Florida: The Sunshine State's Geography, History & Economy

Florida — southernmost contiguous US state, peninsula between Atlantic and Gulf.

Quick Facts

• Capital: Tallahassee
• Largest city: Jacksonville
• Population: ~22.6M (2023, 3rd largest)
• Area: 65,758 sq mi (22nd)
• Nickname: Sunshine State

Geography

• 1,350 mi coastline (2nd to Alaska)
• Lowest high point (Britton Hill, 345 ft)
• Everglades (subtropical wilderness, UNESCO)
• Florida Keys (coral cay archipelago)
• 1,000+ springs (largest concentration globally)

History in Brief

• 12,000+ years: Native peoples (Calusa, Tequesta, Timucua, Seminole)
• 1513: Ponce de León claims La Florida for Spain
• 1565: St. Augustine founded (oldest continuous Euro settlement in US)
• 1763–1783: British period
• 1821: US acquires from Spain
• 1845: 27th state
• 1861–1865: Confederate state
• 1920s: Land boom → bust → WWII military buildup → postwar explosion

Economy Pillars

• Tourism: 130M+ visitors/yr (Disney, Universal, beaches, cruises)
• Agriculture: Citrus (oranges), tomatoes, strawberries, sugar, cattle
• Aerospace/Defense: Cape Canaveral, Patrick SFB, defense contractors
• Finance/Trade: Miami = Latin America gateway; no state income tax
• Healthcare/Research: Mayo, Moffitt, Scripps, UF/UM/FSU medical

Culture

Latin, Caribbean, Southern, Snowbird, Indigenous, Black Floridian—blended in food (Key lime pie, Cuban sandwich, stone crab), music, art, festivals.