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500 Interesting Facts About Florida and the Major Cities

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FACTS About Florida’s 10 Largest Cities

Information and fun facts about Florida’s largest cities. These facts in our list of 500 Facts About Florida represent a good portion of the total population in Florida.

FACTS About Jacksonville

  • During the 18th century, Jacksonville was a British settlement. Its original name was Cowford.
  • Prior to colonialism, much of Jacksonville was inhabited by the Timucuan Indians.
  • In 1562, French Huguenot settlers landed at the mouth of the St. Johns River and later established Fort Caroline.
  • In 1822, Jacksonville was named for Andrew Jackson. At the time, Jackson was the military governor of the Florida territory.
  • Jacksonville became an official port of entry in 1822. Since then, the city has grown as a national logistics center.
  • Much of Jacksonville’s urban core was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901.
  • Mayport is among the largest U.S. Naval ports in the country.
  • By land area, Jacksonville is the largest city in the contiguous United States.

Some information came from https://www.visitjacksonville.com/blog/historical-jax-facts/

FACTS About Miami

  • Miami was founded in 1896 by Julia Tuttle. She is the only woman in the United States known for having founded a major city.
  •  Miami is such a famous city in Florida that it’s often mistaken for being Florida’s capital city. But it is not! As a matter of fact, it’s not the biggest city in Florida either.
  • The name Miami comes from the Mayaimi tribe. They were located by the lake Mayaimi, now known as Lake Okeechobee.
  • Miami had exceptionally quick growth is the main reason why it was nicknamed the Magic City.
  • With almost 44 million passengers per year, Miami International Airport is the second busiest airport in Florida just after Orlando.
  • The snow was only recorded once in Miami in 200 years. It was on the 19th of January 1977. 

FACTS About Tampa

1. The name Tampa is believed to come from the Calusa phrase “Sticks of Fire.”.

3. When it comes to sports, the city is no stranger to futility. It took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25 years to return a kickoff for a touchdown.

4. Babe Ruth hit his longest home run during an exhibition game in Tampa—it sailed 587 feet.

6. During Prohibition, Tampa was one of the top sellers of illegal liquor in the country.

7. In the 1980s, the city moved on to other hobbies. It was widely considered the death metal capital of the music world.

8. Tampa’s number one export? Phosphate.

9. Farmers love Tampa because all that phosphate is invaluable for fertilizer production.

10. Although back in the day, it was probably cigars—it’s still known as the “Cigar City.”

11. In 1929, the factory at Ybor City rolled approximately 500 million stogies!

12. It can get hot in Florida, but the temperature in Tampa has never hit 100 degrees.

13. Still, it’s nice to stay cool. In 1851, Tampa native John Gorrie invented the first mechanical refrigeration system—paving the way for air conditioning.

14. The delicious Cuban sandwich? Not Cuban. It was likely invented in Tampa.

15. Want to visit Cuba without leaving Florida? Visit Jose Marti Park. It’s technically Cuban soil.

16. Each year, “pirates” attack Tampa during the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

17. The world’s first scheduled passenger flight flew from St. Pete to Tampa in 1914.

17. Tampa Bay may be Florida’s biggest port, but the waterway is surprisingly shallow—only 12 feet deep.

18. When Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were waiting to ship out for the Spanish-American War in 1898, they were stationed in Tampa.

19. Roosevelt wasn’t the only big name who came to Tampa during the conflict. Clara Barton arrived in town to help organize medical relief efforts.

20. Tampa is home to the world’s longest continuous sidewalk, Bayshore Boulevard. It’s 4.5 miles long!

21. Tampa is also home to Big Cat Rescue, an accredited sanctuary for big cats.

Some of this information came from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/54978/25-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-tampa

FACTS About Orlando

1000 interesting facts about Florida - Mickey Mouse

1. There is no official documentation of how Orlando received its name. Four known stories of its inception exist, but no conclusion has ever been reached.

2. Orlando is home to more than 100 lakes.

3. Lake Eola is actually a giant sinkhole. Its deepest point is 80 feet.

4. Church Street Station, also known as the Old Orlando Railroad Depot, was built in 1889 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. SunRail now has a stop nearby.

5. The City has over 100 parks and 21 community centers offering athletics, camps and social programs.

6. The first highway in Central Florida was Colonial Drive, which was originally paved brick.

7. The tallest building in Orlando is the SunTrust Center at 441 feet.

8. The City of Orlando has a fully functioning pottery studio at the Downtown Recreation Complex. Classes and programs are offered for all ages.

9. There are over 50 swans at Lake Eola, from five different breeds – whooper, royal mute, trumpeter, Australian black and black neck.

10. Thomas Gilbert Lee, founder of Orlando’s own T.G. Lee dairy, is buried at the Greenwood Cemetery.

11. The City of Orlando has its own public skate park.
12. The major motion picture Lethal Weapon 3 featured the demolition of Orlando’s old City Hall in its opening scene.

13. The Orlando area was originally the main hub of Florida’s citrus industry. After a disastrous freeze right before the 1900s, farmers began moving their citrus crops south.

14. The Orlando Citrus Bowl, currently under renovation, was originally constructed in 1936 with a capacity of 10,000.

15. Lake Baldwin and Baldwin Park take their names from Robert H. B. Baldwin, former secretary of the Navy. A Veterans Park on the northern shore of Lake Baldwin honors those who have served.

16. The actual name of the fountain at Lake Eola is “Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain.” The fountain is the “official” symbol of the City of Orlando.

17. Before being known by its current name, Orlando was called Jernigan after the first permanent settler in the area.

18. Motion pictures that were filmed in Orlando include Passenger 57, D.A.R.Y.L., Jaws 3, My Girl, Parenthood, Problem Child 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Dead Presidents, The Waterboy, Olive Juice and Monster.

19. Joseph Bumby, an original pioneer and settler in Orlando, built a hardware store known as “Bumby Hardware Store” on Church Street. The location is now Hamburger Mary’s.

20. The Rogers Building and the 1890 Railroad Depot are the oldest remaining structures in the downtown area.

21. The Orlando area had more than 59 million visitors in 2013.

22. The City of Orlando has had 32 mayors. The first Mayor of Orlando was William Jackson Brack in 1875.

23. Lake Eola Park is 23 acres. The lake is completely surrounded by a 0.9-mile path, making it easy for visitors to keep track of their distances.

24. There have been three City Hall buildings.

25. The Orlando City Soccer Club was originally founded in Austin, Texas, before relocating to Orlando.

26. The Orlando Public Library is the largest public library building in the state of Florida at 290,000 square feet.

27. The Citrus Bowl was the site of five 1994 World Cup soccer matches and also hosted the 1996 Olympic soccer first and second rounds.

28. There is a plaque at Lake Eola commemorating Orlando Reeves’ death during a battle with the Seminole Indians in the 1800s. It is said that the City is named after Mr. Reeves, though no official documentation exists to support that.

29. A former Orlando Naval Training Center was located where Baldwin Park now is found.

30. The Orlando Wetlands, located in east Orange County, is home to over 30 species of wildlife that are listed on the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Threatened and Endangered Wildlife list.

31. In 1986, eight months before Orlando was awarded an NBA franchise, a contest was held in the Orlando Sentinel for readers to submit their picks for the name of the City’s future basketball team and the finalists were the “Heat,” the “Tropics,” the “Juice” and the “Magic.”

32. Likely between 350 and 400 years old, the oldest tree in Orlando is located at Big Tree Park on North Thornton Avenue.

33. Dubsdread Golf Course is the oldest public course in the area.

34. There are over 100 notable individuals buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, which offers free moonlight walking tours through the 100-acre cemetery.

35. Orlando City Hall has two free art galleries that are open to the public.

36. The Wells’ Built Hotel located in Paramore was a historic hotel and is now a museum of African American history. Celebrities who visited the hotel include Ray Charles, B.B. King, Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall.

37. The City of Orlando has had various nicknames throughout its history, including City Phenomenal and City of Light. Orlando is currently known as The City Beautiful.

38. Orlando International Airport serves an estimated 35 million passengers per year.

39. The first person to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon was Orlando resident Joe Kittinger in 1978.

Much of this information came from https://www.orlando.gov/Home

FACTS About St. Petersburg

FACTS About Hialeah

  • Founded in 1925, Hialeah is a city located in Miami-Dade County in southeast Florida. Hialeah is 20 minutes northwest of Miami, 25 minutes northwest of Miami Beach, and 25 minutes north of Coral Gables.
  •  Hialeah is the fifth largest city in Florida and occupies 20 square miles. It is part of both the Miami metropolitan area as well as the Greater South Florida metropolitan area.
  • Hialeah is an Indian name that means “High Prairie”.
  • Hialeah is renowned for its thrilling and adrenaline-filled sports, such as horse and greyhound racing, as well as the Spanish sport of Jai Alai. 
  • The Hialeah Park Race Track in the city of Hialeah is a unique and special place. Not only is it a popular destination for horse racing, but it is also the only Audubon Bird Sanctuary in the world that is home to the iconic pink flamingoes.
  • Hialeah, located in Florida, is the most densely populated city in the United States without a skyscraper. 
  • In 1937, the city of Hialeah was the starting point of Amelia Earhart’s ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
  • Hialeah, Florida is home to the United States’ second largest Spanish-language television network, Telemundo. 
  •  Everglades National Park is about 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the city.

FACTS About Port St. Lucie

  • The Florida city of Port St. Lucie is located in St. Lucie County, about equidistant (approximately 120 miles) from Miami (to the south) and Orlando (to the northwest).
  • The city’s genesis traces back to 1958, when General Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Mackle Co., allocated $50 million to develop a new community on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.
  • The beach is only a short drive away, and water-related activities (fishing, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, sailing, etc.) can be enjoyed in numerous locations. 
  • Port St. Lucie is home to the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Learning Center and also to the PGA Historical Center, home of the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame and the Probst Library, one of the world’s premier collections of golf periodicals and memorabilia.
  • Major League Baseball’s New York Mets make the city their Spring Training headquarters. Port St. Lucie is also home to Minor League Baseball’s St. Lucie Mets, a Class High-A affiliate of the New York team. Both teams play at newly renovated Tradition Field.
  • Port Saint Lucie, located in Florida’s Treasure Coast, is home to the renowned Heathcote Botanical Gardens, which boasts the nation’s largest collection of tropical bonsai trees in the James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery. 
  • Port Saint Lucie is a paradise for beach lovers, boasting 21 miles of pristine, natural beaches, with nearly half of them being nature preserves.
  • In the 1800s, Port Saint Lucie was known for its pineapple farming industry, which was the largest agricultural industry in the area.
  • The Indian River Lagoon is a true natural wonder, flowing through Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and along Hutchinson Island. 

FACTS About Jacksonville

  • During the 18th century, Jacksonville was a British settlement. Its original name was Cowford.
  • Prior to colonialism, much of Jacksonville was inhabited by the Timucuan Indians.
  • In 1562, French Huguenot settlers landed at the mouth of the St. Johns River and later established Fort Caroline.
  • Spanish colonies invaded Fort Caroline in 1568, renaming it San Matteo.
  • In 1822, Jacksonville was named for Andrew Jackson. At the time, Jackson was the military governor of the Florida territory.
  • Jacksonville became an official port of entry in 1822. Since then, the city has grown as a national logistics center.
  • Much of Jacksonville’s urban core was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901.
  • Mayport is among the largest U.S. Naval ports in the country.
  • All towns within Duval County were consolidated under the city of Jacksonville in 1968.
  • By land area, Jacksonville is the largest city in the contiguous United States.

Some information came from https://www.visitjacksonville.com/blog/historical-jax-facts/

FACTS About Miami

  • Miami was founded in 1896 by Julia Tuttle. She is the only woman in the United States known for having founded a major city.
  •  Miami is such a famous city in Florida that it’s often mistaken for being Florida’s capital city. But it is not! As a matter of fact, it’s not the biggest city in Florida either.
  • The name Miami comes from the Mayaimi tribe. They were located by the lake Mayaimi, now known as Lake Okeechobee.
  • Miami had exceptionally quick growth is the main reason why it was nicknamed the Magic City.
  • The port of Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world. The port of Miami welcomes both passenger and cargo boats. There are millions of cruise passengers going through Miami each year.
  • With almost 44 million passengers per year, Miami International Airport is the second busiest airport in Florida just after Orlando.
  • The snow was only recorded once in Miami in 200 years. It was on the 19th of January 1977. 
  • Even though the Cuban community is extremely present all over the United States, Miami is the city with the largest community in the country.

FACTS About Tampa

1. The name Tampa is believed to come from the Calusa phrase “Sticks of Fire.”

2. That’s probably because Tampa sees some nasty lightning each summer, which is how the local hockey team got its name.

3. When it comes to sports, the city is no stranger to futility. It took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25 years to return a kickoff for a touchdown.

4. Babe Ruth hit his longest home run during an exhibition game in Tampa—it sailed 587 feet.

6. During Prohibition, Tampa was one of the top sellers of illegal liquor in the country.

7. In the 1980s, the city moved on to other hobbies. It was widely considered the death metal capital of the music world.

8. Tampa’s number one export? Phosphate.

9. Farmers love Tampa because all that phosphate is invaluable for fertilizer production.

10. Although back in the day, it was probably cigars—it’s still known as the “Cigar City.”

11. In 1929, the factory at Ybor City rolled approximately 500 million stogies!

12. It can get hot in Florida, but the temperature in Tampa has never hit 100 degrees.

13. Still, it’s nice to stay cool. In 1851, Tampa native John Gorrie invented the first mechanical refrigeration system—paving the way for air conditioning.

14. The delicious Cuban sandwich? Not Cuban. It was likely invented in Tampa.

15. The Salvador Dali Museum in nearby St. Petersburg is an incredible place. To test the strength of its freestanding staircase, two rugby teams danced on it—to disco. Dali would have been proud.

15. Want to visit Cuba without leaving Florida? Visit Jose Marti Park. It’s technically Cuban soil.

16. Each year, “pirates” attack Tampa during the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

17. The world’s first scheduled passenger flight flew from St. Pete to Tampa in 1914.

18. Tickets on the first flight cost $5!

19. Tampa Bay may be Florida’s biggest port, but the waterway is surprisingly shallow—only 12 feet deep.

20. Manmade channels had to be dredged to allow ships in.

21. When Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were waiting to ship out for the Spanish-American War in 1898, they were stationed in Tampa.

22. Roosevelt wasn’t the only big name who came to Tampa during the conflict. Clara Barton arrived in town to help organize medical relief efforts.

23. Tampa is home to the world’s longest continuous sidewalk, Bayshore Boulevard. It’s 4.5 miles long!

24. Tampa is also home to Big Cat Rescue, an accredited sanctuary for big cats.

25. Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base may be the second most important government building outside of the Pentagon. It’s home to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. action in the Middle East.

Some of this information came from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/54978/25-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-tampa

FAQS About Florida Cities

  • Florida has 411 active municipalities (cities, towns and villages) representing 51% of Florida’s population (21.6 million).
  • City is from the Greek word for citizen – civitas; we also get the words civics and citizenship from this root.
    Town is from Middle English and means “within the walls” – like a fortified living area. Village is from the Latin, “villa” and means a place to dwell.
  •  Florida’s smallest city, Marineland, has a population of 8.
  • Florida’s largest city, Jacksonville, has a population of 907,093.
  •  Municipality is from the Latin and means “the people over themselves” – self government.
  • More than two-thirds of the 411 cities are under 15,000 in population.
  • Florida is a state composed of mostly smaller cities, with the median city population at 5,700.
  • Florida’s oldest cities are St. Augustine and Pensacola – both of which functioned as cities before Florida was a state. 

The newest cities are Indiantown, incorporated in 2018; and Westlake, incorporated in 2016.

What is a Florida City?

A city in Florida may not be a “city” in the traditional sense. Some are just large areas of population. For instance, The Villages has over 125,000 people, but it is considered a Census Designated Place.

  • In Florida, there is no legal difference between a city, town or village – all are municipalities.
  • Florida has four kinds of local governments: counties, school districts, special districts and municipalities.
  •  Cities are the only level of government that a citizen can choose – you make the choice when you choose where to live. Cities are the closest level of government to the people.
  • Cities are always within a county and school district (those boundaries are established by the state). There are also special districts in certain parts of the state; these are also a local
    government.
  •  Citizens create cities because they want to self-govern; the process is called incorporation (like a company) because cities conduct certain businesses on behalf of their citizens.
  •  Just a city is incorporated, a city can be dissolved. If citizens decide they no longer wish to self-govern, a process called dissolution is followed. The area is then served by the county government.
  •  Some of the most common city services are police protection, fire prevention and protection, water and wastewater provision, public works programs (i.e street construction and maintenance), parks and recreation, code enforcement, planning/zoning and growth
    management, and building inspection.
  •  Cities write a charter, voted on by the citizens, that is like a constitution; it establishes the legislative body (council or commission), sets the powers and duties of key positions, and establishes a structure for the day-to-day administration.
  •  The legislative body of a city (called a council or commission) may have any number of seats on it (usually an odd number to avoid tie votes). In Florida, the smallest councils have three members and the largest have 19 members.
  •  City councils adopt laws, called ordinances, which are enforceable within the city’s boundaries.
  •  Cities raise the funds to pay for infrastructure, services and programs through taxes, fees, assessments and other means.
  •  Prior to 1968, cities and counties could only enact programs with permission from the state.
    In 1968, the Florida Constitution was changed to give cities and counties Home Rule powers,
    so each can enact their own ordinances.
  •  Cities are intergovernmental partners on certain programs like emergency management. Working with the county, state and federal government on hurricane preparation and recovery is an example.
  • Part of this information came from the League of Cities

Florida Top Ten Highest Major City Crime Statistics

Crime data can be subjective. For instance, a city could have a high incidence of overall crime, but violent crime can be low.

The data below can be found at –https://budgettravelbuff.com/most-dangerous-cities-in-florida/

Tallahassee

  • Population: 196,169
  • Violent Crime Rate: 7.82 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 30.97 per 1000 residents

Lake City

  • Population: 12,329
  • Violent Crime Rate: 15.74 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 54.42 per 1000 residents

Orlando

  • Population: 307,573
  • Violent Crime Rate: 8.28 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 36.80 per 1000 residents

Panama City

  • Population: 32,939
  • Violent Crime Rate: 9.26 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 44.32 per 1000 residents

Lake Worth

  • Population: 42,219
  • Violent Crime Rate: 9.26 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 44.32 per 1000 residents

Daytona Beach

  • Population: 72,647
  • Violent Crime Rate: 9.99 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 29.73 per 1000 residents

Opa-locka

  • Population: 16,463
  • Violent Crime Rate: 20.90 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 52.85 per 1000 residents

Cocoa

  • Population: 19,041
  • Violent Crime Rate: 11.24 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 57.82 per 1000 residents

Perry

  • Population: 6898
  • Violent Crime Rate: 10.58 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 49.72 per 1000 residents

Homestead

  • Population: 80,737
  • Violent Crime Rate: 7.57 per 1000 residents
  • Property Crime Rate: 21.20 per 1000 residents

25 Safest Places in Florida

One of the most popular things people search for in the 1000 Facts About Florida is the safest places to work, live and play in Florida.

RankCitySafety Index
1Sweetwater1.21
2Naples1.12
3Key Biscayne1.06
4Coral Gables1
5Satellite Beach0.83
6Lighthouse Point0.78
7Village of Pinecrest0.67
8North Palm Beach0.66
9Marco Island0.64
10Punta Gorda0.61
11Vero Beach0.57
12Venice0.54
13Cooper City0.52
14Maitland0.5
15Lake Mary0.5
16St. Cloud0.49
17Palm Beach Gardens0.47
18Key West0.45
19Weston0.45
20Niceville0.43
21Miami Springs0.42
22Winter Springs0.4
23Haines City0.39
24Parkland0.37
25Lady Lake 

Crime Rate for Florida’s Larger Cities

Not surprisingly, but crime data varies from source to source. There are some findings that are similar, but we again state that some assumptions can be subjective.

For complete city list visit – https://www.moneygeek.com/living/safest-cities/florida/

CityRatingPopulationViolent Crime per 100m
Cape Coral92.8187,869142
Lakeland82.3109,616329
Tampa73.6392,945407
St. Petersburg68.4265,942624
Fort Lauderdale66.3182,150552
Miami Beach64.792,928937
Miami64.1473,047630
Tallahassee62.5192,443730
Jacksonville61.1903,213596
Orlando59.3286,679796
Miami Gardens47.9114,670712
West Palm Beach35.8111,659919
West Palm Beach35.8111,659919

Links and Facts About the State of Florida

Governor — Ron DeSantis

Capital — Tallahassee

Florida State Flag

1000 interesting facts about Florida
Florida State Flag

Nickname — Sunshine State

State Flower — Orange Blossom

Number of Counties in Florida — 67

Population – 21.78 million – third largest in the country.

Total Area — 58,560 Square Miles

Land Area — 54,252 Square Miles

Total Water Area — 4,308 Square Miles

Rank Among States in Total Area — 22nd

Length North to South — 447 Miles

Width East to West — 361 Miles

Distance from Pensacola to Key West — 792 Miles by Road

Highest Natural Point — 345 Feet near Lakewood in Walton County

Geographic Center — 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County

Coastline — 1,197 Statute Miles

Tidal Shoreline — 2,276 Statute Miles

Beaches — 663 Miles

Florida has more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams & waterways

Longest River — St. Johns at 273 miles

Largest Lake — Lake Okeechobee at 700 square miles (the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the United States)

Largest County — Palm Beach at 2,578 square miles

Smallest County — Union at 245 square miles

Number of Lakes greater than 10 acres — Aprox. 7,700

Number of First Magnitude Springs — 27
(Florida has more first-magnitude springs than any other state.)

Number of Islands Greater than 10 Acres — Aprox. 4,500 (Florida ranks 2nd in the nation by this measure and only Alaska ranks higher.)

The official website including job information is MyFlorida.com – The Official Portal of the State of Florida

Facts About the Florida Keys and Key West

The Florida Keys and Key West are the most visited attraction in Florida behind only Disney World. These islands are the most misunderstood of all Florida destinations to visit.

  • The Florida Keys are a 125 mile long stretch of islands.
  • There are about 1700 islands in the Florida Keys.
  • The largest of the islands are linked by 42 bridges.
  • The longest bridge is the 7 Mile Bridge just west of Marathon, Florida.
  • The largest key (island) is Key Largo.
  • Key West is the busiest tourist destination in the Keys.
  • Islamorada is known as the Sports Fishing Capital of the World.
  • The Keys are known for their beautiful weather, stunning views, world-class fishing, magnificent resorts, unbelievable scuba diving, fresh off-the-boat seafood, and laid-back culture.
  • The most famous places in the Keys include Sloppy Joe’s (Key West), Hawks Cay Resort (Marathon), Fort Jefferson (Key West) and John Pennekamp State Park (Key Largo).

FACTS About Florida’s 10 Largest Cities

Information and fun facts about Florida’s largest cities. These facts in our list of 1000 Facts About Florida represent a good portion of the total population in Florida.

FACTS About Jacksonville

  • During the 18th century, Jacksonville was a British settlement. Its original name was Cowford.
  • Prior to colonialism, much of Jacksonville was inhabited by the Timucuan Indians.
  • In 1562, French Huguenot settlers landed at the mouth of the St. Johns River and later established Fort Caroline.
  • Spanish colonies invaded Fort Caroline in 1568, renaming it San Matteo.
  • In 1822, Jacksonville was named for Andrew Jackson. At the time, Jackson was the military governor of the Florida territory.
  • Jacksonville became an official port of entry in 1822. Since then, the city has grown as a national logistics center.
  • Much of Jacksonville’s urban core was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901.
  • Mayport is among the largest U.S. Naval ports in the country.
  • All towns within Duval County were consolidated under the city of Jacksonville in 1968.
  • By land area, Jacksonville is the largest city in the contiguous United States.

Some information came from https://www.visitjacksonville.com/blog/historical-jax-facts/

FACTS About Miami

  • Miami was founded in 1896 by Julia Tuttle. She is the only woman in the United States known for having founded a major city.
  •  Miami is such a famous city in Florida that it’s often mistaken for being Florida’s capital city. But it is not! As a matter of fact, it’s not the biggest city in Florida either.
  • The name Miami comes from the Mayaimi tribe. They were located by the lake Mayaimi, now known as Lake Okeechobee.
  • Miami had exceptionally quick growth is the main reason why it was nicknamed the Magic City.
  • The port of Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world. The port of Miami welcomes both passenger and cargo boats. There are millions of cruise passengers going through Miami each year.
  • With almost 44 million passengers per year, Miami International Airport is the second busiest airport in Florida just after Orlando.
  • The snow was only recorded once in Miami in 200 years. It was on the 19th of January 1977. 
  • Even though the Cuban community is extremely present all over the United States, Miami is the city with the largest community in the country.

FACTS About Tampa

1. The name Tampa is believed to come from the Calusa phrase “Sticks of Fire.”

2. That’s probably because Tampa sees some nasty lightning each summer, which is how the local hockey team got its name.

3. When it comes to sports, the city is no stranger to futility. It took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25 years to return a kickoff for a touchdown.

4. Babe Ruth hit his longest home run during an exhibition game in Tampa—it sailed 587 feet.

6. During Prohibition, Tampa was one of the top sellers of illegal liquor in the country.

7. In the 1980s, the city moved on to other hobbies. It was widely considered the death metal capital of the music world.

8. Tampa’s number one export? Phosphate.

9. Farmers love Tampa because all that phosphate is invaluable for fertilizer production.

10. Although back in the day, it was probably cigars—it’s still known as the “Cigar City.”

11. In 1929, the factory at Ybor City rolled approximately 500 million stogies!

12. It can get hot in Florida, but the temperature in Tampa has never hit 100 degrees.

13. Still, it’s nice to stay cool. In 1851, Tampa native John Gorrie invented the first mechanical refrigeration system—paving the way for air conditioning.

14. The delicious Cuban sandwich? Not Cuban. It was likely invented in Tampa.

15. The Salvador Dali Museum in nearby St. Petersburg is an incredible place. To test the strength of its freestanding staircase, two rugby teams danced on it—to disco. Dali would have been proud.

15. Want to visit Cuba without leaving Florida? Visit Jose Marti Park. It’s technically Cuban soil.

16. Each year, “pirates” attack Tampa during the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

17. The world’s first scheduled passenger flight flew from St. Pete to Tampa in 1914.

18. Tickets on the first flight cost $5!

19. Tampa Bay may be Florida’s biggest port, but the waterway is surprisingly shallow—only 12 feet deep.

20. Manmade channels had to be dredged to allow ships in.

21. When Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were waiting to ship out for the Spanish-American War in 1898, they were stationed in Tampa.

22. Roosevelt wasn’t the only big name who came to Tampa during the conflict. Clara Barton arrived in town to help organize medical relief efforts.

23. Tampa is home to the world’s longest continuous sidewalk, Bayshore Boulevard. It’s 4.5 miles long!

24. Tampa is also home to Big Cat Rescue, an accredited sanctuary for big cats.

25. Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base may be the second most important government building outside of the Pentagon. It’s home to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. action in the Middle East.

Some of this information came from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/54978/25-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-tampa

FACTS About Orlando

1000 interesting facts about Florida - Mickey Mouse

1. There is no official documentation of how Orlando received its name. Four known stories of its inception exist, but no conclusion has ever been reached.

2. Orlando is home to more than 100 lakes.

3. Lake Eola is actually a giant sinkhole. Its deepest point is 80 feet.

4. Church Street Station, also known as the Old Orlando Railroad Depot, was built in 1889 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. SunRail now has a stop nearby.

5. The City has over 100 parks and 21 community centers offering athletics, camps and social programs.

6. The first highway in Central Florida was Colonial Drive, which was originally paved brick.

7. The tallest building in Orlando is the SunTrust Center at 441 feet.

8. The City of Orlando has a fully functioning pottery studio at the Downtown Recreation Complex. Classes and programs are offered for all ages.

9. There are over 50 swans at Lake Eola, from five different breeds – whooper, royal mute, trumpeter, Australian black and black neck.

10. Thomas Gilbert Lee, founder of Orlando’s own T.G. Lee dairy, is buried at the Greenwood Cemetery.

11. The City of Orlando has its own public skate park.
12. The major motion picture Lethal Weapon 3 featured the demolition of Orlando’s old City Hall in its opening scene.

13. The Orlando area was originally the main hub of Florida’s citrus industry. After a disastrous freeze right before the 1900s, farmers began moving their citrus crops south.

14. The Orlando Citrus Bowl, currently under renovation, was originally constructed in 1936 with a capacity of 10,000.

15. Lake Baldwin and Baldwin Park take their names from Robert H. B. Baldwin, former secretary of the Navy. A Veterans Park on the northern shore of Lake Baldwin honors those who have served.

16. The actual name of the fountain at Lake Eola is “Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain.” The fountain is the “official” symbol of the City of Orlando.

17. Before being known by its current name, Orlando was called Jernigan after the first permanent settler in the area.

18. Motion pictures that were filmed in Orlando include Passenger 57, D.A.R.Y.L., Jaws 3, My Girl, Parenthood, Problem Child 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Dead Presidents, The Waterboy, Olive Juice and Monster.

19. Joseph Bumby, an original pioneer and settler in Orlando, built a hardware store known as “Bumby Hardware Store” on Church Street. The location is now Hamburger Mary’s.

20. The Rogers Building and the 1890 Railroad Depot are the oldest remaining structures in the downtown area.

21. The Orlando area had more than 59 million visitors in 2013.

22. The City of Orlando has had 32 mayors. The first Mayor of Orlando was William Jackson Brack in 1875.

23. Lake Eola Park is 23 acres. The lake is completely surrounded by a 0.9-mile path, making it easy for visitors to keep track of their distances.

24. There have been three City Hall buildings.

25. The Orlando City Soccer Club was originally founded in Austin, Texas, before relocating to Orlando.

26. The Orlando Public Library is the largest public library building in the state of Florida at 290,000 square feet.

27. The Citrus Bowl was the site of five 1994 World Cup soccer matches and also hosted the 1996 Olympic soccer first and second rounds.

28. There is a plaque at Lake Eola commemorating Orlando Reeves’ death during a battle with the Seminole Indians in the 1800s. It is said that the City is named after Mr. Reeves, though no official documentation exists to support that.

29. A former Orlando Naval Training Center was located where Baldwin Park now is found.

30. The Orlando Wetlands, located in east Orange County, is home to over 30 species of wildlife that are listed on the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Threatened and Endangered Wildlife list.

31. In 1986, eight months before Orlando was awarded an NBA franchise, a contest was held in the Orlando Sentinel for readers to submit their picks for the name of the City’s future basketball team and the finalists were the “Heat,” the “Tropics,” the “Juice” and the “Magic.”

32. Likely between 350 and 400 years old, the oldest tree in Orlando is located at Big Tree Park on North Thornton Avenue.

33. Dubsdread Golf Course is the oldest public course in the area.

34. There are over 100 notable individuals buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, which offers free moonlight walking tours through the 100-acre cemetery.

35. Orlando City Hall has two free art galleries that are open to the public.

36. The Wells’ Built Hotel located in Paramore was a historic hotel and is now a museum of African American history. Celebrities who visited the hotel include Ray Charles, B.B. King, Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall.

37. The City of Orlando has had various nicknames throughout its history, including City Phenomenal and City of Light. Orlando is currently known as The City Beautiful.

38. Orlando International Airport serves an estimated 35 million passengers per year.

39. The first person to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon was Orlando resident Joe Kittinger in 1978.

Much of this information came from https://www.orlando.gov/Home

FACTS About St. Petersburg

FACTS About Hialeah

  • Founded in 1925, Hialeah is a city located in Miami-Dade County in southeast Florida. Hialeah is 20 minutes northwest of Miami, 25 minutes northwest of Miami Beach, and 25 minutes north of Coral Gables.
  •  Hialeah is the fifth largest city in Florida and occupies 20 square miles. It is part of both the Miami metropolitan area as well as the Greater South Florida metropolitan area.
  • Hialeah is an Indian name that means “High Prairie”.
  • Hialeah is renowned for its thrilling and adrenaline-filled sports, such as horse and greyhound racing, as well as the Spanish sport of Jai Alai. 
  • The Hialeah Park Race Track in the city of Hialeah is a unique and special place. Not only is it a popular destination for horse racing, but it is also the only Audubon Bird Sanctuary in the world that is home to the iconic pink flamingoes.
  • Hialeah, located in Florida, is the most densely populated city in the United States without a skyscraper. 
  • In 1937, the city of Hialeah was the starting point of Amelia Earhart’s ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
  • Hialeah, Florida is home to the United States’ second largest Spanish-language television network, Telemundo. 
  •  Everglades National Park is about 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the city.

FACTS About Port St. Lucie

  • The Florida city of Port St. Lucie is located in St. Lucie County, about equidistant (approximately 120 miles) from Miami (to the south) and Orlando (to the northwest).
  • The city’s genesis traces back to 1958, when General Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Mackle Co., allocated $50 million to develop a new community on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.
  • The beach is only a short drive away, and water-related activities (fishing, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, sailing, etc.) can be enjoyed in numerous locations. 
  • Port St. Lucie is home to the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Learning Center and also to the PGA Historical Center, home of the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame and the Probst Library, one of the world’s premier collections of golf periodicals and memorabilia.
  • Major League Baseball’s New York Mets make the city their Spring Training headquarters. Port St. Lucie is also home to Minor League Baseball’s St. Lucie Mets, a Class High-A affiliate of the New York team. Both teams play at newly renovated Tradition Field.
  • Port Saint Lucie, located in Florida’s Treasure Coast, is home to the renowned Heathcote Botanical Gardens, which boasts the nation’s largest collection of tropical bonsai trees in the James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery. 
  • Port Saint Lucie is a paradise for beach lovers, boasting 21 miles of pristine, natural beaches, with nearly half of them being nature preserves.
  • In the 1800s, Port Saint Lucie was known for its pineapple farming industry, which was the largest agricultural industry in the area.
  • The Indian River Lagoon is a true natural wonder, flowing through Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and along Hutchinson Island. 

FACTS About Cape Coral

  • Cape Coral is a city in southwest Florida, known for its many canals. 400 miles of them!
  • First incorporated as a city in 1970, Cape Coral is located on Florida’s south/central Gulf coast in Lee County.
  • Cape Coral is the third largest city in Florida in physical area, behind Jacksonville and Tampa.
  • Cape Coral was built by two land speculators, the Rosen brothers, who thought that Cape Coral’s location on the Gulf Coast would be attractive to home buyers.
  • As one would expect from a city located on the gulf coast with 400 miles of canals, Cape Coral provides ample access to boating, fishing and other water sports activities.
  • For sports fans, nearby Fort Myers is home to Minor League Baseball’s (MiLB) Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. The Miracle are a Class A Advanced affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
  • Forbes rated Cape Coral the number one best city in the United States for future job growth in 2017, and in the top 25 for best places to retire in 2015.
  • The city has 840 acres of public parks and recreation facilities and areas!
  • Activities available in Cape Coral include fishing, boating, kayaking, and shopping. The area has lots of museums, art galleries, tours, clubs, parks, and more.
  • The city’s population has grown to 194,016 as of the 2020 Census, a rise of 26% from the 2010 Census, making it the 130th most populous city in the United States.
  • The area supports waterfowl, wading birds, migrant songbirds, gopher tortoises, dolphins and reptiles.
  • The area averages 355 days of sunshine each year, but experiences precipitation on 145 days per year.

FACTS About Tallahassee

  • Tallahassee is the capital of Florida.
  • Tallahassee has the third tallest capitol building in the US. 
  • The name Tallahassee comes from a Muskogean Indian word, which means “Old Fields” or “Old Towns”. 
  • Tallahassee is the hilliest spot in Florida. It is known for its rolling red hills and its highest peak is approximately 200 feet above sea level.
  • Although Tallahassee has a rather small population, it has over 24 art galleries and 15 museums, which shows how committed the city is to arts and culture!
  • Tallahassee has Florida’s most educated population with over half of the residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee is home to the number 1 disc golf course in the state!
  • It has snowed in Tallahassee just seven times in history.
  • The highest elevation in Leon County is 288 feet, found in the northern part of the county, about a quarter mile to the southwest of Lake McBride.
  • Tallahassee is home to Florida State University, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, and Tallahassee Community College. 
  • The Tallahassee Automobile Museum is home to Abraham Lincoln’s horse-drawn hearse, as well as the Batmobiles from from “Batman Forever” and “Batman Returns”. 
  • AARP gives Tallahassee a 77 for its civic and social involvement livability score. With 11.2 organizations per 10,000 people, it’s among the top third of the nation for the opportunity for civic involvement. 

FACTS About Fort Lauderdale

  • Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, 30 miles (48 km) north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. 
  • Fort Lauderdale has a rich and diverse history, ranging all the way back to 1911. 
  • Fort Lauderdale is a city on Florida’s southeastern coast, known for its beaches and boating canals.
  • The Strip is a promenade running along oceanside highway A1A.  It’s lined with upscale outdoor restaurants, bars, boutiques and luxury hotels. Well known for spring break in years past.
  • Other attractions include the International Swimming Hall of Fame, with pools and a museum of memorabilia, and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, featuring trails and a lagoon. 
  • 300-plus miles of Intracoastal Waterway and navigable inland canals make Greater Fort Lauderdale the “Venice of America” and the yachting capital of the world.
  • Port Everglades currently ranks as the third largest cruise port in the world with seven cruise lines and one daily ferry operator.
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), is ranked 18th in the U.S. in total passenger traffic and 10th in international traffic. With more than 350 average daily flights, FLL offers non-stop service to more than 85 U.S. cities and global connectivity to more than 62 international destinations in 33 countries. 
  • The story of spring break’s history in Fort Lauderdale dates back to the 1930s.
  • Florida has become the third most active gambling state in the U.S. Greater Fort Lauderdale is in many ways the epicenter of that activity.
  • Just off Greater Fort Lauderdale’s 24 miles of pristine sands is a three-tiered living coral reef system and more than 76 artificial reefs that have made this one of Florida’s most popular dive destinations.
  • The city is a popular tourist destination with an average year-round temperature of 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) and 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
  • With over 50,000 registered yachts and 100 marinas, Fort Lauderdale is also known as the yachting capital of the world.
  • The area in which the city of Fort Lauderdale would later be founded was inhabited for more than two thousand years by the Tequesta Indians.
  • The Fort Lauderdale area was known as the “New River Settlement” before the 20th century. In the 1830s, there were approximately 70 settlers living along the New River.
  • When World War II began, Fort Lauderdale became a major U.S. base, with a Naval Air Station to train pilots, radar operators, and fire control operators. A Coast Guard base at Port Everglades was also established.
  • The northwestern section of Fort Lauderdale is separate from the remainder of the city, connected only by the Cypress Creek Canal as it flows under I-95.
  • Average high temperatures of 75–83 °F (24–28 °C) and lows of 60–70 °F (16–21 °C) are typical in the dry season.
  • Fort Lauderdale is a major manufacturing and maintenance center for yachts. The boating industry is responsible for over 109,000 jobs in the county.

Some of this information came from – https://en.wikipedia.org/

  • Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, 30 miles (48 km) north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. 
  • Fort Lauderdale has a rich and diverse history, ranging all the way back to 1911. 
  • Fort Lauderdale is a city on Florida’s southeastern coast, known for its beaches and boating canals.
  • The Strip is a promenade running along oceanside highway A1A.  It’s lined with upscale outdoor restaurants, bars, boutiques and luxury hotels. Well known for spring break in years past.
  • Other attractions include the International Swimming Hall of Fame, with pools and a museum of memorabilia, and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, featuring trails and a lagoon. 
  • 300-plus miles of Intracoastal Waterway and navigable inland canals make Greater Fort Lauderdale the “Venice of America” and the yachting capital of the world.
  • Port Everglades currently ranks as the third largest cruise port in the world with seven cruise lines and one daily ferry operator.
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), is ranked 18th in the U.S. in total passenger traffic and 10th in international traffic. With more than 350 average daily flights, FLL offers non-stop service to more than 85 U.S. cities and global connectivity to more than 62 international destinations in 33 countries. 
  • The story of spring break’s history in Fort Lauderdale dates back to the 1930s.
  • Florida has become the third most active gambling state in the U.S. Greater Fort Lauderdale is in many ways the epicenter of that activity.
  • Just off Greater Fort Lauderdale’s 24 miles of pristine sands is a three-tiered living coral reef system and more than 76 artificial reefs that have made this one of Florida’s most popular dive destinations.
  • The city is a popular tourist destination with an average year-round temperature of 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) and 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
  • With over 50,000 registered yachts and 100 marinas, Fort Lauderdale is also known as the yachting capital of the world.
  • The area in which the city of Fort Lauderdale would later be founded was inhabited for more than two thousand years by the Tequesta Indians.
  • The Fort Lauderdale area was known as the “New River Settlement” before the 20th century. In the 1830s, there were approximately 70 settlers living along the New River.
  • When World War II began, Fort Lauderdale became a major U.S. base, with a Naval Air Station to train pilots, radar operators, and fire control operators. A Coast Guard base at Port Everglades was also established.
  • The northwestern section of Fort Lauderdale is separate from the remainder of the city, connected only by the Cypress Creek Canal as it flows under I-95.
  • Average high temperatures of 75–83 °F (24–28 °C) and lows of 60–70 °F (16–21 °C) are typical in the dry season.
  • Fort Lauderdale is a major manufacturing and maintenance center for yachts. The boating industry is responsible for over 109,000 jobs in the county.

Some of this information came from – https://en.wikipedia.org/

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