20 Interesting Facts And Information About Florida For Kids

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What if we told you that Clearwater in Florida experiences the highest number of lightning strikes in the US? Similarly, there are several Florida facts for kids to understand. You can read these interesting facts to them to know about the beautiful state of Florida. From the alligator considered the national reptile to Sunshine state, Florida is an exciting place to explore. However, there is a lot more to know about this state. Read on to know more fun facts about Florida.

20 Amazing Florida Facts For Kids

1. Most Populous City Of The United States:

The subtropical playground Florida is one of the fastest growing states in America. In 2014, Florida surpassed New York City to become the 3rd most populous city in the United States. Most of Florida lies in the southern part of the Northern Hemisphere’s humid subtropical climate zone.

Let’s look at the chart below and see how the population in the Sunshine State has been growing over the years. As you can see, the state’s population surged exponentially in the 1950s but slowed down over the following decade until it registered another rise in the 70s. 

As per the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2022 population estimates, the state’s population rose by 1.9% between 2021 and 2022 to 22,244,823, leaving behind Idaho, the fastest-growing state in the previous year.

Change in Florida

2. The Official State Flag:

Image: IStock

Florida’s official flag was adopted in the year 1900. It features a St. Andrew’s red cross on a white background. In the center are the seal that depicts a Native American woman throwing flowers, and the palm trees, sun radiating rays, land, water, and a steamboat.

3. The Location Of Florida:

Florida is situated in the southeastern zone of the United States. It shares the borders with Alabama, Gulf of Mexico and Georgia. It consists of 67 counties, with Palm Beach being the largest. The biggest city in Florida is Jacksonville in Duval County and the second largest is Miami. Tallahassee is the capital city of Florida. The place is a heaven for bird watchers. Out of the 497 species of bird living in or visiting Florida each year, 372 are found in Tallahassee. The northwestern part of the state is known as the Florida Panhandle. Daytona Beach city on the Atlantic Coast is known for Daytona International Speedway. It hosts February’s iconic Daytona 500 NASCAR Race.

4. Longest Coastline:

Florida boasts of the lengthiest common coastline in North America. At 1350 miles on land, and 8426 miles on the tides, the shoreline is huge. Florida is also the only American state that borders the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Manatees are large aquatic mammals native to the state. The Gulf Stream is a warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current arising in the Gulf of Mexico and flowing through the Straits of Florida. influences the climate of the coastal areas, from Florida to southeast Virginia.

Did you know?

Florida is known to contain several animal species, but the official state bird is the Mockingbird (1).

5. USA’s Flattest State:

With a mean elevation of just about 30 meters, Florida becomes the flattest state in the USA. Britton Hill is the lowest point in the US, and coincidentally, is the uppermost point in Florida. It has a peak elevation of 345 feet above the sea level.

6. How Did Florida Get Its Name?

Florida was named by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. Six days after Easter, Leon made a landing on what is now known as the city of Saint Augustine. He called it the land of Pascua Florida, which means the feast of flowers. Florida, as you’ve probably guessed, is nicknamed the Sunshine State. In the 18th century, it was inhabited by Seminole Indians.

7. Two Rivers With The Same Name:

The only American state to have two rivers of the same name. There’s a Withlacoochee in Central Florida and one Withlacoochee in north Central Florida. The two rivers have nothing in common except the name.

8. Espiritu Santo Springs:

Safety Harbor in Florida is home to the Espiritu Santo Springs. The springs were named by Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, in 1539. Hernando de Soto was looking for the fabled Fountain of Youth when he stumbled upon the springs. The natural waters of the Espiritu Santo Springs have medicinal properties and have featured in many cures.

9. Disney World Amusement Park:

Image: Shutterstock

Orlando, one of the major cities of Florida attracts more visitors than any other city in Florida. The Disney World Amusement park resort in Orlando, covers an area of 30,500 acres and attracts more than 16 million tourists every year. The Disney World Resort is also the largest single-site employer in the U. S. It has employed more than 59,000 last members just to entertain the visitors.

10. The Inventor Of Suntan Was From Florida:

Benjamin Green, the Miami pharmacist, invented sunscreen lotion. Before inventing sunscreen, he would use a substance called red veterinary petrolatum to protect himself and the soldiers from the harsh UV rays during the Second World War. After the war, he experimented by mixing cocoa butter, red vet pet, and coconut oil. The product came to be known as Coppertone sunscreen cream.

11. A Lounge That Shares Its Border With Two States:

Flora-Bama Lounge and Package is the only entertainment center of the world to share its border with two states. It is situated in Alabama-Florida, so it is partially in Alabama and partially in Florida.

12. Tourism Of Florida:

With over 87 million visitors in the year 2014, Florida is one of the top travel destinations in the world. The tourist industry has an impact of 67 billion on Florida’s economy.

13. Space Industry:

Image: IStock

The space industry of Florida represents $4.1 billion of the state’s economy. With 32,000 jobs, Florida ranks 4th among all the states in overall aerospace employment. The number of employees at the Kennedy Space Center alone is 13,000. The average annual income of the aerospace workers in Florida is approximately $68,000.

14. Myakka, The Unique Soil:

Myakka is a unique fine sand soil unique only to Florida. The soil is recognized as the Florida state soil because it occurs in 1.5 million acres of Flatwoods, making it one of the most extensive soils in the state.

15. Florida’s Weather:

Florida is recognized all over the world for its balmy weather. The mild winter of the state has made it a haven for the retirees and tourists. Summers can be hot with showers providing relief during the rainy season. The coastal areas do experience gentle breezes during summer. The hurricane season running from 1st June to 30th November has taught the Floridians to be ready to face the storm in their area. The Tampa Bay metropolitan in Florida is most admired for its Gulf Coast and year-round hot, humid weather.

Quick fact

Florida is often prone to hurricanes due to its proximity to water bodies.

16. Florida Tax System:

Florida does not burden its people much with taxes. Based on the property, income and local tax collection, the Tax Foundation research organization ranks Florida as one of the lowest tax states. It ranks 5th among the 50 states in 2013, so just four states have a lower tax burden than Florida.

17. Crops And Livestock:

Agriculture is the second largest industry in this state. The top five agriculture commodities are oranges, tomatoes, sugarcane, greenhouse products, dairy products and sugar cane.

Florida ranks second in the United States regarding fresh vegetable production. It provides 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the whole of the United States during the months of January, February and March every year.

Florida is the largest producer of citrus fruits in the United States and second largest producer in the world. It produces 60% of oranges in the United States. About 95% of the commercial orange is used for making orange juice.

18. The Alligator State:

Image: IStock

Florida is also dubbed as the Alligator State because of the hundreds of alligators living there. In the year 1987, the Florida legislature chose Alligator Mississippians as the state reptile. The alligator symbolizes the extensive untamed swamps and wilderness of Florida. You can find the Loggerhead, Leatherback, Green Turtle, Hawksbill, and Kemp’s Ridley species of sea turtles in Florida.

Did you know?

Although Florida is associated with alligators and crocodiles, the Florida Panther is the official state animal (1).

19. Everglades National Park:

The Everglades National Park, spanning the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula, is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The national park has fourteen rare and endangered species of animals. Nicknamed as the ‘river of the grass’, the Everglades National Park is also home to Sawgrass, an unusual plant. In some areas, the water is not even visible because of the thickness of the saw grass. Everglades National Park is the only place where crocodiles and alligators co-exist. It is also a refuge for wading birds like the wood stork, the great blue heron, and the roseate spoonbill.

20. A Few More Florida Information For Kids:

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• • • The constitution of Florida is reviewed every 20 years.
  • • Florida has extensive shallow coral reefs near its coasts.
  • • Key West has the highest average temperature than any other city in the United States.
  • • Greater Miami has borders which encompass two national parks and is the only city in the US to hold this distinction.
  • • You can watch a Space Shuttle launch from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • • Florida houses more than 1200 lush green courses to play golf, more than any other state.
  • • DeFuniak Springs is home to round lakes in the world.
  • • The Suwannee River is the official state song of Florida.
  • • Key Largo is hailed as the world’s diving capital.
  • • The Amelia Island of Florida in the US territory has served under eight flags.
  • • The Saint John’s River in Florida flows north instead of south.
  • • The Greater Orlando is home to 71 skyscrapers. The tallest building is the SunTrust Center in the downtown. It stands 134 meters tall.
  • • Florida is the only state to have an embassy in Washington. It’s called the Florida House.
  • • Okeechobee in Florida is the largest freshwater lake in the United States. It covers an area of 1900 square meters.
  • • In size, Florida is similar to Wales and England combined.
  • • Key Largo in the Florida Keys is known as the Dive Capital of the world.
  • • Fort Lauderdale, or the USA’s Venice, contains over 300 miles of inland waterways.
    • There’s much variety in Florida wetlands. They include swamps, marshes, cypress domes, bay heads, bogs, sloughs, and wet prairies.

We hope your child enjoyed learning about Florida. If you want to add some more fun Florida facts for kids to our collection, leave us a comment below! We would love to hear from you.

Infographic: Florida Fun Facts For Curious Children

The sunny state of Florida is a fascinating place filled with amazing wonders and captivating stories. In this infographic, we’ll embark on a journey through the land of sunshine, highlighting incredible facts and information that will captivate the curiosity of children.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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Embark on an enchanting journey through Florida’s magical wonders. Discover fascinating wildlife, sunny beaches, and thrilling adventures that will make learning about the Sunshine State an absolute blast!

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