|
List of
Banks in the Caribbean
List of Banks in Florida (United States)
Florida is a state of the United States.
It is located in the Southeastern United States, bordering Alabama to
the northwest and Georgia to the north. Much of the state's land mass is
a large peninsula with the Gulf of Mexico to the west, the Atlantic
Ocean to the east and the Caribbean to the south. Florida was admitted
as the 27th U.S. state in 1845, after a three hundred year period of
European colonization.
With an area of 65,758 square miles (170,312 km2), it is ranked 22nd in
size among the 50 U.S. states. Florida has the longest coastline in the
contiguous United States, encompassing approximately 1,350 miles (2,170
km). The state has four large urban areas, a number of smaller
industrial cities, and many small towns.
Florida is nicknamed the "Sunshine State" because of its generally warm
climate—subtropical in the northern and central regions of the state,
with a true tropical climate in the southern portion. The United
States Census Bureau estimates that the state population was 18,537,969
in 2009, ranking Florida as the fourth most populous state in the U.S.
Tallahassee is the state capital, Jacksonville is the largest city, and
the South Florida metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area.
AMSouth Bank
Address: 3522 Bell Soals Road Valerico
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 209-0262
Bank Of America
Address:
City: Miami
Phone: (1-800) 299-2265
Bank Of America
Address:
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-800) 299-2265
Bank Von Ernst
Address: 201 S.Biscayne Blvd. (Miami Center,Suite 1350)
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 372-5253
BankUnited
Address: 310 S.E. 1st St. Downtown
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 372-0895
BNP Paribas
Address: 201 S. Biscayne Blvd.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 539-2000
Coconut Grove Bank
Address: 2701 S. Bayshore Dr.,
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 858-6666
Fax: (1-305) 854-2989
Colonial Bank
Address: 400 North Tampa Street
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 223-3880
Colonial Bank
Address: 105 West Colonial Dr.
City: Orlando
Phone: (1-407) 648-0546
Commercebank NA.
Address: 3105 N.W. 107th Av.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 629-1244
Continental National Bank Of Miami
Address: 240 E. Flagler St.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 374-4994
Federal Trust Bank
Address: 655 West Morse Blvd., Winter Park
Phone: (1-407) 645-1201
Firs Citrus Bank Inc.
Address: 13850 Sheldon Road
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 826-5588
First Indiana Bank
Address: 100 East Sybelia Ave., Maitland
Phone: (1-407) 740-7559
First National Bank
Address: 100 Ruby Ave.
City: Kissimmee
Phone: (1-407) 343-4242
First National Bank Of Florida
Address: 1401 Lee Road
City: Orlando
Phone: (1-407) 298-6600
First National Bank Of South Miami
Address: 5750 Sunset Dr. S.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 667-5511
Florida Bank Of Tampa
Address: 100 Kennedy Boulevard W. Florida Bank Plaza
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 221-7900
Great Eastern Bank Of Florida
Address: 4601 NW 72nd. Avenue
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 716-9000
Fax: (1-305) 716-9721
Hemisphere National Bank
Address: 2159 Coral Way.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 856-5600
Heritage Bank Of Florida
Address: 23000 State Road 54 Lutz
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 809-8663
Kislak National Bank
Address: 301 71st St. MB.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 861-1211
Manufacturers Bank Of Florida
Address: 4144 North Armenia Ave.
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 874-1323
Mercantile Bank
Address: 4202 Kennedy Boulevard W.
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 286-8789
Metro Bank Of Dade Country
Address: 9350 S. Dixie Highway.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 670-0200
Northern Trust Bank
Address: 700 Brickell Av.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 375-1000
Northern Trust Bank
Address: 425 North Florida Ave.
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 277-0900
Ocean Bank -Main Office-
Address: 780 N.W. 42 Ave.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 442-2660
Fax: (1-305) 444-8153
Peoples First Community Bank
Address: 116 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs
Phone: (1-407) 830-4372
Platinum Bank
Address: 802 Lumsden Road W.
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 655-1234
Regions Bank
Address: 3601 Waters Ave. West
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 833-7851
Repubic Security Bank
Address: 15692 North Dale Mebry Ave.
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 264-5071
Republic Security Bank
Address: 4770 Biscayne Blvd.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 933-9799
Southern Community Bank
Address: 250 N. Orange Ave.
City: Orlando
Phone: (1-407) 648-0188
Southern Exchange Bank
Address: 4401 W. Kennedy Boulevard
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 207-5645
Southtrust Bank NA.
Address:
City: Miami
Phone: (1-800) 225-5782
Southtrust Bank Nasouth NA
Address: 1222 East Vine St.
City: Kissimmee
Phone: (1-407) 932-0080
Suntrust Bank
Address: 401 E. Jackson Street
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-800) 786-8787
The International Bank Of Miami, N.A.
Address: 2121 S.W. 3rd Av.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 854-8800
The Terrace Bank
Address: 5140 E. Fowler Avenue
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 349-4530
Totalbank
Address: 2720 Coral Way.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 448-6500
UBS. AG.
Address: 701 Brickell Av.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 375-0110
Unibank
Address: 9795 S. Dixie Highway.
City: Miami
Phone: (1-305) 740-9522
Wachovia Bank
Address: 15518 Dale Mabry Highway N.
City: Tampa
Phone: (1-813) 860-5591
History
Main article: History of Florida
Archaeological research indicates that Florida was first inhabited by
Paleo-Indians, the first human inhabitants of the Americas, perhaps as
early as 14 thousand years ago. The region was continuously inhabited
through the Archaic period, and after about 500 BC the previously
relatively uniform Archaic culture began to fragment into local
cultures. By the 16th century, the earliest time for which there is a
historical record, major Native American groups included the Apalachee (of
the Florida Panhandle), the Timucua (of northern and central Florida),
the Ais (of the central Atlantic coast), the Tocobaga (of the Tampa Bay
area), the Calusa (of southwest Florida) and the Tequesta (of the
southeastern coast).
Florida was the first part of what is now the continental United States
to be visited by Europeans. The earliest known European explorers came
with the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León, who spotted the
peninsula on April 2, 1513. According to his chroniclers, Ponce de León
named the region La Florida ("flowery land") because it was then the
Easter Season, known in Spanish as Pascua Florida (roughly "Flowery
Easter"), and because the vegetation was in bloom. It is possible
Juan Ponce de León was not the first European to reach Florida, however;
reportedly, at least one indigenous tribesman whom he encountered in
Florida in 1513 spoke Spanish. From 1513 onward, the land became
known as "La Florida", although after 1630 and throughout the 18th
century, Tegesta (after the Tequesta tribe) was an alternate name of
choice for the Florida peninsula following publication of a map by the
Dutch cartographer Hessel Gerritsz in Joannes de Laet's History of the
New World.
The five flags of Florida from the right, Spain (1565–1763), the Kingdom
of Great Britain, Spain (1784–1821), the Confederacy, and the United
States. France (not featured) also controlled part of Florida.Over the
following century, both the Spanish and French established settlements
in Florida with varying degrees of success. In 1559, Don Tristán de Luna
y Arellano established a colony at present-day Pensacola, one of the
first European attempts at settlement in the continental United States.
It was abandoned by 1561 due to hurricanes, famine and warring tribes,
and the area was not re-inhabited until the 1690s. French Huguenots
founded Fort Caroline in modern-day Jacksonville in 1564, but in the
following year, the fort was conquered by forces from the new Spanish
colony of St. Augustine (called San Agustín in Spanish). The Spanish
maintained tenuous control over the region by converting the local
tribes, briefly with Jesuits and later with Franciscan friars. The local
leaders (caciques) demonstrated their loyalty to the Spanish by
converting to Roman Catholicism and welcoming the Franciscan priests
into their villages.
Bernard Picart copper plate engraving of Florida Indians, Circa 1721
"Cérémonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples du Monde"The
area of Spanish Florida diminished with the establishment of English
colonies to the north and French colonies to the west. The English
weakened Spanish power in the area by supplying their Creek and Yamasee
allies with firearms and urging them to raid the Timucuan and Apalachee
client-tribes of the Spanish. The English attacked St. Augustine,
burning the city and its cathedral to the ground several times, while
the citizens hid behind the walls of the Castillo de San Marcos.
Florida was attracting a large number of Africans and African Americans
from British-occupied North America who sought freedom from slavery.
Once in Florida, the Spanish Crown converted them to Roman Catholicism
and gave them freedom. Those ex-slaves settled in a community north of
St. Augustine, called Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, the first
freedom settlement of its kind in what became the United States. Many of
those slaves were also welcomed by Creek and Seminole Native Americans
who had established settlements there at the invitation of the Spanish
government.
Great Britain gained control of Florida and other territory
diplomatically in 1763 through the Peace of Paris. The British divided
their new acquisitions into East Florida, with its capital at St.
Augustine, and West Florida, with its capital at Pensacola. Britain
tried to develop the Floridas through the importation of immigrants for
labor, but this project ultimately failed. Spain received both Floridas
after Britain's defeat by the American colonies and the subsequent
Treaty of Versailles in 1783, continuing the division into East and West
Florida. They offered land grants to anyone who settled in the colonies,
and many Americans moved to them.
Florida split into East and West in 1810After settler attacks on Indian
towns, Seminole Indians based in East Florida began raiding Georgia
settlements, purportedly at the behest of the Spanish. The United States
Army led increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish territory,
including the 1817–1818 campaign against the Seminole Indians by Andrew
Jackson that became known as the First Seminole War. Following the war,
the United States effectively controlled East Florida. In 1819, by terms
of the Adams-Onís Treaty, Spain ceded Florida to the United States in
exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas that they
might have from the Louisiana Purchase and $5 million.
As settlement increased, pressure grew on the United States government
to remove the Indians from their lands in Florida. To the chagrin of
Georgia landowners, the Seminoles harbored and integrated runaway
blacks, known as the Black Seminoles, and clashes between whites and
Indians grew with the influx of new settlers. In 1832, the United States
government signed the Treaty of Payne's Landing with some of the
Seminole chiefs, promising them lands west of the Mississippi River if
they agreed to leave Florida voluntarily. Many of the Seminoles left at
this time, while those who remained prepared to defend their claims to
the land. The U.S. Army arrived in 1835 to enforce the treaty under
pressure from white settlers, and the Second Seminole War began at the
end of the year with the Dade Massacre, when Seminoles ambushed and
killed or mortally wounded all but one in a group of 110 Army troops,
plus Major Dade and seven officers, marching from Fort Brooke (Tampa) to
reinforce Fort King (Ocala). Between 900 and 1,500 Seminole Indian
warriors employed guerrilla tactics against United States Army troops
for seven years until 1842. The U.S. government is estimated to have
spent between US$20 million and US$40 million on the war, at the time an
astronomical sum.
St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States, established in
1565 by Spain.On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the
United States of America, although initially its population grew slowly.
White settlers continued to encroach on lands used by the Seminoles, and
the United States government resolved to make another effort to move the
remaining Seminoles to the West. The Third Seminole War lasted from 1855
to 1858, and resulted in the removal of most of the remaining Seminoles.
Even after three bloody wars, the U.S. Army failed to force all of the
Seminole Indians in Florida to the West. Though most of the
Seminoles were forcibly exiled to Creek lands west of the Mississippi,
hundreds, including Seminole leader Aripeka (Sam Jones), remained in the
Everglades and refused to leave the native homeland of their ancestors.
Their descendants remain there to this day.
The Battle of Olustee during the Civil War in 1864White settlers began
to establish cotton plantations in Florida, which required numerous
laborers. By 1860 Florida had only 140,424 people, of whom 44% were
enslaved. There were fewer than 1000 free African Americans before the
Civil War.
Winter in Florida, 1893On January 10, 1861, before the start of the
American Civil War, Florida declared its secession from the Union; ten
days later, the state became a founding member of the Confederate States
of America. The war ended in 1865. On June 25, 1868, Florida's
congressional representation was restored. After Reconstruction, white
Democrats succeeded in regaining power in the state legislature. In 1885
they created a new constitution, followed by statutes through 1889 that
effectively disfranchised most blacks and many poor whites over the next
several years. Provisions included poll taxes, literacy tests, and
residency requirements. Disfranchisement for most African Americans in
the state persisted until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s gained
federal legislation to protect their suffrage.
The Prinz Valdemar capsized and blocked the Port of Miami for several
weeks in 1926, helping to usher in the end of the 1920s Miami real
estate boom.
Soldiers and crowds in Downtown Miami 20 minutes after surrender during
World War II.Until the mid-20th century, Florida was the least populous
Southern state. In 1900 its population was only 528,542, of whom nearly
44% were African American. The boll weevil devastated cotton crops,
and early 20th century lynchings and racial violence caused a record
number of African Americans to leave the state in the Great Migration to
northern and midwestern industrial cities. Forty thousand blacks,
roughly one-fifth of their 1900 population, left for better
opportunities. National economic prosperity in the 1920s stimulated
tourism to Florida. Combined with its sudden elevation in profile was
the Florida land boom of the 1920s, which brought a brief period of
intense land development. Devastating hurricanes in 1926 and 1928,
followed by the stock market crash and Great Depression, brought that
period to a halt.
Florida's economy did not fully recover until the buildup for World War
II. The climate, tempered by the growing availability of air
conditioning, and low cost of living made the state a haven. Migration
from the Rust Belt and the Northeast sharply increased the population
after the war. In recent decades, more migrants have come for the jobs
in a developing economy. Today, with an estimated population of more
than 18 million, Florida is the most populous state in the Southeastern
United States, the second most populous state in the South behind Texas,
and the fourth most populous in the United States. The Census Bureau
estimated that "Florida, now the fourth most populous state, will edge
past New York into third place in total population by 2011".
See also: Seminole Wars and Florida in the American Civil War
Geography
Topographic map of FloridaFurther information: List of counties in
Florida
See also: List of Florida state parks
Much of the state of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf
of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida. Spanning two
time zones, It extends to the northwest into a panhandle, extending
along the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the north by the
states of Georgia and Alabama, and on the west, at the end of the
panhandle, by Alabama. It is near several Caribbean countries,
particularly The Bahamas and Cuba. Florida's extensive coastline made it
a perceived target during World War II, so the government built
airstrips throughout the state; today, approximately 400 airports are
still in service. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center,
Florida has 131 public airports, and more than 700 private airports,
airstrips, heliports, and seaplane bases. Florida is one of the
largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and
Michigan are larger in water area.
Everglades National Park in Southern Florida
Crandon Park in Key Biscayne
A map of Florida showing county names and boundaries
The beach at Bahia Honda in the Florida KeysAt 345 feet (105 m) above
mean sea level, Britton Hill is the highest point in Florida and the
lowest highpoint of any U.S. state. Much of the state south of
Orlando is low-lying and fairly level; however, some places, such as
Clearwater, feature vistas that rise 50 to 100 feet (15 – 30 m) above
the water. Much of Central and North Florida, typically 25 miles (40 km)
or more away from the coastline, features rolling hills with elevations
ranging from 100 to 250 feet (30 – 76 m). The highest point in
peninsular Florida, Sugarloaf Mountain, is a 312-foot (95 m) peak in
Lake County.
Areas under control of the National Park Service include:
Big Cypress National Preserve, near Lake Okeechobee
Biscayne National Park, in Miami-Dade County south of Miami
Canaveral National Seashore, between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, in St. Augustine
De Soto National Memorial, in Bradenton
Dry Tortugas National Park, at Key West
Everglades National Park in Southern Florida
Fort Caroline National Memorial, at Jacksonville
Fort Matanzas National Monument, in St. Augustine
Gulf Islands National Seashore, near Gulf Breeze
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, in Jacksonville
Areas under the control of the USDA United States Forest Service
include:
Apalachicola National Forest along the east bank of the Apalachicola
River,
Choctawhatchee National Forest near Niceville,
Ocala National Forest in Central Florida, and
Osceola National Forest in Northeast Florida.
Boundaries
The state line begins in the Atlantic Ocean, traveling west, south, and
north up the thalweg of the Saint Mary's River. At the origin of that
river, it then follows a straight line nearly due west and slightly
north, to the point where the confluence of the Flint River (from
Georgia) and the Chattahoochee River (down the Alabama/Georgia line)
used to form Florida's Apalachicola River. (Since Woodruff Dam was
built, this point has been under Lake Seminole.) The border with Georgia
continues north through the lake for a short distance up the former
thalweg of the Chattahoochee, then with Alabama runs due west along
latitude 31°N to the Perdido River, then south along its thalweg to the
Gulf via Perdido Bay. Much of the state is at or near sea level.
Climate
Royal Poinciana tree in full bloom in the Florida Keys, an indication of
South Florida's tropical climate.Main article: Climate of Florida
See also: List of Florida hurricanes and List of all-time high and low
temperatures by state
The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of
the state is very distant from the ocean. North of Lake Okeechobee, the
prevalent climate is humid subtropical, while coastal areas south of the
lake (including the Florida Keys) have a true tropical climate. High
temperatures in the state seldom exceed 100 °F (38 °C), with much of
Florida commonly seeing a high summer temperature of 90s °F (32+ °C).
During late autumn and winter months, Florida has experienced occasional
cold fronts that can bring high winds and relatively cooler temperatures
for the entire state, with high temperatures that could remain into the
40s and 50s (4 to 15 °C) and lows of 20s and 30s (-7 to 4 °C) for few
days in the northern and central parts of Florida, although
below-freezing temperatures are very rare in the southern part of the
state. Low temperatures have been 10's[clarification needed], and high
temperature (at their lowest) in the upper 30s.[clarification
needed]
Fall foliage in North Florida.
Typical summer afternoon shower from the Everglades traveling eastward
over Downtown Miami.
Snow is not common in Florida, but has occurred in every major Florida
city at least once. Snow also falls occasionally in North Florida.The
hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 °F (43 °C), which
was set on June 29, 1931 in Monticello. The coldest temperature was –2
°F (−19 °C), on February 13, 1899, just 25 miles (40 km) away, in
Tallahassee. Mean high temperatures for late July are primarily in the
low 90s Fahrenheit (32–35 °C). Mean low temperatures for late January
range from the low 40s Fahrenheit (4–7 °C) in northern Florida to the
mid-50s (≈13 °C) in southern Florida.
The seasons in Florida are determined more by precipitation than by
temperature, with the hot, wet springs and summers making up the wet
season, and mild to cool, and the relatively dry winters and autumns,
making the dry season. Fall foliage appears in Central and North Florida
starting around late November, and into winter.
The Florida Keys, because they are completely surrounded by water, have
lesser variability in temperatures. At Key West, temperatures rarely
exceed 90 °F (32 °C) in the summer or fall below 60 °F (16 °C) in the
winter, and frost has never been reported in the Keys.
Florida's nickname is the "Sunshine State", but severe weather is a
common occurrence in the state. Central Florida is known as the
lightning capital of the United States, as it experiences more lightning
strikes than anywhere else in the country. Florida has the highest
average precipitation of any state, in large part because afternoon
thunderstorms are common in most of the state from late spring until
early autumn. A fair day may be interrupted with a storm, only to return
to sunshine an hour or so later. These thunderstorms, caused by overland
collisions of moist masses of air from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic
Ocean, pop up in the early afternoon and can bring
heavy downpours, high winds, and sometimes tornadoes. Florida leads the
United States in tornadoes per square mile (when including
waterspouts) but they do not typically reach the intensity of those
in the Midwest and Great Plains. Hail often accompanies the most severe
thunderstorms.
Snow in Florida is a rare occurrence, especially on the peninsula.
During the Great Blizzard of 1899, Florida experienced blizzard
conditions; the Tampa Bay area had "gulf-effect" snow, similar to
lake-effect snow in the Great Lakes region. During the 1899 blizzard
was the only time the temperature in Florida is known to have fallen
below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (−18 °C). The most widespread snowfall in
Florida history occurred on January 19, 1977, when snow fell over much
of the state, with flurries as far south as Homestead. Snow flurries
also fell on Miami Beach for the only time in recorded history. A hard
freeze in 2003 brought "ocean-effect" snow flurries to the Atlantic
coast as far south as Cape Canaveral. The 1993 Superstorm brought
blizzard conditions to the panhandle, while heavy rain and tornadoes
beset the peninsula. The storm is believed to have been similar in
composition to a hurricane, some Gulf coast regions even seeing storm
surges of six feet or more. More recently, traces of snow and sleet fell
across central and southern Florida during a hard freeze event in
January, 2010. There was some slight accumulation north of the I-4
corridor, mostly in the form of sleet.
Hurricane Andrew bearing down on Florida on August 23, 1992.Hurricanes
pose a severe threat during hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to
November 30, although some storms have been known to form out of season.
Florida is the most hurricane-prone US state, with subtropical or
tropical water on a lengthy coastline. From 1851 to 2006, Florida has
been struck by 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major—category 3 and
above. It is rare for a hurricane season to pass without any impact
in the state by at least a tropical storm. For storms, category 4 or
higher, 83% have either hit Florida or Texas. August to October is
the most likely period for a hurricane in Florida.
In 2004, Florida was hit by a record four hurricanes. Hurricanes Charley
(August 13), Frances (September 4–5), Ivan (September 16), and Jeanne
(September 25–26) cumulatively cost the state's economy $42 billion.
Additionally, the four storms caused an estimated $45 billion in
damage. In 2005, Hurricane Dennis (July 10) became the fifth storm
to strike Florida within eleven months. Later, Hurricane Katrina (August
25) passed through South Florida and Hurricane Rita (September 20) swept
through the Florida Keys. Hurricane Wilma (October 24) made landfall
near Cape Romano, just south of Marco Island, finishing another very
active hurricane season. Wilma is the second most expensive hurricane in
Florida history, due in part to a five year window in which to file
claims.
Florida was the site of the second costliest weather disaster in U.S.
history, Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than US$25 billion in
damage when it struck on August 24, 1992. In a long list of other
infamous hurricane strikes are the 1926 Miami hurricane, the 1928
Okeechobee hurricane, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Donna
in 1960, and Hurricane Opal in 1995. Recent research suggests the storms
are part of a natural cycle and not a result of global warming.
Fauna
Alligator in the Florida Everglades
Key Deer in the lower Florida Keys
The Florida Scrub Jay is found only in Florida.Florida is host to many
types of wildlife including:
Marine Mammals: Bottlenose Dolphin, Short-finned Pilot Whale, North
Atlantic Right Whale, West Indian Manatee
Reptiles: American Alligator and Crocodile, Eastern Diamondback and
Pygmy Rattlesnakes, Gopher Tortoise, Green and Leatherback Sea Turtles,
Eastern Indigo Snake
Mammals: Florida panther, White-tailed deer, Key Deer, Bobcats, Florida
Black Bear, Nine-banded Armadillos
Birds: Bald Eagle, Northern Caracara, Snail Kite, Osprey, White and
Brown Pelicans, Sea Gulls, Whooping and Sandhill Cranes, Roseate
Spoonbill, Florida Scrub Jay (state endemic), and others. One subspecies
of Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, namely subspecies osceola, is found
only in the state of Florida.[42] The state is a wintering location for
many species of eastern North American birds.
The only known calving area for the Northern Right Whale is off the
coasts of Florida and Georgia.[43]
Since their accidental importation from South America into North America
in the 1930s, the Red imported fire ant population has increased its
territorial range to include most of the Southern United States,
including Florida. They are more aggressive than most native ant species
and have a painful sting.[44]
A number of non-native snakes have been released in the wild. In 2010
the state created a hunting season for Burmese and Indian pythons,
African rock pythons, green anacondas, and Nile monitor lizards.[45]
Environmental issues
Main article: Environment of Florida
Florida ranks 45th out of 50 states in total energy consumption per
capita, despite the heavy reliance on air conditioners and pool pumps.
This includes coal, natural gas, petroleum, and retail electricity
sales.[46] It is estimated that approximately 4% of energy in the state
is generated through renewable resources.[47] Florida's energy
production is 6% of the nation's total energy output, while total
production of pollutants is lower, with figures of 5.6% for nitrogen
oxide, 5.1% for carbon dioxide, and 3.5% for sulfur dioxide.[47]
It is believed that significant energy resources are located off of
Florida's western coast in the Gulf of Mexico, but that region has been
closed to exploration since 1981.[48] Governor Charlie Crist and both of
Florida's U.S. Senators, Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, oppose offshore
drilling and exploration. Former Governor Jeb Bush, who was originally
opposed to all drilling,[49] changed his position in 2005 when he
supported a bill introduced into the House of Representatives which
allowed unrestricted drilling 125 miles (201 km) or more from the
coast.[50] Crist, Martinez and Nelson opposed that bill, but Martinez
and Nelson voted for a Senate alternative which prohibited drilling
within 125 miles (201 km) of the Panhandle coast, and 235 miles (378 km)
of the peninsular coast.[51]
In July 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced plans to sign
executive orders that would impose strict new air-pollution standards in
the state, with aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990
levels by 2050. Crist's orders would set new emissions targets for power
companies, automobiles and trucks, and toughen conservation goals for
state agencies and require state-owned vehicles to use alternative
fuels.[52]
Red tide has been an issue on the Southwest coast of Florida, as well as
other areas. While there has been a great deal of conjecture over the
cause of the toxic algae bloom, there is no evidence that it is being
caused by pollution or that there has been an increase in the duration
or frequency of red tides.[53]
The Florida panther is close to extinction. A record 23 were killed in
2009 by hunters and in car accidents which leaves only about 100
individuals in the wild. The Center for Biological Diversity and others
have therefore called for a special protected area for the panther to be
established.[54] Manatees are also dying at a rate higher than their
reproduction.
Geology
The Florida peninsula is a porous plateau of karst limestone sitting
atop bedrock known as the Florida Platform. The emergent portion of the
platform was created during the Eocene to Oligocene as the Gulf Trough
filled with silts, clays, and sands. Flora and fauna began appearing
during the Miocene. No land animals were present in Florida prior to the
Miocene.
The largest deposits of potash in the country are found in Florida.[55]
Extended systems of underwater caves, sinkholes and springs are found
throughout the state and supply most of the water used by residents. The
limestone is topped with sandy soils deposited as ancient beaches over
millions of years as global sea levels rose and fell. During the last
glacial period, lower sea levels and a drier climate revealed a much
wider peninsula, largely savanna.[56] The Everglades, an enormously
wide, very slow-flowing river encompasses the southern tip of the
peninsula.
Florida is tied for last place[57] as having the fewest earthquakes of
any US state.[58] Because Florida is not located near any tectonic plate
boundaries, earthquakes are very rare, but not totally unknown. In
January, 1879, a shock occurred near St. Augustine. There were reports
of heavy shaking that knocked plaster from walls and articles from
shelves. Similar effects were noted at Daytona Beach 50 miles (80 km)
south. The tremor was felt as far south as Tampa and as far north as
Savannah, Georgia. In January 1880, Cuba was the center of two strong
earthquakes that sent severe shock waves through the city of Key West,
Florida.[59] Another earthquake centered outside Florida was the 1886
Charleston earthquake. The shock was felt throughout northern Florida,
ringing church bells at St. Augustine and severely jolting other towns
along that section of Florida's east coast. Jacksonville residents felt
many of the strong aftershocks that occurred in September, October, and
November 1886.[60] As recently as 2006, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake
centered about 260 miles (420 km) southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of
Mexico sent shock waves through southwest and central Florida. The
earthquake was too small to trigger a tsunami and no damage was reported
Population
Florida has the 4th highest state population in the United States. The
center of population of Florida is located in Polk County, in the town
of Lake Wales.[62] As of 2009, Florida's population was estimated to be
18,537,969. The state grew 128,814, or 0.7% from 2007. Using the latest
population estimates, Florida is the nation's thirtieth-fastest-growing
state. During Florida's peak growth year of 2005, it was the nation's
fifth fastest growing state and grew at an annual rate of 2.2%.
About two-thirds of the population was born in another state, the second
highest in the country.[63]
The state had the third largest illegal immigrant population in the
country in 2009.[64]b In 2010, illegal immigrants constituted an
estimated 5.7% of the population. This was the sixth highest percentage
of any state in the country.[65][66]
There were 186,102 military retirees living in the state in 2008
Racial and ancestral makeup
The largest reported ancestries in the 2000 Census were German (11.8%),
Irish (10.3%), English (9.2%), American (8%), Italian (6.3%), French
(2.8%), Polish (2.7%) and Scottish (1.8%).[68]
Florida Population Density MapBefore the American Civil War, when
slavery was legal, and during the Reconstruction era that followed,
blacks made up nearly half of the state's population.[69] Their
proportion declined over the next century, as many moved north in the
Great Migration while large numbers of northern whites moved to the
state. Recently, the state's proportion of black residents has begun to
grow again. Today, large concentrations of black residents can be found
in northern Florida (notably in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee,
and Pensacola), the Tampa Bay area, the Orlando area, especially in
Orlando and Sanford. Also, there has been a large increase of Black
Americans of Hispanic descent in South Florida; where
their numbers have been bolstered by significant immigration from Cuba,
Dominican Republic, and small numbers from Spanish speaking countries in
South America.
Florida's Hispanic population includes large communities of Cuban
Americans in Miami and Tampa, Puerto Ricans in Orlando and Tampa, and
Central American migrant workers in inland West-Central and South
Florida. The Hispanic community continues to grow more affluent and
mobile. Between the years of 2000 and 2004, Lee County in Southwest
Florida, which is largely suburban in character, had the fastest
Hispanic population growth rate of any county in the United States.
White Americans of all European backgrounds are present in all areas of
the state. Those of English and Irish ancestry are present in large
numbers in all the urban/suburban areas across the state. There is a
large German population in Southwest Florida, a large Greek population
in the Tarpon Springs area, a sizable Italian, Spanish, and Russian
communities in Miami, and white Floridians of longer-present generations
in the culturally southern areas of inland and northern
Florida. Native white Floridians, especially those who
have descended from long-time Florida families, affectionately refer to
themselves as "Florida crackers." Like all the other southern states,
they descend mainly from English and Scots-Irish settlers, as well as
some other British settlers.[70] In and around St. Augustine are also
several descendants of the Minorcans who fled there from British
physician Andrew Turnbull's New Smyrna colony in 1768
The largest metropolitan area in the state as well as the entire
southeastern United States is the South Florida metropolitan area, with
about 5.5 million people. The Tampa Bay area, with over 2.7 million
people, is the second largest metro area and Greater Orlando, with over
2 million people, is the third.
Florida has twenty Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the
United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Thirty-nine of
Florida's sixty-seven counties are in an MSA. Reflecting the
distribution of population in Florida, Metropolitan areas in the state
are concentrated around the coast of the peninsula. They form a
continuous band on the east coast of Florida, stretching from the
Jacksonville MSA to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA,
including every county on the east coast, with the exception of Monroe
County. There is also a continuous band of MSAs on the west coast of the
peninsula from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA to the
Naples-Marco Island MSA, including all of the coastal counties from
Hernando County to Collier County. The interior of the northern half of
the peninsula also has several MSAs, connecting the east and west coast
MSAs. A few MSAs are scattered across the Florida panhandle.
Jacksonville Miami Tampa St. Petersburg
Orlando Skyline at Night.jpgOrlando Fort Lauderdale Tallahassee Coral
Springs
Languages
As of 2000, 76.91% of Florida residents age 5 and older spoke English at
home as a first language, while 16.46% spoke Spanish, and French Creole
(predominantly Haitian Creole) was spoken by 1.38% of the population.
French was spoken by 0.83%, followed by German at 0.59%, and Italian at
0.44% of all residents. Also, Portuguese comprised 0.36%, while Tagalog
made up 0.25% of speakers, Arabic was at 0.21% and Vietnamese at 0.20%.
In all, 23.80% of Florida's population age 5 and older spoke a language
other than English at home.[73]
As of 2005, 74.54% of Florida residents age 5 and older spoke English at
home as a first language, while 18.65% spoke Spanish, and French Creole
(predominantly Haitian Creole) was spoken by 1.73% of the population.
French was spoken by 0.63%, followed by German at 0.45%, and Portuguese
at 0.44% of all residents. Also, Italian comprised 0.32%, while Tagalog
made up 0.30% of speakers, Vietnamese was at 0.25% and Arabic at 0.23%.
In all, 25.45% of Florida's population age 5 and older spoke a language
other than English.[73]
This means English decreased by -2.37%, Spanish increased +2.21%, French
Creole (including Haitian Creole) increased by +0.35%, French decreased
by -0.20%, German decreased by -0.14%, Italian decreased by -0.12%,
Portuguese increased by +0.08%, Tagalog increased by +0.05%, Arabic
increased by +0.02%, and Vietnamese increased by +0.05% of languages
spoken.[73]
Florida's climate makes it a popular state for immigrants. Florida's
public education system identifies over 200 first languages other than
English spoken in the homes of students. In 1990, the League of United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC) won a class action lawsuit against the
state Florida Department of Education that required educators to be
trained in teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Article II, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution provides that
"English is the official language of the State of Florida." This
provision was adopted in 1988 by a vote following an Initiative
Petition.
Religion
As of the year 2000, the three largest denominational groups in Florida
are Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Mainline Protestant.[74] The
Catholic Church has the highest number of adherents in Florida (at
2,596,148), followed by the Southern Baptist Convention with 1,292,097
members reported and Judaism reporting 628,485 adherents.
Florida is mostly Protestant, but Roman Catholicism is the single
largest denomination in the state. There is also a sizable Jewish
community, located mainly in South Florida; no other Southern state has
such a large Jewish population. Florida's current religious affiliations
are shown in the table below:[75]
Roman Catholic, 26%
Protestant, 48%
Baptist, 9%
Methodist, 6%
Pentecostal, 3%
Jewish, 3%
Jehovah's Witness, 1%
Muslim, 1%
Orthodox, 1%
other religions, 1%
non-religious, 16%
Government
Main article: Government of Florida
See also: List of Florida Governors and United States Congressional
Delegations from Florida
Florida Capitol buildings.The basic structure, duties, function, and
operations of the government of the State of Florida are defined and
established by the Florida Constitution, which establishes the basic law
of the state and guarantees various rights and freedoms of the people.
The state government consists of three separate branches: judicial,
executive, and legislative. The legislature enacts bills, which, if
signed by the governor, become Florida Statutes.
The Florida Legislature comprises the Florida Senate, which has 40
members, and the Florida House of Representatives, which has 120
members. The current Governor of Florida is Republican Charlie Crist.
The Florida Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Justices.
There are 67 Counties in Florida, but some reports show only 66 because
of Duval County, which is consolidated with the City of Jacksonville.
There are 379 cities in Florida (out of 411) that report regularly to
the Florida Department of Revenue, but there are other incorporated
municipalities that do not. The primary source of revenue for the State
government is sales tax, but the primary revenue source for cities and
counties is property tax.
Statutes
All potable water resources have been controlled by the state government
through five regional water authorities since 1972.[91]
The state repealed mandatory auto inspection in 1981.[92]
Health and public safety
Florida was ranked the fifth most dangerous state in 2009. Ranking was
based on the record of serious felonies committed in 2008.[93]
There were 2.7 million Medicaid patients in Florida in 2009. The
governor has proposed adding $2.6 billion to care for the expected
300,000 additional patients in 2011.[94]
Medicaid paid for 60% of all births in Florida in 2009.[95]
The state has a program for those not covered by Medicaid.
Architecture
While many houses and commercial buildings look similar to those
elsewhere in the country, the state has appropriated some unique styles
in some section of the state including Spanish revival, Florida
vernacular, and Mediterranean Revival Style.[96][97]
Economy
Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia from the Kennedy Space Center
The Port of Miami is the world's largest cruise ship port, and is the
headquarters of many of the world's largest cruise companies.
The Brickell Financial District in Miami contains the largest
concentration of international banks in the U.S.[98][99]
South Florida's climate is ideal for growing sugarcane.The Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of Florida in 2007 was $734.5 billion. Its GDP is
the fourth largest economy in the United States.[100] The major
contributors to the state's gross output in 2007 were general services,
financial services, trade, transportation and public utilities,
manufacturing and construction respectively. In 2009, the state
government had a budget of $66.5 billion.
Personal income
In 2009, Per Capita personal income was $37,780, ranking 24th in the
nation.[101]
The state was one of the few states to not have a state minimum wage law
until 2004, when voters passed a constitutional amendment establishing a
state minimum wage and (unique among minimum wage laws) mandating that
it be adjusted for inflation annually. For 2010, the calculated Florida
minimum wage was lower than the Federal rate of $7.25, so the Federal
rate controlled.[102]
Florida is one of the nine states that do not impose a personal income
tax.
There were 2.4 million Floridians living in poverty in 2008. 18.4% of
children 18 and younger were living in poverty.[103]
The state also had the second-highest credit card delinquency rate, with
1.45% of cardholders in the state more than 90 days delinquent on one or
more credit cards.[104]
In 2010, over 2.5 million Floridians were on food stamps, up from 1.2
million in 2007. To qualify Floridians must make less than 133% of the
federal poverty level. Under $29,000 for a family of four.[105]
Real estate
In the early 20th century, land speculators discovered Florida, and
businessmen such as Henry Plant and Henry Flagler developed railroad
systems, which led people to move in, drawn by the weather and local
economies. From then on, tourism boomed, fueling a cycle of development
that overwhelmed a great deal of farmland.
Because of the collective effect on the insurance industry of the
hurricane claims of 2004, homeowners insurance has risen 40% to 60% and
deductibles have risen.
At the end of the third quarter in 2008, Florida had the highest
mortgage delinquency rate in the country, with 7.8% of mortgages
delinquent at least 60 days.[104] A 2009 list of national housing
markets that were hard hit in the real estate crash included a
disproportionate number in Florida.[106] The early 21st century building
boom left Florida with 300,000 vacant homes in 2009, according to state
figures.[107] In 2009, the US Census Bureau estimated that Floridians
spent an average 49.1% of personal income on housing-related costs, the
third highest percentage in the country.[108]
In the third quarter of 2009, there were 278,189 delinquent loans,
80,327 foreclosures.[109] Sales of existing homes for February 2010 was
11,890, up 21% from the same month in 2009. Only two metropolitan areas
showed a decrease in homes sold: Panama City and Brevard County. The
average sales price for an existing house was $131,000, 7% decrease from
the prior year.[110]
Labor
As of January 2010, the state's unemployment rate was 11.9%.[111]
Tourism
Tourism makes up the largest sector of the state economy. Warm weather
and hundreds of miles of beaches attract about 60 million visitors to
the state every year. Amusement parks, especially in the Orlando area,
make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort
is the largest vacation resort in the world, consisting of four theme
parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; it, and
Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and other major parks
drive state tourism. Many beach towns are also popular tourist
destinations, particularly in the winter months. 23.2 million tourists
visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $21.9 billion.[112]
The public has a right to beach access under the public trust doctrine.
However, some areas have access effectively blocked by private owners
for a long distance.[113]
Industry
Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone Valley, is the state's
third-largest industry. The state produces about 75% of the phosphate
required by farmers in the United States and 25% of the world supply,
with about 95% used for agriculture (90% for fertilizer and 5% for
livestock feed supplements) and 5% used for other products.[114]
Since the arrival of the NASA Merritt Island launch sites on Cape
Canaveral (most notably Kennedy Space Center) in 1962, Florida has
developed a sizable aerospace industry.
Another major economic engine in Florida is the United States Military.
There are currently 24 military bases in the state, housing three
Unified Combatant Commands; United States Central Command in Tampa,
United States Southern Command in Doral, and United States Special
Operations Command in Tampa. There are 109,390 U.S. military personnel
currently stationed in Florida,[115] contributing, directly and
indirectly, $52 billion a year to the state's economy.[116]
Agriculture
Historically, Florida's economy was based upon cattle farming and
agriculture (especially sugarcane, citrus, tomatoes, and strawberries).
The second largest industry is agriculture. Citrus fruit, especially
oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the
majority of citrus fruit grown in the U.S. – in 2006 67% of all citrus,
74% of oranges, 58% of tangerines, and 54% of grapefruit. About 95% of
commercial orange production in the state is destined for processing
(mostly as orange juice, the official state beverage).[117] Citrus
canker continues to be an issue of concern. Other products include
sugarcane, strawberries, tomatoes and celery.[118] The Everglades
Agricultural Area is a major center for agriculture. The environmental
impact of agriculture—especially water pollution—is a major issue in
Florida today.
Fishing
In 2009, fishing was a $6 billion industry, employing 60,000 jobs for
sports and commercial purposes.[119]
Education
University of Florida in Gainesville
University of Miami in Coral GablesSee also: Education in Florida
Florida State University in TallahasseeFlorida's public primary and
secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of
Education.
State University System
The State University System of Florida was founded in 1905, and is
governed by the Florida Board of Governors. During the 2008 academic
year 301,570 students attended one of these member institutions.
Private universities
Florida has many large and small private institutions. The Independent
Colleges and Universities of Florida is an association of 28 private,
educational institutions in the state.[120] This Association reported
that their member institutions served over 121,000 students in the fall
of 2006.[121]
Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Florida
Highways
Main article: State Roads in Florida
Map of Florida with major roads and citiesFlorida's interstates, state
highways and U.S. Highways are maintained by the Florida Department of
Transportation. Florida's interstate highway system contains 1,473 miles
(2,371 km) of highway, and there are 9,934 miles (15,987 km) of
non-interstate highway in the state, such as Florida state highways and
U.S. Highways.
Florida's primary interstate routes include:
I-4, which bisects the state, connecting Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and
Daytona Beach, connecting with I-95 in Daytona Beach and I-75 in Tampa.
I-10, which traverses the panhandle, connecting Jacksonville, Lake City,
Tallahassee and Pensacola, with junctions with I-95 in Jacksonville and
I-75 in Lake City.
I-75, which enters the state near Lake City (45 miles west of
Jacksonville) and continues southward through Gainesville, Ocala,
Tampa's eastern suburbs, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples,
where it crosses the "Alligator Alley" as a toll road to Fort Lauderdale
before turning southward and terminating in Hialeah/Miami Lakes having
junctions with I-10 in Lake City and I-4 in Tampa.
I-95, which enters the state near Jacksonville and continues along the
Atlantic Coast through Daytona Beach Melbourne/Titusville, Palm Bay,
Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, West Palm Beach, and
Fort Lauderdale before terminating in Downtown Miami, with junctions
with I-10 in Jacksonville and I-4 in Daytona Beach.
Miami's Palmetto Expressway is one of Florida's busiest roadsPrior to
the construction of routes under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956,
Florida began construction of a long cross-state toll road, Florida's
Turnpike. The first section, from Fort Pierce south to the Golden Glades
Interchange was completed in 1957. After a second section north through
Orlando to Wildwood (near present-day The Villages), and a southward
extension around Miami to Homestead, it was finished in 1974.
State highways are numbered according to a specific convention. The
first digits of state highways, with some exceptions (such as State Road
112 connecting Interstate 95 to the Miami International Airport), are
numbered with the first digit indicating what area of the state the road
is in, from 1 in the north and east to 9 in the south and west. Major
north-south state roads generally have one- or two-digit odd route
numbers that increase from east to west, while major east-west state
roads generally have one- or two-digit even route numbers that increase
from north to south. Roads of secondary importance usually have
three-digit route numbers. The first digit x of their route number is
the same as the first digit of the road with two-digit number x0 to the
immediate north. The three-digit route numbers also increase from north
to south for even numbers and east to west for odd numbers.
Following this convention, State Road 907, or Alton Rd. on Miami Beach,
is farther east than State Road 997, which is Krome Ave, or the farthest
west north-south road in Miami-Dade County. One notable exception to the
convention is State Road 826, or the Palmetto Expressway (pictured at
the right heading north) which, although even numbered, is signed
north-south. State roads can have anywhere from one to four digits
depending on the importance and location of the road.[122] County roads
often follow this same system.
Intercity rail
Miami International Airport is the world's 10th-largest cargo
airportFlorida is served by Amtrak: Sanford, in Greater Orlando, is the
southern terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train, which originates at Lorton,
Virginia, south of Washington, D.C.. Orlando is also the eastern
terminus of the Sunset Limited, which travels across the southern United
States via New Orleans, Houston, and San Antonio to its western terminus
of Los Angeles. Florida is served by two additional Amtrak trains (the
Silver Star and the Silver Meteor), which operate between New York City
and Miami.
The Florida Department of Transportation is preparing to build a high
speed rail between Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.[123] This is the first
phase of the Florida High Speed Rail system.[124] Soil work began in
July 2010[125][126] and construction of the line is slated to begin in
2011, with the initial Tampa-Orlando phase completed by 2014.[127]
Airports
See also: List of airports in Florida
Major international airports in Florida which processed more than 15
million passengers each in 2006 are Orlando International Airport
(34,128,048), Miami International Airport (32,533,974), Fort
Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport(21,369,577) and Tampa
International Airport (18,867,541).
Secondary airports, with annual passenger traffic exceeding 5 million
each in 2006, include Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort
Myers) (7,643,217), Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm Beach)
(7,014,237),[128] and Jacksonville International Airport (5,946,188).
Regional Airports which processed over one million passengers each in
2006 are Pensacola (1,620,198) and Sarasota-Bradenton (1,423,113).
Sanford, which is primarily served by international charter airlines
processed 1,649,565 passengers in 2006
Get your own Bank account with ATM card
(Maestro/Mastercard debit card) for withdrawals with a Bank in the Caribe
|