Portal:Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Florida Portal

The Sunshine State
The Sunshine State
Florida
State of Florida
Map of the United States with Florida highlighted
Map of the United States with Florida highlighted

Florida (/ˈflɔːrɪdəˌ flɒr-/ FLOR-ih-də, FLORR-) is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia to the north, the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean to the east; and the Straits of Florida and Cuba to the south. It is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of over 21 million, it is the third-most populous state in the United States, the most populous among the easterly states, and ranks eighth in population density as of 2020. It spans 65,758 square miles (170,310 km2), ranking 22nd in area among the 50 states. The Miami metropolitan area, anchored by the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, is the state's largest metropolitan area with a population of 6.138 million, and the state's most-populous city is Jacksonville with a population of 949,611. Florida's other major population centers include Tampa Bay, Orlando, Cape Coral, and the state capital of Tallahassee.

Various American Indian tribes have inhabited Florida for at least 14,000 years. In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León became the first known European to make landfall, calling the region La Florida (land of flowers) ([la floˈɾiða]) for its lush greenery and the Easter season (Pascua Florida in Spanish). Florida subsequently became the first area in the continental U.S. to be permanently settled by Europeans, with the settlement of St. Augustine, founded in 1565, being the oldest continuously inhabited city. Florida was a Spanish territory frequently attacked and coveted by Great Britain before Spain ceded it to the U.S. in 1819 in exchange for resolving the border dispute along the Sabine River in Spanish Texas. Florida was admitted as the 27th state on March 3, 1845, and was the principal location of the Seminole Wars (1816–1858), the longest and most extensive of the Indian Wars in U.S. history. The state seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, becoming one of the seven original Confederate States, and was readmitted to the Union after the Civil War on June 25, 1868.

Since the mid-20th century, Florida has experienced rapid demographic and economic growth. Its economy, with a gross state product (GSP) of $1.4 trillion, is the fourth-largest of any U.S. state and the 16th-largest in the world; the main sectors are tourism, hospitality, agriculture, real estate, and transportation. Florida is world-renowned for its beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, and nautical recreation; attractions such as Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, and Miami Beach draw tens of millions of visitors annually. Florida is a popular destination for retirees, seasonal vacationers, and both domestic and international migrants; it hosts nine out of the ten fastest-growing communities in the U.S. The state's close proximity to the ocean has shaped its culture, identity, and daily life; its colonial history and successive waves of migration are reflected in African, European, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian influences. Florida has attracted or inspired some of the most prominent American writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes, particularly in golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports. Florida has been considered a battleground state in American presidential elections, particularly those in 2000, 2016, and 2020. (Full article...)

Selected article - show another

The Rosewood massacre was a racially motivated massacre of black people and the destruction of a black town that took place during the first week of January 1923 in rural Levy County, Florida, United States. At least six black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts suggested a higher death toll of 27 to 150. In addition, two white people were killed in self-defense by one of the victims. The town of Rosewood was destroyed in what contemporary news reports characterized as a race riot. Florida had an especially high number of lynchings of black men in the years before the massacre, including the lynching of Charles Strong and the Perry massacre in 1922.

Before the massacre, the town of Rosewood had been a quiet, primarily black, self-sufficient whistle stop on the Seaboard Air Line Railway. Trouble began when white men from several nearby towns lynched a black Rosewood resident because of accusations that a white woman in nearby Sumner had been assaulted by a black drifter. A mob of several hundred whites combed the countryside hunting for black people and burned almost every structure in Rosewood. For several days, survivors from the town hid in nearby swamps until they were evacuated to larger towns by train and car. No arrests were made for what happened in Rosewood. The town was abandoned by its former black and white residents; none of them ever moved back and the town ceased to exist. (Full article...)
List of selected articles

Did you know...

Did you know?

Selected quote - show another

Kendrick Meek
The people of Florida in 2002 voted and approved class size limits in Florida to make sure that the State pays for smaller class sizes and not local districts

General images - show another

The following are images from various Florida-related articles on Wikipedia.

Related portals

Selected biography - show another

Bradley, his deputy's badge visible on the left side of his chest

Guy Morrell Bradley (April 25, 1870 – July 8, 1905) was an American game warden and deputy sheriff for Monroe County, Florida. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he relocated to Florida with his family when he was young. As a boy, he often served as guide to visiting fishermen and plume hunters, although he later denounced poaching after legislation was passed to protect the dwindling number of birds. In 1902, Bradley was hired by the American Ornithologists' Union, at the request of the Florida Audubon Society, to become one of the country's first game wardens.

Tasked with protecting the area's wading birds from hunters, he patrolled the area stretching from Florida's west coast, through the Everglades, to Key West, single-handedly enforcing the ban on bird hunting. Bradley was shot and killed in the line of duty, after confronting a man and his two sons who were hunting egrets in the Everglades. His much-publicized death at the age of 35 galvanized conservationists and served as inspiration for future legislation to protect Florida's bird populations. Several national awards and places have been named in his honor. (Full article...)

Selected images - show another

Current events

March 19, 2024 – 2024 United States presidential election
The Republican Party holds presidential nominating contests in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio. (The Hill)
February 15, 2024 –
Odysseus, the first US lunar lander since the unsuccessful Peregrine Mission One, is launched at the Kennedy Space Center Florida, United States. (Space.com)
February 9, 2024 –
Two people are killed and three more survive after a plane crashes on Interstate 75 in Collier County, Florida, United States. (WBBH-TV)
February 8, 2024 –
NASA's PACE mission is launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States, to study Earth's ocean and atmosphere. (Ars Technica)

WikiProjects

Selected panorama - show another

Dunedin Causeway looking west
Dunedin Causeway looking west
Credit: Mikereichold

Dunedin /dəˈndɪn/ is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from the Scots Gaelic Dùn Èideann meaning Edinburgh. The population was 35,691 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 36,632.

Topics

Quality content

Featured articles

1910 Cuba hurricane1928 Okeechobee hurricane2012 Budweiser ShootoutAmerican white ibisAndrew SleddBiscayne National ParkDerek JeterDraining and development of the EvergladesErnest HemingwayEverglades National ParkFalcon's FuryGeography and ecology of the EvergladesGregor MacGregorGuy BradleyHogwarts Express (Universal Orlando Resort)Hurricane AndrewIndigenous people of the Everglades regionIron GwaziJohn F. BoltMarjory Stoneman DouglasRestoration of the EvergladesRosewood massacreSci-Fi Dine-In Theater RestaurantSheiKraSpace Shuttle Challenger disasterSt. Johns RiverStephen CraneTurning Point (2008 wrestling)USS Massachusetts (BB-2)Walt Disney World RailroadWilliam Cooley

Featured lists

List of Florida hurricanesList of Florida hurricanes (pre-1900)List of Tampa Bay Rays seasonsList of University of Central Florida alumniList of birds of FloridaList of counties in FloridaList of governors of FloridaList of invasive species in the EvergladesList of mammals of FloridaList of municipalities in FloridaList of sister cities in FloridaSnow in FloridaUnited States presidential elections in Florida

Good articles

1898 Georgia hurricane1928 Florida Gators football team1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season1987 Gulf Coast tropical storm1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season1989 Florida's 18th congressional district special election1989 South Florida television affiliation switch1998 Pepsi 4002003 Budweiser Shootout2005 TNA Super X Cup Tournament2006 Daytona 5002006 Ford 4002008 TNA World X Cup Tournament2009 Budweiser Shootout2009 Ford 4002010 Cafés do Brasil Indy 3002010 Daytona 5002010 Ford 4002011 Budweiser Shootout2011 Daytona 5002011 Gatorade Duels2012 Daytona 5002012 Gatorade Duels2016 24 Hours of Daytona2017 24 Hours of Daytona2018 24 Hours of Daytona2021 College Football Playoff National Championship2022 Gasparilla BowlAgainst All Odds (2005)Albert A. MurphreeAndy HansenApalachee massacreApollo 1Ashlyn HarrisBattle of Flint RiverBob TurleyBomisBound for Glory (2005)Brad Miller (baseball)Buccaneers–Packers rivalryBurger KingBurger King franchisesBurger King legal issuesBurger King productsCarlos (Calusa)Caroline Street (Key West)Catie BallChad Mottola

Reached maximum of 50 out of 209

Did you know? articles

Tim Burke (journalist) (2024-03-11)Gasparilla Pirate Festival (2024-03-02)Buccaneers–Packers rivalry (2023-12-17)Skytrain (Miami International Airport) (2023-12-05)Anthony Bennett (gridiron football) (2023-12-05)WPBF (2023-12-01)If I Survive You (2023-10-26)Ruby Diamond (2023-09-22)1989 South Florida television affiliation switch (2023-09-22)WXEL-TV (2023-06-25)2021 College Football Playoff National Championship (2023-05-15)2023 Fort Lauderdale floods (2023-05-04)Devin Futrell (2023-04-28)Royal Palm State Park (2023-03-28)Florida Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission (2023-03-07)WVUP-CD (2023-03-02)Jett Howard (2023-02-22)WJXX (2023-02-01)2022 Gasparilla Bowl (2023-01-22)William Everett Potter (2023-01-16)Killing of Sara-Nicole Morales (2023-01-12)2022 Boca Raton Bowl (2023-01-08)2022 Cure Bowl (2023-01-01)Pipeline: The Surf Coaster (2022-11-03)Jamie Keeton (2022-10-06)Skeeter Reece (2022-10-04)2022 U.S. Open Cup final (2022-10-04)Cauley Square (2022-09-12)Dania Beach Hurricane (2022-09-11)Cheetah Hunt (2022-09-05)Sean Barber (2022-09-01)Lee Wachtstetter (2022-08-31)Tigris (roller coaster) (2022-08-28)Ken Russell (politician) (2022-08-25)Chaz Stevens (2022-08-22)Hank Goldberg (2022-08-16)Dwight Smith (baseball) (2022-08-07)Mario Salcedo (2022-08-06)WPST-TV (2022-07-24)Lance McCullers (2022-07-23)WAQI (2022-07-18)Iron Gwazi (2022-07-12)The Mutiny Hotel (2022-06-09)NetPark Tampa Bay (2022-06-08)Dave Thomas (politician) (2022-06-04)Royal Theater (St. Petersburg, Florida) (2022-05-05)Disney and Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act (2022-04-21)Mary Hayes Davis (2022-04-17)Jovani Furlan (2022-03-24)Peter Walker (dancer) (2022-03-21)

Reached maximum of 50 out of 584

Categories

Category puzzle
Category puzzle
Select [►] to view subcategories

Associated Wikimedia

The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:

Things you can do

Sources

  1. ^ "Cuba's most famous food isn't even from Cuba — or Miami". Matador Network.
  2. ^ "Viva La Cuban Sandwich!". Farmers’ Almanac. March 20, 2015.
Discover Wikipedia using portals