15 Fun Florida Facts for the Non-Floridian

When people think Florida, they think sharp intellect, youthful ingenuity, and a disdain for the automobile. Actually, wrong state. I meant beaches, no state income tax, and a generous median age. Regardless, when you’re the third-most-populated state in the world’s third-most-populated country, you’re going to have a story to tell. Here are 15 fun Florida facts in a numbers-first format.

 

1513

The year Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed in modern-day Florida—already inhabited for thousands of years—eventually opening the door to Spanish colonization. Spain traded the land to Great Britain in 1763, though the region—mostly loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution—was returned to Spain after American independence. The territory was formally ceded to the US in 1821.

 

1845

The year Florida was admitted to the Union, becoming the 27th state of the United States. The honeymoon didn’t last long as Florida seceded from the Union in 1861 as part of the American Civil War. Of course, the story had a happy ending when Florida rejoined the country in 1868 and gladly agreed to start poaching residents from other US states.

 

22 million

The approximate population of Florida, making it—as above—the third-most-populated state in the US. Florida acquired that honor in 2014 after surpassing New York state, though New York still holds the number three spot in terms of state GDP (with Florida being number four).

 

36

The percent of Florida’s residents born in the state. That’s according to A Florida State of Mind, an entertaining portrait of the Sunshine State.

 

59,227

The median household income in US dollars in Florida as of 2019. That figure was 34th among US states, just behind South Dakota and below the national median of $65,712.

 

42.7

The median age in years of Floridians as of 2020, good for fifth oldest among US states behind Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and West Virginia.

 

2.19 million

An estimate of the number of concealed carry permits issued in Florida in 2020, the most of any US state.

 

1

The number of official languages in Florida. That’s English, making the state one of over 30 to have made such a move (despite there being no official language at the federal level).

 

1,350

The length of Florida’s coastline in miles (not including barrier islands), number two among US states behind the 6,640 miles of coastline boasted by Alaska. The resultant abundance of beaches in part explains Florida’s status as a tourist destination.

 

4,510

The number of islands 10 acres or larger that are part of Florida, second most among US states behind…Alaska.

 

345

The height in feet of the highest point in Florida, good for the lowest high point of any state and explaining why the state is considered the flattest in the country.

 

1950

The year the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a small rocket from Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast, marking the beginning of the state’s ongoing contribution to space exploration.

 

2

The number of National Hockey League (NHL) teams in Florida. Five of Canada’s 10 provinces have zero.

Two is also the number of time zones in the state—the majority of Florida is in the Eastern time zone, though some of the panhandle follows Central time. Here’s a map.

 

95

An estimate of the percent of oranges grown in Florida that are used to make orange juice. In other words, the oranges that Floridians eat are often from California or elsewhere.

 

0

The number of members in the band Lynyrd Skynyrd who were from Alabama when they released the classic “Sweet Home Alabama.” The band actually formed in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

There’s no rush to learn these fun Florida facts by the way. You can just learn them when you move there.