International Trade (40% of all U.S. exports to Latin and South America pass through Florida)
Tourism - with 76.8 million visitors in 2004 (a record number), Florida is the top travel destination in the world. The tourism industry has an economic impact of $57 billion on Florida’s economy. Click here for additional tourism facts and statistics.
Space Industry - The space industry represents $4.5 billion of the state's economy. The average annual wage of aerospace workers is approximately $52,000. The number employed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) alone is 15,000 and Florida ranks 4th among the states in overall aerospace employment with 23,000 jobs.
Agriculture – Florida leads the southeast in farm income.
Florida produces about 75% of the U.S. oranges and accounts for about 40% of the world's orange juce supply.
Construction - This industry's strength results from the steady stream of new residents and visitors who are welcomed to Florida each year.
Services - growth in high tech, financial & back office operations
Software - many small, entrepreneurial companies
Health Technology (medical, biotech, laboratories)
University Research - more than $500 million per year in sponsored research at Florida universities
(Click Here) for more information on Florida's economy
State Spending Per Capita 1998 - Florida Ranks 49th ($2,628)
Florida Taxes - Florida ranks low in terms of the tax burden placed on residents. Based on income, property and other state and local tax collections, the Tax Foundation research organization ranks Florida among the lowest tax states (Florida ranks #45 among the 50 states in 2004; only five states have a lower tax burden).
William P. Duval, Florida's first civil governor, calls the first Legislative Council into session in Pensacola on June 19, 1823.
Admitted to U.S. as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)
See our front page for more "Historic" information links: (Click Here)
Florida Population
Population Rank - 4th in U.S. behind California, Texas & New York
Florida population estimates:
Florida's Population (2003) - 17,019,068
Florida's Population (2002) - 16,713,149
Florida's Population (2001) - 16,396,515
Florida's Population (2000) - 15,982,378
Population (1990) - 12,937,926
Population (1980) - 9,746,961
Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) - 23.5%
City Population Rank (2000): (Rounded to the Nearest Thousand)
1.Jacksonville - 736,000
2.Miami - 362,000
3.Tampa - 303,000
4.St. Petersburg - 248,000
5.Hialeah - 226,000
6.Orlando - 186,000
7.Ft. Lauderdale - 152,000
8.Tallahassee - 151,000
9.Hollywood - 139,000
10. Pembroke Pines - 137,000
11. Coral Springs - 118,000
12. Clearwater - 109,000
13. Cape Coral - 102,000
14. Gainesville - 95,000
15. Port St. Lucie - 89,000
16. Miami Beach - 88,000
17. Sunrise - 86,000
18. Plantation - 83,000
19. West Palm Beach - 82,000
20. Palm Bay - 79,000
21. Lakeland - 78,000
22. Pompano Beach - 78,000
23. Davie - 76,000
24. Boca Raton - 75,000
25. Miramar - 73,000
Most Populous Metro Areas (2000): (Rounded to the Nearest Thousand)
1.Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater - 2,396,000
2.Miami - 2,253,000
3.Orlando - 1,645,000
4.Ft. Lauderdale - 1,623,000
5.Jacksonville - 1,100,000
6.West Palm Beach/Boca Raton - 1,131,000
7.Sarasota/Bradenton - 590,000
8.Daytona Beach - 493,000
9.Lakeland/Winter Haven - 484,000
10. Melbourne/Titusville/Palm Bay - 476,000
11. Fort Myers/Cape Coral - 441,000
12. Pensacola - 412,000
13. Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie - 319,000
14. Tallahassee - 285,000
15. Ocala - 259,000
16. Naples - 251,000
17. Gainesville - 218,000
18. Fort Walton Beach - 170,000
19. Panama City - 148,000
20. Punta Gorda - 142,000
County Population (2000): (Counties Listed in Alphabetical Order) | County Population Map
Alachua County - 217,955
Baker County - 22,259
Bay County - 148,217
Bradford County - 26,088
Brevard County - 476,230
Broward County - 1,623,018
Calhoun County - 13,017
Charlotte County - 141,627
Citrus County - 118,085
Clay County - 140,814
Collier County - 251,377
Columbia County - 56,513
DeSoto County - 32,209
Dixie County - 13,827
Duval County - 778,879
Escambia County - 294,410
Flagler County - 49,832
Franklin County - 11,057
Gadsden County - 45,087
Gilchrist County - 14,437
Glades County - 10,576
Gulf County - 13,332
Hamilton County - 13,327
Hardee County - 26,938
Hendry County - 36,210
Hernando County - 130,802
Highlands County - 87,366
Hillsborough County - 998,948
Holmes County - 18,564
Indian River County - 112,947
Jackson County - 46,755
Jefferson County - 12,902
Lafayette County - 7,022
Lake County - 210,528
Lee County - 440,888
Leon County - 239,452
Levy County - 34,450
Liberty County - 7,021
Madison County - 18,733
Manatee County - 264,002
Marion County - 258,916
Martin County - 126,731
Miami-Dade County - 2,253,362
Monroe County - 79,589
Nassau County - 57,663
Okaloosa County - 170,498
Okeechobee County - 35,910
Orange County - 896,344
Osceola County - 172,493
Palm Beach County - 1,131,184
Pasco County - 344,765
Pinellas County - 921,482
Polk County - 483,924
Putnam County - 70,423
St. Johns County - 123,135
St. Lucie County - 192,695
Santa Rosa County - 117,743
Sarasota County - 325,957
Seminole County - 365,196
Sumter County - 53,345
Suwannee County - 34,844
Taylor County - 19,256
Union County - 13,442
Volusia County - 443,343
Wakulla County - 22,863
Walton County - 40,601
Washington County - 20,973
Total State Population: 15,982,378 (2000) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census More Florida Census Data
Florida is known around the world for its balmy weather. The state's mild winters have made it a haven for retirees. Summers can be long and hot with showers providing much appreciated relief during the rainy season. Coastal areas also experience gentle breezes during the summer.
Average Annual Temperatures:
Summer:
80.5 (F) degrees (26.9 C) (North Florida)
82.7 (F) degrees (28.2 C) (South Florida)
Winter:
53.0 (F) degrees (11.7 C) (North Florida)
68.5 (F) degrees (20.3 C) (South Florida)
The six-month hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and Floridians have learned to be ready when a storm threatens the area. More Information: National Hurricane Center
Tree planting season in Florida (December - February)
Other Interesting Florida Facts
Number of people who move to Florida each day - 1,000
Number of major commercial airports - 19
Number of international airports - 12
Number of deepwater ports - 14
Miles of sand beaches - 1,200
Miles of coastline - 1,800
Number of golf courses - more than 1,250
-Florida has more golf courses than any other state
-Palm Beach County has more golf courses than any other county in the country
Number of hotel rooms in Florida - more than 370,000
Number of campgrounds - 700 (100,000 campsites)
Number of people who camp in Florida each year - 6 million
There is no official designation of a "State Motto". The motto "In God We Trust" is widely used but has never been formally adopted by the Florida Legislature.
Sources: Florida Dept. of State; Visit Florida; U.S. Census Bureau; Bureau of Economic & Business Research (University of Florida); State of Florida.com research.
