Florida was the 27th state in the USA; it was admitted on March 3, 1845.
State
Abbreviation - FL
State Capital - Tallahassee
Largest City - Jacksonville
Area - 65,758 square miles [Florida is the
22nd biggest
state in the USA]
Population -
15,982,378 (as of 2000) [Florida is the fourth most populous state in the
USA, after
California,
New York and
Texas]
Major Industries - tourism, agriculture
(oranges, grapefruit, tomatos), electronics
Major Rivers - St. Johns River, St. Mary's
River, Suwannee River
Major Lakes - Lake Okeechobee, Lake George
Highest Point - A hill in Walton County -
345 feet (105 m) above sea level
Bordering States -
Georgia,
Alabama
Bordering Bodies of Water - Atlantic Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico
Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was
first seen by the Spanish explorer
Ponce
de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de
Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for Spain
State Nickname - The Sunshine State
State Motto - "In God we trust."
State Song - "Swanee River"
Florida State Symbols and Emblems:
| State Flag
|
Animal Symbols:
| State Bird | State Mammal | State Marine Mammal |
| State Salt Water Mammal | State Insect | State Reptile |
| State Saltwater Fish
Sailfish |
State Freshwater Fish
Largemouth bass |
State Shell
|
Plant Symbols:
| State Flower
Orange blossom |
State Wild Flower
Coreopsis |
State Tree
Palmetto palm |
State Beverage
|
Earth Symbols:
| State Fossil (unofficial)
|
State Stone
Agatized coral |
State Gem
Moonstone |
