“The Sunshine State” is Florida’s official state nickname because of the many sunny days in Florida. It was adopted by the 1970 Legislature.
Florida was admitted to the U.S. as a State on March 3, 1845 as the 27th state.
Florida actually means “full (or feast) of flowers” named by explorer Ponce de Leon because of all the flowers he saw when he landed here in 1513. Florida’s semi-tropical climate allows it to have year-round flowers and lush vegetation.
Florida State Symbols & Emblems
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| State Abbreviation | FL |
| State Capital | Tallahassee |
| Largest City | Jacksonville |
| Largest Metro | Miami Metro Area (Includes Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach) |
| Name for Residents | Floridians |
| Major Industries | Tourism, Agriculture |
| Major Rivers | St. Johns River, St. Marys River, Suwannee River |
| Major Lakes | Lake Okeechobee, Lake George |
| Highest Point | 345 feet above sea level (Britton Hill in Walton County) |
| Number of Counties | 67 |
| Area | Ranked 22nd among states |
| Total Area | 58,560 sq mi |
| Land Area | 54,252 |
| Water Area | 4,308 |
| Coastline | 1,197 |
| Population | Ranked 4th |
| Total Population 2020 estimate | 21,538,187 |