florida The beaches of Key Biscayne in Miami Florida is a low per capita energy user. It is estimated that approximately 4 % of energy in the state is generated through renewable resources. Florida 's energy production is 6 % of the nation 's total energy output, while total production of pollutants is lower, with figures of 6 % for nitrogen oxide, 5 % for carbon dioxide, and 4 % for sulfur dioxide. All potable water resources have been controlled by the state government through five regional water authorities since 1972. Red tide has been an issue on the southwest coast of Florida, as well as other areas. 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. The Florida panther is close to extinction. A record 23 were killed in 2009, mainly by automobile collisions, leaving about 100 individuals in the wild. The Center for Biological Diversity and others have therefore called for a special protected area for the panther to be established. Manatees are also dying at a rate higher than their reproduction. Much of Florida has an elevation of less than 12 feet ( 3.7 m ), including many populated areas. Therefore, it is susceptible to rising sea levels associated with global warming. The Atlantic beaches that are vital to the state 's economy are being washed out to sea due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Miami beach area, close to the continental shelf, is running out of accessible offshore sand reserves. Geology Main article : Geology of Florida People swimming in Ginnie Springs near the town of High Springs, Florida The Florida peninsula is a porous plateau of karst limestone sitting atop bedrock known as the Florida Platform. The largest deposits of potash in the United States are found in Florida. 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 glacial period, lower sea levels and a drier climate revealed a much wider peninsula, largely savanna. The Everglades, an enormously wide, slow - flowing river encompasses the southern tip of the peninsula. Sinkhole damage claims on property in the state exceeded a total of $2 billion from 2006 through 2010. Florida is tied for last place as having the fewest earthquakes of any U.S. state. Earthquakes are rare because Florida is not located near any tectonic plate boundaries. Regions The emerald - green waters of Destin on Florida 's Emerald Coast Directional regions Central Florida North Florida Northwest Florida North Central Florida Northeast Florida South Florida Southwest Florida Coastal Regions Emerald Coast First Coast Forgotten Coast Gold Coast Surf Coast / Fun Coast / Halifax Area Nature Coast Space Coast Suncoast Treasure Coast Metropolitan regions Greater Miami Area / South Florida Tampa Bay Area Greater Orlando / Metro Orlando Greater Jacksonville / Metro Jacksonville Other regions Big Bend Florida Heartland Florida Keys Florida Panhandle Everglades Red Hills / Tallahassee Hills Ten Thousand Islands I - 4 Corridor Demographics Florida 's population density Main article : Demographics of Florida See also : Culture of Florida Population Historical population 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 % 18,801,310 17.6 % Est. 2017 20,984,400 11.6 % Sources : 1910 -- 2010 2016 Estimate The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Florida was 20,271,272 on July 1, 2015, a 7.82 % increase since the 2010 United States Census. The population of Florida in the 2010 census was 18,801,310. Florida was the seventh fastest - growing state in the U.S. in the 12 - month period ending July 1, 2012. In 2010, the center of population of Florida was located between Fort Meade and Frostproof. The center of population has moved less than 5 miles ( 8 km ) to the east and approximately 1 mile ( 1.6 km ) to the north between 1980 and 2010 and has been located in Polk County since the 1960 census. The population exceeded 19.7 million by December 2014, surpassing the population of the state of New York for the first time. Florida contains the highest percentage of people over 65 ( 17 % ). There were 186,102 military retirees living in the state in 2008. About two - thirds of the population was born in another state, the second highest in the U.S. In 2010, undocumented immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7 % of the population. This was the sixth highest percentage of any U.S. state. There were an estimated 675,000 illegal immigrants in the state in 2010. A 2013 Gallup poll indicated that 47 % of the residents agreed that Florida was the best state to live in. Results in other states ranged from a low of 18 % to a high of 77 %. Settlements See also : List of urbanized areas in Florida ( by population ), Florida statistical areas, List of municipalities in Florida, and Florida locations by per capita income The largest metropolitan area in the state as well as the entire southeastern United States is the Miami metropolitan area, with about 6.06 million people. The Tampa Bay Area, with over 3.02 million people, is the second largest ; the Orlando metropolitan area, with over 2.44 million people, is the third ; and the Jacksonville metropolitan area, with over 1.47 million people, is fourth. Florida has 22 Metropolitan Statistical Areas ( MSAs ) defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ). 43 of Florida 's 67 counties are in a MSA. The legal name in Florida for a city, town or village is `` municipality ''. In Florida there is no legal difference between towns, villages and cities. In 2012, 75 % of the population lived within 10 miles ( 16 km ) of the coastline. Largest cities or towns in Florida Source : Rank Name County Pop. Jacksonville Miami Jacksonville Duval 892,062 Tampa Orlando Miami Miami - Dade 463,347 Tampa Hillsborough 385,430 Orlando Orange 280,257 5 St. Petersburg Pinellas 263,255 6 Hialeah Miami - Dade 239,673 7 Tallahassee Leon 191,049 8 Port St. Lucie St. Lucie 189,344 9 Cape Coral Lee 183,365 10 Fort Lauderdale Broward 180,072 Rank Metropolitan Area Population Counties Miami - Fort Lauderdale - West Palm Beach 6,066,387 Miami - Dade, Broward, Palm Beach Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater 3,032,171 Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando Orlando - Kissimmee - Sanford 2,441,257 Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake Jacksonville 1,478,212 Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Baker 5 North Port - Sarasota - Bradenton 788,457 Sarasota, Manatee 6 Cape Coral - Fort Myers 722,336 Lee 7 Lakeland - Winter Haven 666,149 Polk 8 Deltona - Daytona Beach - Ormond Beach 637,674 Volusia, Flagler 9 Palm Bay - Melbourne - Titusville 579,130 Brevard 10 Pensacola - Ferry Pass - Brent 485,684 Escambia, Santa Rosa Rank Combined Statistical Areas Population Counties Miami - Fort Lauderdale - Port St. Lucie 6,723,472 Miami - Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee Orlando - Deltona - Daytona Beach 3,202,927 Orange, Volusia, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Sumter, Flagler Jacksonville - St. Mary 's - Palatka 1,603,497 Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Putnam, Camden, Baker Cape Coral - Fort Myers - Naples 1,087,472 Lee, Collier 5 North Port - Sarasota - Bradenton 1,002,722 Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto 6 Tallahassee - Bainbridge 406,449 Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Decatur, Jefferson 7 Gainesville - Lake City 350,007 Alachua, Columbia, Gilchrist Ancestry Predominant ancestry in Florida in 2010 Florida racial breakdown hide Racial composition 1970 1990 2000 2017 Black or African American alone 15.3 % 13.6 % 14.6 % 16.0 % 16.8 % Asian alone 0.2 % 1.2 % 1.7 % 2.4 % 2.9 % Hispanic or Latino ( of any race ) 6.6 % 12.2 % 16.8 % 22.5 % 24.9 % Native American alone 0.1 % 0.3 % 0.3 % 0.4 % 0.5 % Two or more races -- -- 2.3 % 2.5 % 2.1 % White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 77.9 % 73.2 % 65.4 % 57.9 % 54.9 % White alone 84.2 % 83.1 % 78.0 % 75.0 % 77.6 % Hispanic and Latinos of any race made up 22.5 % of the population in 2010. As of 2011, 57 % of Florida 's population younger than age 1 were minorities ( meaning that they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white ). In 2010, 6.9 % of the population ( 1,269,765 ) considered themselves to be of only American ancestry ( regardless of race or ethnicity ). Many of these were of English or Scotch - Irish descent ; however, their families have lived in the state for so long, that they choose to identify as having `` American '' ancestry or do not know their ancestry. In the 1980 United States census the largest ancestry group reported in Florida was English with 2,232,514 Floridians claiming that they were of English or mostly English American ancestry. Some of their ancestry went back to the original thirteen colonies. As of 2010, those of ( non-Hispanic white ) European ancestry accounted for 57.9 % of Florida 's population. Out of the 57.9 %, the largest groups were 12.0 % German ( 2,212,391 ), 10.7 % Irish ( 1,979,058 ), 8.8 % English ( 1,629,832 ), 6.6 % Italian ( 1,215,242 ), 2.8 % Polish ( 511,229 ), and 2.7 % French ( 504,641 ). White Americans of all European backgrounds are present in all areas of the state. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites were nearly 80 % of Florida 's population. Those of English and Irish ancestry are present in large numbers in all the urban / suburban areas across the state. Some native white Floridians, especially those who have descended from long - time Florida families, may refer to themselves as `` Florida crackers '' ; others see the term as a derogatory one. Like whites in most other states of the southern U.S., they descend mainly from English and Scots - Irish settlers, as well as some other British American settlers. Cuban men playing dominoes in Miami 's Little Havana. In 2010, Cubans made up 34.4 % of Miami 's population and 6.5 % of Florida 's. As of 2010, those of Hispanic or Latino ancestry accounted for 22.5 % ( 4,223,806 ) of Florida 's population. Out of the 22.5 %, the largest groups were 6.5 % ( 1,213,438 ) Cuban, 4.5 % ( 847,550 ) Puerto Rican, 3.3 % ( 629,718 ) Mexican, and 1.6 % ( 300,414 ) Colombian. Florida 's Hispanic population includes large communities of Cuban Americans in Miami and Tampa, Puerto Ricans in Orlando and Tampa, and Mexican / Central American migrant workers. The Hispanic community continues to grow more affluent and mobile. As of 2011, 57.0 % of Florida 's children under the age of 1 belonged to minority groups. Florida has a large and diverse Hispanic population, with Cubans and Puerto Ricans being the largest groups in the state. Nearly 80 % of Cuban Americans live in Florida, especially South Florida where there is a long - standing and affluent Cuban community. Florida has the second largest Puerto Rican population after New York, as well as the fastest - growing in the nation. Puerto Ricans are more widespread throughout the state, though the heaviest concentrations are in the Orlando area of Central Florida. As of 2010, those of African ancestry accounted for 16.0 % of Florida 's population, which includes African Americans. Out of the 16.0 %, 4.0 % ( 741,879 ) were West Indian or Afro - Caribbean American. During the early 1900s, black people made up nearly half of the state 's population. In response to segregation, disfranchisement and agricultural depression, many African Americans migrated from Florida to northern cities in the Great Migration, in waves from 1910 to 1940, and again starting in the later 1940s. They moved for jobs, better education for their children and the chance to vote and participate in society. By 1960 the proportion of African Americans in the state had declined to 18 %. Conversely large numbers of northern whites moved to the state. Today, large concentrations of black residents can be found in northern and central Florida. Aside from blacks descended from African slaves brought to the southern U.S., there are also large numbers of blacks of West Indian, recent African, and Afro - Latino immigrant origins, especially in the Miami / South Florida area. In 2016, Florida had the highest percentage of West Indians in the United States at 4.5 %, with 2.3 % ( 483,874 ) from Haitian ancestry, 1.5 % ( 303,527 ) Jamaican, and 0.2 % ( 31,966 ) Bahamian, with the other West Indian groups making up the rest. As of 2010, those of Asian ancestry accounted for 2.4 % of Florida 's population. Languages See also : Demographics of Florida § Languages, and Miami accent In 1988 English was affirmed as the state 's official language in the Florida Constitution. Spanish is also widely spoken, especially as immigration has continued from Latin America. Twenty percent of the population speak Spanish as their first language. Twenty - seven percent of Florida 's population reports speaking a mother language other than English, and more than 200 first languages other than English are spoken at home in the state. The most common languages spoken in Florida as a first language in 2010 are : 73 % -- English 20 % -- Spanish 2 % -- Haitian Creole Other languages comprise less than 1 % spoken by the state 's population Religion Religion in Florida ( 2014 ) Protestant 46 % None 24 % Catholic 21 % Other Christian 3 % Jewish 3 % Other faith 3 % Florida is mostly Christian, although there is a large irreligious and relatively significant Jewish community. Protestants account for almost half of the population, but the Catholic Church is the largest single denomination in the state mainly due to its large Hispanic population and other groups like Haitians. Protestants are very diverse, although Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals and nondenominational Protestants are the largest groups. There is also a sizable Jewish community in South Florida. This is the largest Jewish population in the southern U.S. and the third - largest in the U.S. behind those of New York and California. In 2010, the three largest denominations in Florida were the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the United Methodist Church. The Pew Research Center survey in 2014 gave the following religious makeup of Florida : Governance Main article : Government of Florida See also : List of Governors of Florida, United States congressional delegations from Florida, and Florida Cabinet Old and New Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee, East view 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 law. 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 Rick Scott. The Florida Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Justices. Florida has 67 counties. Some reference materials may show only 66 because Duval County is consolidated with the City of Jacksonville. There are 379 cities in Florida ( out of 411 ) that report regularly to the Florida Department of Revenue, but there are other incorporated municipalities that do not. The state government 's primary source of revenue is sales tax. Florida does not impose a personal income tax. The primary revenue source for cities and counties is property tax ; unpaid taxes are subject to tax sales which are held ( at the county level ) in May and ( due to the extensive use of online bidding sites ) are highly popular. There were 800 federal corruption convictions from 1988 to 2007, more than any other state. Elections history Further information : Politics of Florida, Elections in Florida, and Political party strength in Florida Registered Voters as of 2018 in Florida Party Number of Voters Percentage Democratic 4,815,369 37.28 % Republican 4,556,401 35.27 % Minor Parties 72,166. 56 % No Party Affiliation 3,474,166 26.89 % Total 12,918,102 100 % From 1952 to 1964, most voters were registered Democrats, but the state voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election except for 1964. The following year, Congress passed and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, providing for oversight of state practices and enforcement of constitutional voting rights for African Americans and other minorities in order to prevent the discrimination and disenfranchisement that had excluded most of them for decades from the political process. From the 1930s through much of the 1960s, Florida was essentially a one - party state dominated by white conservative Democrats, who together with other Democrats of the `` Solid South '', exercised considerable control in Congress. They have gained slightly less federal money from national programs than they have paid in taxes. Since the 1970s, conservative white voters in the state have largely shifted from the Democratic to the Republican Party. Though the majority of registered voters in Florida are Democrats. It continued to support Republican presidential candidates through 2004, except in 1976 and 1996, when the Democratic nominee was from `` the South ''. In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, Barack Obama carried the state as a northern Democrat, attracting high voter turnout especially among the young, Independents, and minority voters, of whom Hispanics comprise an increasingly large proportion. 2008 marked the first time since 1944, when Franklin D. Roosevelt carried the state for the fourth time, that Florida was carried by a Northern Democrat for president. The first post-Reconstruction era Republican elected to Congress from Florida was William C. Cramer in 1954 from Pinellas County on the Gulf Coast, where demographic changes were underway. In this period, African Americans were still disenfranchised by the state 's constitution and discriminatory practices ; in the 19th century they had made up most of the Republican Party. Cramer built a different Republican Party in Florida, attracting local white conservatives and transplants from northern and midwestern states. In 1966 Claude R. Kirk, Jr. was elected as the first post-Reconstruction Republican governor, in an upset election. In 1968 Edward J. Gurney, also a white conservative, was elected as the state 's first post-reconstruction Republican US Senator. In 1970 Democrats took the governorship and the open US Senate seat, and maintained dominance for years. Since the mid-20th century, Florida has been considered a bellwether, voting for 15 successful presidential candidates since 1952. During such period, it has voted for a losing candidate only twice. Presidential elections results Year Republican Democratic 2016 49.02 % 4,615,910 47.81 % 4,501,455 2012 49.13 % 4,163,447 50.01 % 4,237,756 2008 48.22 % 4,045,624 51.03 % 4,282,074 52.10 % 3,964,522 47.09 % 3,583,544 2000 48.85 % 2,912,790 48.84 % 2,912,253 42.32 % 2,244,536 48.02 % 2,546,870 1992 40.89 % 2,173,310 39.00 % 2,072,698 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 In 1998, Democratic voters dominated areas of the state with a high percentage of racial minorities and transplanted white liberals from the northeastern United States, known colloquially as `` snowbirds ''. South Florida and the Miami metropolitan area are dominated by both racial minorities and white liberals. Because of this, the area has consistently voted as one of the most Democratic areas of the state. The Daytona Beach area is similar demographically and the city of Orlando has a large Hispanic population, which has often favored Democrats. Republicans, made up mostly of white conservatives, have dominated throughout much of the rest of Florida, particularly in the more rural and suburban areas. This is characteristic of its voter base throughout the Deep South. The fast - growing I - 4 corridor area, which runs through Central Florida and connects the cities of Daytona Beach, Orlando, and Tampa / St. Petersburg, has had a fairly even breakdown of Republican and Democratic voters. The area is often seen as a merging point of the conservative northern portion of the state and the liberal southern portion, making it the biggest swing area in the state. Since the late 20th century, the voting results in this area, containing 40 % of Florida voters, has often determined who will win the state of Florida in presidential elections. The Democratic Party has maintained an edge in voter registration, both statewide and in 40 of the 67 counties, including Miami - Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, the state 's three most populous. Elections of 2000 to present Main article : United States presidential election in Florida, 2000 Treemap of the popular vote by county, 2016 presidential election. In 2000, George W. Bush won the U.S. Presidential election by a margin of 271 -- 266 in the Electoral College. Of the 271 electoral votes for Bush, 25 were cast by electors from Florida. The Florida results were contested and a recount was ordered by the court, with the results settled in a court decision. Reapportionment following the 2010 United States Census gave the state two more seats in the House of Representatives. The legislature 's redistricting, announced in 2012, was quickly challenged in court, on the grounds that it had unfairly benefited Republican interests. In 2015, the Florida Supreme Court ruled on appeal that the congressional districts had to be redrawn because of the legislature 's violation of the Fair District Amendments to the state constitution passed in 2010 ; it accepted a new map in early December 2015. The political make - up of congressional and legislative districts has enabled Republicans to control the governorship and most statewide elective offices, and 17 of the state 's 27 seats in the 2012 House of Representatives. Florida has been listed as a swing state in Presidential elections since 1952, voting for the losing candidate only twice in that period of time. In the closely contested 2000 election, the state played a pivotal role. Out of more than 5.8 million votes for the two main contenders Bush and Al Gore, around 500 votes separated the two candidates for the all - decisive Florida electoral votes that landed Bush the election win. Florida 's felony disenfranchisement law is more severe than most European nations or other American states. A 2002 study in the American Sociological Review concluded that `` if the state 's 827,000 disenfranchised felons had voted at the same rate as other Floridians, Democratic candidate Al Gore would have won Florida -- and the presidency -- by more than 80,000 votes. '' In 2008, delegates of both the Republican Florida primary election and Democratic Florida primary election were stripped of half of their votes when the conventions met in August due to violation of both parties ' national rules. In the 2010 elections, Republicans solidified their dominance statewide, by winning the governor 's mansion, and maintaining firm majorities in both houses of the state legislature. They won four previously Democratic - held seats to create a 19 -- 6 Republican - majority delegation representing Florida in the federal House of Representatives. In 2010, more than 63 % of state voters approved the initiated Amendments 5 and 6 to the state constitution, to ensure more fairness in districting. These have become known as the Fair District Amendments. As a result of the 2010 United States Census, Florida gained two House of Representative seats in 2012. The legislature issued revised congressional districts in 2012, which were immediately challenged in court by supporters of the above amendments. The court ruled in 2014, after lengthy testimony, that at least two districts had to be redrawn because of gerrymandering. After this was appealed, in July 2015 the Florida Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers had followed an illegal and unconstitutional process overly influenced by party operatives, and ruled that at least eight districts had to be redrawn. On December 2, 2015, a 5 -- 2 majority of the Court accepted a new map of congressional districts, some of which was drawn by challengers. Their ruling affirmed the map previously approved by Leon County Judge Terry Lewis, who had overseen the original trial. It particularly makes changes in South Florida. There are likely to be additional challenges to the map and districts. According to The Sentencing Project, the effect of Florida 's felony disenfranchisement law is such that in 2014, `` ( m ) ore than one in ten Floridians -- and nearly one in four African - American Floridians -- are ( were ) shut out of the polls because of felony convictions '', although they had completed sentences and parole / probation requirements. Statutes See also : Law of Florida Florida Supreme Court Building The state repealed mandatory auto inspection in 1981. In 1972, the state made personal injury protection auto insurance mandatory for drivers, becoming the second in the nation to enact a no - fault insurance law. The ease of receiving payments under this law is seen as precipitating a major increase in insurance fraud. Auto insurance fraud was the highest in the nation in 2011, estimated at close to $1 billion. Fraud is particularly centered in the Miami - Dade metropolitan and Tampa areas. Law enforcement Further information : List of law enforcement agencies in Florida and Crime in Florida Florida was ranked the fifth-most dangerous state in 2009. Ranking was based on the record of serious felonies committed in 2008. The state was the sixth highest scammed state in 2010. It ranked first in mortgage fraud in 2009. In 2009, 44 % of highway fatalities involved alcohol. Florida is one of seven states that prohibit the open carry of handguns. This law was passed in 1987. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Florida has the highest per capita rate of both reported fraud and other types of complaints including identity theft complaints. Economy See also : List of U.S. states by GDP Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia from the Kennedy Space Center Map of Florida showing average income by county. The Brickell Financial District in Miami contains the largest concentration of international banks in the United States. In the twentieth century, tourism, industry, construction, international banking, biomedical and life sciences, healthcare research, simulation training, aerospace and defense, and commercial space travel have contributed to the state 's economic development. The Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) of Florida in 2016 was $926 billion. Its GDP is the fourth largest economy in the United States. In 2010, it became the fourth largest exporter of trade goods. The major contributors to the state 's gross output in 2007 were general services, financial services, trade, transportation and public utilities, manufacturing and construction respectively. In 2010 -- 11, the state budget was $70.5 billion, having reached a high of $73.8 billion in 2006 -- 07. Chief Executive Magazine named Florida the third `` Best State for Business '' in 2011. The economy is driven almost entirely by its nineteen metropolitan areas. In 2004, they had a combined total of 95.7 % of the state 's domestic product. Personal income See also : Florida locations by per capita income In 2011, Florida 's per capita personal income was $39,563, ranking 27th in the nation. In February 2011, the state 's unemployment rate was 11.5 %. Florida is one of seven states that do not impose a personal income tax. Florida 's constitution establishes a state minimum wage that is adjusted for inflation annually. As of January 1, 2017, Florida 's minimum wage was $5.08 for tipped positions, and $8.10 for non-tipped positions, which was higher than the federal rate of $7.25. Florida has 4 cities in the top 25 cities in the U.S. with the most credit card debt. The state also had the second - highest credit card delinquency rate, with 1.45 % of cardholders in the state more than 90 days delinquent on one or more credit cards. There were 2.4 million Floridians living in poverty in 2008. 18.4 % of children 18 and younger were living in poverty. Miami is the sixth poorest big city in the United States. In 2010, over 2.5 million Floridians were on food stamps, up from 1.2 million in 2007. To qualify, Floridians must make less than 133 % of the federal poverty level, which would be under $29,000 for a family of four. Real estate In the early 20th century, 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. Due to the huge payouts by the insurance industry as a result of the hurricane claims of 2004, homeowners insurance has risen 40 % to 60 % and deductibles have risen. At the end of the third quarter in 2008, Florida had the highest mortgage delinquency rate in the U.S., with 7.8 % of mortgages delinquent at least 60 days. A 2009 list of national housing markets that were hard hit in the real estate crash included a disproportionate number in Florida. The early 21st - century building boom left Florida with 300,000 vacant homes in 2009, according to state figures. In 2009, the US Census Bureau estimated that Floridians spent an average 49.1 % of personal income on housing - related costs, the third highest percentage in the U.S. In the third quarter of 2009, there were 278,189 delinquent loans, 80,327 foreclosures. Sales of existing homes for February 2010 was 11,890, up 21 % from the same month in 2009. Only two metropolitan areas showed a decrease in homes sold : Panama City and Brevard County. The average sales price for an existing house was $131,000, 7 % decrease from the prior year. Tourism Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida near Orlando. PortMiami is the world 's largest cruise ship port. If you ca n't find something to do in Florida, you 're just boring... -- Guy Fieri, celebrity chef, 2017 Tourism makes up one of the largest sectors of the state economy, with nearly 1.4 million people employed in the tourism industry in 2016 ( a record for the state, surpassing the 1.2 million employment from 2015 ). In 2015, Florida broke the 100 - million visitor mark for the first time in state history by hosting a record 105 million visitors and broke that record in 2016 with 112.8 million tourists ; Florida has set tourism records for six consecutive years. Many beach towns are popular tourist destinations, particularly during winter and spring break, although activist David Hogg has called for a statewide boycott in 2018 unless state legislators pass substantive gun reform. Twenty - three million tourists visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $22 billion. The public has a right to beach access under the public trust doctrine, but some areas have access effectively blocked by private owners for a long distance. Amusement parks, especially in the Greater Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited vacation resort in the world with over 50 million annual visitors, consisting of four theme parks, 27 themed resort hotels, 9 non -- Disney hotels, two water parks, four golf courses and other recreational venues. Other major theme parks in the area include Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa. Agriculture and fishing Florida oranges Agriculture is the second largest industry in the state. Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the United States. In 2006, 67 % of all citrus, 74 % of oranges, 58 % of tangerines, and 54 % of grapefruit were grown in Florida. About 95 % of commercial orange production in the state is destined for processing ( mostly as orange juice, the official state beverage ). Citrus canker continues to be an issue of concern. From 1997 to 2013, the growing of citrus trees has declined 25 %, from 600,000 acres ( 240,000 ha ) to 450,000 acres ( 180,000 ha ). Citrus greening disease is incurable. A study states that it has caused the loss of $4.5 billion between 2006 and 2012. As of 2014, it was the major agricultural concern. Other products include sugarcane, strawberries, tomatoes and celery. The state is the largest producer of sweet corn and green beans for the U.S. 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. In 2009, fishing was a $6 billion industry, employing 60,000 jobs for sports and commercial purposes. Industry Florida is the leading state for sales of powerboats. Boats sales totaled $1.96 billion in 2013. Mining Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone Valley, is the state 's third - largest industry. The state produces about 75 % of the phosphate required by farmers in the United States and 25 % of the world supply, with about 95 % used for agriculture ( 90 % for fertilizer and 5 % for livestock feed supplements ) and 5 % used for other products. After the watershed events of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the state of Florida began investing in economic development through the Office of Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development. Governor Jeb Bush realized that watershed events such as Andrew negatively impacted Florida 's backbone industry of tourism severely. The office was directed to target Medical / Bio-Sciences among others. Three years later, The Scripps Research Institute ( TSRI ) announced it had chosen Florida for its newest expansion. In 2003, TSRI announced plans to establish a major science center in Palm Beach, a 364,000 square feet ( 33,800 m ) facility on 100 acres ( 40 ha ), which TSRI planned to occupy in 2006. Government One of the Cape Canaveral launch sites during the launch of SpaceX CRS - 13 in 2017 Since the development of the federal NASA Merritt Island launch sites on Cape Canaveral ( most notably Kennedy Space Center ) in 1962, Florida has developed a sizable aerospace industry. Another major economic engine in Florida is the United States military. There are 24 military bases in the state, housing three Unified Combatant Commands ; United States Central Command in Tampa, United States Southern Command in Doral, and United States Special Operations Command in Tampa. Some 109,390 U.S. military personnel stationed in Florida, contributing, directly and indirectly, $52 billion a year to the state 's economy. In 2009, there were 89,706 federal workers employed within the state. Tens of thousands more employees work for contractors who have federal contracts, including those with the military. In 2012, government of all levels was a top employer in all counties in the state, because this classification includes public school teachers and other school staff. School boards employ nearly 1 of every 30 workers in the state. The federal military was the top employer in three counties. Seaports Port Tampa Bay is the largest port in Florida Florida has many seaports that serve container ships, tank ships, and cruise lines. Major ports in Florida include Port Tampa Bay in Tampa, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Port of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, PortMiami in Miami, Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Port Manatee in Manatee County, and Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach. The world 's top three busiest cruise ports are found in Florida with PortMiami as the busiest and Port Canaveral and Port Everglades as the second and third busiest. Port Tampa Bay meanwhile is the largest in the state, having the most tonnage. As of 2013, Port Tampa Bay ranks 16th in the United States by tonnage in domestic trade, 32nd in foreign trade, and 22nd in total trade. It is the largest, most diversified port in Florida, has an economic impact of more than $15.1 billion, and supports over 80,000 jobs. Health The Miami Civic Center has the second - largest concentration of medical and research facilities in the United States. There were 2.7 million Medicaid patients in Florida in 2009. The governor has proposed adding $2.6 billion to care for the expected 300,000 additional patients in 2011. The cost of caring for 2.3 million clients in 2010 was $18.8 billion. This is nearly 30 % of Florida 's budget. Medicaid paid for 60 % of all births in Florida in 2009. The state has a program for those not covered by Medicaid. In 2013, Florida refused to participate in providing coverage for the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act, popularly called Obamacare. The Florida legislature also refused to accept additional Federal funding for Medicaid, although this would have helped its constituents at no cost to the state. As a result, Florida is second only to Texas in the percentage of its citizens without health insurance. Architecture See also : Architecture of Jacksonville and Architecture of Miami Miami Art Deco District, built during the 1920s -- 1930s. Florida has the largest collection of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne buildings in both the United States and the entire world, most of which are located in the Miami metropolitan area, especially Miami Beach 's Art Deco District, constructed as the city was becoming a resort destination. A unique architectural design found only in Florida is the post-World War II Miami Modern, which can be seen in areas such as Miami 's MiMo Historic District. Being of early importance as a regional center of banking and finance, the architecture of Jacksonville displays a wide variety of styles and design principles. Many of state 's earliest skyscrapers were constructed in Jacksonville, dating as far back as 1902, and last holding a state height record from 1974 to 1981. The city is endowed with one of the largest collections of Prairie School buildings outside of the Midwest. Jacksonville is also noteworthy for its collection of Mid-Century modern architecture. Some sections of the state feature architectural styles including Spanish revival, Florida vernacular, and Mediterranean Revival. A notable collection of these styles can be found in St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European - established settlement within the borders of the United States. Media This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( March 2017 ) See also : Category : Florida media Education Main article : Education in Florida Primary and secondary Education Florida 's primary and secondary school systems are administered by the Florida Department of Education. School districts are organized within county boundaries. Each school district has an elected Board of Education that sets policy, budget, goals, and approves expenditures. Management is the responsibility of a Superintendent of schools. The Florida Department of Education is required by law to train educators in teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages ( ESOL ). Universities Florida State University Tallahassee University of Florida Gainesville The State University System of Florida was founded in 1905, and is governed by the Florida Board of Governors. During the 2010 academic year, 312,216 students attended one of these twelve universities. The Florida College System comprises 28 public community and state colleges. In 2011 -- 12, enrollment consisted of more than 875,000 students. As of 2017 the University of Central Florida, with over 64,000 students, is the largest university by enrollment in the United States. Florida 's first private university, Stetson University, was founded in 1883. The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida is an association of 28 private, educational institutions in the state. This Association reported that their member institutions served over 121,000 students in the fall of 2006. In 2016, Florida charged the second lowest tuition in the nation for four years, $26,000 for in - state students, to $86,000 for out - of - state students. This compares with an average of $34,800 nationally for in - state students. Transportation Main article : Transportation in Florida Florida 's Turnpike The Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay is a part of Florida 's interstate system. Highways Further information : State Roads in Florida Florida 's highway system contains 1,473 mi ( 2,371 km ) of interstate highway, and 9,934 mi ( 15,987 km ) of non-interstate highway, such as state highways and U.S. Highways. Florida 's interstates, state highways, and U.S. Highways are maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation. In 2011, there were about 9,000 retail gas stations in the state. Floridians consumed 21 million gallons of gasoline daily in 2011, ranking it third in national use behind California and Texas. Motorists have the 45th lowest rate of car insurance in the U.S. 24 % are uninsured. Drivers between 15 and 19 years of age averaged 364 car crashes a year per ten thousand licensed Florida drivers in 2010. Drivers 70 and older averaged 95 per 10,000 during the same time frame. A spokesperson for the non-profit Insurance Institute said that `` Older drivers are more of a threat to themselves. '' Before 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 Interchange 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. Florida 's primary interstate routes include : I ‐ 4, which spans 133 miles, bisects the state, connecting Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Daytona Beach, connecting with I - 75 in Tampa and I - 95 in Daytona Beach. I - 10, which spans 362 miles in Florida, traverses the panhandle, connecting Pensacola, Tallahassee, Lake City, and Jacksonville, with interchanges with I - 75 in Lake City and I - 95 in Jacksonville. It is the southernmost interstate in the United States terminating in Santa Monica with a total length of 2460 miles. I - 75, which spans 470 miles in Florida, enters the state near Lake City ( 45 miles ( 72 km ) 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 interchanges with I - 10 in Lake City and I - 4 in Tampa. It is the second longest north south interstate with a total length of 1786 miles and terminates at the Canadian border at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. I - 95, which spans 382 miles in Florida, enters the state near Jacksonville and continues along the Atlantic Coast through Daytona Beach, the Melbourne / Titusville, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, before terminating in Downtown Miami, with interchanges with I - 10 in Jacksonville and I - 4 in Daytona Beach. There are four auxiliary routes associated with the interstate. It is the longest north south interstate with a total length of 1924 miles and terminates at the Canadian border northeast of Houlton, Maine. Airports See also : List of airports in Florida and Aviation in Florida The MIA Mover at Miami International Airport, which is the world 's 10th - busiest cargo airport, and second busiest airport for international passengers in the U.S. Florida has 131 public airports. Florida 's seven large hub and medium hub airports, as classified by the FAA, are the following : City served Code Airport name FAA Category Enplanements Miami MIA Miami International Airport Large Hub 17,017,654 Orlando MCO Orlando International Airport Large Hub 17,017,491 Fort Lauderdale FLL Fort Lauderdale -- Hollywood Int'l Airport Large Hub 10,829,810 Tampa TPA Tampa International Airport Large Hub 8,137,222 Fort Myers RSW Southwest Florida International Airport Medium Hub 3,714,157 West Palm Beach PBI Palm Beach International Airport Medium Hub 2,958,416 Jacksonville JAX Jacksonville International Airport Medium Hub 2,755,719 Intercity rail Brightline train at Fort Lauderdale station Brightline is a diesel -- electric higher - speed rail system being developed by All Aboard Florida, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries ( FECI ). Currently service is only from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach. The first phase is planned to connect Miami to West Palm Beach through express intercity service, with a stop at Fort Lauderdale. The complete project is intended to connect Miami and South Florida to Orlando, which requires a new line westward from the coast. It partially opened for passenger service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach on January 13, 2018, as the only privately owned and operated passenger railroad in the United States. With a top speed of 125 mph ( 201 km / h ), Brightline will eventually be tied with Amtrak 's Northeast Regional and the MARC 's Penn Line commuter rail as the second fastest passenger train in North America, after Amtrak 's Acela Express. Florida is also served by Amtrak, operating numerous lines throughout, connecting the state 's largest cities to points north in the United States and Canada. The busiest Amtrak train stations in Florida in 2011 were : Sanford ( 259,944 ), Orlando ( 179,142 ), Tampa Union Station ( 140,785 ), Miami ( 94,556 ), and Jacksonville ( 74,733 ). Sanford, in Greater Orlando, is the southern terminus of the Auto Train, which originates at Lorton, Virginia, south of Washington, D.C. Until 2005, Orlando was 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. Miami Central Station, the city 's rapid transit, commuter rail, intercity rail, and bus hub, is under construction. Public transit The Miami Metrorail is the state 's only rapid transit system. About 15 % of Miamians use public transit daily. Further information : Transportation in South Florida Miami : Miami 's public transportation is served by Miami - Dade Transit that runs Metrorail, a heavy rail rapid transit system, Metromover, a people mover train system in Downtown Miami, and Metrobus, Miami 's bus system. Metrorail runs throughout Miami - Dade County and has two lines and 23 stations connecting to Downtown Miami 's Metromover and Tri-Rail. Metromover has three lines and 21 stations throughout Downtown Miami. Outside of Miami - Dade County, public transit in the Miami metropolitan area is served by Broward County Transit and Palm Tran ; intercounty commuter rail service is provided by Tri-Rail, with 18 stations including the region 's three international airports. Orlando : Orlando is served by the SunRail commuter train, which runs on a 32 miles ( 51 km ) ( 61 miles ( 98 km ) when complete ) line including four stops in downtown. Lynx bus serves the greater Orlando area in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties. Tampa : Tampa and its surrounding area use the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority system ( `` HART '' ). In addition, downtown Tampa has continuous trolley services in the form of a heritage trolley powered by Tampa Electric Company. Pinellas County and St. Petersburg provide similar services through the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority or `` PSTA ''. The beaches of Pinellas County also have a continuous trolley bus. Downtown St. Petersburg has a trolley system. Jacksonville : Jacksonville is served by the Jacksonville Skyway, an automated people mover monorail connecting the Florida State College downtown campus, the Northbank central business district, Convention Center, and Southbank locations. The system includes 8 stops connected by two lines. JTA bus has 180 vehicles with 56 lines. Largest public transit systems in Florida ( 2012 ) Rank City Weekday passenger ridership Population served % of population on transit Modes of transit Miami 367,000 2,554,776 14.4 % Tri-Rail, Metrorail, Metromover & Metrobus Fort Lauderdale 147,718 1,748,066 8.5 % Tri-Rail ( commuter rail ) & BCT bus Orlando 97,000 2,134,411 4.4 % Lynx bus & Sunrail Gainesville 50,500 125,326 40.3 % RTS bus 5 Tampa 50,400 1,229,226 4.1 % HART bus & TECO Line Streetcar 6 West Palm Beach 45,100 1,320,134 3.4 % Tri-Rail ( commuter rail ) & Palm Tran ( bus ) 7 St. Petersburg 42,500 916,542 4.6 % PSTA bus 8 Jacksonville 41,500 821,784 5.0 % JTA bus & Skyway ( people mover ) 9 Tallahassee 22,400 181,376 12.4 % StarMetro bus Sports Main article : Sports in Florida Daytona International Speedway is home to various auto racing events American Airlines Arena in Miami Marlins Park in Little Havana Florida has three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams, two NHL teams, and one MLS team. Florida gained its first permanent major - league professional sports team in 1966 when the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins. The state of Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991. About half of all Major League Baseball teams conduct spring training in the state, with teams informally organized into the `` Grapefruit League ''. Throughout MLB history, other teams have held spring training in Florida. NASCAR ( headquartered in Daytona Beach ) begins all three of its major auto racing series in Florida at Daytona International Speedway in February, featuring the Daytona 500, and ends all three Series in November at Homestead - Miami Speedway. Daytona also has the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR race weekend around Independence Day in July. The 24 Hours of Daytona is one of the world 's most prestigious endurance auto races. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and Grand Prix of Miami have held IndyCar races as well. Florida is a major golf hub. Florida has over 1,300 golf courses, more than any other state in the US. The PGA of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, the PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, and the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach. The Players Championship, WGC - Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Honda Classic and Valspar Championship are PGA Tour rounds. The Miami Masters is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier tennis event, whereas the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships is an ATP World Tour 250 event. Minor league baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer and indoor football teams are based in Florida. Three of the Arena Football League 's teams are in Florida. Florida 's universities have a number of collegiate sport programs, especially the Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Florida Gators of the Southeastern Conference. Florida major league professional sports teams Team League Venue Location Championships Miami Dolphins National Football League Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens 2 ( 1972, 1973 ) Miami Heat National Basketball Association American Airlines Arena Miami 3 ( 2006, 2012, 2013 ) Miami Marlins Major League Baseball Marlins Park Miami 2 ( 1997, 2003 ) Florida Panthers National Hockey League BB&T Center Sunrise 0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Football League Raymond James Stadium Tampa 1 ( 2003 ) Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball Tropicana Field St. Petersburg 0 Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League Amalie Arena Tampa 1 ( 2004 ) Orlando Magic National Basketball Association Amway Center Orlando 0 Orlando City SC Major League Soccer Orlando City Stadium Orlando 0 Jacksonville Jaguars National Football League EverBank Field Jacksonville 0 Sister states Sister jurisdiction Country Year Languedoc - Roussillon France Taiwan Province Taiwan, R.O.C. 1992 Wakayama Prefecture Japan 1995 Western Cape South Africa 1995 Nueva Esparta Venezuela 1999 Kyonggi South Korea 2000 See also Florida portal Outline of Florida References Jump up ^ http://www.n-state.com, NSTATE, LLC :. `` Florida State Motto In God We Trust ''. www.netstate.com. 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Michael Francis, PhD, Luisa de Abrego : Marriage, Bigamy, and the Spanish Inquisition, University of South Florida Jump up ^ Gene Allen Smith, Texas Christian University, Sanctuary in the Spanish Empire : An African American officer earns freedom in Florida, National Park Service Jump up ^ Pope, Sarah Dillard. `` Aboard the Underground Railroad -- Fort Mose Site ''. www.nps.gov. Jump up ^ `` Fort Mose Historical Society ''. Retrieved July 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Florida Center for Instructional Technology. `` Floripedia : Florida : As a British Colony ''. Fcit.usf.edu. Retrieved October 2, 2009. Jump up ^ Wood, Wayne ( 1992 ). Jacksonville 's Architectural Heritage. University Press of Florida. p. 22. ISBN 0 - 8130 - 0953 - 7. Jump up ^ Beach, William Wallace ( 1877 ). The Indian Miscellany. J. Munsel. p. 125. Jump up ^ Wells, Judy ( March 2, 2000 ). `` City had humble beginnings on the banks of the St. Johns ''. The Florida Times - Union. Retrieved July 2, 2011. 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Southern Discomfort : Women 's Activism in Tampa, Florida, 1880s - 1920s. University of Illinois Press. p. 22. ISBN 978 - 0 - 252 - 02682 - 9. Jump up ^ Historical Census Browser, 1900 Federal Census, University of Virginia ( 1 ). Retrieved March 15, 2008. Jump up ^ Rogers, Maxine D. ; Rivers, Larry E. ; Colburn, David R. ; Dye, R. Tom & Rogers, William W. ( December 1993 ), `` Documented History of the Incident Which Occurred at Rosewood, Florida in January 1923 '' Archived May 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine., p. 5. Retrieved April 9, 2011. Jump up ^ Federal Writers ' Project ( 1939 ), Florida. A Guide to the Southernmost State, New York : Oxford University Press, p. 7 access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Freedom Tower -- - American Latino Heritage : A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary ''. www.nps.gov. Jump up ^ `` A Great Migration From Puerto Rico Is Set to Transform Orlando ''. 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Yax. `` Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States ''. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Jump up ^ Population of Florida : Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts Jump up ^ Center for New Media and Promotions ( C2PO ). `` 2010 Census Data ''. Jump up ^ `` U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts : Florida ''. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Jump up ^ `` Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy : 2010 '' Archived May 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine... 2010 Census Redistricting Data ( Public Law 94 - 171 ) Summary File. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 14, 2011. Jump up ^ Exner, Rich. `` Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio : Statistical Snapshot ''. cleveland.com. Advance Ohio. 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US Census Bureau. p. 14. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Historical Census Browser : 1960 US Census ''. University of Virginia, Geospatial and Statistical Data Center. University of Virginia Library. 2004. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Grid View : Table B04006 - Census Reporter ''. censusreporter.org. ^ Jump up to : `` Florida ''. Modern Language Association. Retrieved August 11, 2013. Jump up ^ MacDonald, Victoria M. ( April 2004 ). `` The Status of English Language Learners in Florida : Trends and Prospects '' ( PDF ). Education Policy Research Unit, Arizona State University. Retrieved May 24, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Religious Landscape Study ''. May 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jewish Population of the United States, by State ( 2011 ) ''. Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved September 13, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Association of Religion Data Archives State Membership Report ''. www.thearda.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013. Jump up ^ Pew Research Center, `` Religious Landscape Study : Florida '' Jump up ^ `` Editorial : Culture of corruption ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. January 7, 2011. p. 1A. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Jump up ^ https://files.taxfoundation.org/legacy/docs/ftsbs-timeseries-20071016-.pdf Jump up ^ `` Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State ''. October 24, 2016. Jump up ^ Saxon, Wolfgang ( October 27, 2003 ). `` William C. Cramer, 81, a Leader Of G.O.P. Resurgence in South ''. The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Claude Roy Kirk, Jr ''. Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2008. Jump up ^ Thomas, Jr, Robert McG ( May 23, 1996 ). `` E.J. Gurney, 82, Senator Who Backed Nixon ''. The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Navarro, Mireya ( September 21, 1998 ). `` Florida 's Split : Will It Play in the Panhandle ? ''. The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2010. Jump up ^ Lengell, Sean. `` As I - 4 corridor goes, so goes Florida ''. The Washington Times. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Voter Registration by Party Affiliation and County ''. Florida Department of State. January 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` U.S. Electoral College ''. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Florida Certificate of Vote ''. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Leary, Alex : `` Florida gains two U.S. House seats in Census '' Archived December 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine., St. Petersburg Times, December 21, 2010 Jump up ^ Pear, Robert. `` Elections 2012, State Results ''. New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Florida ''. 270towin.com. January 2, 2010. Jump up ^ See Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 ( 2000 ) Jump up ^ See also Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board, 531 U.S. 70 ( 2000 ). Jump up ^ Fessenden, Ford ; Broder, John M. ( November 12, 2001 ). `` Study of Disputed Florida Ballots Finds Justices Did Not Cast the Deciding Vote ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ Cf. Fla. Stat. § 103.011 ( web version ) ( `` Votes cast for the actual candidates for President and Vice President shall be counted as votes cast for the presidential electors supporting such candidates. The Department of State shall certify as elected the presidential electors of the candidates for President and Vice President who receive the highest number of votes. '' ) Jump up ^ Matt Ford, `` Restoring Voting Rights for Felons in Maryland '', The Atlantic, February 9, 2016, accessed March 23, 2016 Jump up ^ Mary Ellen Klas, `` Florida Supreme Court approves congressional map drawn by challengers '', Tampa Bay Times, December 2, 2015, accessed December 11, 2016 Jump up ^ Brent Staples, `` Florida Leads the Pack -- in Felon Disenfranchisement '', New York Times, November 7, 2014, accessed March 23, 2016 Jump up ^ `` New laws include auto inspection repeal ''. Ocala Star - Banner. September 27, 1981. Jump up ^ `` Personal Injury Protection ( PIP ) '' ( PDF ). The Florida Senate, Committee on Banking and Insurance. August 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Corruption at Miami - Dade auto accident clinics creates huge financial burden on drivers ''. United Auto Courts Report. United Auto Insurance Co. January 15, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012. Jump up ^ Deslatte, Aaron ( January 26, 2012 ). `` Scott says PIP program ' has to be fixed ' ''. Orlando Sentinel. Jump up ^ Mitchell, Tia ( January 25, 2012 ). `` Scott - backed bill to combat fraud advances in House ''. Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Jump up ^ `` House version of PIP reform gets Scott endorsement ''. Tampa Bay Times. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Jump up ^ `` 20 Most Dangerous States for 2009 ''. Retrieved March 23, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Do n't get scammed ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. January 22, 2011. p. 13A. Retrieved March 17, 2011. Jump up ^ Basu, Kaustuv ( February 7, 2010 ). `` Officials cite safer cars, seat belts ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 1A. Jump up ^ Basu, Kaustuv ( January 7, 2011 ). `` Change would relax handgun law ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved March 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2012 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book '' ( PDF ). Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved October 13, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Brickell Neighborhood Guide ''. Nestseekers.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Brickell Real Estate -- Millionaires Row ''. Miamisignaturehomes.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Total Gross Domestic Product for Florida ''. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved June 10, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Gross Domestic Product by state Table 8 : Gross Domestic Product by State in Current Dollars, 2003 -- 2006 '' ( PDF ). Bureau of Economic Analysis, United States Department of Commerce. July 2007. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2008. Jump up ^ Szakonyi, Mark ( March 7, 2011 ). `` Florida is No. 4 in US exports ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 14A. Jump up ^ Flemming, Paul ( March 6, 2011 ). `` Budget battle set to begin ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved March 21, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Site Selection Rankings ''. Greyhill Advisors. Retrieved October 18, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Role of Metro Areas In The US Economy '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on December 16, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` STATE PERSONAL INCOME 2011 '' ( PDF ). Bureau of Economic Analysis, United States Department of Commerce. March 28, 2012. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012. Jump up ^ Bls.gov ; Local Area Unemployment Statistics Jump up ^ `` Florida 's Minimum Wage Rates ''. U.S. Department of Labor. October 15, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2012. Jump up ^ Ellis, Blake ( March 4, 2011 ). `` Cities with the most credit card debt ''. CNN. ^ Jump up to : `` State scores well in credit card, mortgage payment delinquency ''. The Burlington Free Press. December 3, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2008. Jump up ^ Flemming, Paul ( November 29, 2009 ). `` Poverty estimates pain sad picture ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 8B. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Jump up ^ Bill Glauber and Ben Poston ( September 28, 2010 ). `` Milwaukee now fourth poorest city in nation ''. JSOnline. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Hafenbrack, Josh ( March 9, 2010 ). `` 2.5 million on Fla. food stamps ''. South Florida Sun - Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Orr, Deborah ( January 7, 2009 ). `` America 's 25 Weakest Housing Markets ''. Forbes. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Our views : Playing with fire ''. Florida Today. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2009. Jump up ^ McCaffrey, Scott ( October 15, 2009 ). `` Census Bureau : 1 in 3 Virginians Pays Plenty for Housing ''. Arlington Sun Gazette. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2009. Jump up ^ Enrique, Eric ( February 27, 2010 ). `` No to noncourt foreclosures ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 13A. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Jump up ^ Price, Wayne T. ( March 24, 2010 ). `` Area home sales down ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 6C. Retrieved March 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Interview : Guy Fieri talks new projects, criticism and the Triple D effect at Disney Springs in Orlando ''. Tampa Bay Times. February 13, 2017. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` GOV. SCOTT : FLORIDA SETS ANOTHER TOURISM RECORD ''. ^ Jump up to : `` What They Are Saying... Florida Leaders Celebrate Record 105 Million Tourists in 2015 ''. Retrieved April 20, 2016. Jump up ^ Day, Ashley ( March 6, 2016 ). `` Florida shines brightly in spring ''. USA Today / Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 3U. Retrieved March 6, 2016. Jump up ^ Jordan McPherson, February 24, 2018, Miami Herald, Stoneman Douglas shooting survivor to tourists : Boycott Florida unless gun legislation is passed, Retrieved February 26, 2018, ``... DO NOT come to Florida for spring break unless gun legislation is passed, '' Hogg wrote in a post on Twitter... '' Jump up ^ Waymer, Jim ( February 15, 2010 ). `` Beaches get pumped up ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 13A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Laying out an `` unwelcome mat '' to public beach access '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 20, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ 10 Most Popular Theme Parks in the World. Retrieved May 15, 2015 Jump up ^ `` Commodity Profile : Citrus '' ( PDF ). Agricultural Issues Center, University of California. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on February 22, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2007. Jump up ^ Doering, Christopher ( February 5, 2014 ). `` Nelson lauds effect for state, Rubio opposes wide reach ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved February 5, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Crop Profile for Celery in Florida ''. NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management, North Carolina State University. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Corn, Green Bean Prices Rise After Florida Freezes ''. Calorielab. January 1, 2011. Jump up ^ Price, Wayne T. ( February 23, 2010 ). `` Locals to protest fish regulation ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 8C. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Jump up ^ Price, Wayne T. ( February 10, 2015 ). `` Sea Ray Boats to resume operations ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 1A. Retrieved February 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` About Phosphate ''. The Mosaic Company. Archived from the original on September 23, 2007. Retrieved November 17, 2007. Jump up ^ `` TSRI Plans to Open Major Science Center in Palm Beach County, Florida ''. News & Views. The Scripps Research Institute. October 2003. Retrieved May 14, 2012. Jump up ^ `` State - by - State Listing of Major U.S. Military Bases -- Florida ''. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2009. Jump up ^ Ash, Jim ( April 15, 2009 ). `` Military - friendly bill cruise ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 9B. Jump up ^ Waymer, Jim ( April 7, 2011 ). `` Shutdown spares essential services ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Study : Government a top employer in Florida ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. May 16, 2012. p. 12B. Jump up ^ Forgione, Mary. `` World 's busiest cruise ports are in Florida ''. latimes.com. Jump up ^ `` Top 50 Water Ports by Tonnage - Bureau of Transportation Statistics ''. www.bts.gov. Jump up ^ `` Port Tampa Bay ''. Port Tampa Bay. Jump up ^ miamiherald.com ( accessed February 20, 2012 ) -- dead link : miamiherald.com ( archived January 18, 2012 ) Jump up ^ Hobson, Will ( January 16, 2010 ). `` County Medicaid tab rises, could get worse ''. The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Jump up ^ Ryan, MacKenzie ( December 26, 2010 ). `` Qualifying for care a minefield '' ( PDF ). Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 3A. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on December 5, 2010. Jump up ^ Marshal, James ( December 26, 2010 ). `` Sunday debate : No : Longtime official lost touch with voters ''. = Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 19A. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Jump up ^ Editorial, `` Uninsured in Texas and Florida '', New York Times, September 4, 2013, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/opinion/uninsured-in-texas-and-florida.html Jump up ^ `` largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world ''. Jump up ^ Ennis Davis ( March 6, 2008 ). `` A Century of Florida 's Tallest Skyscrapers ''. Metro Jacksonville. Retrieved April 12, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Wells Fargo Center, Jacksonville ''. Emporis. Retrieved April 12, 2016. Jump up ^ Wayne W. Wood. `` Jacksonville 's Lost Treasures ''. Prairie School Traveler. Retrieved April 23, 2016. Jump up ^ `` When Does Modern Architecture Become Historic ? ''. Jacksonville Historical Society. Retrieved April 23, 2016. Jump up ^ Official : Design rules have n't cost Palm Bay new businesses ( accessed : June 1, 2009 ) dead link : Official : Design rules have n't cost Palm Bay new businesses ( archived August 25, 2013 ) Jump up ^ `` Official : Design rules have n't cost Palm Bay new businesses ''. Florida Today. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Florida : St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District ''. National Park Service. Jump up ^ `` League of United Latin American Citizens ( LULAC ) et al. vs. State Board of Education et al. Consent Decree ''. United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. August 14, 1990. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013. Jump up ^ Florida College System, 2013 Annual Report Archived June 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Institutional Knowledge Management -- 2016 -- 2017 Enrollment ''. University of Central Florida. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Official website of ICUF ''. Icuf.org. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Atherton, Blair ( August 2006 ). `` 2005 -- 2006 Accountability Report : Quality, Productivity, Diversity, and Access '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on September 25, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Higher education in Britain is still good value compared with America ''. Economist. March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017. Jump up ^ Moody, R. Norman ( January 30, 2011 ). `` Guidelines tight to drive a fuel tanker ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 2A. Jump up ^ `` Recession Marked by Bump in Uninsured Motorists '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on September 2, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Kennerley, Britt ( September 18, 2011 ). `` Olde drivers take fewer risks ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. p. 11A. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Florida Drug Threat Assessment - Overview ''. National Drug Intelligence Center. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2007. Jump up ^ `` All Aboard Florida - Miami to Orlando Passenger Rail Service ''. Federal Railroad Authority. Retrieved February 17, 2015. Jump up ^ Broadt, Lisa ( January 12, 2018 ). `` First ride : Aboard Florida 's new Brightline train ''. King5. Retrieved January 15, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2011, State of Florida '' ( PDF ). Amtrak.com. Retrieved April 20, 2016. Jump up ^ Ridership Technical Reports ( accessed : January 14, 2012 ) ( dead link : Ridership Technical Reports ( archived : December 15, 2011 ) Jump up ^ `` Archived copy '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on January 17, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2012. ^ Jump up to : TRANSIT RIDERSHIP REPORT -- First Quarter 2012 ( access date : April 20, 2016 ) Jump up ^ Palm Tran Ridership Report -- Averages Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Palm Tran ( accessdate = April 20, 2016 ) Jump up ^ PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT -- Fourth Quarter 2011 ( access date : April 20, 2016 ) Jump up ^ Peltier, Michael ( November 5, 2011 ). `` Lawmaker 's bill would fine teams that black out games ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 4B. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Jump up ^ `` Florida Sister City / Sister State Directory 2001 '' ( PDF ). State of Florida. 2001. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on June 27, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2010. Bibliography Viviana Díaz Balsera and Rachel A. May ( eds. ), La Florida : Five Hundred Years of Hispanic Presence. Gainesville, Florida : University Press of Florida, 2014. Michael Gannon ( ed. ), The History of Florida. Gainesville, Florida : University Press of Florida, 2013. 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Oravec ( D ) ( Port St. Lucie ) Joe Coviello ( ) ( Cape Coral ) Frank C. Ortis ( D ) ( Pembroke Pines ) Peter Bober ( D ) ( Hollywood ) Wayne M. Messam ( D ) ( Miramar ) Lauren Poe ( D ) ( Gainesville ) Vincent Boccard ( R ) ( Coral Springs ) Oliver Gilbert III ( D ) ( Miami Gardens ) George Cretekos ( R ) ( Clearwater ) Guillermo `` William '' Capote ( D ) ( Palm Bay ) Lamar Fisher ( D ) ( Pompano Beach ) Jeri Muoio ( D ) ( West Palm Beach ) Howard Wiggs ( R ) ( Lakeland ) Protected areas of Florida Federal National Parks Biscayne Dry Tortugas Everglades National Memorials De Soto Fort Caroline National Monuments Castillo de San Marcos Fort Matanzas National Seashores Canaveral Gulf Islands National Forests Apalachicola Choctawhatchee Ocala Osceola National Wildlife Refuges Archie Carr Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee Caloosahatchee Cedar Keys Chassahowitzka Crocodile Lake Crystal River Egmont Key Florida Panther Great White Heron Hobe Sound Island Bay J.N. ' Ding ' Darling Key West Lake Wales Ridge Lake Woodruff Lower Suwannee Matlacha Pass Merritt Island National Key Deer Okefenokee Passage Key Pelican Island Pine Island Pinellas St. Johns St. Marks St. Vincent Ten Thousand Islands Other National Protected Areas Big Cypress National Preserve Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve National Estuarine Research Reserves and National Marine Sanctuaries Apalachicola NERR Florida Keys NMS Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR Rookery Bay NERR National Wild and Scenic Rivers Loxahatchee River Wekiva River State Parks Amelia Island Anastasia Avalon Bahia Honda Bald Point Big Lagoon Big Shoals Big Talbot Island Bill Baggs Cape Florida Bulow Creek Caladesi Island Camp Helen Cayo Costa Collier - Seminole Colt Creek Curry Hammock Delnor - Wiggins Pass Devil 's Millhopper Don Pedro Island Eden Gardens Egmont Key Falling Waters Faver - Dykes Florida Caverns Fort Clinch Fort Cooper Fort George Island Fort Pierce Inlet Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou Gasparilla Island George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier Grayton Beach Henderson Beach Highlands Hammock Honeymoon Island Hontoon Island Hugh Taylor Birch John D. MacArthur Beach John Pennekamp Coral Reef John U. Lloyd Beach Jonathan Dickinson Little Talbot Island Long Key Lovers Key Mike Roess Gold Head Branch North Peninsula O'Leno Oscar Scherer Perdido Key Sebastian Inlet Skyway Fishing Pier St. Andrews St. George Island St. Joseph Peninsula Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center Stump Pass Beach Tomoka Torreya Windley Key Fossil Reef Botanical Garden Parks Alfred B. Maclay Gardens Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Lignumvitae Key Ravine Gardens Washington Oaks Lakes, Rivers and Springs Parks Deer Lake Lake Griffin Lake June in Winter Scrub Lake Kissimmee Lake Louisa Lake Manatee Lake Talquin Alafia River Blackwater River Dunns Creek Econfina River Hillsborough River Little Manatee River Myakka River Ochlockonee River Oleta River Suwannee River Blue Spring De Leon Springs Edward Ball Wakulla Springs Fanning Springs Homosassa Springs Wildlife Ichetucknee Springs Lafayette Blue Springs Madison Blue Spring Manatee Springs Ponce de Leon Springs Rainbow Springs Silver Springs Three Rivers Troy Springs Weeki Wachee Springs Wekiwa Springs Werner - Boyce Salt Springs Wes Skiles Peacock Springs Recreation Areas Dead Lakes Gamble Rogers Memorial Museums, Historic sites, and Archaeological sites Cedar Key Museum Constitution Convention Museum Forest Capital Museum John Gorrie Museum Ybor City Museum The Barnacle Bulow Plantation Ruins Dade Battlefield DeSoto Site Dudley Farm Fort Foster Fort Mose Fort Zachary Taylor Gamble Plantation Indian Key Koreshan Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Homestead Natural Bridge Battlefield Olustee Battlefield Orman House Paynes Creek San Marcos de Apalache Yellow Bluff Fort Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Crystal River Lake Jackson Mounds Letchworth - Love Mounds Madira Bickel Mound Mound Key San Pedro Underwater Preserves and Reserves Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Anclote Key Cedar Key Scrub Charlotte Harbor Crystal River Estero Bay Fakahatchee Strand Hal Scott Kissimmee Prairie Lower Wekiva River Paynes Prairie Pumpkin Hill Creek River Rise Rock Springs Run San Felasco Hammock Savannas Seabranch St. Lucie Inlet St. Sebastian River Tarkiln Bayou Topsail Hill Tosohatchee Waccasassa Bay Yellow River Marsh State Trails Blackwater Heritage Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Gainesville - Hawthorne General James A. Van Fleet Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Nature Coast Palatka - Lake Butler Palatka - to - St. Augustine Tallahassee - St. Marks Historic Railroad Withlacoochee State Forests Belmore Big Shoals Blackwater River Carl Duval Moore Cary Charles H. Bronson Cottage Hill Deep Creek Etoniah Creek Four Creeks Goethe Holopaw Indian Lake Jennings John M. Bethea Lake George Lake Talquin Lake Wales Ridge Little Big Econ Matanzas Myakka Okaloacoochee Slough Picayune Strand Pine Log Point Washington Ralph E. 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Spanish conquest of Guatemala → Spanish conquest of Yucatán → Anglo - Spanish War ( 1585 -- 1604 ) → Anglo - Spanish War ( 1625 -- 30 ) → Dutch Revolt → Anglo - Spanish War ( 1654 -- 60 ) → Piracy in the Caribbean → Queen Anne 's War → War of Jenkins ' Ear → Seven Years ' War → Spanish involvement in the American Revolutionary War Conflicts with indigenous peoples during colonial rule Mixtón War → Yaqui Wars → Chichimeca War → Philippine revolts against Spain → Acaxee Rebellion → Spanish -- Moro conflict → Acoma Massacre → Tepehuán Revolt → Tzeltal Rebellion → Pueblo Revolt → Pima Revolt → Spanish American wars of independence Government and administration Central government Habsburg Spain Charles I Joanna of Castile Philip II Philp III Philip IV Charles II Bourbon Spain Philip V ( also reigned after Louis I ) Louis I Ferdinand VI Charles III Charles IV Ferdinand VII of Spain ( also reigned after Joseph I ) Viceroys of New Spain List of viceroys of New Spain Audiencias Guadalajara 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de Benavente Motolinia Bernardino de Sahagún Juan de Zumárraga Alonso de Montúfar Vasco de Quiroga Bartolomé de las Casas Alonso de Molina Diego Durán Diego de Landa Gerónimo de Mendieta Juan de Torquemada Juan de Palafox y Mendoza Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora Eusebio Kino Francisco Javier Clavijero Junípero Serra Francisco Palóu Fermín Lasuén Esteban Tápis José Francisco de Paula Señan Mariano Payeras Sebastián Montero Marcos de Niza Francisco de Ayeta Antonio Margil Francisco Marroquín Manuel Abad y Queipo Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla José María Morelos Other events Suppression of the Jesuits California mission clash of cultures Cargo system Indian Reductions Society and culture Indigenous peoples Mesoamerican Aztec Maya Huastec Mixtec P'urhépecha Totonac Pipil Kowoj K'iche ' Kaqchikel Zapotec Poqomam Mam Caribbean Arawak Ciboney Guanajatabey California Mission Indians Cahuilla Chumash Cupeño Juaneño Kumeyaay Luiseño Miwok Mohave Ohlone Serrano Tongva Southwestern Apache Coahuiltecan 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Question: what part of the country is florida in
Answer: southeastern