45 Interesting Florida Facts You Must Know Before Your Next Trip

The American state of Florida is located in the southeastern part of the country and is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Georgia on the north.

The state shares its boundaries with the island country of Cuba as well. While the capital city of Florida is Tallahassee, the most populous city of this American state is Jacksonville.

Florida has multiple urban conurbations that have a population of over a million. These include Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa Bay, and Orlando.

Florida is popularly recognized by its nickname 'the Sunshine State', and the motto of Florida state is 'In God We Trust'. Florida state is also recognized for its unique climatic conditions.

Besides Hawaii, Florida is the only American state to have a tropical climate. It is also home to the Florida reef, the only living coral barrier reef within the continental United States.

Florida also has the largest tropical wilderness in the entire country, called the Everglades National Park. Some of the unique wildlife spotted in the Sunshine State include the American crocodile, the Florida panther, the American alligator, and many others.

Where is Florida located?

Florida is located in the southeastern part of the United States, and South Florida often comes into the limelight for sharing its boundary with Cuba and the Straits of Florida. The geography of Florida has often turned several heads owing to the state's geographical facts.

• Florida has gained massive fame for its amusement parks and beach resorts. Some popular attractions include the Walt Disney World, Miami Beach, the Kennedy Space Center, and various others.
• Florida is also the 22nd largest state in the United States, spanning across an area of 65,758 sq mi (170,312.4 sq km).
• Key West City in Florida is popularly recognized as the southernmost point of the continental United States.
• There are believed to be over 1,200 golf courses in Florida, most for any American state.
• In the city of St. Augustine, one can also find the famous World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.
• According to the geographical location of Florida, it is majorly located on a peninsula between the famed Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and the Atlantic Ocean.
• The second largest freshwater lake in the United States is located in Florida, Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee is known to be spread across 730 sq mi (1,890.7 sq km).
• One of the most famed tourist attractions of the state, Florida Keys, is a group of around 1,700 tiny islands.
• One of the most impressive Florida fun facts is that it is the only state in America that shares its borders with both the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Atlantic Ocean.
• Alaska is the only American state with a longer coastline than Florida of, the contiguous states in the country.
• Florida also holds the record as the country's flattest state, followed by the likes of North Dakota, Delaware, Illinois, and other states.
• The highest point in the state of Florida is Britton Hill at 345 ft (105.2 m). Although Britton Hill is the highest point of Florida, it is the lowest high point of all American states, reflecting how flat Florida is.
• The weather and climatic conditions in North Florida and South Florida are not exactly the same. The temperature in Florida ranges from around 74-77 F (23.3-25 C) in the south to 65-70 F (18.3-21.1 C) in the north.
• The longest river in Florida is the St. Johns River running a massive distance of 310 mi (499 km).
• Florida is responsible for more than 70% of the production of America's total citrus supply.

Historical Facts About Florida

When it comes to the historical origins of Florida, Paleo-Indians are believed to have entered Florida around 14,000 years ago. At the same time, Florida is considered to be the first section of the contiguous United States that was visited and settled by the Europeans.

• The original Spanish name of Florida is La Florida which translates to 'the flowers' in Spanish.
• It is believed that in 1513, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed in the territory, claimed it for Spain, and named it La Florida.
• Juan Ponce de León is known to have landed in Florida around April 2, 1513. He named it La Florida on that day in honor of Pascua Florida, the Spanish Feast of Flowers.
• During the early 1900s, almost half of the population of Florida was comprised of African American people.
• The city of Fort Lauderdale is recognized as 'the Venice of America' owing to the 300 mi (482.8 km) of inland waterways located within the city.
• Earlier in 1967, orange juice was chosen as the official state drink by the Florida legislature.
• As of 2022, Florida is among the most populous states in America, but earlier during the '50s, it was the least populous Southern American state.
• In 1909, the orange blossom was announced as the state flower of Florida.
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, Florida, was the first ever underwater state park in the United States.
• One of the most interesting Florida facts for kids is that it is often recognized as the epicenter of theme parks in the world.
• Some of the most popular theme parks in the world are located in Florida, including SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Disney World, LEGOLAND, and numerous others.
• Florida's love for golf is known to all. Palm Beach County, located in Florida state is known to have more golf courses than any other county in the USA.
• The Everglades National Park is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The state of Florida is also recognized as the fishing and boating capital of the world.
• Florida state is home to 11 national parks, including the likes of Fort Clinch State Park, Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Reserve, and others.

Scary Facts About Florida

Florida is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. This often includes various species of wild animals that can be terrifying to anyone and everyone.

• Besides being home to some of the scariest animals like crocodiles and panthers, Florida is also home to around 516 bird species. It also has animals such as dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees.
• Although several Americans relocate to Florida every year owing to its weather, Central Florida is infamously recognized as the country's Lightning Capital. This region is known to experience more lightning strikes than any other region in the country.
• The Everglades National Park is the only place on Earth where both alligators and crocodiles live together.
• The Machineel tree, recognized as the most dangerous tree species in the world, is found in the state of Florida. This tree is also called the 'little apple of death' or 'the beach apple'.
• Owing to the strength of the toxins of this tree, mere contact with the tree's sap can lead to blisters on the skin of the person.

Weird Facts About Florida

The state of Florida has always been in the limelight for some reason or the other, this also includes times when some lesser-known facts about the state have been brought into the limelight.

• Panama City Beach, located in Florida, is often referred to as the Wreck Capital of the South owing to the multiple shipwrecks that take place off the Gulf Coast.
• The Walt Disney World resort, established in 1971, is believed to be about the same size as San Francisco, California.
• The Walt Disney World resort is also known to be the most visited and the biggest recreational resort on Earth.
• Of all the tree species found in the United States, nearly half of them grow in Florida.
• It has been noted that numerous Americans look to relocate to sunny Florida every year owing to its sunny days and pretty mild winters.
• Jacksonville, the most populous city of Florida, is known to have been named after the state's first military governor, General Andrew Jackson. But, interestingly, he had never visited the city in his life.
• The city of Cedar Key in Florida is also recognized as the fishing village for having America's best clam chowder.
• Florida is the second largest tomato-producing state in the United States, only after California.
• Contrary to the rules in most parts of the world, the driver's test in the state of Florida does not require one to parallel park.
• When it comes to the global production of orange juice, Florida only falls behind the South American country Brazil.