Sinkholes are a fact of life in Florida. They occur because the entire state of Florida is underlain by limestone, a type of rock that is slowly dissolved by weak natural acids found in rain and in the pore spaces in soil. 

Sinkholes become more of a problem in areas where sediments that lie above the limestone are mainly clays mixed with sand. Clay causes these sediments, which also range in thickness from 30 to 200 feet, to be cohesive. They are not very permeable to water. In these areas sinkholes are most numerous. They vary in size and may form suddenly. In a few areas of Florida over 200 feet of sediments cover the underlying limestone. These sediments are cohesive because of the clay and layers of limestone they contain. Although there are not many sinkholes in these areas, the ones that occur are deep and wide. These types of sinkholes are referred to as “cover-collapse sinkholes” because cohesive layers of sediment collapse into underground cavities when they form.

The abrupt formation of sinkholes may follow extreme rain producing events such as tropical storms or hurricanes. This is because the weight of a large amount of rain water at the earth’s surface may bring about the collapse of an underground cavity if its limestone “ceiling” has become thin. This tendency for sinkholes to form following events that produce large amounts of rainfall is made worse in times of drought. During periods of drought underground cavities that might normally be filled with water may be only partially filled. These cavities are less likely to bear the weight of flood waters without collapsing.

Sinkholes are part of Florida’s natural environment. Surface water flows through sinkholes into the underlying limestone layers of the Floridan aquifer system, the major source of drinking water in Florida. Because they provide a direct connection from the surface to the aquifer system, it is very important to protect sinkholes from pollution. This may be as simple as making sure that sinkholes do not become convenient sites for dumping. The use of conservation buffers (strips of land maintained in permanent vegetation) around sinkholes can help protect groundwater from fertilizers and pesticides that might otherwise enter sinkholes on farm lands. The use of fencing around sinkholes may help protect groundwater from animal waste.

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Mahfuz Haq …..

SinkholeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Sinkholes)

For the War of 1812 battle, see Battle of the Sink Hole. For a hole in a sink, see Drain (plumbing).

A sink hole in Oman

The Devil's Hole sinkhole nearHawthorne, Florida, USA.

A sinkhole, also known as a sink, snake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline, orcenote, is a natural

depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate

rocks[1] or suffosion processes[2] for example insandstone. Sinkholes may vary in size from 1 to 600 meters (3.3

to 2,000 ft) both in diameter and depth, and vary in form from soil-lined bowls to bedrock-edged chasms.

Sinkholes may be formed gradually or suddenly, and are found worldwide. The different terms for sinkholes are

often used interchangeably.[3]

Contents

[hide]

1 Formation mechanisms

2 Occurrence

3 Local names of sinkholes

4 Piping pseudokarst

5 Notable sinkholes

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

[edit]Formation mechanisms

Sinkholes near the Dead Sea, formed by dissolution of underground salt by incoming freshwater, as a result of a continuing sea level drop.

A special type of sinkhole – formed by rainwater leaking through the pavement and carrying dirt into a ruptured sewer pipe.

Sinkholes may capture surface drainage from running or standing water, but may also form in high and dry

places in a certain location.

The mechanisms of formation involve natural processes of erosion[4] or gradual removal of slightly soluble

bedrock (such as limestone) by percolating water, the collapse of a cave roof, or a lowering of the water table.

Sinkholes often form through the process of suffosion. Thus, for example, groundwater may dissolve the

carbonate cement holding the sandstone particles together and then carry away the lax particles, gradually

forming a void.

Occasionally a sinkhole may exhibit a visible opening into a cave below. In the case of exceptionally large

sinkholes, such as Minyé sinkhole in Papua New Guinea or Cedar Sink at Mammoth Cave National Park, USA,

a stream or river may be visible across its bottom flowing from one side to the other.

Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone or othercarbonate rock, salt beds, or

rocks that can naturally be dissolved by circulating ground water. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns

develop underground. These sinkholes can be dramatic because the surface land usually stays intact until

there is not enough support. Then, a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur.

Sinkholes also form from human activity, such as the rare but still occasional collapse of abandoned mines in

places like West Virginia, USA. More commonly, sinkholes occur inurban areas due to water main breaks

or sewer collapses when old pipes give way. They can also occur from the overpumping and extraction of

groundwater and subsurface fluids. They can also form when natural water-drainage patterns are changed and

new water-diversion systems are developed. Some sinkholes form when the land surface is changed, such as

when industrial and runoff-storage ponds are created; the substantial weight of the new material can trigger an

underground collapse of supporting material, thus, causing a sinkhole.

[edit]Occurrence

Sinkholes are usually but not always linked with karst landscapes. In such regions, there may be hundreds or

even thousands of sinkholes in a small area so that the surface as seen from the air looks pock-marked, and

there are no surface streams because all drainage occurs sub-surface. Examples of karst landscapes dotted

with numerous enormous sinkholes are Khammouan Mountains (Laos) and Mamo Plateau (Papua New

Guinea).[5] The largest known sinkholes formed in sandstone are Sima Humboldt and Sima

Martel in Venezuela.[5]

The most impressive sinkholes form in thick layers of homogenous limestone. Their formation is facilitated by

high groundwater flow, often caused by high rainfall – such high rainfall causes formation of the giant sinkholes

in Nakanaï Mountains, New Britain island in Papua New Guinea.[6] On the contact of limestone and insoluble

rock below it there form powerful underground rivers which may create large underground voids.

In such conditions have formed the largest known sinkholes of the world, like the 662-metre (2,172 ft) deep

Xiaozhai tiankeng (Chongqing, China), giant sótanos in Querétaro and San Luis Potosí states in Mexico and

others.[5][7][8]

Unusual processes have formed the enormous sinkholes of Sistema Zacatón in Tamaulipas (Mexico) – here

more than 20 sinkholes and other karst formations have been shaped by volcanically heated, acidic

groundwater.[9][10] This has secured not only the formation of the deepest water-filled sinkhole in the world

– Zacatón, but also unique processes of travertine sedimentation in upper parts of sinkholes, leading to sealing

of these sinkholes with travertine lids.[citation needed]

The state of Florida in the USA is known for having frequent sinkholes, especially in the central part of the

state. The Murge area in southern Italy also has numerous sinkholes. Sinkholes can be formed in retention

ponds from large amounts of rain.[citation needed]

The Great Blue Hole, located nearAmbergris Caye, Belize.

Sinkholes have been used for centuries as disposal sites for various forms of waste. A consequence of this is

the pollution of groundwater resources, with serious healthimplications in such areas. In contrast, the Maya

civilization sometimes used sinkholes in the Yucatán Peninsula (known as cenotes) as places to deposit

precious items and sacrifices.[citation needed]

Many sinkholes are found in Northern Michigan. These are prominent in Alpena County in Northeast Michigan.

In Lachine, Michigan there are five sinkholes that are found to be very deep and within 2 miles (3.2 km) from

each other. Alpena's visitor information cites their sinkholes as an attraction for visitors to the area. In August

1998 a 16 year old Alpena boy survived a 200 feet (61 m)+ fall in an open sinkhole .75 miles (1.2 km) from

Leer road inLachine, Michigan.[11] A majority of sinkholes in Alpena are also found underwater. Many divers

explore these on a regular basis.[citation needed]

When sinkholes are very deep or connected to caves, they may offer challenges for experienced cavers or,

when water-filled, divers. Some of the most spectacular are the Zacatón cenote in Mexico (the world's deepest

water-filled sinkhole), the Boesmansgat sinkhole in South Africa, Sarisariñama tepuy in Venezuela, and in the

town of Mount Gambier, South Australia. Sinkholes that form in coral reefs and islands that collapse to

enormous depths are known as Blue Holes, and often become popular diving spots.[citation needed]

Image of the entire surface water flow of the Alapaha River near Jennings, Floridagoing into a sinkhole leading to the Floridan Aquifer groundwater.

The overburden sediments that cover buried cavities in the aquifer systems are delicately balanced

by groundwater fluid pressure. The water below ground is actually helping to keep the surface soil in place.

Groundwater pumping for urban water supply and for irrigation can produce new sinkholes in sinkhole-prone

areas. If pumping results in a lowering of groundwater levels, then underground structural failure, and thus

sinkholes, can occur.[citation needed]

[edit]Local names of sinkholes

Large and visually unusual sinkholes have been well known to local people since ancient times. Also nowadays

sinkholes are grouped and named in site specific or generic names. Some examples of such names are:[12]

cenotes. Characteristic water filled sinkholes in Yucatán Peninsula, Belize and some other regions. Many

cenotes have formed in limestone which deposited in shallow seas created by Chicxulub meteorite impact.

tiankengs. These are extremely large sinkholes which are deeper and wider than 100 m, with mostly

vertical walls, most often created by the collapse of underground caverns. This term is proposed by

Chinese geologists as many of the largest sinkholes are located in China. The largest tiankeng is the 662

m deep Xiaozhai tiankeng, which is also the largest known sinkhole of the world.

sótanos. This name is given to several giant pits in several states of Mexico. The best known is the 372 m

deep Sótano de las Golondrinas – Cave of Swallows.

blue holes. This name initially has been given to the deep underwater sinkholes of Bahamas but often is

used for any deep water-filled pits formed in carbonate rocks. Name originates from the deep blue color of

water in these sinkholes, which in turn is created by the high lucidity of water and the large depth of

sinkholes – only the deep blue color of the visible spectrum can penetrate such depth and after reflection

return back. The deepest known undersea sinkhole is Dean's Blue Hole in Bahamas.

black holes. Group of unique round, water filled pits in Bahamas. These formations seem to be dissolved

in carbonate mud from above, by the sea water. Dark color of water is caused by the layer of phototropic

microorganisms concentrated in dense, purple colored layer in 15 – 20 metre depth – this layer "swallows"

the light. Metabolism in the layer of microorganisms causes heating of water – the only known case in

natural world where microorganisms create significant thermal effects. Most impressive is Black Hole of

Andros.[13]

tomo used in New Zealand karst country to describe pot holes.

[edit]Piping pseudokarst

What has been called a "sinkhole" by the popular press formed suddenly in Guatemala in May 2010. Torrential

rains from Tropical Storm Agatha and a bad drainage system were blamed for creating the 2010 "sinkhole" that

swallowed a three story building and a house.[14] This large vertical hole measured approximately 66 feet (20 m)

wide and 100 feet (30 m) deep. A similar hole had formed nearby in February 2007.[15][16]

This large vertical hole, called a "sinkhole" in the popular press, is not a true sinkhole as it did not form via the

dissolution either of limestone, dolomite, marble, or any other carbonate rock.[17][18] Guatemala City is not

underlain by any carbonate rock; instead, thick deposits of volcanic ash, unwelded ash flow tuffs, and

other pyroclastic debris underlie all of Guatemala City. Thus, it is impossible for the dissolution of carbonate

rock to have formed the large vertical holes that swallowed up parts of Guatemala City in 2007 and 2010.[17]

The large holes that swallowed up parts of Guatemala City in 2007 and 2010 are a spectacular example of

"piping pseudokarst", created by the collapse of large cavities that had developed in the weak, crumbly

Quaternary volcanic deposits underlying the city. Although weak and crumbly, these volcanic deposits have

enough cohesion to allow them to stand in vertical faces and develop large subterranean voids within them. A

process called "soil piping" first created large underground voids as water from leaking water mains flowed

through these volcanic deposits and washed fine volcanic materials out of them, then progressively eroded and

removed coarser materials. Eventually, these underground voids became large enough that their roofs

collapsed to create large holes.[17]

[edit]Notable sinkholes

Some of the largest and most impressive sinkholes in the world are:[5]

Xiaozhai tiankeng – Chongqing Municipality, China. Double nested sinkhole with vertical walls, 662 m

deep.

Dashiwei tiankeng – Guangxi, China. 613 m deep, with vertical walls, bottom contains isolated patch of

forest with rare species.

Red Lake – Croatia. Approximately 530 m deep pit with nearly vertical walls, contains approximately 280 –

290 m deep lake.

Minyé sinkhole – East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. 510 m deep, with vertical walls, crossed by

powerful stream.

Sótano del Barro – Querétaro, Mexico. 410 m deep, with nearly vertical walls.

Cave of Swallows – San Luis Potosí, Mexico. 372 m deep, round sinkhole with overhanging walls.

Sima de las Cotorras - Chiapas, Mexico. 160 m across, 140 m deep, with thousands of green

parakeets and ancient rock paintings.

Zacatón – Tamaulipas, Mexico. Deepest water-filled sinkhole in world, 339 m deep.

Floating travertine islands.

Sima Humboldt – Venezuela. Largest sinkhole in sandstone, 314 m deep, with vertical walls. Unique,

isolated forest on bottom.

Teiq sinkhole – Oman. One of the largest sinkholes in the world by volume – 90 million cubic metres.

Several perennial wadis fall with spectacular waterfalls into this 250 m deep sinkhole.

Dean's Blue Hole – Bahamas. Deepest known sinkhole under the sea, depth 203 m. Popular location for

world championships offree diving.

Blue Hole – Dahab, Egypt. A round sinkhole or blue hole, 130m deep. Includes an extraordinary archway

leading out to the Red Sea at 60m, renowned for freediving and scuba attempts, the latter often fatal. Also

see Bell's to Blue Hole drift dive.

Great Blue Hole – Belize. Spectacular, round sinkhole, 124 m deep. Unusual features are tilted stalactites

in great depth, which mark the former orientation of limestone layers when this sinkhole was above the

water level.

Kingsley Lake – Florida, USA. 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) in area, 90 ft (27 m) deep and almost perfectly round.

Gypsum Sinkhole – Utah, USA. Nearly 50 ft (15 m) in diameter and approximately 200 ft (61 m) deep.

Harwood Hole - Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand, 183 m deep

Bimmah Sinkhole - Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, Oman, 80 m deep

Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 anthem: Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky

Official language(s) English [1]

Spoken language(s) English 74.5%

Spanish 18.7%[2]

Demonym Floridian

Capital Tallahassee

Largest city Jacksonville

Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area

Area Ranked 22nd in the U.S.

- 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 4th in the U.S.

- Total 19,057,542 (2011 est)[3]

- Density 353.4/sq mi (136.4/km2)

Ranked 8th in the U.S.

Elevation

- Highest point Britton Hill [4] [5]

345 ft (105 m)

- Mean 100 ft (30 m)

- Lowest point Atlantic Ocean[4]

sea level

Before statehood Florida Territory

Admission to Union March 3, 1845 (27th)

Governor Rick Scott (R)

Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll (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 19 Republicans, 6 Democrats (list)

Time zones

- Peninsula and "Big Bend" region Eastern: UTC -5/-4

- Panhandle west of theApalachicola River Central: UTC -6/-5

Abbreviations FL Fla. US-FL

Website www.myflorida.com

[show]

Florida State symbols

Map of Florida's incorporated municipalities

Florida ( i / ̍ f l ɒr ɪ d ə / ) is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north

by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Florida is the 22nd most extensive, the 4th most populous, and the 8th most densely

populated of the 50 United States. The state capital is Tallahassee, its largest city is Jacksonville, and the Miami metropolitan areais the largest

metropolitan area in the southeastern United States.

Much of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida. Its geography is marked by a

coastline, by the omnipresence of water and the threat of hurricanes. Florida has the longest coastlinein the contiguous United States, encompassing

approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), and is the only state to border both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the state is at or near

sea level and its terrain is characterized by sedimentary soils. The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south.[7] Its symbolic

animals like the American alligator, Florida panther and the manatee, can be found in the Everglades, one of the most famous national parks in the

world.

Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León – who named it La Florida ("Flowery Land") upon landing

there during the Easter season, Pascua Florida [8]  – 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 Indians, and racial segregation after theAmerican Civil War. Today, it is

distinguished by its large Hispanic community, and high population growth, as well as its increasing environmental concerns. Its economy relies mainly

on tourism, agriculture and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of

oranges and the Kennedy Space Center.

Florida culture is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; Native American,European American, Hispanic 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 tennis, golf, auto racing andwater sports.

Contents

[hide]

1 History

2 Geography

o 2.1 Boundaries

o 2.2 Climate

o 2.3 Fauna

o 2.4 Environmental issues

2.4.1 Recycling

o 2.5 Geology

3 Demographics

o 3.1 Population

o 3.2 Racial makeup

o 3.3 Ancestry groups

o 3.4 Cities and metropolitan areas

o 3.5 Languages

o 3.6 Religion

4 Governance

o 4.1 Political history

4.1.1 Recent elections

o 4.2 Statutes

o 4.3 Law enforcement

5 Health

6 Architecture

7 Economy

o 7.1 Personal income

o 7.2 Real estate

o 7.3 Labor

o 7.4 Agriculture and fishing

o 7.5 Mining

o 7.6 Government

o 7.7 Industry

7.7.1 Tourism

o 7.8 Energy

8 Education

o 8.1 State University System

o 8.2 Private universities

9 Infrastructure

o 9.1 Communication

o 9.2 Transportation

9.2.1 Public transit

9.2.2 Highways

9.2.3 Intercity rail

9.2.4 Airports

10 Sports

o 10.1 Auto-racing tracks

11 Sister states

12 See also

13 References

14 External links

15 Related information

History

Main article: History of Florida

Juan Ponce de León

See also: Seminole Wars and Florida in the American Civil War

The five flags of Florida from the right,Spain (1565–1763), the Kingdom of Great Britain, Spain (1784–1821), theConfederacy, and the United States. France (flag

not shown) also controlled part of Florida.

Bernard Picart copper plate engraving of Florida Indians, Circa 1721 "Ceremonies and Religious Dress of all the People of the World" [9]

A Cracker cowboy, 19th century

The Battle of Olustee during theAmerican Civil War in 1864

Winter in Florida, 1893

Soldiers and crowds in Downtown Miami 20 minutes after surrender during World War II (1945)

Archaeological research indicates that Florida was first inhabited by Paleo-Indians, the first human inhabitants of the Americas, perhaps as early as 14

thousand years ago. The region was continuously inhabited through the Archaic period (to about 2000 BC). After about 500 BC the previously relatively

uniform Archaic culture began to coalesce into distinctive local cultures.[10]By the 16th century, the earliest time for which there is a historical record,

major Native American groups included the Apalachee (of the Florida Panhandle), the Timucua (of northern and central Florida), the Ais (of the central

Atlantic coast), the Tocobaga (of the Tampa Bayarea), the Calusa (of southwest Florida) and the Tequesta (of the southeastern coast).

Florida was the first part of what is now the continental United States to be visited by Europeans. The earliest known European explorers came with the

Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León, who spotted the peninsula on April 2, 1513. According to his chroniclers, Ponce de León named the

region La Florida ("flowery land") because it was then the Easter Season, known in Spanish as Pascua Florida (roughly "Flowery Easter"), and

because the vegetation was in bloom.[11] It is possible Juan Ponce de León was not the first European to reach Florida, however; reportedly, at least

one indigenous tribesman whom he encountered in Florida in 1513 spoke Spanish.[12] From 1513 onward, the land became known as "La Florida",

although after 1630 and throughout the 18th century, Tegesta (after the Tequesta tribe) was an alternate name of choice for the Florida peninsula

following publication of a map by the Dutch cartographerHessel Gerritsz in Joannes de Laet's History of the New World.[13][14]

Over the following century, both the Spanish and French established settlements in Florida with varying degrees of success. In 1559, Don Tristán de

Luna y Arellano established a colony at present-day Pensacola, one of the first European attempts at settlement in the continental United States. It was

abandoned by 1561 due to hurricanes, famine and warring tribes, and the area was not re-inhabited until the 1690s. French

Protestant Huguenots founded Fort Caroline in modern-day Jacksonville in 1564. The following year, the Spanish colony of St. Augustine(San Agustín)

was established, and forces from there conquered Fort Caroline that same year. The Spanish maintained tenuous control over the region by converting

the local tribes, briefly with Jesuits and later with Franciscanfriars.

The area of Spanish Florida diminished with the establishment of English colonies to the north and French colonies to the west. The English weakened

Spanish power in the area by supplying their Creek and Yamasee allies with firearms and urging them to raid the Timucuan and Apalachee client-tribes

of the Spanish. The English attacked St. Augustine, burning the city and its cathedral to the ground several times, while the citizens hid behind the

walls of the Castillo de San Marcos.

Florida was attracting a large number of Africans and African Americans from British-occupied North America who sought freedom from slavery. Once

in Florida, the Spanish Crown converted them to Roman Catholicism and gave them freedom. Those ex-slaves settled in a community north of St.

Augustine, called Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, the first freedom settlement of its kind in what became the United States. Many of those

slaves were also welcomed by Creek and Seminole Native Americans who had established settlements there at the invitation of the Spanish

government.

Great Britain gained control of Florida and other territory diplomatically in 1763 through thePeace of Paris. The British divided their new acquisitions

into East Florida, with its capital at St. Augustine, and West Florida, with its capital at Pensacola. Britain tried to develop the Floridas through the

importation of immigrants for labor, but this project ultimately failed. Spain received both Floridas after Britain's defeat by the American colonies and the

subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783, continuing the division into East and West Florida. They offered land grants to anyone who settled in the

colonies, and many Americans moved to them.

After settler attacks on Indian towns, Seminole Indians based in East Florida began raidingGeorgia settlements, purportedly at the behest of the

Spanish. The United States Army led increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish territory, including the 1817–1818 campaign against the Seminole

Indians by Andrew Jackson that became known as the First Seminole War. Following the war, the United States effectively controlled East Florida. In

1819, by terms of the Adams-Onís Treaty, Spain ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas

that they might have from the Louisiana Purchase and $5 million.

In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed and as settlement increased, pressure grew on the United States government to remove the Indians from

their lands in Florida. To the chagrin of Georgia landowners, the Seminoles harbored and integrated runaway blacks, known as the Black Seminoles,

and clashes between whites and Indians grew with the influx of new settlers. In 1832, the United States government signed the Treaty of Payne's

Landing with some of the Seminole chiefs, promising them lands west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave Florida voluntarily. Many of the

Seminoles left at this time, while those who remained prepared to defend their claims to the land. The U.S. Army arrived in 1835 to enforce the treaty

under pressure from white settlers, and the Second Seminole War began at the end of the year with the Dade Massacre, when Seminoles ambushed

and killed or mortally wounded all but one in a group of 110 Army troops, plus Major Dade and seven officers, marching from Fort Brooke (Tampa) to

reinforce Fort King (Ocala).[15] Between 900 and 1,500 Seminole Indian warriors employed guerrilla tactics against United States Army troops for seven

years until 1842. The U.S. government is estimated to have spent between $20 million and $40 million on the war, at the time an astronomical sum.

The United States quarter dollar coin released March 29, 2004, in honor of the state of Florida.

On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States of America, although initially its population grew slowly. White settlers continued

to encroach on lands used by the Seminoles, and the United States government resolved to make another effort to move the remaining Seminoles to

the West. The Third Seminole War lasted from 1855 to 1858, and resulted in the removal of most of the remaining Seminoles. Even after three bloody

wars, the U.S. Army failed to force all of the Seminole Indians in Florida to the West.[16] Though most of the Seminoles were forcibly exiled to Creek

lands west of the Mississippi, hundreds, including Seminole leader Aripeka (Sam Jones), remained in the Everglades and refused to leave the native

homeland of their ancestors. Their descendants remain there to this day.

White settlers began to establish cotton plantations in Florida, which required numerous laborers. By 1860 Florida had only 140,424 people, of whom

44% were enslaved. There were fewer than 1000 freeAfrican Americans before the Civil War.[17]

On January 10, 1861, before the start of the American Civil War, Florida declared its secession from the Union; ten days later, the state became a

founding member of the Confederate States of America. The war ended in 1865. On June 25, 1868, Florida's congressional representation was

restored. After Reconstruction, white Democrats succeeded in regaining power in the state legislature. In 1885 they created a new constitution,

followed by statutes through 1889 that effectively disfranchised most blacks and many poor whites over the next several years. Provisions included poll

taxes, literacy tests, and residency requirements. Disfranchisement for most African Americans in the state persisted until the Civil Rights Movement of

the 1960s gained federal legislation to protect their suffrage.

Until the mid-20th century, Florida was the least populous Southern state. In 1900 its population was only 528,542, of whom nearly 44% were African

American.[18] The boll weevil devastated cotton crops, and early 20th century lynchings and racial violence caused a record number of African

Americans to leave the state in the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities. Forty thousand blacks, roughly one-fifth of their 1900

population, left for better opportunities.[19] Economic prosperity in the 1920s stimulated tourism to Florida. Combined with its sudden elevation in profile

was the Florida land boom of the 1920s, which brought a brief period of intense land development. Devastating hurricanes in 1926 and 1928, followed

by the stock market crash and Great Depression, brought that period to a halt.

Florida's economy did not fully recover until the buildup for World War II. The climate, tempered by the growing availability of air conditioning, and low

cost of living made the state a haven. Migration from the Rust Belt and the Northeast sharply increased the population after the war. In recent decades,

more migrants have come for the jobs in a developing economy. With a population of more than 18 million according to the 2010 census, Florida is the

most populous state in the Southeastern United States, the second most populous state in the South behind Texas, and the fourth most populous in

the United States.

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States, established in 1565 by Spain

 

Key West Historic District

 

Historic Ybor City in Tampa

 

The Downtown Miami Historic District has some of the oldest buildings in Miami

 

Miami Art Deco District, built throughout the 1920-1930s

Geography

A map of Florida showing county names and boundaries

Main article: Geography of Florida

See also: List of counties in Florida and List of Florida state parks

Much of the state of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Straits of Florida. Spanning two time

zones, it extends to the northwest into a panhandle, extending along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the north by the states

of Georgiaand Alabama, and on the west, at the end of the panhandle, by Alabama. It is near several Caribbean countries, particularly The

Bahamas and Cuba. Florida is one of the largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska andMichigan are larger in water area.

At 345 feet (105 m) above mean sea level, Britton Hill is the highest point in Florida and the lowest highpoint of any U.S. state.[20] Much of the state

south of Orlando is low-lying and fairly level; however, some places, such asClearwater, feature vistas that rise 50 to 100 feet (15 – 30 m) above the

water. Much of Central and North Florida, typically 25 miles (40 km) or more away from the coastline, features rolling hills with elevations ranging from

100 to 250 feet (30 – 76 m). The highest point in peninsular Florida, Sugarloaf Mountain, is a 312-foot (95 m) peak in Lake County.[21]

Boundaries

The state line begins in the Atlantic Ocean, traveling west, south, and north up the thalweg of the Saint Mary's River. At the origin of that river, it then

follows a straight line nearly due west and slightly north, to the point where the confluence of the Flint River (from Georgia) and the Chattahoochee

River (down the Alabama/Georgia line) used to form Florida's Apalachicola River. (Since Woodruff Dam was built, this point has been under Lake

Seminole.) The border with Georgia continues north through the lake for a short distance up the former thalweg of the Chattahoochee, then with

Alabama runs due west along latitude 31°N to the Perdido River, then south along its thalweg to the Gulf via Perdido Bay. The water boundary is 3

nautical miles (3.5 mi; 5.6 km) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean[22] and 9 nautical miles (10 mi; 17 km) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.[22] Much of the state

is at or near sea level.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Florida

See also: List of Florida hurricanes and List of all-time high and low temperatures by state

Hurricane Andrew bearing down on Florida on August 23, 1992.

The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is very distant from the ocean. North of Lake Okeechobee, the

prevalent climate is humid subtropical (Köppen: Cfa), while coastal areas south of the lake (including the Florida Keys) have a true tropical

climate (Köppen: Aw).[23] Mean high temperatures for late July are primarily in the low 90s Fahrenheit (32–34 °C). Mean low temperatures for early to

mid January range from the low 40s Fahrenheit (4–7 °C) in northern Florida to the mid-50s (≈13 °C) in southern Florida. With an average daily

temperature of 70.7 °F (21.5 °C), it is the warmest state in the country.[24]

In the summer, high temperatures in the state seldom exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Several record cold maxima have been in the 30s °F (−1 to 4 °C) and

record lows have been in the 10s (−12 to −7 °C). These temperatures normally extend at most a few days at a time in the northern and central parts of

Florida. Southern Florida, however, rarely encounters freezing temperatures.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 °F (43 °C), which was set on June 29, 1931 in Monticello. The coldest temperature was −2

°F (−19 °C), on February 13, 1899, just 25 miles (40 km) away, in Tallahassee.

Due to the tropical climate Florida rarely receives snow. However, on very rare occasions, a combination of cold moisture and freezing temperatures

can result in snowfall. Frost is more common than snow, occurring several times during the winter months.

Snowball fight on the Florida State Capitol Building in Tallahassee on February 13, 1899

The USDA Plant hardiness zones for the state range from zone 8a (no colder than 10 °F(−12 °C)) in the inland western panhandle to zone 11 (no

colder than 40 °F (4 °C)) in the lower Florida Keys.[25]

Florida's nickname is the "Sunshine State", but severe weather is a common occurrence in the state. Central Florida is known as the lightning capital of

the United States, as it experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country. [26] Florida has the highest average precipitation of any

state,[citation needed] in large part because afternoonthunderstorms are common in most of the state from late spring until early autumn. A narrow eastern

part of the state including Orlando and Jacksonville receives between 2,400 and 2,800 hours of sunshine annually. The rest of the state, including

Miami, receives between 2,800 and 3,200 hours annually.[27]

Florida leads the United States in tornadoes per area (when including waterspouts)[28] but they do not typically reach the intensity of those in

the Midwest and Great Plains. Hail often accompanies the most severe thunderstorms.

Hurricanes pose a severe threat during hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to November 30, although some storms have been known to form

out of season. Florida is the most hurricane-prone state, with subtropical or tropical water on a lengthy coastline. From 1851 to 2006, Florida has been

struck by 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major—category 3and above.[29] It is rare for a hurricane season to pass without any impact in the state by at least

a tropical storm. For storms, category 4 or higher, 83% have either hit Florida or Texas.[29] August to October is the most likely period for a hurricane in

Florida.

In 2004, Florida was hit by a record four hurricanes. Hurricanes Charley (August 13), Frances (September 4–5), Ivan (September 16),

and Jeanne (September 25–26) cumulatively cost the state's economy $42 billion. Additionally, the four storms caused an estimated $45 billion in

damage. [30] In 2005, Hurricane Dennis (July 10) became the fifth storm to strike Florida within eleven months. Later,Hurricane Katrina (August 25)

passed through South Florida and Hurricane Rita (September 20) swept through the Florida Keys.Hurricane Wilma (October 24) made landfall

near Cape Romano, just south of Marco Island, finishing another very active hurricane season. Wilma is the second most expensive hurricane in

Florida history, due in part to a five year window in which to file claims.[31]

Florida was the site of the second costliest weather disaster in U.S. history, Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25 billion in damage when it

struck on August 24, 1992. In a long list of other infamous hurricane strikes are the 1926 Miami hurricane, the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, the Labor

Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Donna in 1960, and Hurricane Opal in 1995. Recent research suggests the number of storms are part of a natural

cycle which rises in some years, falls in others.[32][33]

Average High and Low temperatures for various Florida Cities

City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Jacksonville [34] 65/42 68/45 74/50 79/55 86/63 90/70 92/73 91/73 87/69 80/61 74/51 67/44

Key West [35] 75/65 76/66 79/69 82/72 85/76 88/78 89/80 90/80 88/78 85/76 80/71 76/67

Melbourne [36] 72/51 73/53 77/57 81/61 85/67 88/71 90/73 90/73 88/72 83/67 78/60 73/53

Miami[37] 76/60 78/62 80/65 83/68 87/73 89/76 91/77 91/77 89/76 86/73 82/68 78/63

Orlando [36] 71/49 74/52 78/56 83/60 88/66 91/72 92/74 92/74 90/73 85/66 78/59 73/52

Pensacola [38] 61/43 64/46 70/51 76/58 84/66 89/72 90/74 90/74 87/70 80/60 70/50 63/45

Tallahassee [39] 64/39 68/42 74/47 80/52 87/62 91/70 92/72 92/72 89/68 82/57 73/48 66/41

Tampa [40] 70/51 73/54 77/58 81/62 88/69 90/74 90/75 91/76 89/74 85/67 78/60 72/54

The Royal Poincianagrows in South Florida and blooms in the winter, an indication of South Florida's tropical climate

 

Summer afternoon showers from theEverglades traveling eastward over Downtown Miami

 

Fall foliage occurs annually in North and Central Florida.

 

Snow is uncommon in Florida, but has occurred in every major Florida city at least once.

 

Winter in Miami. Miami's mild winters make it a major tourist destination in the winter.

Fauna

Further information: List of mammals of Florida

American Alligator in the Florida Everglades

Florida is host to many types of wildlife including:

Marine Mammals: Bottlenose Dolphin, Short-finned Pilot Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, West Indian Manatee

Mammals: Florida panther, Northern River Otter, Mink, Eastern Cottontail Rabbit,Marsh Rabbit, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Squirrel, White-tailed

deer, Key Deer,Bobcats, Gray Fox, Coyote, Wild Boar, Florida Black Bear, Nine-banded Armadillos

Reptiles: Eastern Diamondback and Pygmy Rattlesnakes, Gopher Tortoise, Greenand Leatherback Sea Turtles, and Eastern Indigo Snake. In

2012, there were about one million American Alligators and 1,500 Crocodiles.[41]

Birds: Bald Eagle, Northern Caracara, Snail Kite, Osprey, White and Brown Pelicans, Sea Gulls, Whooping and Sandhill Cranes, Roseate

Spoonbill, Florida Scrub Jay (state endemic), and others. One subspecies of Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, namely subspecies osceola, is

found only in the state of Florida.[42] The state is a wintering location for many species of eastern North American birds.

Invertebrates: carpenter ants, termites, American cockroach, Africanized bees, the Miami blue butterfly, and the grizzled mantis.

The only known calving area for the Northern Right Whale is off the coasts of Florida and Georgia.[43]

The native bear population has risen from a historic low of 300 in the 1970s, to 3,000 in 2011.[44]

Since their accidental importation from South America into North America in the 1930s, the Red imported fire ant population has increased its territorial

range to include most of the Southern United States, including Florida. They are more aggressive than most native ant species and have a painful

sting.[45]

A number of non-native snakes and lizards have been released in the wild. In 2010 the state created a hunting season for Burmese andIndian

pythons, African rock pythons, green anacondas, and Nile monitor lizards.[46] Green iguanas have also established a firm population in the southern

part of the state.

Key Deer in the lowerFlorida Keys

 

The Florida Scrub Jay is found only in Florida.

 

West Indian Manatee

 

Florida Panther, native ofSouth Florida

 

Leatherback Sea Turtle

 

Whooping Crane

Environmental issues

Main article: Environment of Florida

The beaches of Key Biscayne in Miami

Florida is a low per capita energy user.[47] It is estimated that approximately 4% of energy in the state is generated through renewable resources.

[48] Florida's energy production is 6% of the nation's total energy output, while total production of pollutants is lower, with figures of 5.6% for nitrogen

oxide, 5.1% for carbon dioxide, and 3.5% forsulfur dioxide.[48]

It is believed that significant petroleum resources are located off Florida's western coast in the Gulf of Mexico, but that region has been closed to

exploration since 1981.[49]

Red tide has been an issue on the southwest coast of Florida, as well as other areas. While there has been a great deal of conjecture over the cause of

the toxic algae bloom, there is no evidence that it is being caused by pollution or that there has been an increase in the duration or frequency of red

tides.[50]

The Florida panther is close to extinction. A record 23 were killed in 2009 predominately by automobile collisions, leaving only about 100 individuals in

the wild. The Center for Biological Diversity and others have therefore called for a special protected area for the panther to be established.

[51] Manatees are also dying at a rate higher than their reproduction.

Prior to instituting controlled burns, the state forests and pastures burned for months during the dry season. From the 1940s to the 1970s, the state and

federal government assumed control of burning that largely prevented uncontrolled fires.[52] In 2010, the state burned a record 2,600,000 acres

(11,000 km2).[53]

Recycling

The recycling rate in Florida is estimated at 28% in 2000.[54] In 2008, The Energy, Climate Change, and Economic Security Act of 2008 set a goal of

progressively improving recycling to reach a 75 percent rate by the year 2020.

It directs public entities (schools, state and local public agencies) to report the amount they recycle annually to their counties. Private businesses are

encouraged (but not mandated) to report the amount they recycle to their counties. Finally, the section directs DEP to create the Recycling Business

Assistance Center.[55] Under the new law, each county must implement a recyclable materials recycling program that shall have a goal of recycling

recyclable solid waste by 40 percent by December 31, 2012, 50 percent by 2014, 60 percent by 2016, 70 percent by 2018, and 75 percent by 2020.

[56] The county with the highest recycling rate is Lee County with a 43% recycling rate as of 2008.[57]

Geology

Topographic map of Florida

The Florida peninsula is a porous plateau of karst limestone sitting atopbedrock known as the Florida Platform. The emergent portion of the platform

was created during the Eocene to Oligocene as the Gulf Trough filled with silts, clays, and sands. Flora and fauna began appearing during

the Miocene. No land animals were present in Florida prior to the Miocene.

The largest deposits of potash in the United States are found in Florida.[58]

Extended systems of underwater caves, sinkholes and springs are found throughout the state and supply most of the water used by residents. The

limestone is topped with sandy soils deposited as ancient beaches over millions of years as global sea levels rose and fell. During the last glacial

period, lower sea levels and a drier climate revealed a much wider peninsula, largely savanna.[59] The Everglades, an enormously wide, very slow-

flowing river encompasses the southern tip of the peninsula. Sinkhole damage claims on property in the state exceeded a total of $2 billion from 2006

through 2010.[60]

Florida is tied for last place[61] as having the fewest earthquakes of any US state.[62] Because Florida is not located near any tectonic plate boundaries,

earthquakes are very rare, but not totally unknown.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake triggered a tsunami that would have struck Central Florida with an estimated 5-foot (1.5 m) wave.[63]

In January, 1879, a shock of Mercalli intensity scale VI occurred near St. Augustine. There were reports of heavy shaking that knocked plaster from

walls and articles from shelves. Similar effects were noted at Daytona Beach 50 miles (80 km) south. The tremor was felt as far south as Tampa and as

far north as Savannah, Georgia.

In January 1880, Cuba was the center of two strong earthquakes that sent severe shock waves through the city of Key West, Florida.[64]

The shock from the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake was felt throughout northern Florida, ringing church bells at St. Augustine and

severely jolting other towns along that section of Florida's east coast. Jacksonville residents felt many of the strong aftershocks that occurred in

September, October, and November 1886.[65]

In 2006, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake centered about 260 miles (420 km) southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico sent shock waves through

southwest and central Florida. The earthquake was too small to trigger a tsunami and no damage was reported.[66]|

Everglades National Parkin Southern Florida

 

Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys

 

Ocala National Forest in North Florida

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Florida

Population

Historical populations

Census Pop. %±

1830 34,730 —

1840 54,477 56.9%

1850 87,445 60.5%

1860 140,424 60.6%

1870 187,748 33.7%

1880 269,493 43.5%

1890 391,422 45.2%

1900 528,542 35.0%

1910 752,619 42.4%

1920 968,470 28.7%

1930 1,468,211 51.6%

1940 1,897,414 29.2%

1950 2,771,305 46.1%

1960 4,951,560 78.7%

1970 6,789,443 37.1%

1980 9,746,324 43.6%

1990 12,937,926 32.7%

2000 15,982,378 23.5%

2010 18,801,310 17.6%

Sources: 1910–2010[67]

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Florida was 19,057,542 on July 1, 2011, a 1.36% increase since the 2010 United

States Census.[68] The center of population of Florida is located in Polk County, in the town of Lake Wales.[69] As of 2009, Florida's population was

estimated to be 18,537,969. The state grew 128,814, or 0.7% from 2007. Using the latest population estimates, Florida is the nation's thirtieth-fastest-

growing state. During Florida's recent peak growth year of 2005, it was the nation's fifth fastest growing state and grew at an annual rate of 2.2%.[70]

About two-thirds of the population was born in another state, the second highest in the country.[71]

In 2010, illegal immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7% of the population. This was the sixth highest percentage of any state in the country.[72]

[73] There were an estimated 675,000 illegal immigrants in the state in 2010.[74]

There were 186,102 military retirees living in the state in 2008.[75]

Racial makeup

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Florida had a population of 18,801,310. In terms of race and ethnicity, the state was:

75.0% White (57.9% Non-Hispanic White alone)

16.0% Black or African American

0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native

2.4% Asian

0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

3.6% from Some Other Race

2.5% from Two or More Races

Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 22.5% of the population.[76]

Ancestry groups

The largest reported ancestries in the 2000 Census were German (11.8%), Irish (10.3%), English (9.2%), American (8%), Italian

(6.3%),Cuban (5.2%), Puerto Rican (3.0%) French (2.8%), Polish (2.7%) and Scottish (1.8%).[77]

In the 2000 Census, 1,278,586 people in Florida self-identified as having "American" ancestry, most of these people are of English descent and some

are of Scots-Irish descent however have families that have been in the state so long, in many cases since the colonial period, that they choose to

identify simply as having "American" ancestry or do not in fact know their own ancestry.[77][78][79][80][81][82] In the 1980 United States census the largest

ancestry group reported in Florida was English with 2,232,514 Floridians citing that they were of English or mostly English ancestry.[83] Their ancestry

primarily goes back to the original thirteen colonies and for this reason many of them today simply claim "American" ancestry, though they are of

predominately Englishstock. They were followed by Irish at 1,617,433.

Before the American Civil War, when slavery was legal, and during the Reconstruction era that followed, blacks made up nearly half of the state's

population.[84] Their proportion declined over the next century, as many moved north in the Great Migration while large numbers of

northern whites moved to the state. In 1970, non-Hispanic whites were nearly 80% of Florida's population.[85] Recently, the state's proportion of black

residents has begun to grow again. Today, large concentrations of black residents can be found in northern Florida (notably in

Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Pensacola), the Tampa Bay area, the Orlando area, especially in Orlando and Sanford.

Florida's Hispanic population includes large communities of Cuban Americans in Miami and Tampa, Puerto Ricans in Orlando and Tampa, and Central

American migrant workers in inland West-Central and South Florida. The Hispanic community continues to grow more affluent and mobile.

White Americans of all European backgrounds are present in all areas of the state. Those of English and Irish ancestry are present in large numbers in

all the urban/suburban areas across the state. Native white Floridians, especially those who have descended from long-time Florida families,

affectionately refer to themselves as "Florida crackers". Like whites in most of the other Southern states, they descend mainly from English and Scots-

Irish settlers, as well as some other British settlers.[86]

Cities and metropolitan areas

See also: List of urbanized areas in Florida (by population), Florida census statistical areas, List of municipalities in Florida, andFlorida locations by per

capita income

Largest cities in Florida and Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Florida's population density

Largest cities in Florida

Rank City Year of Incorporation Metropolitan AreaPopulation

(2010 census)Population Density

(people per mi2)City's Size

(mi2)

1 Jacksonville 1832 Jacksonville metropolitan area 821,784 1,061.6 885

2 Miami 1896 Miami metropolitan area 408,568 12,139.5 55.3

3 Tampa 1855 Tampa Bay Area 335,709 2,969.6 170.6

4Saint Petersburg

1903 Tampa Bay Area 244,769 1,800 137.6

5 Orlando 1885 Orlando metropolitan area 238,300 2,327.3 110.7

6 Hialeah 1925 Miami metropolitan area 224,669 11,701.2 19.7

7 Tallahassee 1825 Tallahassee metropolitan area 181,376 1,809.3 103.1

Largest cities in Florida

Rank City Year of Incorporation Metropolitan AreaPopulation

(2010 census)Population Density

(people per mi2)City's Size

(mi2)

8 Fort Lauderdale 1911 Miami metropolitan area 165,521 5,221.8 36.0

9 Port Saint Lucie 1961Port St. Lucie metropolitan area

164,603 1,444.5 76.7

10 Pembroke Pines 1960 Miami metropolitan area 154,750 4,671.9 34.4

Largest metropolitan areas in Florida

Rank

Metropolitan area Population

1 Miami metropolitan area 5,564,635

2 Tampa Bay Area 2,783,243

3 Orlando metropolitan area 2,134,411

4 Jacksonville metropolitan area 1,345,596

5 North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota 702,281

The largest metropolitan area in the state as well as the entire southeastern United States is the Miami metropolitan area, with about 5.5 million people.

The Tampa Bay Area, with over 2.7 million people, is the second largest; the Orlando metropolitan area, with over 2.1 million people, is the third; and

the [[Jacksonville metropolitan area, with over 1.3 million people, is fourth.

Florida has twenty Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Thirty-nine of

Florida's sixty-seven counties are in an MSA. Reflecting the distribution of population in Florida, Metropolitan areas in the state are concentrated

around the coast of the peninsula. They form a continuous band on the east coast of Florida, stretching from the Jacksonville MSA to the Miami-Fort

Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA, including every county on the east coast, with the exception ofMonroe County. There is also a continuous band of

MSAs on the west coast of the peninsula from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA to the Naples-Marco Island MSA, including all of the coastal

counties from Hernando County to Collier County. The interior of the northern half of the peninsula also has several MSAs, connecting the east and

west coast MSAs. A few MSAs are scattered across the Florida panhandle.

Downtown Miami

 

Downtown Tampa

 

Downtown Orlando

 

Downtown Jacksonville

 

Downtown Sarasota

Languages

First settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, today, 19% of Floridians speak Spanish, and is the most widely taught second language.

As of 2005, 74.54% of Florida residents age 5 and older spoke English at home as a first language, while 18.65% spoke Spanish, and French

Creole (almost entirely Haitian Creole) was spoken by 1.73% of the population. In all, 25.45% of Florida's population age 5 and older spoke a language

other than English.[87]

Florida's public education system identified over 150 first languages other than English spoken in the homes of students.[citation needed] In 1990, the League

of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) won a class action lawsuit against the state Florida Department of Education that required educators to be

trained in teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).[citation needed]

Article II, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution provides that "English is the official language of the State of Florida." This provision was adopted in 1988

by a vote following an Initiative Petition.

Religion

As of the year 2000, the three largest denominational groups in Florida are Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Mainline Protestant.[88]

Florida is mostly Protestant, but Roman Catholicism is the single largest denomination in the state. There is also a sizable Jewish community, located

mainly in South Florida; this is the largest Jewish population in the South and the third largest in the country behind New York and California.

[89] Florida's current religious affiliations are shown in the table below:[90]

Roman Catholic, 26%

Protestant, 48%

Baptist , 9%

Methodist , 6%

Pentecostal , 3%

Jewish, 3%

Jehovah's Witness , 1%

Muslim, 1%

Orthodox , 1%

other religions, 1%

non-religious, 16%

Governance

Main article: Government of Florida

See also: List of Florida Governors, United States Congressional Delegations from Florida, and Florida Cabinet

Florida Capitol buildings.

The basic structure, duties, function, and operations of the government of the state of Florida are defined and established by the Florida Constitution,

which establishes the basic law of the state and guarantees various rights and freedoms of the people. The state government consists of three

separate branches: judicial, executive, and legislative. The legislature enacts bills, which, if signed by the governor, become Florida Statutes.

The Florida Legislature comprises the Florida Senate, which has 40 members, and the Florida House of Representatives, which has 120 members.

The current Governor of Florida is Rick Scott. The Florida Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Justices.

There are 67 Counties in Florida, but some reports show only 66 because of Duval County, which is consolidated with the City of Jacksonville. There

are 379 cities in Florida (out of 411) that report regularly to the Florida Department of Revenue, but there are other incorporated municipalities that do

not. The primary source of revenue for the state government is sales tax (Florida does not impose a personal income tax), but the primary revenue

source for cities and counties is property tax.

Political history

From 1885 to 1889, the state legislature passed statutes with provisions to reduce voting by blacks and poor whites, which had threatened white

Democratic power with a populist coalition. As these groups were stripped from voter rolls, white Democrats established power in a one-party state, as

happened across the South. In 1900 African Americans comprised 44% of the state's population,[91] the same proportion as before the Civil War, but

they were effectively disfranchised. From 1877 to 1948, Florida voted for the Democratic candidate for president in every election except for the 1928

election.

The Florida Supreme Court

In response to segregation, disfranchisement and agricultural depression, many African Americans migrated from Florida to northern cities in the Great

Migration, in waves from 1910–1940, and again starting in the later 1940s. They moved for jobs, better education for their children and the chance to

vote and participate in society. Given migration of other groups into Florida (as noted in other sections of this article), by 1960 the proportion of African

Americans in the state had declined to 18%.[92]

Further information: Political party strength in Florida

Since 1952, despite having a majority of registered Democrats, the state has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election except

for the 1964, 1976, and 1996elections, when the Democrat was from the South, and the 2008 election, which was the first time since Franklin D.

Roosevelt that Florida had voted for a Northern Democrat. The first post-reconstruction Republican congressional representative was elected in 1954.

[93] The state's first post-reconstruction Republican senator was elected in 1968,[94] two years after the first post-reconstruction Republican governor.[95]

Presidential elections results

Year Republican Democratic

2008

48.22% 4,045,624 50.96% 4,282,074

2004

52.10% 3,964,522 47.09% 3,583,544

2000

48.85% 2,912,790 48.84% 2,912,253

1996

42.32% 2,244,536 48.02% 2,546,870

1992

40.89% 2,173,310 39.00% 2,072,698

1988

60.87% 2,618,885 38.51% 1,656,701

1984

65.32% 2,730,350 34.66% 1,448,816

1980

55.52% 2,046,951 38.50% 1,419,475

1976

46.64% 1,469,531 51.93% 1,636,000

1972

71.91% 1,857,759 27.80% 718,117

1968

40.53% 886,804 30.93% 676,794

1964

48.85% 905,941 51.15% 948,540

1960

51.51% 795,476 48.49% 748,700

In 1998, Democrats were described as most dominant in areas of the state with high percentages of racial minorities, as well as transplanted white

liberals coming primarily from the Northeastern United States.[96] South Florida and the Miami metropolitan area was a good example of this as it had a

particularly high level of both racial minorities and white liberals. Because of this, the area has been one of the most Democratic areas of the state. The

Daytona Beach area has been, to a lesser extent, somewhat similar to South Florida demographically and the city of Orlando had a large Hispanic

population, which often favored Democrats. Republicans remain dominant throughout much of the rest of Florida particularly in the more rural and

suburban areas, as is the case throughout the Deep South.[96]

The fast growing I-4 corridor area, which runs through Central Florida and connects the cities ofDaytona Beach, Orlando, and Tampa/St. Petersburg,

had a fairly similar number of both Republican and Democratic voters. The area is often seen as a merging point of the conservative northern portion of

the state and the liberal southern portion making it the biggest swing area in the state. In recent times, whichever way the I-4 corridor area, containing

40% of Florida voters, votes has often determined who will win the state of Florida in presidential elections.[97]

The Democratic Party has maintained an edge in voter registration, both statewide and in 40 of the 67 counties, including Miami-Dade County, Broward

County, and Palm Beach County, the state's three most populous counties.[98]

There were 800 federal corruption convictions from 1988 to 2007, more than any other state.[99]

Recent elections

Main article: United States presidential election in Florida, 2000

In 2000, George W. Bush won the U.S. Presidential election by a margin of 271–266 in the Electoral College.[100] Of the 271 electoral votes for Bush, 25

were cast by electors from Florida.[101] Reapportionment following the 2000 United States Census gave the state two more seats in the House of

Representatives.[102]

Despite the Democratic advantage in registration, as of 2008, Republicans controlled the governorship and most other statewide elective offices; both

houses of the state legislature; and 15 of the state's 25 seats in the House of Representatives. Florida has been listed as aswing state in Presidential

elections since 1950, voting for the losing candidate once in that period of time.[103] In the closely contested2000 election the state played a pivotal role.

[100][101][104][105][106][107]

In 2008, delegates of both the Republican Florida primary election and Democratic Florida primary election were stripped of half of their votes when the

conventions met in August due to violation of both parties' national rules.

In the 2010 elections, Republicans solidified their dominance state-wide, by winning the governor's mansion, maintaining firm majorities in both houses

of the state legislature. They won four previously Democratic-held seats to create a 19–6 Republican majority delegation representing Florida in the

federal House of Representatives. As a result of the 2010 United States Census, Florida will gain two House of Representative seats in 2012.[102]

Statutes

All potable water resources have been controlled by the state government through five regional water authorities since 1972.[108]

The state repealed mandatory auto inspection in 1981.[109]

In 1972, the state made personal injury protection auto insurance mandatory for drivers, becoming the second in the nation to enact ano-fault

insurance law. The ease of receiving payments under this law is seen as precipitating a major increase in insurance fraud.[110]Auto insurance fraud was

the highest in the nation in 2011, estimated at close to $1 billion.[111] Fraud is particularly centered in the Miami-Dade metropolitan and Tampa areas.[112]

[113][114]

Law enforcement

Further information: List of law enforcement agencies in Florida and Crime in Florida

Florida was ranked the fifth most dangerous state in 2009. Ranking was based on the record of serious felonies committed in 2008.[115]

The state was the sixth highest scammed state in 2010. It ranked first in mortgage fraud in 2009.[116]

In 2009, 44% of highway fatalities involved alcohol.[117]

Florida is one of seven states that prohibit the open carry of handguns. This law was passed in 1987.[118]

Health

There were 2.7 million Medicaid patients in Florida in 2009. The governor has proposed adding $2.6 billion to care for the expected 300,000 additional

patients in 2011.[119] The cost of caring for 2.3 million clients in 2010 was $18.8 billion.[120] This is nearly 30% of Florida's budget.[121]

Medicaid paid for 60% of all births in Florida in 2009.[31]

The state has a program for those not covered by Medicaid.

Some people suffer from various allergies from plants at varying seasons including pollen from oak trees and juniper shrubs.[122]

Architecture

While many houses and commercial buildings look similar to those elsewhere in the country, the state has appropriated some unique styles in some

section of the state including Spanish revival, Florida vernacular, and Mediterranean Revival Style.[123][124]

Economy

Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia from theKennedy Space Center

The Port of Miami is the world's largest cruise ship port, and is the headquarters of many of the world's largest cruise companies.

The Brickell Financial District in Miami contains the largest concentration of international banks in the United States.[125][126]

South Florida's climate is ideal for growingsugarcane.

Historically, the economy of Florida was dependent on agricultural products such as citrus, sugar, cotton and cattle. In the twentieth century, tourism,

industry, construction, international banking, biomedical and life sciences, healthcare research, simulation training, aerospace and defense, and

commercial space travel have contributed to the state's economic development.[citation needed]

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Florida in 2010 was $748 billion.[127] Its GDP is the fourth largest economy in the United States.[128] In 2010, it

became the fourth largest exporter of trade goods.[129] The major contributors to the state's gross output in 2007 were general services, financial

services, trade, transportation and public utilities, manufacturing and construction respectively. In 2010–11, the state budget was $70.5 billion, having

reached a high of $73.8 billion in 2006–07.[130] Chief Executive Magazine name Florida the third "Best State for Business" in 2011.[131]

The economy is driven almost entirely by its nineteen metropolitan areas. In 2004, they had a combined total of 95.7% of the state's domestic product.

[132]

Personal income

Preliminary data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that in 2011, per capita personal income was $39,563, ranking 27th in the nation.[133]

The state was one of the few states to not have a state minimum wage law of its own and was therefore obliged to follow federal minimum wage law.

This changed in 2004, when voters passed a constitutional amendment establishing a state minimum wage and (unique among minimum wage laws)

mandating that it be adjusted for inflation annually. For 2010, the calculated Florida minimum wage was lower than the federal rate of $7.25, so the

federal rate controlled.[134]

Florida is one of the seven states that do not impose a personal income tax.

According to a study by Experian, Florida has 4 cities in the top 25 cities in the country with the most credit card debt.[135]

There were 2.4 million Floridians living in poverty in 2008. 18.4% of children 18 and younger were living in poverty.[136] Miami is the sixth poorest big city

in the United States.[137]

The state also had the second-highest credit card delinquency rate, with 1.45% of cardholders in the state more than 90 days delinquent on one or

more credit cards.[138]

In 2010, over 2.5 million Floridians were on food stamps, up from 1.2 million in 2007. To qualify, Floridians must make less than 133% of the federal

poverty level, which would be under $29,000 for a family of four.[139]

Real estate

In the early 20th century, land speculators discovered Florida, and businessmen such as Henry Plant and Henry Flagler developed railroad systems,

which led people to move in, drawn by the weather and local economies. From then on, tourism boomed, fueling a cycle of development that

overwhelmed a great deal of farmland.

Because of the collective effect on the insurance industry of the hurricane claims of 2004, homeowners insurance has risen 40% to 60% and

deductibles have risen.[30]

At the end of the third quarter in 2008, Florida had the highest mortgage delinquency rate in the country, with 7.8% of mortgages delinquent at least 60

days.[138] A 2009 list of national housing markets that were hard hit in the real estate crash included a disproportionate number in Florida.[140] The early

21st century building boom left Florida with 300,000 vacant homes in 2009, according to state figures.[141] In 2009, the US Census Bureau estimated

that Floridians spent an average 49.1% of personal income on housing-related costs, the third highest percentage in the country.[142]

In the third quarter of 2009, there were 278,189 delinquent loans, 80,327 foreclosures.[143] Sales of existing homes for February 2010 was 11,890, up

21% from the same month in 2009. Only two metropolitan areas showed a decrease in homes sold: Panama City andBrevard County. The average

sales price for an existing house was $131,000, 7% decrease from the prior year.[144][dubious – discuss]

Labor

As of February 2011, the state's unemployment rate was 11.5%.[145]

In 2009, there were 89,706 federal workers employed within the state.[146]

In 2012, government was a top employer in all counties in the state. This was mainly due to the prevalence of teachers, whose school boards employ

nearly 1 out of every 30 workers in the state. The military was the top employer in three counties.[147]

Agriculture and fishing

Historically, Florida's economy was based upon cattle farming and agriculture (especially sugarcane, citrus, tomatoes, andstrawberries).

The second largest industry is agriculture. Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the majority of citrus

fruit grown in the U.S.—in 2006 67% of all citrus, 74% of oranges, 58% of tangerines, and 54% of grapefruit. About 95% of commercial orange

production in the state is destined for processing (mostly as orange juice, the official state beverage).[148] Citrus canker  continues to be an issue of

concern. Other products include sugarcane, strawberries, tomatoes and celery.[149] The state is the largest producer of sweet corn and green beans for

the country.[150]

The Everglades Agricultural Area is a major center for agriculture. The environmental impact of agriculture—especially water pollution—is a major

issue in Florida today.

In 2009, fishing was a $6 billion industry, employing 60,000 jobs for sports and commercial purposes.[151]

Mining

Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone Valley, is the state's third-largest industry. The state produces about 75% of the phosphate required by

farmers in the United States and 25% of the world supply, with about 95% used for agriculture (90% for fertilizerand 5% for livestock feed supplements)

and 5% used for other products.[152]

Government

Since the arrival of the NASA Merritt Island launch sites on Cape Canaveral (most notably Kennedy Space Center) in 1962, Florida has developed a

sizable aerospace industry.

Another major economic engine in Florida is the United States Military. There are currently 24 military bases in the state, housing threeUnified

Combatant Commands; United States Central Command in Tampa, United States Southern Command in Doral, and United States Special Operations

Command in Tampa. There are 109,390 U.S. military personnel currently stationed in Florida,[153]contributing, directly and indirectly, $52 billion a year

to the state's economy.[154]

Industry

This section does

not cite anyreferences or

sources.(February 2012)

The Miami Civic Center has the second-largest concentration of medical and research facilities in the United States.[155]

After the watershed events of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the State of Florida began investing in economic development through OTTED (Office of

Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development). Governor Jeb Bush realized that watershed events such as Andrew negatively impacted Florida's

backbone industry of tourism severely. The office was directed to target Medical/Bio-Sciences among others. Three years later, TheScripps Research

Institute (TSRI) announced it had chosen Florida for its' newest expansion. In 2003, TSRI announced plans to establish a major science center in Palm

Beach, a 364,000 square feet (33,800 m2) facility on 100 acres (40 ha), which TSRI planned to occupy in 2006.[156]

At the same time that Scripps started operations in Florida, Tavistock Group, an investment firm that held 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) of land immediately

South East ofOrlando International Airport began formulating new possibilities for its land use after the decline in tourism to the state. Tavistock

decided to use part of the land to establish a Bio-Sciences cluster. In 2005, the State of Florida along with Tavistock Group and the University of

Central Florida agreed that Tavistock would donate 50 acres (20 ha) and $12.5 Million (which the state would match for a total of $25 Million) to start

the UCF College of Medicine and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. The UCF College of Medicine won approval from the State Board of

Governors in 2006. That decision was key to attracting Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute to Central Florida. Tavistock then donated another

50 acres (20 ha) and $17.5 Million to Sanford-Burnham which allowed Sanford-Burnham's East Coast expansion. In February and March

2007, Nemours and theThe V/A(respectively) announced Lake Nona as the site of two new hospitals.[citation needed]

Other prospective tenants of the Lake Nona Medical City included M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Florida research center,

and Valencia Community College.[citation needed]

It was determined in 2008 from a study done by Arduin, Laffer and Moore Econometrics that the Lake Nona Medical City cluster has in two years

reached 80% of the Milken Numbers which were based on the commitments made by the economic development statements. The study then released

new projections for the 10 year period which included 30,000 jobs created and a $7.6 Billion economic impact.[157]

This section does

not cite anyreferences or

sources.(February 2012)

Florida has become a simulation training cluster.[citation needed] There are the aerospace and defense industries. Companies have expanded.

The Electronic Arts Tiburon, the division responsible for popular games such as the Madden NFL series as well as other sports games, has given way

to a cluster of highly skilled digital media workers who transformed their craft into simulation and simulation training. The United States Military has

been the driving force and primary client of these simulation training firms.[citation needed] It has since spilled over into local police and fire agencies across

the country and across the world. Aviation simulation has also benefited greatly from the advances of the Central Florida simulation training cluster.

[citation needed]

Tourism

Tourism makes up the largest sector of the state economy. Warm weather and hundreds of miles of beaches attract about 60 million visitors to the

state every year. Florida was the top destination state in 2011. 42% of poll respondents living in the Northeast United States said they planned on

visiting Florida over spring break.[158]

Amusement parks, especially in the Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort is the largest vacation resort

in the world, consisting of four theme parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; it, andUniversal Orlando Resort, Busch

Gardens, SeaWorld, and other major parks drive state tourism. Many beach towns are also popular tourist destinations, particularly in the winter

months. 23.2 million tourists visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $21.9 billion.[159]

The public has a right to beach access under the public trust doctrine. However, some areas have access effectively blocked by private owners for a

long distance.[160]

Energy

Florida ranks 45th out of 50 states in total energy consumption per capita, despite the heavy reliance on commercial and residential air conditioning.

This includes coal, natural gas, petroleum, and retail electricity sales.[47][not in citation given]

Education

Main article: Education in Florida

Florida's public primary and secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of Education.

State University System

The State University System of Florida was founded in 1905, and is governed by the Florida Board of Governors. During the 2010 academic year,

312,216 students attended one of these member institutions.

Florida A&M University

Tallahassee

 

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton

 

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers

 

Florida International University

Miami

 

Florida State University

Tallahassee

 

New College of Florida

Sarasota

 

University of Central Florida

Orlando

 

University of Florida

Gainesville

 

University of North Florida

Jacksonville

 

University of South Florida

Tampa

 

University of West Florida

Pensacola

Private universities

Florida's first private university, Stetson University, was founded in 1883. The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida is an association of 28

private, educational institutions in the state.[161] This Association reported that their member institutions served over 121,000 students in the fall of 2006.

[162]

Barry University

Miami Shores

 

Flagler College

Saint Augustine

 

University of Miami

Coral Gables

 

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale

 

Stetson University

DeLand

 

University of Tampa

Tampa

Infrastructure

Communication

27% of Floridians exclusively own cell phones for communication; no landline. Nationally, figures vary from 13–35%, with the higher percentages an

indication of lower income.[163]

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Florida

The Miami Metrorail is the state's onlyrapid transit system. About 15% of Miamians use public transit daily.

Public transit

Miami's public transportation is served by Miami-Dade Transit that runs Metrorail, a heavy rail rapid transit  system, Metromover, a people mover train

system in Downtown Miami, andMetrobus, Miami's bus system. Metrorail runs throughout Miami-Dade County and has two lines and 23 stations

connecting to Downtown Miami's Metromover and Tri-Rail. Metromover has three lines and 21 stations throughout Downtown Miami. Outside of Miami-

Dade County, public transit in the Miami metropolitan area is served by Broward County Transit and Palm Tran; intercountycommuter rail service is

provided by Tri-Rail, with 18 stations including the region's three international airports.

Orlando utilizes the LYNX bus system as well as a downtown bus service called LYMMO, and has attempted to plan a local light rail service for years.

A commuter rail service – SunRail – has been approved by all concerning counties and is in final planning stages.

Tampa and its surrounding area use the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority system ( "HART"). In addition, downtown Tampa has continuous

trolley services in the form of a heritage trolley powered by Tampa Electric Company. Pinellas County and St. Petersburg provide similar services

through the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority or "PSTA". The beaches of Pinellas County also have a continuous trolley bus. Downtown St.

Petersburg has a trolley system.

Public transit usage in Florida

Rank

CityDaily weekday

passenger ridership

Populationserved

% Dailytransit riders

Modes of transit

1 Miami 369,600[164] 2,496,435 14.8%Tri-Rail (commuter rail), Miami Metrorail (heavy rail), Metromover(people mover), & Metrobus

2 Fort Lauderdale 125,710 1,748,066 7.2% Tri-Rail (commuter rail), & Broward County Transit (bus)

3 Orlando 84,061 2,134,411 3.9% LYNX (bus)

4 Tampa 40,000[165] 1,229,226 3.2% HART (bus), & TECO Line Streetcar

5West Palm Beach

34,000[165] 1,320,134 2.6% Tri-Rail (commuter rail), & Palm Tran (bus)

6 Jacksonville 28,220 821,784 3.4% Jacksonville Transportation Authority: Bus, and JTA Skyway (people mover)

Highways

Further information: State Roads in Florida

The Sunshine Skyway Bridgecrosses Tampa Bay, and is one of the largest bridges in the state.

Florida's interstates, state highways and U.S. Highways are maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation. Florida's interstate highway

system contains 1,473 miles (2,371 km) of highway, and there are 9,934 miles (15,987 km) of non-interstate highway in the state, such as Florida state

highways and U.S. Highways.

In 2011, there were about 9,000 retail gas stations in the state.On an average day, Floridians consume 21 million gallons of gasoline, ranking it third in

national use.[166][167]

Motorists have the 45th worst rate of car insurance in the country. 24% are uninsured.[168]Drivers between 15 and 19 years of age averaged 364 car

crashes a year per ten thousand licensed Florida drivers in 2010. Drivers 70 and older averaged 95 per 10,000 during the same time frame. A

spokesperson for the non-profit Insurance Institute said that "Older drivers are more of a threat to themselves."[169]

State highways are numbered according to convention. The first digits of state highways[170] are numbered with the first digit indicating what area of the

state the road is in, from 1 in the north and east to 9 in the south and west. Major north-south state roads generally have one- or two-digit odd route

numbers that increase from east to west, while major east-west state roads generally have one- or two-digit even route numbers that increase from

north to south. Roads of secondary importance usually have three-digit route numbers. The first digit x of their route number is the same as the first

digit of the road with two-digit number x0 to the immediate north. The three-digit route numbers also increase from north to south for even numbers and

east to west for odd numbers.

Following this convention, State Road 907, or Alton Rd. on Miami Beach, is farther east than State Road 997, which is Krome Ave, or the farthest west

north-south road in Miami-Dade County. One notable exception to the convention is State Road 826, or the Palmetto Expressway (pictured at the right

heading north) which, although even numbered, is signed north-south. State roads can have anywhere from one to four digits depending on the

importance and location of the road.[171] County roads often follow this same system.

Prior to the construction of routes under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, Florida began construction of a long cross-state toll road,Florida's

Turnpike. The first section, from Fort Pierce south to the Golden Glades Interchange was completed in 1957. 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's primary interstate routes include:

 I-4, which bisects the state, connecting Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Daytona Beach, connecting with I-95 in Daytona Beachand I-

75 in Tampa.

 I-10, which traverses the panhandle, connecting Jacksonville, Lake City, Tallahassee and Pensacola, with junctions with I-

95 inJacksonville and I-75 in Lake City.

 I-75, which enters the state near Lake City (45 miles (72 km) west of Jacksonville) and continues southward

through Gainesville,Ocala, Tampa's eastern suburbs, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples, where it crosses the "Alligator Alley" as a toll

roadto Fort Lauderdale before turning southward and terminating in Hialeah/Miami Lakes having junctions with I-10 in Lake City and I-

4 inTampa.

 I-95, which enters the state near Jacksonville and continues along the Atlantic Coast through Daytona Beach Melbourne/Titusville , Palm

Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale before terminating in Downtown Miami, with

junctions with I-10 in Jacksonville and I-4 in Daytona Beach.

Intercity rail

Amtrak connects all major cities in Florida. This West Palm Beach Stationserves Amtrak and Tri-Rail commuter railservice.

Florida is served by Amtrak, operating numerous lines throughout, connecting the state's largest cities to points north in the United States and Canada.

The busiest Amtrak train stations in Florida in 2011 were: Sanford (259,944), Orlando (179,142), Tampa Union Station (140,785),Miami (94,556),

and Jacksonville (74,733).[172] Sanford, in Greater Orlando, is the southern terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train, which originates at Lorton, Virginia, south

of Washington, D.C.. Orlando is also the eastern terminus of the Sunset Limited, which travels across the southern United States via New

Orleans, Houston, and San Antonio to its western terminus of Los Angeles. Florida is served by two additional Amtrak trains (the Silver Star and

the Silver Meteor), which operate between New York City and Miami. Miami Central Station, the city's newunion station is under construction, and is

expected to be completed in 2013.

The Miami metropolitan area is connected by Tri-rail, a 70.9 miles (114.1 km) long line with 18 stations which operates on Amtrak rails.

The Florida Department of Transportation was preparing to build a high speed rail betweenTampa, Lakeland and Orlando.[173] This was to be the first

phase of the Florida High Speed Rail system.[174] Soil work began in July 2010[175][176] and construction of the line was slated to begin in 2011, with the

initial Tampa-Orlando phase completed by 2014.[177] The second phase, would have extended the line to Miami. Governor Scott, however, refused

federal funds and the project has been canceled.

Airports

Miami International Airport is the world's 10th-largest cargo airport, and the state's busiest airport.

See also: List of airports in Florida

Major international airports in Florida which processed more than 15 million passengers each in 2010 are Miami International

Airport (35,698,025), Orlando International Airport(34,877,899), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (22,412,627) and Tampa International

Airport (16,645,765).

Secondary airports, with annual passenger traffic exceeding 5 million each in 2010, include Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers)

(7,514,316), Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm Beach) (5,887,723), and Jacksonville International Airport (5,601,500).[178]

Florida's extensive coastline made it a perceived target during World War II, so the government built airstrips throughout the state; today,

approximately 400 airports are still in service. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, Florida has 131 public airports, and more than 700

private airports, airstrips, heliports, and seaplane bases.[179]

Sports

See also: Florida Sports Hall of Fame and List of sports teams in Florida

Fourteen, about half, of all Major League Baseball teams conduct spring training in the state. Throughout MLB history other teams, at one time or

another, held spring training in Florida.

Yet Florida did not have a permanent major-league-level professional sports team until the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins in

1966. The state now has three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams, and two NHL teams.

The state of Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.[180]

Three of the Arena Football League's teams are in Florida.

Golf, tennis, and auto racing are popular. NASCAR (headquartered in Daytona Beach) begins all three of its major Series in Florida atDaytona

International Speedway, and ends all three Series in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The PGA of America is headquartered in Palm Beach

Gardens while the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach.

Minor league baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer and indoor football teams are based in Florida. Florida's universities have a number

of collegiate sport teams. Florida is the traditional home for Major League Baseball spring training, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit

League".

Club League Venue Championships

Miami Dolphins National Football League Sun Life Stadium (Miami Gardens) 2 (1972, 1973)

Miami Heat National Basketball Association American Airlines Arena (Miami) 2 (2006, 2012)

Miami Marlins Major League Baseball Marlins Park (Miami) 2 (1997, 2003)

Florida Panthers National Hockey League BankAtlantic Center (Sunrise) 0

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

National Football League Raymond James Stadium (Tampa) 1 (2003)

Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg) 0

Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League Tampa Bay Times Forum (Tampa) 1 (2004)

Orlando Magic National Basketball Association Amway Center (Orlando) 0

Jacksonville Jaguars National Football League EverBank Field (Jacksonville) 0

Auto-racing tracks

Daytona International Speedway

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Sebring International Raceway

Streets of St. Petersburg

Walt Disney World Speedway

Palm Beach International Raceway

American Airlines Arena

Miami

Miami Heat

 

Amway Center

Orlando

Orlando Magic

 

EverBank Field

Jacksonville

Jacksonville Jaguars

 

Sun Life Stadium

Miami Gardens

Miami Dolphins & Miami Hurricanes

 

Tampa Bay Times Forum

Tampa

Tampa Bay Lightning &Tampa Bay Storm

 

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg

Tampa Bay Rays

Sister states

Sister jurisdiction Country Year[181]

Languedoc-Roussillon France 1989

Taiwan Province Taiwan, R.O.C. 1992

Wakayama Prefecture Japan 1995

Western Cape South Africa 1995

Nueva Esparta Venezuela 1999

Kyonggi South Korea 2000

See also

History portal

Native America portal

New Spain portal

British Empire portal

Geography portal

North America portal

United States portal

Florida portal

Topic overview:

Outline of Florida

Index of Florida-related articles

List of National Register of Historic Places in Florida

List of people from Florida

List of places in Florida

Timeline of Florida History

References

1. ̂  "Article 2, Section 9, Constitution of the State of Florida". State of Florida. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved

December 8, 2008.

2. ̂  Florida   — Languages . MLA. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

3. ^ a b c "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

4. ^ a b "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. 2001. Retrieved October 21, 2011.

5. ̂  Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988.

6. ^ a b "SB 230 – State Symbols/Fla. Cracker Horse/Loggerhead Turtle [RPCC"]. Florida House of Representatives. Retrieved April 7, 2012.

7. ̂  "Köppen Climate Classification Map". John Abbott College, Geosciences Department. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010.

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61. ̂  with North Dakota

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64. ̂  See List of earthquakes in Cuba

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73. ̂  behind Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey, California and Texas

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80. ̂  Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science

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81. ̂  Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the

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82. ̂  Mary C. Waters, Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), p. 36.

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86. ̂  David Hackett Fischer, Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, New York: Oxford University Press, 1989, pp.633–639

87. ̂  "Most spoken languages in Florida". Modern Language Association. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved October

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88. ̂  "State Membership Reports". thearda.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.

89. ̂  http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html

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104. ̂  See Bush   v .   Gore , 531 U.S. 98 (2000)

105. ̂  See also Bush   v .   Palm Beach County Canvassing Board , 531 U.S. 70 (2000).

106. ̂  Fessenden, Ford; Broder, John M. (November 12, 2001)."Study of Disputed Florida Ballots Finds Justices Did Not Cast the Deciding

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107. ̂  Cf. Fla. Stat. § 103.011 (web version) ("Votes cast for the actual candidates for President and Vice President shall be counted as votes

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the candidates for President and Vice President who receive the highest number of votes.")

108. ̂  "Florida Statutes". Leg.state.fl.us. Retrieved November 4, 2011.

109. ̂  "New laws include auto inspection repeal". Ocala Star-Banner. September 27, 1981.

110. ̂  "Personal Injury Protection (PIP)". The Florida Senate, Committee on Banking and Insurance. August 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2012.

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112. ̂  Deslatte, Aaron (January 26, 2012). "Scott says PIP program 'has to be fixed'". Orlando Sentinel.

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115. ̂  "20 Most Dangerous States for 2009"[dead link]. Retrieved March 23, 2009.

116. ̂  "Don't get scammed". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 13A. January 22, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.

117. ̂  Basu, Kaustuv (February 7, 2010). "Officials cite safer cars, seat belts". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 1A.

118. ̂  Basu, Kaustuv (January 7, 2011). "Change would relax handgun law". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 1B. Retrieved March 17,

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119. ̂  Hobson, Will (January 16, 2010). "County Medicaid tab rises, could get worse". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on

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120. ̂  Ryan, MacKenzie (December 26, 2010). "Qualifying for care a minefield". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 3A.

121. ̂  Marshal, James (December 26, 2010). "Sunday debate: No: Longtime official lost touch with voters". =Florida Today(Melbourne,

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122. ̂  Torres, John A. (March 2, 2010). "Rough week ahead for allergy sufferers". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 1A.

123. ̂  [4][dead link]

124. ̂  "Official: Design rules haven't cost Palm Bay new businesses". Florida Today. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on November

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125. ̂  "Brickell Neighborhood Guide". Nestseekers.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011.

126. ̂  "Brickell Real Estate – Millionaires Row". Miamisignaturehomes.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011.

127. ̂  "GDP by State". Greyhill Advisors. Retrieved September 14, 2011.

128. ̂  "Gross Domestic Product by state Table 8:Gross Domestic Product by State in Current Dollars, 2003–2006" (PDF).Bureau of Economic

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129. ̂  Szakonyi, Mark (March 7, 2011). "Florida is No. 4 in US exports". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 14A.

130. ̂  Flemming, Paul (March 6, 2011). "Budget battle set to begin". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 1A. Retrieved March 21, 2011.[dead

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131. ̂  "Site Selection Rankings". Greyhill Advisors. Retrieved October 18, 2011.

132. ̂  "The Role of Metro Areas In The US Economy" (PDF). Retrieved November 4, 2011.

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134. ̂  "Florida's Minimum Wage". State of Florida, Agency for Workforce Innovation. October 15, 2009. Archived from the original on

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135. ̂  Ellis, Blake (March 4, 2011). "Cities with the most credit card debt". CNN.

136. ̂  Flemming, Paul (November 29, 2009). "Poverty estimates pain sad picture". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 8B.Archived from the

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137. ̂  Bill Glauber and Ben Poston (September 28, 2010)."Milwaukee now fourth poorest city in nation". JSOnline. Retrieved November 4,

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138. ^ a b "State scores well in credit card, mortgage payment delinquency". The Burlington Free Press. December 3, 2008. Retrieved

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139. ̂  Hafenbrack, Josh (March 9, 2010). "2.5 million on Fla. food stamps". South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale,

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140. ̂  Orr, Deborah (January 7, 2009). "America's 25 Weakest Housing Markets". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010.

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141. ̂  "Our views:Playing with fire". Florida Today. March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2009.[dead link]

142. ̂  McCaffrey, Scott (October 15, 2009). "Census Bureau: 1 in 3 Virginians Pays Plenty for Housing". Arlington Sun Gazette.Archived from

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143. ̂  Enrique, Eric (February 27, 2010). "No to noncourt foreclosures". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 13A.[dead link]

144. ̂  Price, Wayne T. (March 24, 2010). "Area home sales down".Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 6C. Retrieved March 27, 2011.

145. ̂  Bls.gov; Local Area Unemployment Statistics

146. ̂  Waymer, Jim (April 7, 2011). "Shutdown spares essential services". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): pp. 1A.[dead link]

147. ̂  "Study:Government a top employer in Florida". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): pp. 12B. May 16, 2012.

148. ̂  "Commodity Profile: Citrus" (PDF). Agricultural Issues Center, University of California. Archived from the original on February 22, 2010.

Retrieved November 17, 2007.

149. ̂  "Crop Profile for Celery in Florida". NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management, North Carolina State University.Archived from the

original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2007.

150. ̂  "Corn, Green Bean Prices Rise After Florida Freezes". Calorielab. January 1, 2011.

151. ̂  Price, Wayne T. (February 23, 2010). "Locals to protest fish regulation". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 8C.[dead link]

152. ̂  "About Phosphate". The Mosaic Company. Archived fromthe original on September 23, 2007. Retrieved November 17, 2007.

153. ̂  "State-by-State Listing of Major U.S. Military Bases   — Florida" . Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved July 6,

2009.

154. ̂  Ash, Jim (April 15, 2009). "Military-friendly bill cruise". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 9B.

155. ̂  http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/v-fullstory/2379490/a-new-university-of-miami-research.html

156. ̂  "TSRI Plans to Open Major Science Center in Palm Beach County, Florida". News & Views. The Scripps Research Institute. October

2003. Retrieved May 14, 2012.

157. ̂ http://www.cityoforlando.net/elected/mayor/soc04_medical.htm

158. ̂  "Vacation trends". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): pp. 1E. March 13, 2011.

159. ̂  Waymer, Jim (February 15, 2010). "Beaches get pumped up". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 13A.[dead link]

160. ̂  "Laying out an "unwelcome mat" to public beach access"(PDF). Retrieved November 4, 2011.

161. ̂  "Official website of ICUF". Icuf.org. Retrieved November 4, 2011.

162. ̂  Atherton, Blair (August 2006). "2005–2006 Accountability Report: Quality, Productivity, Diversity, and Access" (PDF). Archived from the

original on September 25, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007.

163. ̂  Alan Fram (April 20, 2011). "Arkansas, Mississippi rely on cellphones most". Florida Today. Florida Today.

164. ̂ http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/news_technical_reports.asp

165. ^ a b http://www.gohart.org/departments/marketing/press/press-release-12-2-08.html

166. ̂  behind California and Texas

167. ̂  Moody, R. Norman (January 30, 2011). "Guidelines tight to drive a fuel tanker". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 2A.

168. ̂  "Recession Marked by Bump in Uninsured Motorists"(PDF). Retrieved November 4, 2011.

169. ̂  Kennerley, Britt (September 18, 2011). "Olde drivers take fewer risks". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): p. 11A.[dead link]

170. ̂  with some exceptions (such as State Road 112 connecting Interstate 95 to the Miami International Airport)

171. ̂  FHP State Road Listings[dead link]. Retrieved March 29, 2009. Archived August 22, 2008 at the Wayback Machine[dead link]

172. ̂  www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/FLORIDA11.pdf

173. ̂  "FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL UPDATE:Regional Rail Briefing March 24, 2010, Lakeland" (PDF). Florida Department of Transportation.

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174. ̂  "Environmental Studies". Floridahighspeedrail.org. May 20, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2010.[dead link]

175. ̂  "Bullet Train Work Begins With Soil in I-4 Median". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. July 20, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2010.

176. ̂  "Work begins on Florida's high speed rail". WTSP.com. July 19, 2010. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved

August 2, 2010.

177. ̂  Jackovics, Ted. January 28, 2010, "Obama calls high speed rail funding a 'down payment'".[dead link] The Tampa Tribune (TBO.com). .

Retrieved February 18, 2010.

178. ̂  www.aci-na.org/sites/default/files/_rankings-2010nam_.xls

179. ̂  "Florida Drug Threat Assessment-Overview". National Drug Intelligence Center. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010.

Retrieved July 18, 2007.

180. ̂  Peltier, Michael (November 5, 2011). "Lawmaker's bill would fine teams that black out games". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida):

pp. 4B.

181. ̂  "Florida Sister City/Sister State Directory 2001" (PDF). State of Florida. 2001. Archived from the original on June 27, 2008. Retrieved

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 Geographic data related to Florida at OpenStreetMap

Florida Memory Project  Over 300,000 photographs and documents from the State Library & Archives of Florida

Online collection of the Spanish Land Grants.

USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Florida

Florida Rivers and Watersheds – Florida DEP

U.S. Census Bureau

Economic and farm demographics fact sheet from the USDA

Energy & Environmental Data For Florida

List of searchable databases produced by Florida state agencies  hosted by the American Library Association Government Documents

Roundtable

Heliconius charitonia , zebra longwing  Florida state butterfly, on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

TerraFly Property Value and Aerial Imagery Spatio-temporal animation Real Estate Trends in Florida

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List of U.S. states by date of statehoodAdmitted on March 3, 1845 (27th)

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