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More About Florida State
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om last place in 1940 to first place today.
An almost 450-mile-long peninsula, rarely more than 150 miles wide and only a few feet high in many places, Florida has 8,426 miles of tidal coastline including that of the panhandle. The gentle Gulf Stream flows through the Florida straits between Florida and Cuba and north up the Atlantic coast, bestowing a tropical caress on the land. The pines near the Georgia border give way to palms and sea grape, then to bougainvillea and hibiscus, and finally to saw grass and mangrove down in the Everglades. Florida from north to south prides itself on being green and clean.
Florida's east coast has glamour and gloss; the west, a more earthy mood of informality. Between the two is a vast flatland with a spine of shallow ridgesa land that produces approximately $5.8 billion worth of agricultural products a year. Florida leads the nation in citrus fruits and is second only to California in winter vegetables. Cattle ranches and dairy farms prosper in great numbers; forests continue to provide lumber, naval stores, and pulp at a seemingly inexhaustible rate; and from the sea, Florida harvests millions of pounds of fish and shellfish each year.
Tourism is the state's major industry, providing annual taxable sales of approximately $41 billion. Facilities for the tourist trade include 3,300 lodgings and more than 45,000 restaurants. Kennedy Space Center, selected in 1961 as the launch facility for the Apollo Moon Mission, is visited by more than three million visitors each year. Walt Disney World, the gossamer fantasyland of central Florida, has welcomed untold millions since its opening in 1971.
The day in 1513 when Ponce de Leon stepped ashore near St. Augustine began Florida's long history. The explorer mapped the coast but failed to find his fountain of youth or to establish a colony. After him, in 1539, Hernando de Soto and his army marched through the tropical land, starting in what is now the Tampa Bay area. They discovered the Mississippi River and staked Spain's claim to the Southwest. Spanish settlements became rooted at St. Augustine and Pensacola in the 17th century. In the 18th century, Florida was taken as a British province. Spanish rule resumed following the British defeat in the American Revolution, but in 1812 a group of Americans took over and declared the peninsula an independent republic. Finally, in 1819, the United States took formal possession of Florida through a treaty of purchase. During the Civil War, Tallahassee was the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi to escape capture by Union forces.
Henry Morrison Flagler, a colorful tycoon with a passion for railroads and hotels, was the major figure in the transformation of Florida from a remote and swampy outpost to its present-day status. Flagler pushed his Florida East Coast Railroad from Jacksonville to Key West, opening one area after another along the coast to tourist and commercial development. On the west coast, Henry Plant, another millionaire railroader, competed with Flagler on a somewhat more modest scale.
Florida's stock climbed in the 1920s like one of its present-day rockets. A real estate boom unrivaled in history gripped the east coast. Dream cities sprouted everywhere as the voices of real estate salespeople were heeded. Property values increased from hour to hour, and thousands of people bought uninspected acres, many of them underwater. A double disastera hurricane and the stock market crash of 1929burst the bubble. The lure of Florida, however, had by then been implanted in the American soul, and the state's progress has been at an ever-accelerating pace ever since.
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Florida
Statistics & Vital Data |  |
| Population: | 15233000 |
| Area: | 58,560 square miles |
| Timezone: | Eastern and Central |
| Elevation: | 0-345 feet |
| High
point: | Near Lakewood (Walton County) |
| Joined
Union: | March 3, 1845 (27th state) |
| State
Capital: | Tallahassee |
| State
Motto: | "In God We Trust" |
| State
Flower: | Orange Blossom |
| State
Bird: | Mockingbird |
| State
Tree: | Sabal Palm |
| State
Fair: | February, in Tampa |
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Florida Events >> | | View
Florida Attractions >> |
Florida Parks, Recreation Areas, & Historical Landmarks:
State Parks - Water-related activities, hiking, riding, various other sports, picnicking, and visitor centers, as well as camping, are available in many of Florida's parks and recreation areas. Approximately half of the state recreation areas have camping facilities: $8-$20 per site per night; $2 per day extra for waterfront sites. Stay is limited to two weeks; no pets overnight. Most campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only; however, in 24 parks (26 in summer), reservations are taken by telephone only, no more than 60 days in advance. Electricity fee is $2 per night. Camping groups of more than four people (limit eight) are charged $1 for each additional person. Notification is advised for parties arriving after closing hours. Some parks have vacation cabins, $20-$125 per night. Boat ramp use costs $2-$4. The basic state park entrance fee per vehicle is $3.25; additional passenger fee (after the eighth person) is $1. Several parks charge additional fees for tours, etc. All parks are open daily, 8 am-sundown. Some parks, with camping, are open weekends preceding holidays and are open until 10 pm; other parks are open to 10 pm during busy season. For further information and a free color brochure, Florida State Parks Guide, contact the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation and Parks, MS 535, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd, Tallahassee 32399; phone 850/488-9872.
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list of all parks in Florida >> | |
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Florida
Weather and Climate:
Most parts of Florida are warm and sunny year-round. Evenings can get chilly in winter, so bring a sweater or jacket if you're visiting then. You may want to avoid the summer months in the extreme south, which can be very hot and humid. Hurricane season runs from June through October and is carefully monitored by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. | |
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Fishing/Hunting
Opportunities in Florida:
Florida has approximately 600 varieties of fish in its offshore waters and freshwater fish in more than 10,000 lakes. Freshwater fishing is most productive in the spring; sport fishing is good all year. An annual nonresident saltwater fishing license is $31.50; a resident license costs $13.50; and a nonresident seven-day license is $16.50. An annual nonresident freshwater license is $31.50; a resident license costs $13.50; and a nonresident seven-day license is $16.50. There is no short-term resident license for freshwater fishing. Anglers should obtain the proper license, freshwater or saltwater, that covers the species of fish they intend to keep. Because of its climate and large forest areas, Florida has an abundance of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, small game, and game birds. Open seasons are established annually but usually fall between late September and mid-April. A nonresident (excluding Alabama) annual license is $151.50; an annual hunting license for Alabama residents is $101.50; a resident annual license is $12.50; and a nonresident ten-day license is $26.50. An annual resident combination hunting/fishing license is $23.50. The following additional stamps are required: archery or muzzleloaders, $5; turkey, $5; state waterfowl, $3. There is a $26.50 fee for both residents and nonresidents hunting in state management areas. Hunting and fishing licenses are not required for persons younger than 16. Residents older than 65 do not need to purchase a hunting or freshwater fishing license, but they must obtain a special permit (free). An additional charge of up to $3 may be added to the price of all hunting and fishing licenses and stamps. For further information about saltwater fishing, contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd, Tallahassee 32399; phone 850/488-5757. For information about hunting or freshwater fishing, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation Commission, 620 S Meridian St, Tallahassee 32399-1600; phone 888/HUNT-FLORIDA or 888/FISH-FLORIDA. | |
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| | Additional Florida Visitor Information:
Details on accommodations and resort facilities throughout the state may be obtained by writing to the Florida Hotel & Motel Association, 200 W College Ave, Tallahassee 32302-1529; phone 850/224-2888; www.flahotel.com. For general information, contact VISIT FLORIDA, 661 E Jefferson St, PO Box 1100, Tallahassee 32302; phone 850/488-5607; www.flausa.com. Another source of information is Florida Living, published monthly, 102 NE 10th Ave, Suite 6, Gainesville 32601.
There are several official state welcome stations in Florida; visitors who stop by will find information and brochures helpful in planning trips to points of interest. Their locations are as follows: at the north-central edge of the state, 3 miles north of Campbellton on US 231; in the northeastern part of Florida, 4 miles north of Jennings on I-75, and 3 miles north of Yulee on I-95 S; in the northwestern section, 18 miles west of Pensacola on I-10; and in Tallahassee at the Capital Welcome Station. (Daily, 8 am-5 pm) |
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