People, known as Paleo-Indians, entered Florida at least 14,000 years ago. Florida's new immigration law, set to take effect July 1, is prompting many migrant workers to leave the state, leaving employers in the lurch. Additionally, people or <1% of Florida 's population have recieved a booster dose. 29.8%. Throughout MLB history, other teams have held spring training in Florida. People came from the Bahamas to South Florida and the Keys to hunt for treasure from the ships that ran aground on the treacherous Great Florida Reef. [30][31] Neither East Florida nor West Florida sent any representatives to Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence. Florida has 22 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These have become known as the Fair District Amendments. Florida was repeatedly contested by Spain and Great Britain before being ceded to the U.S. in 1819; it was admitted as the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Andrew is currently the second-costliest hurricane in Florida's history.[101]. [143], The largest metropolitan area in the state as well as the entire southeastern United States is the Miami metropolitan area, with about 6.06million people. The Florida Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and six justices. The Constitution requires state representatives to be elected for two-year terms. It spans 65,758 square miles (170,310km2), ranking 22nd in area among the 50 states. DC State Solar Policy It was notable as one of the largest recent sinkholes to form in the United States. [259], While Florida's public schools suffer from more than 5,000 unoccupied teacher positions, certain politics on this state make the situation worse, according to a teacher and president of United Teachers of Dade, Karla Hernndez. Each state in the United States elects two senators, regardless of the state's population. Dennis W. Ward, State Attorney. It is the only state besides Hawaii to have a tropical climate, and is the only continental state with both a tropical climate, located at the southern portion of the state, and a coral reef. Florida is 160 miles wide and 500 miles long at its most distant points. In order to induce settlers to move to Florida, reports of its natural wealth were published in England. Decisions stemming from Florida's highest court have helped shape the state itself and also the nation. List of State Attorney's Offices in Florida - Sammis Law Firm 'Complex' issue affects billions of dollars in state revenue", https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/qgdpstate0621.pdf, "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2021", "100 of the largest hospitals and health systems in America,", "County Medicaid tab rises, could get worse", "Sunday debate: No: Longtime official lost touch with voters", "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013", "Tour Miami's Art Deco DistrictMiamiAndBeaches.comMiami and The Beaches", "A Century of Florida's Tallest Skyscrapers", "When Does Modern Architecture Become Historic? Florida is host to many types of wildlife including: Florida also has more than 500 nonnative animal species and 1,000 nonnative insects found throughout the state. Florida is the southernmost American state that is surrounded by Georgia, Alabama, the Gulf of Mexico, and Florida Straits. Florida ranks number one as the state with the most residents interested in relocating with a search volume of 152 per 100,000 . Highways. [107] All three mangrove species flower in the spring and early summer. November 5, 2024. [69] The Surfside collapse is tied with the Knickerbocker Theatre collapse as the third-deadliest structural engineering failure in United States history, behind the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse and the collapse of the Pemberton Mill. Six industries, including construction, agriculture and services, employ an . Alongside the Florida State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Florida state government and works alongside the governor of Florida to create laws and establish a state budget. [135] While there are sinkholes in much of the state, modern sinkholes have tended to be in West-Central Florida. Length north and south - 447 miles (St. Marys River to Key West) Width east and west - 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River) Distance from Pensacola to Key West - 792 miles (by road) Highest Natural Point - 345 feet. In the pre-automobile era, railroads played a key role in the state's development, particularly in coastal areas. It is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Is Florida the top state Americans want to move to, or move out of? We [153] Florida was the seventh fastest-growing state in the U.S. in the 12-month period ending July 1, 2012. "[36], More recent historians describe that after U.S. independence, settlers in Georgia increased pressure on Seminole lands, and skirmishes near the border led to the First Seminole War (181619). The geographical area of Spanish claims in La Florida diminished with the establishment of English settlements to the north and French claims to the west. Florida has a large and diverse Hispanic population, with Cubans and Puerto Ricans being the largest groups in the state. [118] As of 2008[update], it is estimated that approximately 4% of energy in the state is generated through renewable resources. [226] The ease of receiving payments under this law is seen as precipitating a major increase in insurance fraud. By 1960, the proportion of African Americans in the state had declined to 18%. [159][b] There were an estimated 675,000 illegal immigrants in the state in 2010. Florida is the flattest state in the country, with the lowest high point of any U.S. state, at just 345 feet (105 meters). Ranking all 50 states by size in square miles including overall area, land area, and water area. Though technically not allowed by the Spanish authorities and the Floridan government, 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. This is the largest Jewish population in the southern U.S. and the third-largest in the U.S. behind those of New York and California. Florida was admitted as the 27th state to the United States of America on March 3, 1845. A large portion of the Florida population left, taking along large portions of the remaining indigenous population with them to Cuba. Florida had the highest in-prison HIV rate with 1,800 HIV-positive people in prison (almost 3% of the state's prison population as of 2021). Florida Coronavirus Vaccination Progress | USAFacts Much of Central and North Florida, typically 25mi (40km) or more away from the coastline, have rolling hills with elevations ranging from 100 to 250ft (30 to 76m). In June 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando. The Florida Historical Quarterly, 67(1), 15-31. 255,037 Americans working in solar. St. Augustine had mustered an all-black militia unit defending Spanish Florida as early as 1683.[22]. Current members The current members of the U.S. House from Florida are: District map Historical representatives It is the first recorded Christian marriage in the continental United States. Florida's most recent major-league team, Inter Miami, began play in MLS in 2020.[284]. U.S. Geological Survey. Florida is one of eight states that do not impose a personal income tax. Nearly 80% of Cuban Americans live in Florida, especially South Florida where there is a long-standing and affluent Cuban community. Farm Operations - Area Operated, Measured in Acres / Operation. In 2021, about 12.6 percent of the population in Florida was between 25 and 34 years old. Florida has been considered a battleground state in American presidential elections, particularly those in 2000, 2016, and 2020. Data Updated May 22 USA / Florida / County Cases and Deaths Vaccination Progress Impact and Recovery New Cases Per Day [286] Since 1996, Florida has added four additional teams to the ranks of Division I FBS: UCF Knights, South Florida Bulls, Florida Atlantic Owls and FIU Panthers. The state seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, becoming one of the seven original Confederate States, and was readmitted to the Union after the Civil War on June 25, 1868. [195], In 2010, the three largest denominations in Florida were the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the United Methodist Church. [243] The cost of caring for 2.3million clients in 2010 was $18.8billion. In 2010, undocumented immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7% of the population. Representatives Of The Florida House - Florida House of Representatives Total land area - 53,625 square miles. Following the American Civil War, Florida's congressional representation was restored on June 25, 1868, albeit forcefully after Reconstruction and the installation of unelected government officials under the final authority of federal military commanders. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites constituted nearly 80% of Florida's population. #30. [32], Spain regained both East and West Florida after Britain's defeat in the Revolutionary War and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783, and continued the provincial divisions until 1821.[33]. Florida's first private university, Stetson University in DeLand, was founded in 1883. [158] By the 2020 census, its population increased to 21,538,187. Drivers 70 and older averaged 95 per 10,000 during the same time frame. [129] Elevated temperatures can damage coral reefs, causing coral bleaching. This was the sixth highest percentage of any U.S. Florida population by year, county, race, & more | USAFacts [196], The Pew Research Center survey in 2014 gave the following religious makeup of Florida:[197]. [46] The Third Seminole War was not as destructive as the second, but it slowed the settlement of southeast Florida. Florida is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Florida has several unique ecosystems, including Everglades National Park, the largest tropical wilderness in the U.S. and among the largest in the Americas. The state is located in the South Central region of the country USA. Instead of troops and manufactured goods, Florida did provide salt and, more importantly, beef to feed the Confederate armies. [177] Some of their ancestry dated to the original thirteen colonies. [65], In 2012, the killing of Trayvon Martin, a young black man, by George Zimmerman in Sanford drew national attention to Florida's stand-your-ground laws, and sparked African-American activism nationally, including the Black Lives Matter movement. In 1883, the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad connected Pensacola and the rest of the Panhandle to the rest of the state. [256], With an educational system made up of public school districts and independent private institutions, Florida had 2,833,115 students enrolled in 4,269 public primary, secondary, and vocational schools in Florida's 67 regular or seven special school districts as of 2018[update]. [150] Florida's Hispanic population includes large communities of Cuban Americans in Miami and Tampa, Puerto Ricans in Orlando and Tampa, and Mexican/Central American migrant workers. Shoaf, Jason Republican District: 7 Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hamilton, Lafayette, Liberty, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla and Parts of Jefferson, Leon. [181] Puerto Ricans are more widespread throughout the state, though the heaviest concentrations are in the Orlando area of Central Florida. [108] Some exotic species living in Florida include the Burmese python, green iguana, veiled chameleon, Argentine black and white tegu, peacock bass, mayan cichlid, lionfish, White-nosed coati, rhesus macaque, vervet monkey, Cuban tree frog, cane toad, Indian peafowl, monk parakeet, tui parakeet, and many more. Highways are maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation. "Florida's Seminole and Miccosukee Peoples". The rest of the state, including Miami, receives between 2,800 and 3,200 hours annually. The PGA of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, the PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, and the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach. 4,233,150 Solar energy systems installed nationwide. [207] The 2020 election broke that streak when Donald Trump won Florida but lost the election. Currently, 40 Senators serve the people of Florida. 8,157,420. [70][71], Much of Florida is on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Straits of Florida. Protestants are very diverse, although Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals and nondenominational Protestants are the largest groups. It approved slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade County in 2004. Florida has 293 inmates on Death Row, some since the 1970s. Three billion-dollar weather disasters affected Florida in 2018and a total of 13 affected the state between 2010 and 2018. 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." Each school district has an elected Board of Education that sets policy, budget, goals, and approves expenditures. [29] The British government gave land grants to officers and soldiers who had fought in the French and Indian War in order to encourage settlement. Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns'. The largest deposits of potash in the United States are found in Florida. Much of Florida is at or near sea level, and is characterized by sedimentary soil. The state has a program for those not covered by Medicaid. Mean low temperatures for early to mid January range from the low 40s Fahrenheit (47C) in north Florida to above 60F (16C) from Miami on southward. The Florida College System comprises 28 public community and state colleges with 68 campuses spread out throughout the state. Retrieved from, Historical Census Browser, 1900 Federal Census, University of Virginia. Florida Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps [178] Those of English and Irish ancestry are present in large numbers in all the urban/suburban areas across the state. The Spanish encouraged slaves from the Thirteen Colonies to come to Florida as a refuge, promising freedom in exchange for conversion to Catholicism. The majority of the symbols were chosen after 1950; only the two oldest symbolsthe state flower (chosen in 1909), and the state bird (chosen in 1927), and the state nickname (chosen in 1970)are not listed in the 2010 Florida Statutes. [186], As of 2010[update], those of Asian ancestry accounted for 2.4% of Florida's population. The United States Army led increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish territory, including the 18171818 campaign against the Seminole Indians by Andrew Jackson that became known as the First Seminole War. The following day they came ashore to seek information and take possession of this new land. The University of Miami in Coral Gables is one of the nation's top private research universities. [117] The Florida Reef, being a delicate ecosystem like other coral reefs, faces many threats including overfishing, plastics in the ocean, coral bleaching, rising sea levels, and changes in sea surface temperature. [109], The state has more than 26,000 square miles (67,000km2) of forests, covering about half of the state's land area. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,593 (fall 2021), its setting is city, and the campus size is 487 acres. Spanning two time zones, it extends to the northwest into a panhandle, extending along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. How many people are seemingly seeking to relocate from Florida? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' laws keep getting blocked. A partial list. Florida is west of the Bahamas and 90 miles (140km) north of Cuba. A A. [17] The Spanish introduced Christianity, cattle, horses, sheep, the Castilian language, and more to Florida. Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.[283]. This was the first introduction of the English-derived legal system which Florida still has today, including trial by jury, habeas corpus and county-based government. 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. Term limits [116] The park contains a lot of tropical vegetation, marine life, and seabirds. Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites'. [77] Mean high temperatures for late July are primarily in the low 90s Fahrenheit (3234C). Solar State By State Explore the latest solar market insights and policy updates in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. All market data is current through Q1 2023. Aside from blacks descended from African slaves brought to the southern U.S., there are also large numbers of blacks of West Indian, recent African, and Afro-Latino immigrant origins, especially in the Miami/South Florida area. 33312. Total water area - 12,133 square miles. Florida Population 2023 | Population USA Florida State Energy Profile - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) The coldest temperature was 2F (19C), on February 13, 1899, just 25 miles (40km) away, in Tallahassee. There were 800 federal corruption convictions from 1988 to 2007, more than any other state. USDA/NASS 2022 State Agriculture Overview for Florida The first section, from Fort Pierce south to the Golden Glades Interchange was completed in 1957. The current governor of Florida is Ron DeSantis. Petersburg, has had a fairly even breakdown of Republican and Democratic voters. [238] If Florida were a sovereign nation (2021), it would rank as the world's 16th-largest economy according to the International Monetary Fund, ahead of Indonesia and behind Mexico. Substance found in White House confirmed to be cocaine; Man arrested near Obama's home threatened government facility, feds say; Body found in Canadian river in 1975 identified as U.S. businesswoman The basic structure, duties, function, and operations of the government of the State of Florida are defined by the Florida Constitution, which establishes the basic law of the state and guarantees various rights and freedoms of the people. The United States purchased Florida from Spain by the Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) and took possession in 1821. Florida is one of the largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and Michigan are larger in water area. 149.5 GW Total solar capacity installed nationwide. [253] A notable collection of these styles can be found in St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement within the borders of the United States. state. After the Reconstruction period ended in 1876, white Democrats regained power in the state legislature. State-By-State Map | SEIA [200], Florida retains the death penalty. And Texas Gov. 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. In 2016, enrollment exceeded 813,000 students. Now the flamingos are reproducing toward making a comeback to South Florida since it is adamantly considered native to the state and also are now being protected. Florida's interstates, state highways, and U.S. Following the war, approximately 3,000 Seminole and 800 Black Seminole were removed to Indian Territory. School districts are organized within county boundaries. Rogers, Maxine D.; Rivers, Larry E.; Colburn, David R.; Dye, R. Tom & Rogers, William W. (December 1993), Precht and Miller:24344, 245, 24748, 249. [184] Conversely, large numbers of northern whites moved to the state. [14][15] The story that he was searching for the Fountain of Youth is mythical and appeared only long after his death.[16]. [180] Florida has the second-largest Puerto Rican population after New York, as well as the fastest-growing in the nation. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Florida Twenty-seven percent of Florida's population reports speaking a mother language other than English, and more than 200 first languages other than English are spoken at home in the state. 50 States in Square Miles from NETSTATE.COM Article III of the Florida Constitution defines the terms for state legislators. Alerts & Conditions Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Florida grew from 20.9M to 21.2M, a 1.51% increase and its median household income grew from $55,660 to $57,703, a 3.67% increase. NASCAR (headquartered in Daytona Beach) begins all three of its major auto racing series in Florida at Daytona International Speedway in February, featuring the Daytona 500. [245] Medicaid paid for 60% of all births in Florida in 2009. Not just Florida. More than a dozen states propose so-called 'Don't Say 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. Florida coronavirus cases and deaths | USAFacts [2] As of June 2023, a total of 163 individuals have represented Florida in the U.S. House . Greg Abbott says he'll make a similar. Both were Confederate victories. Florida Rip Currents Leave At Least 10 Dead | Weather.com There were fewer than 1,000 free African Americans before the American Civil War.[47]. White band disease has also adversely affected corals on the Florida Reef.[130]. The Third Seminole War (185558) resulted in the forced removal of most of the remaining Seminoles, although hundreds of Seminole Indians remained in the Everglades.[45]. The marriage between Luisa de Abrego, a free black domestic servant from Seville, and Miguel Rodrguez, a white Segovian, occurred in 1565 in St. Augustine. Florida | Data USA [111] This is the third-most diverse state in the union, behind California and Texas, both larger states. In 1559, Don Tristn de Luna y Arellano established a settlement at present-day Pensacola, making it the first attempted settlement in Florida, but it was mostly abandoned by 1561. [66], After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, a large population of Puerto Ricans began moving to Florida to escape the widespread destruction. [citation needed] Today, large concentrations of black residents can be found in northern and central Florida. In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto skirted the coast of Florida, searching for a deep harbor to land. [267], Florida's highway system contains 1,495mi (2,406km) of interstate highway, and 10,601mi (17,061km) of non-interstate highway, such as state highways and U.S. 0:05. The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Florida state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. Persons per household, 2017-2021. In Gannon, Michael (Ed.). It is bordered on the north by Georgia and Alabama, and on the west, at the end of the panhandle, by Alabama. Florida is a popular destination for retirees, seasonal vacationers, and both domestic and international migrants; it hosts nine out of the ten fastest-growing communities in the U.S. Florida immigrants leave the state over DeSantis immigration law - NBC News 2020 marked the first time Florida sided with the eventual loser of the national election since 1992. 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. Florida Population 2023 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) Their ruling affirmed the map previously approved by Leon County Judge Terry Lewis, who had overseen the original trial. [285] Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is the largest football stadium in Florida, the 12th largest stadium in American college football, and the 18th largest stadium in the world, as measured by its official seating capacity of 88,548though, it has often held over 90,000 for Florida's home football games. Florida is a low per capita energy user. Florida - Wikipedia Seminoles offered sanctuary to blacks, and these became known as the Black Seminoles, and clashes between whites and Indians grew with the influx of new settlers. The Florida House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Florida State Legislature. South Florida may see frost by week's end", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "PENSACOLA FAA ARPT, FLORIDAClimate Summary", "Waterspouts common off coastal Florida in summer", "How Often Hurricanes Make Landfall in Florida", "The 25th Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew", "Surprising Origin of American Flamingos Discovered", "BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INVASIVE INSECT PESTS OF CROPS AND NATIVE FLORA IN FLORIDA", "Florida forests help roll out toilet paper", "Native PlantsUniversity of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences", "The biggest coral reef in the continental U.S. is dissolving into the ocean", "SOFIACircular 1134the Natural SystemFlorida Reef Tract", "Energy Consumption by Source and Total Consumption per Capita, Ranked by State, 2004", "Current Wildfire Conditions / Wildland Fire / Florida Forest Service / Divisions & Offices / HomeFlorida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services", "Why Florida's red tide is killing fish, manatees, and turtles", "Record number of panthers killed by vehicles in 2009", "More manatees have died in Florida so far this year than in all of 2017. Many Seminole left at this time. Defense of Florida's northern border with the United States was minor during the second Spanish period. Florida's economy did not fully recover until the military buildup for World War II. They moved for jobs, better education for their children and the chance to vote and participate in society. The legal name in Florida for a city, town or village is "municipality". States Sending the Most People to Florida | Stacker [20] Spain maintained strategic control over the region by converting the local tribes to Christianity. The first post-Reconstruction era Republican elected to Congress from Florida was William C. Cramer in 1954 from Pinellas County on the Gulf Coast,[204] where demographic changes were underway. The Florida peninsula extends almost 450 miles south from the Georgia border to the Florida Keys in the Gulf of Mexico and includes the southernmost point in the continental United States. Mississippi. Fort Lauderdale, Ft Lauderdale, Laud Lakes, Lauderdale La. In 1966, Claude R. Kirk, Jr. was elected as the first post-Reconstruction Republican governor, in an upset election. Standard. Florida's other major population centers include Tampa Bay, Orlando, Cape Coral, and the state capital of Tallahassee. [119] Wildfires in Florida occur at all times of the year. After a second section north through Orlando to Wildwood (near present-day The Villages), and a southward extension around Miami to Homestead, it was finished in 1974. Florida - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration There are likely to be additional challenges to the map and districts. [64] Florida's growth has been widespread, as cities throughout the state have continued to see population growth. 2022-2024 Senators Senators are chosen by the citizens of Florida to represent them and the area (district) where they live. After meetings beginning in June, rebels overcame the garrison at Baton Rouge (now in Louisiana), and unfurled the flag of the new republic: a single white star on a blue field. Republicans, made up mostly of white conservatives, have dominated throughout much of the rest of Florida, particularly in the more rural and suburban areas.