Florida Quick Facts

Facts About Florida

Florida was admitted to United States as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)

Governor — Rick Scott

Capital — Tallahassee

Nickname — Sunshine State

State Flower — Orange Blossom

(Click Here) for Florida symbols

Number of Counties in Florida — 67

Form of Government — Governor and independent cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture. (Click Here) for additional information on Florida's cabinet process.

Legislature — 120 House Districts, 40 Senate Districts, 23 Congressional Districts

More Information

Economy, State Spending & Taxes | Geography | History | Population | Taxes | Weather & Seasons | Other Interesting Facts

Florida Economy, State Spending & Taxes

Gross State Domestic Product (in millions):

• $680,277 — 2005
• $730,191 — 2006
• $759,572 — 2007
• $747,770 — 2008
• $732,782 — 2009
• $747,735 — 2010
• $754,255 — 2011

Economy Strengths:

• International Trade (40% of all U.S. exports to Latin and South America pass through Florida)
• Tourism — with 87.3 million visitors in 2011 (a record number), Florida is the top travel destination in the world. The tourism industry has an economic impact of $67 billion on Florida's economy. Click here for additional tourism facts and statistics.
• Space Industry — The space industry represents $4.1 billion of the state's economy. The average annual wage of aerospace workers is approximately $67,000. The number employed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) alone is 13,000 and Florida ranks 4th among the states in overall aerospace employment with 33,000 jobs.
• Agriculture — Florida leads the southeast in farm income. Florida produces about 67% of the U.S. oranges and accounts for about 40% of the world's orange juice supply.
• Construction — This industry's strength results from the steady stream of new residents and visitors who are welcomed to Florida each year.
• Services — growth in high tech, financial & back office operations
• Software — many small, entrepreneurial companies
• Health Technology (medical, biotech, laboratories)
• University Research — more than $500 million per year in sponsored research at Florida universities
• (Click Here) for more information on Florida's economy

State Budget Information | Governor's e-Budget Page

• $69,975,817,005 (2012-2013)

State Spending Per Capita 2007 — Florida Ranks 49th ($4,009)

Florida Taxes — Florida ranks low in terms of the tax burden placed on residents. Based on income, property and other state and local tax collections, the Tax Foundation research organization ranks Florida among the lowest tax states (Florida ranks #5 among the 50 states in 2013; only four states have a lower tax burden).

State Sales Tax — 6%

Corporate Tax — 5.5%

State Income Tax — None

Additional Tax Information — Florida Tax Guide (Click Here)

Additional Business & Economy Information:
Doing Business in Florida (State of Florida.com)

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.)

More Florida water information: (Click Here)

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)

See our front page for more "Historic" information links: (Click Here)

Florida Population

Population Rank — 4th in U.S. behind California, Texas & New York

Florida population estimates:

Florida's Population (2011) — 19,057,542

Florida's Population (2003) — 17,019,068
Florida's Population (2002) — 16,713,149
Florida's Population (2001) — 16,396,515
Florida's Population (2000) — 15,982,378
Population (1990) — 12,937,926
Population (1980) — 9,746,961
Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) — 23.5%

City Population Rank (2011):

Most Populous Metro Areas (2011):

County Population (2011):

(Counties Listed in Alphabetical Order) | County Population Map

Total State Population: 18,801,310 (2010)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census

More Florida Census Data

Go Directly to Florida Counties (Click Here)

Florida Weather & Seasons

Florida is known around the world for its balmy 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)

Get Current Weather Info.

The six-month hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and Floridians have learned to be ready when a storm threatens the area. More Information: National Hurricane Center

Tree planting season in Florida (December–February)

Other Interesting 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

There is no official designation of a "State Motto". The motto "In God We Trust" is widely used but has never been formally adopted by the Florida Legislature.

Sources: Florida Dept. of State; Visit Florida; U.S. Census Bureau; Bureau of Economic & Business Research (University of Florida); State of Florida.com research.