Florida

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This article is about the U.S. state of Florida. For other uses, see Florida (disambiguation).

State of Florida
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Sunshine State
Motto(s): In God We Trust
State song(s): "Old Folks at Home (State Song), Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky) (State Anthem)"
Official language	English[1]
Spoken languages	Predominantly English and Spanish[2]
Demonym	Floridian, Floridan
Capital	Tallahassee
Largest city	Jacksonville
Largest metro	Miami metro area
Area	Ranked 22nd
• Total	65,755[3] sq mi (170,304[3] km2)
• Width	361 miles (582 km)
• Length	447 miles (721 km)
• % water	17.9
• Latitude	24° 27' N to 31° 00' N
• Longitude	80° 02' W to 87° 38' W
Population	Ranked 3rd
• Total	20,612,439 (2016 est)[4]
• Density	313.4/sq mi  (121.0/km2) Ranked 8th
• Median household income	$48,825[5] (41st)
Elevation
• Highest point	Britton Hill[6][7] 345 ft (105 m)
• Mean	100 ft  (30 m)
• Lowest point	Atlantic Ocean[6] sea level
Before statehood	Florida Territory
Admission to Union	March 3, 1845 (27th)
Governor	Rick Scott (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Carlos López-Cantera (R)
Legislature	Florida Legislature
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. Senators	Bill Nelson (D) Marco Rubio (R)
U.S. House delegation	16 Republicans, 11 Democrats (list)
Time zones
• Peninsula and "Big Bend" region	EST: UTC −5/−4
• Panhandle west of the Apalachicola River	CST: UTC −6/−5
ISO 3166	US-FL
Abbreviations	FL, Fla.
Website	myflorida.com

[show]Florida state symbols

Florida ⁱ/ˈflɒrᵻdə/ (Spanish for "land of flowers") is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida and Cuba. Florida is the 22nd most extensive, the 3rd most populous,^[9] and the 8th most densely populated of the U.S. states. Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. The Miami metropolitan area is Florida's most populous urban area. The city of Tallahassee is the state capital.
A peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida, it has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), and is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the state is at or near sea level and is characterized by sedimentary soil. The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south.^[10] The American alligator, American crocodile, Florida panther, and manatee can be found in the Everglades National Park.
Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León – who named it La Florida ([la floˈɾiða] "land of flowers") upon landing there in the Easter season, Pascua Florida^[11] – Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845. It was a principal location of the Seminole Wars against the Native Americans, and racial segregation after the American Civil War.
Today, Florida is distinctive for its large Cuban expatriate community and high population growth, as well as for its increasing environmental issues. The state's economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also renowned for amusement parks, orange crops, the Kennedy Space Center, and as a popular destination for retirees.
Florida culture is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; Native American, European American, Hispanic and Latino, and African American heritages can be found in the architecture and cuisine. Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing and water sports.