FLORIDA FACTS…. Did You Know…..
The total land area of
Florida is 54,136 square miles.
The total water area of
Florida is 4,424 square miles.
The highest natural point is 345 feet.
There are 663 miles of Beaches.
The longest river is The St. John’s River at 273 miles long.
The largest lake is
Lake Okeechobee at 700 square miles.
The largest county is
Palm Beach , at 2,578 square miles.
The smallest county is
Union
County , at 245 square miles.
There are over 7,700 lakes that are larger than 10 acres in size.
There are 33 first-magnitude springs.
Number of islands (greater than 10 acres)- about 4,500.
SOME HISTORICAL
FLORIDA FACTS…..
The Capital is
Tallahassee .
The First permanent European settlement was in 1565, St. Augustine, by
Spain .
On March 23rd, 1845 Florida was admitted as the 27th state of the
U.S. .
CURRENT
FLORIDA FACTS…
The most popular metropolitan area is Miami –
Ft.
Lauderdale
.
The most populous County in 2005 –
Miami-Dade
County
: 2,376,014 (estimate) wow!
Number of counties: 67
State sales tax 6%
State Income Tax: NONE!!!!! Yippee!
Legislature- 120 house districts, 40 senate districts, 25 congressional districts.
INTERESTING
FLORIDA STUFF…..
Nickname: The
Sunshine
State
Motto: In God We Trust
Time Zones: Eastern & Central (Panhandle)
State Song: “
Suwanee
River”
State Tree: Sabal Palm
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Animal:
Florida Panther
State Mammal:
Florida Manatee
State Reptile: Alligator
State Butterfly: Zebra Longwing
State Shell: Horse Conch
Saltwater Fish: Atlantic Sailfish
Freshwater Fish: Large Mouth Bass
State Gem: Moon Stone
Orlando attracts more visitors than any other amusement park destination in the United States. And you can tell by the lines!
Cape Canaveral is America's launch pad for space flights.
Florida is not the southernmost state in the Unites States. Hawaii is further south.
The Benwood, on the French Reef in the Florida Keys, is known as one of the most dived shipwrecks in the world. Pretty Cool, huh?
The United States city with the highest rate of lightening strikes per capita is Clearwater. Weird-o-rama.
Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators (Go Gators!) where the drink was first developed.
Young aviator Tony Jannus made history on January 1, 1914 when he flew the world's first scheduled passenger service airline flight from St. Petersburg's downtown yacht basin to Tampa.
The St. John's River is one of the few rivers that flows north instead of south..... hmmmm
Why is the Alligator an "unofficial" symbol of the State? Because the alligator symbolizies Florida's extensive untamed wilderness and swamps.
Miami installed the first bank automated ATM machine for........ROLLERBLADERS! Too Cool! Question is, now that the rollerbladers have cash on them, which establishments allow them to rollerblade inside?
Plant City, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, holds the Guinness record for the world's largest strawberry shortcake. The 827 square foot, 6,000 lb cake was made on February 19, 1999 in McCall Park. YUMMY! And it is healthy too, right? I mean it has fruit in it after all!
Nearly 8% of the states intake of sweet Atlantic white shrimp is harvested in Amelia Island waters. Two Million lbs. of shrimp are delivered to Fernandina docks annually. Shrimp Cocktail anyone? I know where to find it....
Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because the county has 185 miles of local waterways.
The first graded road built in Florida was Old Kings Road in 1763. It was named for King George of England... bet it was b~u~m~p~y.........
The longest river sailboat race in the world is the Annual Mug Race. The event runs 42 miles from Palatka to Jacksonville along the St. Johns River. If you need sunscreen for this event, Hawaiian Tropic is located in Ormond Beach Florida!
Florida is the only state with two rivers having the same name! Can you guess what it is? Betcha can't! There is a Withlacoochee in north central Florida (Madison County) and a Withlacoochee in central Florida.They have nothing in common but the name. And what a name it is!
The phrase "cool as a cucumber" originates in Florida. On a hot Florida day, the pulp of a cucumber can be up to 10 degrees cooler that the surrounding air.
The John G. Riley House in Tallahassee is the only known house still in existence that was owned by a former slave.
More than 150 lifesized dinosaurs live in Plant City at an outdoor dinosaur museum called Dinosaur World. What a fun place for a game of hide & seek!
Florida's state wildflower, the Coreopsis, is planted on Florida roadsides for highway beautification. It is found in a variety of colors ranging from gold to pink.
Florida's state beverage is Orange Juice and is served daily at four Official Florida Welcome Centers.
Pensacola's nickname is the "City of Five Flags" because throughout its history it has been under the rule of the Spanish, French, English, Americans, and Confederates.
Venice, in Southwest Florida, is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Does this mean there are alot of toothless sharks swimming around, or an over-eager Shark Dentist?????
The Florida Everglades are the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist. I wouldn't attempt to get too "up close and personal" to view them, however.
Are you a Ray Charles Fan? He began his career playing dance-hall gigs in Tampa! He also received an honorary degree in music from the University of South Florida.
The Kennedy Space Center ceiling is soooo high (at 525 feet) that rain clouds can form inside the structure. I wonder if the employees get "rainy" days off......or if they just keep umbrellas under their desks!
Wherever you go in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from the beach! Guess you better keep some sunscreen in your car's center console!
Sanibel Island is one of the 10 best beaches in the world for shelling, with more than 400 species.
Please visit this link for a beautiful slideshow of our men in Iraq.......
God Bless Them All!
http://www.clermontyellow.accountsupport.com/flash/UntilThen.swf
