Florida State Symbols
Florida State Flag
Florida State Seal
Florida State Reptile: Alligator
Florida State Bird: Mockingbird
Florida State Butterfly: Zebra Longwing
Florida State Animal: Florida Panther
Florida State Marine Mammal: Manatee
Florida State Saltwater Mammal: Porpoise
Florida State Saltwater Fish: Sailfish
Florida State Freshwater Fish: Largemouth Bass
Florida State Flower: Orange Blossom
Florida State Wildflower: Coreopsis
Florida State Tree: Sabal Palm
Florida State Beverage: Orange Juice
Florida State Shell: Horse Conch
Florida State Stone: Agatized Coral
Florida State Gem: Moonstone
Florida State Soil: Myakka Fine Sand
Florida State Song: "The Swanee River"
Florida State Motto: "In God We Trust"
Florida State Play: Cross and Sword
Florida Geographical Facts
Total Area - 58,560 square miles
Total land area - 54,136 square miles
Total water area - 4,424 square miles
Rank among states in total area - 22nd
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
Geographic Center - 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County
Coastline - 1,197 statute miles
Tidal shoreline (general) - 2,276 statute miles
Beaches - 663 miles
Longest River - St. Johns, 273 miles
Largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee, 700 square miles
Largest county - Palm Beach, 2,578 square miles
Smallest county - Union, 245 square miles
Number of lakes (greater than 10 acres) - about 7,700
Number of first-magnitude springs - 33
Number of islands (greater than 10 acres) - about 4,500
Florida Historical Facts
First permanent European settlement - 1565, St. Augustine, by Spain
Acquired from Spain as a U.S. Territory - 1821
Admitted as 27th state of the U.S. - March 3, 1845
Other Facts About Florida
Capital - Tallahassee
Population 2005 (estimate) - 17,789,864 (Rank 4th)
Population 2004 (estimate) - 17,397,161 (Rank 4th)
Population 2000 - 15,982,378 (Rank 4th)
Population 1990 - 12,937,926
Population 1980 - 9,739,992
Population growth rate 2000-2005 (estimate) - 11.31%
Population growth rate 1990-2000 - 23.53%
Most populous metropolitan area 2003 - Miami-Ft. Lauderdale: 5,289,000 (estimate - Ranked 6th in the US)
Most populous metropolitan area 2000 - Miami-Ft. Lauderdale: 3,876,380
Most populous County 2005 - Miami-Dade County: 2,376,014 (estimate)
Number of counties - 67
Form of government - Governor and cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture
State sales tax - 6%
State income tax - None
Legislature - 120 house districts, 40 senate districts, 25 congressional districts
FlHeritage.com: Florida Facts and History
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