Florida - State Symbols, Facts, Photos, Visitor Info

"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there contained! Every member would be obliged in conscience to temperance, frugality and industry: to justice, kindness and charity towards his fellow men: and to piety, love and reverence toward Almighty God....What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

Feb. 22, 1756

President



		State Symbols Bird: Mockingbird Tree: Sabal Palmetto Palm Flower: Orange Blossom Animal: Panther (Puma) Song: The Swanee River

Entered the Union: March 3, 1845 (27)		State Nickname Sunshine State State Motto In God We Trust
Capital: Tallahassee
Origin of Name: Named on Easter 1513 by Ponce de Leon for Pascua Florida – "Flowery Easter"
Famous for: Beaches, Disney World, Daytona 500, Cypress Gardens, NASA Space Center, Everglades
National Forests: 3 • National Parks: 13 • State Forests: 31 • State Parks: 158
Famous Floridians: Wallace Amos (founder of Amos Cookie Corp.), Faye Dunaway • Burt Reynolds • Sidney Poitier (actors), Gloria Estefan (singer), Steve "Lefty" Carlton (baseball), Osceola (Seminole Indian), Charles & John Ringling (founders Ringling Bros & Barnum & Bailey Circus), David Robinson (basketball), Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author), Charles & John Ringling (circus), Janet Reno (first woman attorney general), Norman Thargard (astronaut), Clarence Thomas (US Supreme Court)

State Fair: Tampa, Florida











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State Fair: West Palm Beach

Florida National Forests

Florida National Parks

Florida State Parks

Florida Historic Sites

Florida Attractions

Fishing in Florida

Hunting in Florida

Florida Marlins (MLB)

Florida Panthers (NHL)

Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL)

Miami Dolphins (NFL)

Miami Heat (NBA)

Orlando Magic (NBA)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (MLB)

Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)

Disney World Photo Gallery

Florida Photo Gallery 1

Florida Bird Gallery 1

Florida Butterfliy Gallery

Listen to Mockingbird's Song

Florida Homeschooling

Florida Resorts

Florida Campgrounds

Florida RV Parks

Florida Hotels

Florida Restaurants & Reviews

1513, Ponce de León, seeking the mythical “Fountain of Youth,” discovered and named Florida. He claimed the region for Spain. In 1564, French missionaries settled Fort Caroline near present-day Jacksonville. In 1565, Spanish troops arrived and drove the French out of Florida. They established St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in the U.S.

In 1763, Spain lost Florida to England. During the Revolutionary War, Spanish troops entered Florida and repossessed the land. During the War of 1812, Spain allowed Britain to use Pensacola as a naval base. In 1814, American troops captured the base leading to U.S. control of Florida in 1821. The Florida Territory was organized in 1822 and settlers entered by the thousands.

Cape Canaveral is America's launch pad for space flights.

The first U.S. earth satellite, Explorer I, was launched from the U.S. Air Force Missile Test Center at Cape Canaveral in 1958.

Key West has the highest average temperature in the United States.

Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because the city has 185 miles of local waterways.

The crocodile is classified as an endangered species and there are only 400 to 500 remaining in Florida.

Only 30 to 50 Florida Pumas still remain, making this one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world. Pumas can run as fast as 30 mph and jump as high as 18 feet from the ground.

The world's first scheduled commercial airline flight occurred in Florida on January 1, 1914 between Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Florida's Ethnic Roots: German 11.8%, Irish 10.3%, English 9.2%, American 8%, Italian 6.3%.

Religion in Florida: 80% Christian (54% Protestant, 26% Catholic), 14% No Religion, 4% Jewish, 1% LDS, 1% Other Religions

Oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits lead Florida's agricultural products list.

Disney World, located on a 27,000-acre site, is Florida's most popular tourist destination. Also drawing many visitors are the NASA Kennedy Space Center's Spaceport USA, Everglades National Park, and the Epcot Center.

April Fool's Day

April 1
April Fool's Day
is celebrated in various countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes or sending someone on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.
Read more in our forum.

Arbor Day

April 26, 2013
Arbor Day is a national holiday enacted in 1872 to encourage people to plant trees and appreciate all the things trees give us.

National Day of Prayer

May 2, 2013
National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting all Americans to pray for our nation. It as created in 1952 by Congress and Pres. Harry S. Truman.
Read more in our forum.

Mothers Day

May 12, 2013
is Mother's Day! It is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in May to honor mothers and motherhood. In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson made this an official holiday in the USA.
Read more in our forum.

Armed Forces Day

May 18, 2013
Armed Forces Day
is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who serve in the five military branches of the United States' armed forces.
Read more in our forum.

Pentecost

May 19, 2013
Pentecost
is the day the Christian church was born. On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, he sent the Holy Spirit to fill his disciples with the empowerment of God's presence.
Read more in our forum.

Memorial Day