Quick Facts
Geographical facts
- Total Area - 58,560 square miles
- Total land area - 54,136 square miles
- Total water area - 4,424 square miles
- Rank among states in total area - 22nd
- Length north and south - 447 miles (St. Marys River to Key West)
- Width east and west - 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River)
- Distance from Pensacola to Key West - 792 miles (by road)
- Highest Natural Point - 345 feet
- Geographic Center - 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County
- Coastline - 1,197 statute miles
- Tidal shoreline (general) - 2,276 statute miles
- Beaches - 663 miles
- Longest River - St. Johns, 273 miles
- Largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee, 700 square miles
- Largest county - Palm Beach, 2,578 square miles
- Smallest county - Union, 245 square miles
- Number of lakes (greater than 10 acres) - about 7,700
- Number of first-magnitude springs - 33
- Number of islands (greater than 10 acres) - about 4,500
Historical facts
- First permanent European settlement - 1565, St. Augustine, by Spain
- Acquired from Spain as a U.S. Territory - 1821
- Admitted as 27th state of the U.S. - March 3, 1845
Current facts
- Capital - Tallahassee
- Population 2020 (estimate) - 20,216,600 (Rank 4th)
- Population 2015 (estimate) - 19,421,200 (Rank 4th)
- Population 2012 (estimate) - 19,074,434 (Rank 4th)
- Population 2010 - 18,801,310 (Rank 4th)
- Population 2000 - 15,982,378
- Population 1990 - 12,937,926
- Population growth rate 2010-2015 (estimate) - 3.3%
- Population growth rate 2000-2010 - 17.6%
- Most populous metropolitan area 2012 - Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach: 5,657,804 (estimate - Ranked 8th in the US)
- Most populous metropolitan area 2010 - Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach: 5,564,635
- Most populous County 2020 - Miami-Dade County: 2,722,900 (estimate)
- Most populous County 2015 - Miami-Dade County: 2,600,900 (estimate)
- Most populous County 2010 - Miami-Dade County: 2,496,435 (estimate)
- Number of counties - 67
- Form of government - Governor and cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture
- State sales tax - 6%
- State income tax - None
- Legislature - 120 house districts, 40 senate districts, 25 congressional districts
Sources:
US Census Bureau
The Florida Handbook, Allen Morris. © 2003.
Florida Statistical Abstract, 2012
