HISTORY
Indigenous people, including the Ais, Apalachee, Calusa, Timucua and Tocobago
Indian Tribes, inhabited the lands of Florida for many thousands of years before
its discovery by European settlers. In 1513, a Spanish conquistador named Juan
Ponce de Le?, selected the title of ?La Florida?, which is a Spanish word for
the Easter season (Feast of Flowers). Over the next century, settlements by the
French and Spanish met varying degrees of success, as fighting over the land
ensued between the two factions. At one point, St. Augustine served as the
capital of both the British and Spanish colonies, with each group working to
find allies with the local Indians and the slaves of the Carolinas. When Great
Britain gained control of Florida in 1763, leaders unsuccessfully tried to
import immigrants, for labor and growth of the area. After England?s subsequent
defeat by the American colonies and the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Spain regained
control of Florida.
With the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1819, Spain finally ceded Florida to the United
States, with the condition that the United States would relinquish its
possession of the State of Texas. On March 3, 1845, Florida became America?s
27th state and eventually seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861 at the
onset of the Civil War. Ten days later, Floridians became the founding members
of the Confederate States of America. Once the least populated Southern State,
Florida?s warm climate and close proximity to the Rust Belt lured many
newcomers. Florida is currently the most populous Southern State (aside from
Texas) and is the nation?s fourth most populous state.
DEMOGRAPHICS The United States Census 2000 data recorded Florida?s population as
approximately 15.9 million residents, with the capital city of Tallahassee
accounting for 150,624 of that total. The 2005 census estimates reported FL?s
population as 17,789,864, which is an increase of 1,807,040, or 11.3%, since the
official census in 2000. This increase includes a natural growth spurt of
246,058 from the 2000 census (1,115,565 births minus 869,507 deaths) with a net
migration of 1,585,704 new individuals moving into Florida. Foreign immigration
produced a net increase of 528,085 people, while migration from within the U.S.
encompassed a net increase of 1,057,619 citizens.
Hispanic residents make up more than 16% of Florida's population. Its diverse
array of Hispanic residents consists particularly of Cubans in Miami and Tampa,
with a significant presence of Puerto Rican citizens present in Tampa and
Orlando. Large concentrations of Central American migrant workers reside within
Florida?s West-Central and Southern sections. After Hispanics, Florida?s next
largest groups of ancestry include German (11.8%), Irish (10.3%), English
(9.2%), American (8%) and Italian (6.3%). African Americans have a strong
presence in Northern Florida and predictions claim that black residents will be
in the majority in Jacksonville by 2025.
GEOGRAPHY Florida encompasses nearly 66,000 square miles of the southeastern corner of
the Unites States. Primarily situated between the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of
Mexico and the Straits of Florida, the state consists of a panhandle and a large
peninsula. The ten largest cities in Florida include Hialeah, Hollywood,
Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Pembroke Pines, Tallahassee,
Tampa, St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach. Florida shares its borders with
Georgia to the north and Alabama to the west, with the Caribbean countries of
the Bahamas and Cuba nearby in the south.
Florida features a surprisingly varied geography, ranging from the sandy shores
of the east and west coasts to the rolling hills and swampland of the state?s
interior. Some cities, such as Clearwater, boast vistas that rise between 50 to
100 feet above sea level. Several interior sections that are 25 or more miles
away from the coastline have hills with elevations that range anywhere from 100
to 250 feet above sea-level. With an elevation of 345 feet, Britton Hill is
Florida?s highest point. This is also the lowest highpoint of any U.S. state.
Sugarloaf Mountain, at 312 feet, is the highest point in the peninsular region
of Florida.
Affectionately known as ?The Sunshine State?, the majority of Florida has a
humid, subtropical climate, influenced by the Gulf Stream and the state?s close
proximity to the warm ocean waters. While known for its wealth of sunny days,
Florida stakes claim to more than its share of severe weather. Florida?s rainy
season brings severe thunderstorms that often interrupt the sultry weather,
while hurricanes pose a potential threat during this time as well. An average
rainy season lasts anywhere from late spring through early fall, with frequent
afternoon thunderstorms giving Florida the highest precipitation average
nationwide. Florida?s relatively mild fall and winter brings a distinct balance
to the hot and steamy summers.
ECONOMY Floridians enjoy a booming economy with tourism serving as the state?s
primary industry. A reputation for sunshine, pristine beaches and a myriad of
family-friendly attractions lure 60 million vacationing tourists to Florida each
year. The most popular destinations include Busch Gardens in Tampa, Everglades
National Park, the massive Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, the Kennedy
Space Center in Cape Canaveral and Miami?s South Beach. Additional attractions
include the Daytona International Speedway, Keywest Aquarium, numerous
lighthouses, waterparks and historic St. Augustine, which is the nation?s oldest
city.
Other industries bringing balance to Florida?s thriving economy include banking,
commercial fishing and phosphate mining, all of which contribute a great deal to
the gross state product ($550 billion in 2003). In addition, the arrival of the
space program at the Kennedy Space Center in the 1960?s lured a wealth of
aerospace and military facilities into Florida. Florida is one of the nation?s
nine states that does not impose a personal income tax on its citizens, but
does, however, tax intangible personal property such as bonds, stocks and mutual
funds.
AGRICULTURE The citrus fruit and juice industries play significant roles in Florida?s
economy.
Additional agricultural products include cattle, dairy products, melons,
peanuts, potatoes, strawberries, sugar cane and tomatoes. Before the massive
influx of tourists in the early 1900?s, agriculture and farming were the primary
industries supporting the financial needs of Floridians.
EDUCATION The State University System of Florida or SUS is a system of public colleges
and universities indirectly governed by the State of Florida. Nearly 30
community colleges, 10 state universities and a wide variety of independent and
private colleges and universities exist within the State of Florida. Choices
include many highly esteemed facilities such as Florida State University, New
College of Florida, the University of Florida, the University of Miami and the
University of South Florida. < Main Florida Profile
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