Florida State Records

The state of Florida is also called "The Sunshine State". Their moto is In God We Trust. The official languages are English. The spoken languages are English 74.5% Spanish 18.7%. Before statehood it was called Florida Territory. Florida's government is comprised of the Governor, who is currently Rick Scott (R), Lieutenant Governor, who is currently Jennifer Carroll (R), Senators: Bill Nelson (D), Marco Rubio (R), House Delegation: 19 Republicans, 6 Democrats (list).The legislature is Florida Legislature.

Total area for Florida is 65,755 sq mi (170,304 km2) (Ranked 22nd in the U.S.). The width is 361 miles (582 km) and the length is 447 miles (721 km). In terms of latitude and longitude we have: 24° 27′ N to 31° 00' N and 80° 02′ W to 87° 38′ W. According to the 2010 United States Census, the total population is 19,057,542 (2011 est) (Ranked 4th in the U.S.). The highest point is Britton Hill 345 ft (105 m) and the lowest point is Atlantic Ocean sea level.

The abbreviations used for this state are FL Fla. US-FL. Additional information and the official website of the state is found at www.myflorida.com.

Florida (i/ˈflɒrɪdə/) 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 area is 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 coastline in 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. 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 – 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 the American 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.