In 1513, Ponce de León, seeking the mythical “Fountain of Youth,†discovered and named Florida, claiming it for Spain.Later, Florida would be held at different times by Spain and England until Spain finally sold it to the United States in 1819. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Source: Wikipedia, In Florida it is illegal to sing in a public place wearing a swimsuit; Men are not allowed to be seen public in any kind of strapless gown; it’s an offense to shower naked, and it is illegal to skateboard without a license in Florida. Florida is one of the most iconic of the 50 U.S. States. Florida attained statehood on March 3, 1845, becoming the 27 th state to join the union. Miami produces the second highest no. Five also are designated on a federal level as national scenic highways. St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565 and is the oldest permanent city in the United States. Flag adopted 1899. Florida is the 3 rd most populous, the 22 nd most extensive, and the 8 th most densely populated of the 50 states of the United States. Florida State Facts - Florida History Firsts Catch up on your state trivia with these Florida history firsts and interesting fun facts about the state. The oldest surviving European place-name! Florida’s attractive business climate helped it export $57 billion in goods in 2018, which helped support more than 2.3 million jobs in the state. Oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits lead Florida's agricultural products list. There is a Withlacoochee in north central Florida (Madison County) and another Withlacoochee in Central Florida, having nothing in common except the name. When doing your 50 states unit study this year, you can keep a complete notebook about the entire United States. Miles of coastline — 1,800. Source: goflorida.about.com, image: theluxuryspot.com, Only in Florida, you can have a bed & breakfast with Wildlife on Easy Street, on the outskirts of Tampa which allows you to cuddle with an endangered cat of your choice for a $100 donation to the refuge. So read on, and see if you know what's so fascinating about your own state! Florida has 7,800 lakes larger than 10 acres. It is known to be one of the most fragrant flowers in Florida. The infographic has sections about geography, laws, theme parks, other attractions and random facts. Florida is the southeasternmost state of the United States, comprising a peninsula and adjoining mainland areas protruding southeastward from the North American continent. Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (LCIR) Joint Legislative Committee on Everglades Oversight (JCEO) Joint Legislative Sunset Committee (JCSC) Florida Government Efficiency Task Force Legislative Employment Legistore Links. Governor Ron DeSantis For questions or comments regarding the Governor. Florida is the flattest state in America Northern Florida has hills because it is at the very end of the Appalachian Mountains. Search . Religion in Florida: 80% Christian (54% Protestant, 26% Catholic), 14% No Religion, 4% Jewish, 1% LDS, 1% Other Religions. In 1987 the Florida legislature designated the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) the official state reptile. State Abbreviation - FL State Capital - Tallahassee Largest City - Jacksonville Area - 65,758 square miles [Florida is the 22nd biggest state in the USA] Population - 19,552,860 (as of 2013) [Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas] Source: floridafunfacts.co, image: Flickr, Florida produces over 60 percent of oranges for the nation, most of which goes right into the glasses of juice we enjoy so much with breakfast. Here's a … Number of golf courses — more than 1,250. Florida: Facts and Figures . Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. It is a peninsula, which means that water surrounds the state on three of four possible sides. Florida is the southeasternmost state of the United States, comprising a peninsula and adjoining mainland areas protruding southeastward from the North American continent. 6. Florida Department of State Phone: 850.245.6500. Source: floridafunfacts.co, image: Flickr, Florida is the only state with two rivers of the same name. Number of deepwater ports — 14. 31 Fun facts about Florida. It’s the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Main Search. Follow new cases found each day and the total number of cases and deaths in Florida. " In fact, part of what makes this land of ours so charming and wonderful are the weird and baffling ways we're all so different. of NFL players, and baseball teams from all over the nation have their spring training sessions here. You may even know that Key West is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. and that St. Augustine is … It is the shortest of the highest points in all other states. These requirements vary from area to area. Florida is sometimes called the Alligator State because of all the alligators that live there. Source: nbbd.com, Contrary to what you might believe, the most famous car race of the year isn’t in Indiana but right here in Florida at the Daytona International Speedway where the Daytona 500 is held. Nayden Kostov | March 11, 2015 | Facts about USA, Florida facts | 3 Comments. Florida became the 27th state in 1845 and is the 3rd largest state by population with over 21.3 million residents. You can choose baby bobcats, cougars, and leopards. Florida has the longest coastline(1,197 statute miles) in the contiguous United States, with 825 miles of accessible beaches to enjoy. Florida is the only state to have an embassy in Washington, D.C. Florida has 26 officially designated scenic highways, and seven of them run parallel to the Atlantic Ocean. Long an unofficial symbol of the state, the alligator originally symbolized Florida’s … Total Area - 65,758 square miles Total land area - 53,625 square miles Total water area - 12,133 square miles Rank among states in total area - 22nd Length north and south - 447 miles (St. Marys River to Key West) Width east and west - 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River) Florida’s official state flag, adopted in 1900, has a red cross of St. Andrew on a white field. (Incidentally, France established a colony named Fort Caroline in 1564 in the state that was to become Florida.) It is observed throughout Central and South Florida. On a white field emblazoned with a red X and the state seal, Florida's flag represents the land of sunshine, flowers, palm trees, rivers and lakes. Zebra longwing butterfly(Heliconius charitonius), Enchanted Learning®Over 35,000 Web PagesSample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below, Copyright ©2001-2018 Tweet This. That's why, to celebrate our utter weirdness, we've compiled the craziest fact about each state in the union. Even out-of-state residents must insure their car in Florida and must prove that they meet the state’s minimum insurance requirements. In 1506, Ponce de León discovered a nearby island named Borinquen. Searching for gold Juan Ponce de Leon arrived April 2, 1513 at St. Augustine, Florida and claimed this land for Spain. And those 90 days do not have to be consecutive! You may already know that Florida joined the Union as the 27th state in 1845, and is presently the third most populous state in the US and has the longest coastline, etc., but there’s more to Florida than meets the eye and we have dug up a few of the coolest facts for you. Key West is the southernmost point in the continental United States. Our main priority is the safety of our guests and staff. Citrus fruits like tangerines, grapes, and especially oranges, are an important source … Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is the number one tourist destination in the world. (as of 2013) [Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas] Name for Residents - Floridians Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatos), electronics Major Rivers - St. Johns River, St. Marys River, Suwannee River Major Lakes - Lake Okeechobee, Lake George Highest Point - A hill in Walton County - 345 feet (105 m) above sea level Number of Counties - 67 Bordering States - Georgia, Alabama Bordering Bodies of Water - Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was first seen by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for Spain State Nickname - The Sunshine State State Motto - "In God we trust." Florida State Facts Published on June 15th, 2015 | by Brandon Ramsey in Geography. Source: floridafunfacts.co, The first bank automated teller machine was installed in Miami especially for rollerbladers. May 20, 1970 Florida lawmakers passed and sent to the Governor a bill adopting the moonstone as the official state gem. Miles of sand beaches — 1,200. Florida is often in the news for stupid criminals and strange happenings, but there's plenty of unique facts that are unique to The Sunshine State. Source: floridafunfacts.co, image: wikimedia.org, Florida beats every single other state when it comes to the number of golf courses. He did not find the fountian of youth. 11 Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Florida You probably know Florida is home to Disney World and is nicknamed the Sunshine State. R.A. Gray Building 500 South Bronough Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250