Capital - Tallahassee

Nickname - Sunshine State

State Flower - Orange Blossom

Number of Counties in Florida – 67


Florida History

Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida in 1513 when he lands in NE Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine, to claim Florida for Spain. This is when written records about life in Florida began.

First permanent European settlement is established in 1565 in St. Augustine by Spain.

Florida becomes a U.S. Territory in 1821. General Andrew Jackson serves as military governor until Congress ratifies a territorial constitution.

William P. Duval, Florida's first civil governor, calls the first Legislative Council into session in Pensacola on June 19, 1823.

Admitted to U.S. as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)

Florida Weather & Seasons

Florida is known around the world for its amazing weather. The state's mild winters have made it a haven for retirees. Summers can be long and hot with showers providing much appreciated relief during the rainy season. Coastal areas also experience gentle breezes during the summer.

Average Annual Temperatures:

Summer:
80.5 (F) degrees (26.9 C) (North Florida)
82.7 (F) degrees (28.2 C) (South Florida)

Winter:
53.0 (F) degrees (11.7 C) (North Florida)
68.5 (F) degrees (20.3 C) (South Florida)

Additional Florida Facts

Number of people who move to Florida each day - 1,000

Number of major commercial airports - 19

Number of international airports - 12

Number of deepwater ports - 14

Miles of sand beaches - 1,200

Miles of coastline - 1,800

Number of golf courses - more than 1,250
-Florida has more golf courses than any other state
-Palm Beach County has more golf courses than any other county in the country

Number of hotel rooms in Florida - more than 370,000

Number of campgrounds - 700 (100,000 campsites)

Number of people who camp in Florida each year - 6 million


Florida Geography

Total Area - 58,560 Square Miles

Land Area - 54,252 Square Miles

Total Water Area - 4,308 Square Miles

Rank Among States in Total Area - 22nd

Length North to South - 447 Miles

Width East to West - 361 Miles

Distance from Pensacola to Key West - 792 Miles by Road

Highest Natural Point - 345 Feet near Lakewood in Walton County

Geographic Center - 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County

Coastline - 1,197 Statute Miles

Tidal Shoreline - 2,276 Statute Miles

Beaches - 663 Miles

Florida has more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams & waterways

Longest River - St. Johns at 273 miles

Largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee at 700 square miles
(the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the United States)

Largest County - Palm Beach at 2,578 square miles

Smallest County - Union at 245 square miles

Number of Lakes greater than 10 acres - Aprox. 7,700

Number of First Magnitude Springs - 27
(Florida has more first magnitude springs than any other state.)

Number of Islands Greater than 10 Acres - Aprox. 4,500
(Florida ranks 2nd in the nation by this measure and only Alaska ranks higher.)