Various Native American tribes have inhabited Florida for at least 14,000 years. In 1513,Spanish explorerJuan Ponce de León became the first known European to make landfall, calling the regionLa Florida (land of flowers) ([la floˈɾiða]). Florida subsequently became the first area in the continental U.S. to be permanently settled by Europeans, with the settlement ofSt. Augustine, founded in 1565, being the oldest continuously inhabited city. Florida was frequently attacked and coveted byGreat Britain before Spainceded it to the U.S. in 1819 in exchange for resolving the border dispute along theSabine River inSpanish Texas. Florida was admitted as the27th state on March 3, 1845, and was the principal location of theSeminole Wars (1816–1858), the longest and most extensive of theAmerican Indian Wars. The state seceded fromthe Union on January 10, 1861, becoming one of the seven originalConfederate States, and was readmitted to the Union after theCivil War on June 25, 1868.
Florida was the first region of what is now thecontiguous United States to be visited and settled by Europeans. The earliest known European explorers came withJuan Ponce de León. Ponce de León spotted and landed on the peninsula on April 2, 1513. He named itFlorida (colloquially la Florida) in recognition of the flowery, verdant landscape and because it was theEaster season, which theSpaniards calledPascua Florida (Festival of Flowers). The following day they came ashore to seek information and take possession of this new land.[14][15] The story that he was searching for theFountain of Youth is apocryphal and appeared only long after his death.[16]
In May 1539,Hernando de Soto skirted the coast of Florida, searching for a deep harbor to land. He described 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.[17] Europeans introducedChristianity, cattle, horses, sheep, the Castilian language, and more to Florida.[18] Spain established several settlements in Florida, with varying degrees of success. In 1559, DonTristán de Luna y Arellano established a settlement at present-dayPensacola, making it one of the first settlements in Florida, but it was mostly abandoned by 1561.
In 1564–1565, there was a French settlement atFort Caroline, in presentDuval County, which was destroyed by the Spanish.[19] Today a reconstructed version of the fort stands in its location within Jacksonville.
In 1565, the settlement ofSt. Augustine (San Agustín) was established under the leadership of admiral and governorPedro Menéndez de Avilés, creating what would become the oldest, continuously occupied European settlements in the continental U.S. and establishing the first generation of Floridanos and theGovernment of Florida.[20] 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.[21]
Some Floridanos married or had unions withPensacola,Creek, orAfrican women, both slave and free, and their descendants created a mixed-race population ofmestizos andmulattoes. The Spanish encouragedslaves from theThirteen Colonies to come to Florida as a refuge, promising freedom in exchange for conversion toCatholicism.King Charles II of Spain issued a royal proclamation freeing all slaves who fled to Florida and accepted conversion and baptism. Most went to the area aroundSt. Augustine, butescaped slaves also reached Pensacola. St. Augustine had mustered an all-black militia unit defending Florida as early as 1683.[22]
The geographical area of Spanish claims in Florida diminished with the establishment of English settlements to the north and French claims to the west. English colonists andbuccaneers launched several attacks on St. Augustine in the 17th and 18th centuries, razing the city and its cathedral to the ground several times. Spain built theCastillo de San Marcos in 1672 andFort Matanzas in 1742 to defend Florida's capital city from attacks, and to maintain its strategic position in the defense of theCaptaincy General of Cuba and theSpanish West Indies.
In 1738, thegovernor of FloridaManuel de Montiano establishedFort 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.[23][24]
In1763, Spain traded Florida to theKingdom of Great Britain for control ofHavana,Cuba, whichhad been captured by the British during theSeven Years' War. The trade was done as part of the1763 Treaty of Paris which ended the Seven Years' War. Spain was grantedLouisiana from France due to their loss of Florida. A large portion of the Florida population left, taking along large portions of the remaining Indigenous population with them to Cuba.[25] The British soon constructed theKing's Road connecting St. Augustine toGeorgia. The road crossed theSt. Johns River at a narrow point calledWacca Pilatka, now the core ofDowntown Jacksonville, and formerly referred to by the British name "Cow Ford", reflecting the fact thatcattle were brought across the river there.[26][27][28]
The British divided and consolidated the Florida provinces (Las Floridas) intoEast Florida andWest Florida, a division the Spanish Crown kept after the brief British period.[29] The British government gave land grants to officers and soldiers who had fought in theFrench 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 number of British settlers who were described as being "energetic and of good character" moved to Florida, mostly coming fromSouth Carolina,Georgia and England. There was also a group of settlers who came from the colony ofBermuda. This was the first permanent English-speaking population in what is nowDuval County,Baker County,St. Johns County andNassau County. The British constructed good public roads and introduced the cultivation of sugar cane, indigo and fruits, as well as the export of lumber.[30][31]
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 was the first introduction of the English-derived legal system which Florida still has today, includingtrial by jury,habeas corpus and county-based government.[30][31] Neither East Florida nor West Florida sent any representatives to Philadelphia to draft theDeclaration of Independence. Florida remained a Loyalist stronghold for the duration of theAmerican Revolution.[32]
Spain regained both East and West Florida after Britain's defeat in theRevolutionary War and the subsequentTreaty of Versailles in 1783, and continued the provincial divisions until 1821.[33]
Americans ofEnglish andScots Irish descent began moving into northern Florida from the backwoods ofGeorgia andSouth Carolina. Though technically not allowed by the government authorities, 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 asFlorida Crackers.[34]
These American settlers established a permanent foothold in the area. The British settlers who had remained also resented Spanish governance, leading to a rebellion in 1810 and the establishment for ninety days of the so-called Free and IndependentRepublic of West Florida on September 23. After meetings beginning in June, rebels overcame the garrison atBaton Rouge (now inLouisiana) 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 the proclamation of PresidentJames Madison, who claimed the region as part of theLouisiana Purchase. These parts were incorporated into the newly formedTerritory of Orleans. The U.S. annexed the Mobile District of West Florida to theMississippi 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 Floridians 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.[35]
Traditionally, historians argued thatSeminoles based inEast Florida began raiding Georgia settlements and offering havens for runaway slaves. TheUnited States Army led increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish territory, including the 1817–1818 campaign against the Seminole Indians byAndrew Jackson that became known as theFirst Seminole War. The United States now effectively controlled East Florida. Control was necessary according to Secretary of StateJohn 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."[36]
More recent historians describe that after U.S. independence, settlers inGeorgia increased pressure on Seminole lands, and skirmishes near the border led to theFirst Seminole War (1816–1819). The United States purchased Florida from Spain by theAdams-Onis Treaty (1819) and took possession in 1821. The Seminole were moved out of their rich farmland in northern Florida and confined to a large reservation in the interior of the Florida peninsula by theTreaty of Moultrie Creek (1823). Passage of theIndian Removal Act (1830) led to theTreaty of Payne's Landing (1832), which called for the relocation of all Seminole toIndian Territory (nowOklahoma).[37] Some resisted, leading to theSecond Seminole War, the bloodiestwar against Native Americans in United States history. By 1842, most Seminoles and Black Seminoles, facing starvation, were removed to Indian Territory west of theMississippi River. Perhaps fewer than 200 Seminoles remained in Florida after theThird Seminole War (1855–1858), having taken refuge in the Everglades, from where they never surrendered to the US. They fostered a resurgence in traditional customs and a culture of staunch independence.[38]
Florida had become a burden to Spain, which could not afford to send settlers or troops due to the devastation caused by thePeninsular War. Madrid, therefore, decided to cede the territory to the United States through theAdams–Onís Treaty, which took effect in 1821.[39] PresidentJames Monroe was authorized on March 3, 1821, to take possession ofEast Florida andWest Florida for the United States and provide for initial governance.[40] On behalf of the U.S. government,Andrew Jackson, whom Jacksonville is named after, served as a military commissioner with the powers of governor of the newly acquired territory for a brief period.[41] On March 30, 1822, the U.S. Congress mergedEast Florida and part ofWest Florida into theFlorida Territory.[42]
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 theIndian Removal Act and as settlement increased, pressure grew on the U.S. government to remove the Indians from Florida. Seminoles offered sanctuary to blacks, and these became known as theBlack Seminoles, and clashes between whites and Indians grew with the influx of new settlers. In 1832, theTreaty of Payne's Landing promised to the Seminoles lands west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave Florida. Many Seminoles left at this time.
Some Seminoles remained, and the U.S. Army arrived in Florida, leading to theSecond Seminole War (1835–1842). Following the war, approximately 3,000 Seminole and 800 Black Seminole were removed toIndian Territory. A few hundred Seminole remained in Florida in theEverglades.
The Historic Call-Collins House, the Grove, built by slaves in the 1840s, is an antebellumplantation house in Tallahassee.
1840 advertisement in thePensacola Gazette offering a $10 ($330 in 2022) reward for the return of afugitive slave.
On March 3, 1845, only one day before the end of PresidentJohn Tyler's term in office, Florida became the 27th state,[43] admitted as aslave state and no longer a sanctuary for runaway slaves. Initially its population grew slowly.[44]
As European settlers continued to encroach on Seminole lands, the United States intervened to move the remaining Seminoles to the West. TheThird Seminole War (1855–1858) resulted in theforced removal of most of the remaining Seminoles, although hundreds of Seminole Indians remained in the Everglades.[45]
The first settlements and towns in South Florida were founded much later than those in the northern part of the state. The first permanent European settlers arrived in the early 19th century. People came from theBahamas to South Florida and theKeys to hunt for treasure from the ships that ran aground on the treacherous GreatFlorida Reef. Some accepted Spanish land offers along the Miami River. At about the same time, theSeminole Indians arrived, along with a group of runaway slaves. The area was affected by theSecond Seminole War, during which MajorWilliam S. Harney led several raids against the Indians. Most non-Indian residents were soldiers stationed atFort Dallas. It was the most devastating Indian war in American history, causing almost a total loss of population in Miami.
After the Second Seminole War ended in 1842, William English re-established a plantation started by his uncle on theMiami River. He charted the "Village of Miami" on the south bank of the Miami River and sold several plots of land. In 1844, Miami became the county seat, and six years later a census reported there were ninety-six residents in the area.[46] TheThird Seminole War was not as destructive as the second, but it slowed the settlement of southeast Florida. At the end of the war, a few of the soldiers stayed.
American settlers began to establish cottonplantations 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 freeAfrican Americans before the American Civil War.[47]
On January 10, 1861, nearly all delegates in the Florida Legislature approved an ordinance of secession,[48][49] 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". The ordinance declared Florida's secession from theUnion, allowing it to become one of the founding members of theConfederate States.
The Confederacy received little military help from Florida; the 15,000 troops it offered were generally sent elsewhere. Instead of troops and manufactured goods, Florida did provide salt and, more importantly, beef to feed the Confederate armies. This was particularly important after 1864, when the Confederacy lost control of the Mississippi River, thereby losing access to Texas beef.[50][51] The largest engagements in the state were theBattle of Olustee, on February 20, 1864, and theBattle of Natural Bridge, on March 6, 1865. Both were Confederate victories.[52] The war ended in 1865.
Following the American Civil War, Florida'scongressional representation was restored on June 25, 1868, albeit forcefully afterReconstruction 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 thatdisfranchised most blacks and many poor whites.[53]
Florida's economy has been based primarily upon agricultural products such as citrus fruits, strawberries, nuts, sugarcane and cattle.[54] Theboll weevil devastated cotton crops during the early 20th century.[55][56]
Until the mid-20th century, Florida was the least-populous state in thesouthern 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.[57] Forty thousand blacks, roughly one-fifth of their 1900 population levels in Florida, left the state in theGreat Migration. They left due tolynchings and racial violence and for better opportunities in the North and the West.[58]Disfranchisement for most African Americans in the state persisted until theCivil Rights Movement of the 1960s gained federal legislation in 1965 to enforce protection of their constitutional suffrage.
White segregationists (foreground) trying to prevent black people from swimming at a "White only" beach in St. Augustine during the1964 Monson Motor Lodge protests
In response toracial segregation in Florida, a number of protests occurred in Florida during the 1950s and 1960s as part of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1956–1957, students atFlorida A&M University organized a bus boycott in Tallahassee to mimic theMontgomery bus boycott and succeeded in integrating the city's buses.[59] Students also held sit-ins in 1960 in protest of segregated seating at local lunch counters, and in 1964 an incident at aSt. Augustine motel pool, in which the owner poured acid into the water during a demonstration, influenced the passage of the1964 Civil Rights Act.[60]
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 theFlorida land boom of the 1920s, which brought a brief period of intense land development. In 1925, theSeaboard Air Line broke the FEC's southeast Florida monopoly and extended its freight and passenger service to West Palm Beach; two years later it extended passenger service to Miami. Devastating hurricanes in1926 and1928, followed by theGreat Depression, brought that period to a halt. Florida's economy did not fully recover until the military buildup forWorld War II.[citation needed]
In 1939, Florida was described as "still very largely an empty State."[61] Subsequently, the growing availability ofair conditioning, the climate, and a low cost of living made the state a haven. Migration from theRust Belt and the Northeast sharply increased Florida's population after 1945.[citation needed]
In the 1960s, many refugees fromCuba, fleeingFidel Castro's communist regime, arrived in Miami at theFreedom 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".[62] In recent decades, more migrants have come for the jobs in a developing economy.
With a population of more than 18million, 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.[63] The population of Florida has boomed in recent years with the state being the recipient of the largest number of out-of-state movers in the country as of 2019.[64] Florida's growth has been widespread, as cities throughout the state have continued to see population growth.[65]
AfterHurricane Maria devastatedPuerto 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.[67]
Much of Florida is on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and theStraits of Florida. Spanning twotime zones, it extends to the northwest into apanhandle, extending along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the north byGeorgia andAlabama, and on the west, at the end of the panhandle, by Alabama. It is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida also is the southernmost of the 48 contiguous states,Hawaii being the only one of the fifty states reaching farther south. Florida is west of theBahamas and 90 miles (140 km) north ofCuba. Florida is one of the largest states east of theMississippi River, and onlyAlaska andMichigan are larger in water area. 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.[72]
At 345 feet (105 m)above mean sea level,Britton Hill is thehighest point in Florida and the lowest highpoint of any U.S. state.[73] Much of the state south ofOrlando lies at a lower elevation than northern Florida, and is fairly level. Much of the state is at or near sea level. Some places, such asClearwater havepromontories 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 theSuwannee River),Sugarloaf Mountain, is a 312-foot (95 m) peak inLake County.[74] On average, Florida is the flattest state in the United States.[75]
Florida is mostly low-lying and flat as this topographic map shows.
Lake Okeechobee, the largest lake in Florida, is thetenth-largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the second-largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely within thecontiguous 48 states, afterLake Michigan.[76] The longest river within Florida is the St. Johns River, at 310 miles (500 km) long. The drop in elevation from its headwaters South Florida to its mouth in Jacksonville is less than 30 feet (9.1 m).
The state tree,Sabal palmetto, flourishes in Florida's overall warm climate.Köppen map of climate zones in Florida.
The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is distant from the ocean. North ofLake Okeechobee, the prevalent climate ishumid subtropical (Köppen:Cfa), while areas south of the lake (including theFlorida Keys) have a truetropical climate (Köppen:Aw,Am, andAf).[77] 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.[78][79]
In the summer, high temperatures in the state rarely exceed 100 °F (37.8 °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 rarely dips below freezing.[80] The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 °F (43 °C), which was set on June 29, 1931, inMonticello. The coldest temperature was −2 °F (−19 °C), on February 13, 1899, just 25 miles (40 km) away, in Tallahassee.[81][82]
Due to its subtropical and tropical climate, Florida rarely receives measurablesnowfall.[83] On rare occasions, a combination of cold moisture and freezing temperatures can result in snowfall in the farthest northern regions likeJacksonville,Gainesville orPensacola.Frost, which is more common thansnow, sometimes occurs in the panhandle.[84] The USDA Planthardiness zones for the state range from zone 8a (no colder than 10 °F or −12 °C) in the inland westernpanhandle to zone 11b (no colder than 45 °F or 7 °C) in the lowerFlorida Keys.[85]Fog also occurs all over the state or climate of Florida.[86]
Average high and low temperatures for various Florida cities
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.[93] Florida has one of the highest average precipitation levels of any state,[94] in large part because afternoon thunderstorms are common in much of the state from late spring until early autumn.[95] 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.[96]
Florida leads the United States in tornadoes per area (when includingwaterspouts),[97] but they do not typically reach the intensity of those in theMidwest andGreat Plains.Hail often accompanies the most severe thunderstorms.[98]
Hurricanes pose a severe threat each year from June1 to November 30, particularly from August to October. Florida is the most hurricane-prone state, with subtropical or tropical water on a lengthy coastline. Of thecategory4 or higher storms that have struck the United States, 83% have either hit Florida or Texas.[99]
From 1851 to 2006, Florida was struck by 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major—category3 and above.[99] It is rare for a hurricane season to pass without any impact in the state by at least a tropical storm.[100]
In 1992, Florida was the site of what was then the costliest weather disaster in U.S. history,Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25billion in damages when it struck during August; it held that distinction until 2005, whenHurricane Katrina surpassed it, and it has since been surpassed by six other hurricanes. Andrew is the second-costliest hurricane in Florida's history.[101]
The state has more than 26,000 square miles (67,000 km2) of forests, covering about half of the state's land area.[110]
There are about 3,000 types ofwildflowers in Florida.[111] This is the third-most diverse state in the union, behindCalifornia andTexas, both larger states.[112] In Florida, wild populations of coconut palms extend up the East Coast from Key West toJupiter Inlet, and up the West Coast fromMarco Island toSarasota. Many of the smallest coral islands in theFlorida Keys are known to have abundant coconut palms sprouting from coconuts deposited by ocean currents. Coconut palms are cultivated north of south Florida to roughly Cocoa Beach on the East Coast and the Tampa Bay area on the West Coast.[113]
On the east coast of the state,mangroves have normally dominated the coast fromCocoa Beach southward;salt marshes fromSt. Augustine northward. From St. Augustine south to Cocoa Beach, the coast fluctuates between the two, depending on the annual weather conditions.[107] All three mangrove species flower in the spring and early summer.Propagules are produced from late summer through early autumn.[114] Florida mangrove plant communities covered an estimated 430,000 to 540,000 acres (1,700 to 2,200 km2) in Florida in 1981. Ninety percent of the Florida mangroves are in southern Florida, inCollier,Lee,Miami-Dade andMonroe counties.
The Florida Reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States.[115] It is also the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the world, after theGreat Barrier Reef and theBelize Barrier Reef.[116] The reef lies a little bit off of the coast of the Florida Keys. A lot of the reef lies withinJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which was the firstunderwater park in the United States.[117] The park contains a lot of tropical vegetation, marine life, and seabirds. The Florida Reef extends into other parks and sanctuaries as well includingDry Tortugas National Park,Biscayne National Park, and theFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Almost 1,400 species of marine plants and animals, including more than 40 species ofstony corals and 500 species of fish, live on the Florida Reef.[118] The Florida Reef, being a delicate ecosystem like other coral reefs, faces many threats includingoverfishing, plastics in the ocean,coral bleaching, rising sea levels, and changes insea surface temperature.
Florida is a low per capita energy user.[119] As of 2008[update], it is estimated that approximately 4% of energy in the state is generated through renewable resources.[120] Florida's energy production is 6% of the U.S. total energy output, while total production of pollutants is lower, with figures of 6% fornitrogen oxide, 5% forcarbon dioxide, and 4% forsulfur dioxide.[120] Wildfires in Florida occur at all times of the year.[121]
All potable water resources have been controlled by the state government through five regional water authorities since 1972.[122]
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.[123] Red tide is now killing off wildlife orTropical fish and coral reefs putting all in danger.[124]
TheFlorida panther is close to extinction. A record 23 were killed in 2009, mainly by automobile collisions, leaving about 100 individuals in the wild. TheCenter for Biological Diversity and others have therefore called for a specialprotected area for the panther to be established.[125]Manatees are also dying at a rate higher than their reproduction.[126]American flamingos are rare to see in Florida due to being hunted in the 1900s, where it was to a point considered completely extirpated. Now the flamingos are reproducing toward making a comeback toSouth Florida since it is adamantly considered native to the state and also are now being protected.[127][128]
Much of Florida has an elevation of less than 12 feet (3.7 m), including many populated areas. Therefore, it is susceptible torising sea levels associated withglobal warming.[129] 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.[130] Elevated temperatures can damage coral reefs, causingcoral bleaching. The first recorded bleaching incident on the Florida Reef was in 1973. Incidents of bleaching have become more frequent in recent decades, in correlation with a rise insea surface temperatures.White band disease has also adversely affected corals on the Florida Reef.[131]
The largest deposits ofpotash in the United States are found in Florida.[133] The largest deposits ofrock phosphate in the country are found in Florida.[133] Most of this is inBone Valley.[134]
Extended systems of underwatercaves,sinkholes andsprings are found throughout the state and supply most of the water used by residents.[135] The limestone is topped withsandy soils deposited as ancient beaches over millions of years as global sea levels rose and fell. During thelast glacial period, lower sea levels and a drier climate revealed a much wider peninsula, largelysavanna.[136] While there are sinkholes in much of the state, modern sinkholes have tended to be in West-Central Florida.[137][138] Everglades National Park covers 1,509,000 acres (6,110 km2), throughoutDade,Monroe, andCollier counties in Florida.[139] TheEverglades, 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 $2billion from 2006 through 2010.[140]Winter Park Sinkhole, in central Florida, appeared May 8, 1981. It was approximately 350 feet (107m) wide and 75 feet (23m) deep. It was one of the largest recent sinkholes to form in the United States. It is now known as Lake Rose.[141] TheEconlockhatchee River (Econ River for short) is an 54.5-mile-long (87.7 km)[142] north-flowingblackwater tributary of theSt. Johns River, the longest river in theU.S. state of Florida. The Econ River flows throughOsceola,Orange, andSeminole counties inCentral Florida, just east of theOrlando Metropolitan Area (east ofState Road 417). It is a designatedOutstanding Florida Waters.[143]
Earthquakes are rare because Florida is not located near anytectonic plate boundaries.[144]
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.[146]
Florida is a highly urbanized state, with 89 percent of its population living in urban areas in 2000, compared to 79 percent across the U.S.[147]
In 2012, 75% of the population lived within 10 miles (16 km) of the coastline.[148]
Population density of Florida according to the 2020 censusCuban American men playing dominoes inMiami'sLittle Havana. In 2010, Cubans made up 34.4% of Miami's population and 6.5% of Florida's.[150][151]
TheU.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population of Florida was 21,477,737 on July 1, 2019, a 14.24% increase since the2010 United States census.[154] The population of Florida in the 2010 census was 18,801,310.[155] Florida was the seventh fastest-growing state in the U.S. in the 12-month period ending July 1, 2012.[156] In 2010, thecenter of population of Florida was located betweenFort Meade andFrostproof. 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 inPolk County since the1960 census.[157] The population exceeded 19.7million by December 2014, surpassing the population of the state ofNew York for the first time, making Florida the third most populous state.[158][159] The Florida population was 21,477,737 residents or people according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 Population Estimates Program.[160] By the 2020 census, its population increased to 21,538,187.
In 2010,undocumented immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7% of the population. This was the sixth highest percentage of any U.S. state.[161][b] There were an estimated 675,000 illegal immigrants in the state in 2010.[162] Florida has bannedsanctuary cities.[163]
In 2010, 6.9% of the population (1,269,765) considered themselves to be of onlyAmerican ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity).[151] Many of these were of English orScotch-Irish descent, whose families have lived in the state for so long they choose to identify as having "American" ancestry or do not know their ancestry.[172][173][174][175][176][177] In the 1980United States census, the largest ancestry group reported in Florida was English with 2,232,514 Floridians claiming they were of English or mostlyEnglish American ancestry.[178] Some of their ancestry dated to the originalThirteen Colonies.
As of 2010[update], 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).[151]White Americans of all European backgrounds are present in all areas of the state. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites constituted nearly 80% of Florida's population.[167] Those ofEnglish andIrish 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 andScots-Irish settlers, as well as some otherBritish American settlers.[179]
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, and 4.5% (847,550)Puerto Rican.[151] Florida'sHispanic population includes large communities ofCuban 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. 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.[180] Florida has the second-largest Puerto Rican population after New York, as well as the fastest-growing in the U.S.[181] Puerto Ricans are more widespread throughout the state, though the heaviest concentrations are in the Orlando area of Central Florida.[182] Florida has one of the largest and most diverse Hispanic/Latino populations in the country, especially inSouth Florida around Miami, and to a lesser degree Central Florida. Aside from the dominant Cuban and Puerto Rican populations, there are also large populations of Mexicans, Colombians, Venezuelans and Dominicans, among numerous other groups, as most Latino groups have sizable numbers in the state.
As of 2010[update], those of African ancestry accounted for 16.0% of Florida's population, which includesAfrican Americans. Out of the 16.0%, 4.0% (741,879) wereWest Indian orAfro-Caribbean American.[151] During the early 1900s,black people made up nearly half of the state's population.[183] In response to segregation, disfranchisement and agricultural depression, many African Americans migrated from Florida to northern cities in theGreat 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%.[184] Conversely, large numbers of northernwhites moved to the state.[185] Today, large concentrations of black residents can be found throughout Florida. Aside from blacks descended from African slaves brought to the southern U.S., there are also large numbers of blacks ofWest Indian,recent African, andAfro-Latino immigrant origins, especially in the Miami/South Florida area.[186] Florida has the largest West Indian population of any state, originating from many Caribbean countries, withHaitian Americans being the most numerous.
In 2016, Florida had the highest percentage of West Indians in the United States at 4.5%, with 2.3% (483,874) fromHaitian ancestry, 1.5% (303,527)Jamaican, and 0.2% (31,966)Bahamian, with the other West Indian groups making up the rest.[187]
As of 2010[update], those of Asian ancestry accounted for 2.4% of Florida's population.[151][188]
As of 2011, Florida contains the highest percentage of people over 65 (17.3%) in the U.S.[189] There were 186,102 military retirees living in the state in 2008.[151] About two-thirds of the population was born in another state, the second-highest in the U.S.[190]
In 1988, English was affirmed as the state'sofficial language in theFlorida Constitution.Spanish is also widely spoken, especially as immigration has continued from Latin America.[164] About 20% percent of the population speaksSpanish as their first language, while 27% speaks amother language other than English. More than 200 first languages other than English are spoken at home in the state.[192][193]
The most common languages spoken in Florida as a first language in 2010 are:[192]
The basic structure, duties, function, and operations of the government of the State of Florida are defined by theFlorida Constitution, which establishes the basic law of the state and guarantees various rights and freedoms of the people. As with the American federal government and all other state governments, Florida's government consists of three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislature enacts bills, which, if signed by thegovernor, becomelaw.
Florida has 67counties. Some reference materials may show only 66 becauseDuval County is consolidated with theCity 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 primary revenue source for cities and counties is property tax; properties with unpaid taxes are subject totax sales, which are held at the county level in May and are highly popular, due to the extensive use of online bidding sites.
The state government's primary revenue source is sales tax. Florida isone of eight states that do not impose a personalincome tax.
There were 800federal corruption convictions from 1988 to 2007, more than any other state.[198]
In a 2020 study, Florida was ranked as the 11th hardest state for citizens to vote in.[199] In April 2022, the legislature passed and the governor signed a new election law prohibiting Floridians from usingranked-choice voting in all federal, state and municipal elections.[200]
From 1952 to 1964, most voters were registered Democrats, but the state voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election except for1964. The following year, Congress passed and PresidentLyndon B. Johnson signed theVoting 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.
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 theSolid South, exercised considerable control in Congress. They have gained slightly less federal money from national programs than they have paid in taxes.[202] 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 were Democrats,[203] it continued to support Republican presidential candidates through 2004, except in1976 and1996, when the Democratic nominee was fromthe South.
In the2008 and2012 presidential elections,Barack Obama carried the state as a northern Democrat, attracting high voter turnout, especially among the young, independents, and minority voters, of whomHispanics comprise an increasingly large proportion. 2008 marked the first time since 1944, whenFranklin 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 wasWilliam C. Cramer in 1954 from Pinellas County on the Gulf Coast,[204] where demographic changes were underway. In this period, African Americans were stilldisenfranchised 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.[205] In 1968,Edward J. Gurney, also a white conservative, was elected as the state's first post-reconstruction Republican US senator.[206] In 1970, Democrats took the governorship and the open US Senate seat and maintained dominance for years.
Florida is sometimes considered a bellwether state in presidential elections because every candidate who won the state from 1996 until 2016 won the election.[207] The 2020 election broke that streak whenDonald Trump won Florida but lost the election.
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".[208]South Florida and theMiami metropolitan area became 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, including Jacksonville and the panhandle and particularly in the more rural and suburban areas. This is characteristic of its voter base throughout theDeep South.[208]
The fast-growingI-4 corridor area, which runs throughCentral Florida and connects the cities ofDaytona Beach,Orlando, andTampa/St. Petersburg, has had a fairly even breakdown of Republican and Democratic voters. The area has often been 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 in federal presidential elections.[209]
Reapportionment following the 2010 United States census gave the state two more seats in the House of Representatives.[213] 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 2012House of Representatives.[214] Florida has been listed as aswing state in presidential elections since 1952, voting for the losing candidate only twice in that period of time.[215]
In the closely contested2000 election, the state played a pivotal role.[211][212][216][217][218][219] Out of more than 5.8million votes for the two main contenders Bush andAl Gore, around 500 votes separated the two candidates for the all-decisive Florida electoral votes that landed Bush the election win. Florida'sfelony disenfranchisement law is more severe than most European nations or other American states. A 2002 study in theAmerican 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."[220]
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 Amendments5 and6 to the state constitution, to ensure more fairness in districting. These have become known as the Fair District Amendments. As a result of the2010 United States Census, Florida gained two House of Representative seats in 2012.[213] 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 byLeon 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.[221]
According toThe 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.[223]
The state switched back to the GOP in the2016 presidential election, and again in2020, whenDonald Trump headed the party's ticket both times. 2020 marked the first time Florida sided with the eventual loser of the presidential election since1992.
In the2018 elections, the ratio of Republican to Democratic representation fell from 16:11 to 14:13. TheU.S. Senate election between Democratic incumbent senatorBill Nelson and then governorRick Scott was close, with 49.93% voting for the incumbent and 50.06% voting for the former governor. Republicans also held onto the governorship in aclose race between Republican candidateRon DeSantis and Democratic candidateAndrew Gillum, with 49.6% voting for DeSantis and 49.3% voting for Gillum. In2022, incumbent Governor DeSantiswon reelection by alandslide against DemocratCharlie Crist. The unexpectedly large margin of victory led many pundits to question Florida's perennial status as a swing state, and instead identify it as ared state.[224]
In November 2021, for the first time in Florida's history, the total number of registered Republican voters exceeded the number of registered Democrats.[225]
In 1972, the state madepersonal injury protection auto insurance mandatory for drivers, becoming the second in the U.S. to enact ano-fault insurance law.[226] The ease of receiving payments under this law is seen as precipitating a major increase in insurance fraud.[227] Auto insurance fraud was the highest in the U.S. in 2011, estimated at close to $1billion.[228] Fraud is particularly centered in the Miami-Dade and Tampa areas.[229][230][231]
Capital punishment is applied in Florida.[232] If a person committing a predicate felony directly contributed to the death of the victim then the person will be charged with murder in the first degree. The only two sentences available for that statute are life imprisonment and the death penalty.[233][234] If a person commits a predicate felony, but was not the direct contributor to the death of the victim then the person will be charged with murder in the second degree. The maximum prison term is life.[233][234] In 1995, the legislature modified Chapter 921 to provide that felons should serve at least 85% of their sentence.[235][236]
Florida approved itslottery by amending the constitution in 1984. It approved slot machines in Broward andMiami-Dade County in 2004. It has disapproved casinos (outside of sovereignSeminole andMiccosukee tribal areas) three times: 1978, 1986, and 1994.[237]
The economy of the state of Florida is thefourth-largest in theUnited States, with a $1.647trilliongross state product (GSP) as of 2024.[238] If Florida were a sovereign nation (2024), it would rank as theworld's 15th-largest economy according to theInternational Monetary Fund, ahead ofSpain and behindSouth Korea.[238][239][240] In the 20th 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.[241]
Tourism is a large portion of Florida's economy. Florida is home to the world's most visited theme park, theMagic Kingdom.[242] Florida is also home to the largest single-site employer in the United States,Walt Disney World.[243]PortMiami is the largestpassenger port in the world and one of the largestcargo ports in the United States.[244] Beach towns have many visitors too as Florida is known around the world for its beaches.
Agriculture is another large part of the Florida economy. Florida is the number one grower of oranges for juice,[245] mangoes,[246] fresh tomatoes,[247] sugar,[248] sweet corn, green beans,[249] beans, cucumbers, watermelons, and more.[250] Florida is also the second biggest producer of strawberries, avocadoes, grapefruit, and peppers in the U.S.[250][251]
Other large sectors of Florida's economy include finance, government and military (especially in Jacksonville and Pensacola),[252] healthcare, aerospace (especially in theSpace Coast), mining (especially for phosphate inBone Valley), fishing, trade, real estate, and tech (especially in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa in the2020s).
In 2011, there were about 9,000retail gas stations in the state. Floridians consumed 21million gallons of gasoline daily in 2011, ranking it third in national use behind California and Texas.[254]As of 2024, motorists in Florida have one of the highest rates of car insurance in the U.S.[255][256] 24% are uninsured.[257]
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-profitInsurance Institute stated "Older drivers are more of a threat to themselves."[258]
I-10, which spans 362 miles in Florida, traverses thepanhandle, connectingPensacola,Tallahassee,Lake City, andJacksonville, with interchanges with I-75 in Lake City and I-95 in Jacksonville. It is the southernmost east–west interstate in the United States terminating inSanta Monica with a total length of 2460 miles.
I-95, which spans 382 miles in Florida, enters the state near Jacksonville and continues along the Atlantic Coast through Daytona Beach, theMelbourne/Titusville,Palm Bay,Vero Beach,Fort Pierce,Port Saint Lucie,Stuart,West Palm Beach, andFort Lauderdale, before terminating inDowntown Miami. It has interchanges with I-10 in Jacksonville and I-4 in Daytona Beach, and 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 ofHoulton, Maine.
Orlando: Orlando is served by theSunRail commuter train, which runs on a 61 miles (98 km) line including four stops in downtown.Lynx bus serves the greater Orlando area inOrange,Seminole, andOsceola counties.[265]
Jacksonville: Jacksonville is served by theJacksonville Skyway, an automated people movermonorail connecting theFlorida State College downtown campus, the Northbank central business district, Convention Center, and Southbank locations. The system includes eight stops connected by two lines.JTA bus has 180 vehicles with 56 lines.[268]
There were 2.7millionMedicaid patients in Florida in 2009. The governor has proposed adding $2.6billion to care for the expected 300,000 additional patients in 2011.[269] The cost of caring for 2.3million clients in 2010 was $18.8billion.[270] This is nearly 30% of Florida's budget.[271] Medicaid paid for 60% of all births in Florida in 2009. The state has aprogram for those not covered by Medicaid.
In 2013, Florida refused to participate in providing coverage for the uninsured under theAffordable Care Act, colloquially 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.[272]
Within Florida, certain cities are recognized for presenting challenges to allergy sufferers. For example, Sarasota has been ranked as 13th nationally for pollen counts in some assessments of US cities.[277] Orlando is also frequently listed among the Top 20 "Allergy Capitals" in the United States, attributed in part to year-round allergens exacerbated by urban greenery.[277] Miami is noted for elevated mold spore levels, particularly following hurricane events, which can worsen allergy symptoms for sensitive individuals.[277]
Being of early importance as a regional center of banking and finance, thearchitecture of Jacksonville displays a wide variety of styles and design principles. Many of the state's earliest skyscrapers were constructed in Jacksonville, dating as far back as 1902,[280] and last holding a state height record from 1974 to 1981.[281] The city is endowed with one of the largest collections ofPrairie School buildings outside of the Midwest.[282] Jacksonville is also noteworthy for its collection ofMid-Century modern architecture.[283]
Some sections of the state feature architectural styles includingSpanish revival,Florida vernacular, andMediterranean Revival.[284] A notable collection of these styles can be found inSt. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement within the borders of the United States.[285]
In 2020, Florida was ranked the third best state in the U.S. forK-12 education, outperforming other states in 15 out of 18 metrics inEducation Week's 2020 Quality Counts report.[286] In terms of K-12 Achievement, which measures progress in areas such as academic excellence and graduation rates, the state was graded "B−" compared to a national average of C.[286] Florida's higher education was ranked first and pre-K-12 was ranked 27th best nationwide byU.S. News & World Report.[287]
Primary and secondary education
Florida spent $8,920 for each student in 2016, and was 43rd in the U.S. in expenditures per student.[288]
Florida's primary and secondary school systems are administered by theFlorida Department of Education. School districts are organized within county boundaries. Each school district has an electedBoard of Education that sets policy, budget, goals, and approves expenditures. Management is the responsibility of aSuperintendent of schools.
While Florida's public schools suffer from more than 5,000 unoccupied teacher positions, according to Karla Hernández, teacher and president of United Teachers of Dade, decisions made by the DeSantis administration will make the situation worse. She referred to its blocking of anAdvanced Placement African American studies course,[290] book bans and removing some lessons in courses as "really scary moments in the state of Florida".[291]
In 2023, the state of Florida approved a public school curriculum including videos produced by conservative advocacy groupPragerU, likening climate change skeptics to those who fought Communism and Nazism, implying renewable energy harms the environment, and saying global warming occurs naturally.[292] DeSantis has called climate change "leftwing stuff".[292]
TheState University System of Florida was founded in 1905, and is governed by theFlorida Board of Governors. During the 2019 academic year, 346,604 students attended one of these twelve universities.[296] In 2016, Florida charged the second lowest tuition in the U.S. for four-year programs, at $26,000 for in-state students and $86,000 for out-of-state students; this compares with an average of $34,800 for in-state students.[297]
TheFlorida College System comprises 28 public community and state colleges with 68 campuses spread out throughout the state. In 2016, enrollment exceeded 813,000 students.[298]
TheIndependent Colleges and Universities of Florida is an association of 30 private, educational institutions in the state.[299] This Association reported that their member institutions served more than 158,000 students in the fall of 2020.[300]
As of 2023, three universities in Florida are members of theAssociation of American Universities: University of Florida, University of Miami and University of South Florida.[301]
Florida has threeNFL teams, twoMLB teams, twoNBA teams, twoNHL teams, and twoMLS teams. Florida gained its first permanent major-league professional sports team in 1966 when theAmerican Football League added theMiami Dolphins. Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.[302]
About half of allMajor League Baseball teams conductspring training in the state, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit League". Throughout MLB history, other teams have held spring training in Florida.
The majority of the symbols were chosen after 1950; only the two oldest symbols—thestate flower (chosen in 1909), and thestate bird (chosen in 1927)—are not listed in the 2010Florida Statutes.[306]
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^U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data.The National MapArchived March 29, 2012, at theWayback Machine, accessed April 21, 2011
^"FL".censusviewer.com. Archived fromthe original on March 21, 2023. RetrievedApril 16, 2024.
^Center for New Media and Promotions(C2PO)."2010 Census Data".Census.gov.Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. RetrievedApril 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?',Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
^Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns',Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44–6.
^Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites',Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82–86.
^Mary C. Waters,Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), p. 36.
^"Claude Roy Kirk, Jr". Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Archived fromthe original on December 2, 2008. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2008.
^Cf. Fla. Stat. § 103.011 (web versionArchived April 9, 2022, at theWayback Machine) ("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.")
^"Personal Injury Protection (PIP)"(PDF). The Florida Senate, Committee on Banking and Insurance. August 2011.Archived(PDF) from the original on January 5, 2012. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2012.
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