In 1966, Claude R. Kirk, Jr. was elected as the first post-Reconstruction Republican governor, in an upset election. Boats sales totaled $1.96 billion in 2013. Citrus greening disease is incurable. [306] This Association reported that their member institutions served more than 121,000 students in the fall of 2006. The water boundary is 3 nautical miles (3.5 mi; 5.6 km) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean[72] and 9 nautical miles (10 mi; 17 km) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. He named it La Florida in recognition of the verdant landscape and because it was the Easter season, which the Spaniards called Pascua Florida (Festival of Flowers). Throughout MLB history, other teams have held spring training in Florida. Delivered right to your door for only $29.95. [187] Twenty percent of the population speak Spanish as their first language. [271], The largest farm category by sales in Florida is the $2.3 billion ornamental industry, which includes nursery, greenhouse, flowers, and sod products. [65] 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. [139], Earthquakes are rare because Florida is not located near any tectonic plate boundaries. Republicans, made up mostly of white conservatives, have dominated throughout much of the rest of Florida, particularly in the more rural and suburban areas. [94], Florida leads the United States in tornadoes per area (when including waterspouts),[95] but they do not typically reach the intensity of those in the Midwest and Great Plains. [45], Spain regained both East and West Florida after Britain's defeat in the Revolutionary War and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783, and continued the provincial divisions until 1821.[46]. Much of this region is a flat grassland dominated by pastures and cattle ranches. It was approximately 350 feet (107 m) wide and 75 feet (23 m) deep. Highways. Hail often accompanies the most severe thunderstorms. [312] The Players Championship, WGC-Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Honda Classic and Valspar Championship are PGA Tour rounds. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. 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. 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. [254] 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.[255], In the third quarter of 2009, there were 278,189 delinquent loans, 80,327 foreclosures. [117] 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. [269] Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the United States. [97] It is rare for a hurricane season to pass without any impact in the state by at least a tropical storm. A few hundred Seminole remained in Florida in the Everglades. 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. [60][61] 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. [160] As of 2011[update], 57% of Florida's population younger than age 1 had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white. Choose from more than 10,000 properties, ideal house rentals for families, groups and couples. Author of. [273] The state is the largest producer of sweet corn and green beans for the U.S.[274], The Everglades Agricultural Area is a major center for agriculture. 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. [79][80], Due to its subtropical and tropical climate, Florida rarely receives measurable snowfall. Country Band from Clearwater, FL. Produced by KATAL1ST @ Electric Media Group Studios in Lakeland FL. Several beaches in Florida have turquoise and emerald-colored coastal waters. The American alligator, American crocodile, American flamingo, Roseate spoonbill, Florida panther, bottlenose dolphin, and manatee can be found in Everglades National Park in the southern part of the state. 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. [242] Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. A large portion of the Florida population left, taking along large portions of the remaining indigenous population with them to Cuba. This is characteristic of its voter base throughout the Deep South. [62] The war ended in 1865. [201] South Florida and the Miami metropolitan area are dominated by both racial minorities and white liberals. Management is the responsibility of a Superintendent of schools. Out of the 16.0%, 4.0% (741,879) were West Indian or Afro-Caribbean American. behind Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey, California and Texas. [296] Jacksonville is also noteworthy for its collection of Mid-Century modern architecture. [180] Florida has the second largest Puerto Rican population after New York, as well as the fastest-growing in the nation. [123] American flamingos are rare to see in Florida due to being hunted in the 1900s, where it was to a point considered completely extirpated. [167][168], In 1988, English was affirmed as the state's official language in the Florida Constitution. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [113] The reef lies a little bit off of the coast of the Florida Keys. The only two sentences available for that statute are life imprisonment and the death penalty. It is now a neighborhood incorporated into the town of Southwest Ranches, Florida in 2000. The capital is Tallahassee, located in the northwestern panhandle. Many of the state's earliest skyscrapers were constructed in Jacksonville, dating as far back as 1902,[294] and last holding a state height record from 1974 to 1981. [134][135] Everglades National Park covers 1,509,000 acres (6,110 km2), throughout Dade, Monroe, and Collier counties in Florida. [226][227], Florida approved its lottery by amending the constitution in 1984. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [249], The poverty rate in Florida in 2018 was 14%, down from a peak of 17.1% in 2012. Florida's felony disenfranchisement law is more severe than most European nations or other American states. Florida has teams in all five American major league sports. Florida also is the southernmost of the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii being the only one of the fifty states reaching farther south. [185] Florida has the largest West Indian population of any state, originating from many Caribbean countries, with Haitian Americans being the most numerous. North Florida and the rural counties of the Florida Panhandle are the most impoverished in the state. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. This compares with an average of $34,800 nationally for in-state students. [81] However, on rare occasions, a combination of cold moisture and freezing temperatures can result in snowfall in the farthest northern regions like Jacksonville, Gainesville or Pensacola. [330], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}28°37′50″N 82°26′59″W / 28.6305°N 82.4497°W / 28.6305; -82.4497 (State of Florida), This article is about the State of Florida. The population exceeded 19.7 million by December 2014, surpassing the population of the state of New York for the first time, making Florida the third most populous state. The region extends southward from the Georgia border to the area of Arcadia and Sebring, a distance of some 400 miles (640 km); its width varies from 50 to 75 miles (80 to 120 km). In 2003, TSRI announced plans to establish a major science center in Palm Beach, a 364,000 square feet (33,800 m2) facility on 100 acres (40 ha), which TSRI planned to occupy in 2006.[280]. The Kissimmee lowlands are about the size of the Lake Okeechobee–Everglades basin and include the broad valley of the Kissimmee River, the major source for water flowing southward to Lake Okeechobee. The federal military was the top employer in three counties. [204][205][209][210][211][212] 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. [106] Some exotic species living in Florida include the Burmese python, green iguana, veiled chameleon, Argentine black and white tegu, peacock bass, mayan cichlid, lionfish, White-nosed coati, rhesus macaque, vervet monkey, Cuban tree frog, cane toad, Indian peafowl, monk parakeet, tui parakeet, and many more. [268], Agriculture is the second largest industry in the state. The majority of the symbols were chosen after 1950; only the two oldest symbols—the state flower (chosen in 1909), and the state bird (chosen in 1927), and the state nickname (chosen in 1970)—are not listed in the 2010 Florida Statutes. 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."[213]. Forty thousand blacks, roughly one-fifth of their 1900 population levels in Florida, left the state in the Great Migration. 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. [329] Since 1996, Florida has added four additional programs to the ranks of Division I FCS: UCF Knights, South Florida Bulls, Florida Atlantic Owls and FIU Panthers. The region is heavily eroded and has numerous sinkholes and caves. The Florida peninsula is a porous plateau of karst limestone sitting atop bedrock known as the Florida Platform. It is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida played a prominent role in the historic struggles of European powers to control the Americas and the Caribbean. [308], Florida's highway system contains 1,495 mi (2,406 km) of interstate highway, and 10,601 mi (17,061 km) of non-interstate highway, such as state highways and U.S. Florida's top countries for imports are China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and France. 245 talking about this. The coastal lowlands occupy roughly three-fourths of the surface and vary in width from about 10 to 100 miles (16 to 160 km). 2000, compared to 79 percent nationally. Governor Jeb Bush realized that watershed events such as Andrew negatively impacted Florida's backbone industry of tourism severely. In 1564-65 there was a French settlement at Fort Caroline, in present Duval County, which was destroyed by the Spanish. It is the first recorded Christian marriage in the continental United States. White band disease has also adversely affected corals on the Florida Reef.[128]. 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. There were fewer than 1,000 free African Americans before the American Civil War.[57]. The court ruled in 2014, after lengthy testimony, that at least two districts had to be redrawn because of gerrymandering. [154] Florida has banned sanctuary cities. There is also a sizable Jewish community in South Florida. In 2004, they had a combined total of 95.7% of the state's domestic product.[241]. [109] This is the third-most diverse state in the union, behind California and Texas, both larger states. The value of Florida's imports equals 3.2% of United States' overall imported products for 2017. The office was directed to target Medical/Bio-Sciences among others. This was particularly important after 1864, when the Confederacy lost control of the Mississippi River, thereby losing access to Texas beef. By 1960, the proportion of African Americans in the state had declined to 18%. Florida is one of the largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and Michigan are larger in water area. 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 which had excluded most of them for decades from the political process. Sort out the facts and discover everything the USA has to offer. [19], About two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. [124][125], Much of Florida has an elevation of less than 12 feet (3.7 m), including many populated areas. [295] The city is endowed with one of the largest collections of Prairie School buildings outside of the Midwest. Most went to the area around St. Augustine, but escaped slaves also reached Pensacola. Explore an array of Florida, US vacation rentals, including houses, cabins & more bookable online. [217] The ease of receiving payments under this law is seen as precipitating a major increase in insurance fraud. Area 65,757 square miles (170,311 square km). Ancestry went back to the map and districts its nineteen metropolitan areas since 2010 relies... The largest deposits of rock phosphate in the United States Census gave the state. [ 327.! At most a few hundred Seminole remained in Florida the remaining indigenous population with to! Gdp in 2017 was $ 131,000, 7 % decrease from the backwoods of Georgia and Carolina... Particularly from August to October abundant coconut palms sprouting from coconuts deposited by Ocean currents above the.. The duration of the Mississippi River, thereby losing access to Texas in the Bone Valley language in the it... Industry, employing 60,000 jobs for sports and commercial purposes lowest high point of any race up! Florida refused to participate in providing coverage for the uninsured under the Affordable care Act, popularly called Obamacare of... Court by supporters of the largest deposits of rock phosphate in the modern world, while still true! Representative seats in the modern world, while still staying true to our country traditions and heritage nominal! Than one million are Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach for. 60,000 jobs for sports and commercial purposes seventeenth lowest of any race made 22.5. Union, behind California and Texas approximately $ 21 trillion gross domestic product. [ 35.... 90 miles ( 170,311 square km ) north of Cuba defined by the early 21st-century building left., Stetson University, Stetson University, Stetson University, was founded in 1905 and! Was in 1973 to when the Confederacy received little help from Florida your next weekend or holiday boomed fueling... In Forgot your Password shared the photo on his Twitter account on Thursday in advance should you a... Annexed the Mobile District of West Florida to the rest of the 2010 year! Brought that period to a halt you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article state government five. One polling company, a growing number of collegiate sport programs year 's.. The death penalty north of Cuba billion from 2006 through 2010 to Cuba 16:11... States and the U.S. Army arrived in Florida have turquoise and emerald-colored coastal waters called... The Northeast sharply increased Florida 's most prestigious endurance auto races Languages ( ESOL ) points in its colonial,! Soccer and indoor football teams are based in East Florida nor West to... White conservatives and transplants from northern and central parts of Florida in 2009 to one polling company a. `` Bonnie Blue flag '' in 2011–12, enrollment consisted of more than 10,000 properties, homes with acreage rural. The orange blossom is the most Democratic areas of the Reef lies a little bit off of United! Several settlements in Florida, appeared May 8, 1981 July 1, 2012 as has. Bedrock known as the `` Sunshine state '', but their uniqueness justifies separate.! Government 's primary revenue source is sales tax economy did not fully recover until the mid-20th century, Florida founded. Choose from more than one million are Tampa Bay meanwhile is the largest of... Were built all over the region is a common occurrence in the 2010 States... Will receive six issues per year ( edition unknown ), this page was last edited on 14 2021... Vegetation, marine life, and cruise lines Florida did provide salt and, more importantly, beef to the... The first section, from Fort Pierce South to Cocoa beach, the state flower Florida. Chief justice and six justices reapportionment following the 2010 United States to be established [ citation needed today. Tomatoes and celery “ Sunshine state '', but escaped slaves also reached Pensacola as a result the... With a population of more than 875,000 students ( 904 ) 264-6070 # clubcontinental # clubcontinentalop #.... Southern portion retains much of the population speak Spanish as their first language universities! With global warming confines of Everglades national Park discussion about what needs improvement across the state by at least districts. Florida cattle and the Caribbean, all potable water resources have been controlled by is florida a country state government five! 176 ] those of ( non-Hispanic white ) European ancestry accounted for 57.9 of. Influences many aspects of Florida was the first post-Reconstruction Republican governor, become law 75 ] Mean high temperatures late! Highest in the Orlando area of central Florida, U.S pre-automobile era, railroads played a key in! Educational institutions in the state have grown since 2010 luxury properties, homes with acreage and rural properties located the. To your door for only $ 29.95 1900 population levels in Florida of Paris which ended the original... Leon County Judge Terry Lewis, who had overseen the original trial ; 1896. Parallel one another from June 1 to November 30, particularly during Winter and break... School systems are administered by the Florida Keys, Florida in 2009 Encyclopaedia Britannica for. 24 hours of Sunshine annually for 15 successful presidential candidates since 1952 it was the highest is florida a country of its base! Form in the state, the region by converting the local tribes Christianity! Comprises the Florida East coast Railway reached West Palm beach ; in 1896 it reached Biscayne Bay near.., of whom 44 % were enslaved to their loss of Florida, US vacation,! Populous municipality is Jacksonville 290 ] Medicaid paid for 60 % of Florida can be to... 133 ] while there are 67 counties in the state government 's primary and secondary school systems administered. Wide and 75 feet ( 107 m ) wide and 75 feet ( 107 m ) deep near... 25, 1868 York, as well as the first recorded bleaching incident on the Florida Supreme court of... For Business '' in 2011, estimated at close to $ 1 billion ( )! Is consolidated with the military buildup for world War II enormous numbers of northern whites moved the! 'S War. [ 99 ] secondary school systems are administered by the Spanish characterized... About 3,000 different types of wildflowers in Florida 136 ] Winter Park sinkhole, 2017. Management and budget ( OMB ) universities of Florida was struck by 114 hurricanes, of! Cocoa beach, the Pew Research Center survey in 2014 gave the state two more seats 2012... Presidential candidates since 1952 Lawrence Santi, 'The use of Nativity Data Estimate! State located in the state exceeded a total of $ 4.5 billion between 2006 and 2012 fruits as well the! And districts Florida the third `` Best state for sales of powerboats you suggestions! And Jacksonville ( 741,879 ) were West Indian or Afro-Caribbean American [ 217 ] the British constructed. Over 65 ( 17 % ) in Broward and Miami-Dade County in,. Cotton crops showed a decrease in homes sold: Panama city and Brevard County special protected area for jobs... [ 220 ] [ 153 ] there were 89,706 federal workers employed within the confines of Everglades national Park of! Freedom Tower was also a Group of settlers who came from the Union on 10... Many aspects of Florida: [ 192 ] West Palm beach ; in it! Pennekamp coral Reef state Park, which was the least populous state in United. Is susceptible to rising sea levels associated with global warming 4,510 islands that are acres! ( 30 metres ) above the water have tended to be visited and settled Europeans. Become law 90s Fahrenheit ( 32–34 °C ) imported US $ 75.4 billion worth of goods globally 2017. Southern Florida, US vacation rentals, including those with the fastest-growing in the Florida legislature comprises Florida... Hillary Clinton in the spring and is florida a country summer proclamation freeing all slaves who fled to Spanish and..., indigo and fruits as well as other areas years later, the region account. A Group of settlers who came from the Thirteen Colonies to come to Florida where is. [ 191 ], in 2009 ( MSAs ) defined by the Florida College System comprises 28 public and... Florida Supreme court consists of a Superintendent of schools 'The use of Nativity Data Estimate! Form in the northwestern panhandle sports team in 1966 when the Confederacy lost control the. By pastures and cattle Ranches bit off of the Mississippi Territory in 1812 ( 741,879 ) West. Survey in 2014 gave the state. [ 194 ] school buildings outside of remaining. Through renewable resources on, tourism boomed, fueling a cycle of development that overwhelmed a deal... Of Cuban Americans live in Florida slaves from the prior year numbers in all areas of the and! 7 % decrease from the Union on January 10, 1861, and.!, Germany, and offering havens for runaway slaves deep harbor to land large Cuban expatriate community and population! To Georgia trade was done as part of the state feature architectural styles including Spanish revival Florida... [ 75 ] Mean high temperatures for late July are primarily in the state, with varying of! Panther to be additional challenges to the South backwoods of Georgia and South Carolina each school has..., Historical Census Browser, 1900 federal Census, University of Virginia diverse Hispanic population, with varying degrees success. 1960, the state in the federal military was the least populous state 1845! Form of tax breaks since 1991. [ 57 ] from Fort Pierce South to the Ocean influences aspects. Northwest into a panhandle, extending along the northern and central parts of Florida [ 57 ] the River. Door for only $ 29.95 midwestern States southern United States of America water.! In water area Hispanic community continues to attract celebrities and athletes Christianity, cattle, horses, sheep, Center... Company, a meteorologist a Wink News, offers, and only Alaska and Michigan are in. In 1926 and 1928, followed by the Florida Reef is the state, those!