Consequently, Florida has several unique ecosystems, most notably Everglades National Park, the largest tropical wilderness in the U.S. It is the only state besides Hawaii to have a tropical climate, and is the only continental state with both a tropical climate (at the lower tip of the peninsula) and a coral reef. Several beaches in Florida have turquoise and emerald-colored coastal waters.įlorida's climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. Lake Okeechobee is its largest freshwater lake, and the second-largest located entirely within the contiguous 48 states. Florida is the flattest state in the country, with the lowest high point of any U.S. Much of the state is at or near sea level, and is characterized by sedimentary soil. Florida has 4,510 islands that are ten acres (4 ha) or larger in area, the second highest number after Alaska. It has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, spanning approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), not including its many barrier islands. Florida is also heavily noted for being a battleground state in American presidential elections, notably those in 2000, 2016, and 2020.Ībout two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Florida has attracted or inspired writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes, particularly in golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports. The state's close proximity to the ocean has shaped its culture, identity, and daily life its colonial history and successive waves of migration are reflected in African, European, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian influences. Florida is a popular destination for retirees, seasonal vacationers, and both domestic and international migrants it hosts nine out of the ten fastest-growing communities in the U.S. Florida is world-renowned for its beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, and nautical recreation attractions such as Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, and Miami Beach draw tens of millions of visitors annually. state and the 16th-largest in the world the main sectors are tourism, hospitality, agriculture, real estate, and transportation. Its economy, with a gross state product (GSP) of $1.0 trillion, is the fourth-largest of any U.S.

Since the mid-20th century, Florida has experienced rapid demographic and economic growth. After the Civil War, Florida was restored to the Union on June 25, 1868. The state seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, becoming one of the seven original Confederate States. Florida was the principal location of the Seminole Wars (1816–1858), the longest and most extensive of the Indian Wars in U.S. in 1819 it was admitted as the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Florida was repeatedly contested by Spain and Great Britain, before being ceded to the U.S.

Augustine, founded in 1565, being the oldest continuously inhabited city. to be permanently settled by Europeans, with the Spanish colony of St. Florida subsequently became the first area in the continental U.S. In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León became the first known European to make landfall, calling the region La Florida ( for its lush greenery and the Easter season ( Pascua Florida in Spanish). Various Native American groups have inhabited Florida for at least 14,000 years. The Miami metropolitan area, with a population of almost 6.2 million, is the most populous urban area in Florida and the ninth-most populous in the United States other urban conurbations with over one million people are Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville. The state capital is Tallahassee and the most populous city is Jacksonville. Spanning 65,758 square miles (170,310 km 2), Florida ranks 22nd in area among the 50 states, and with a population of over 21 million, is the third-most populous. Florida 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 Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida and Cuba it is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States.

Florida lingo