According to babyinger, Florida is located in the southeastern region of the United States and is bordered by Alabama, Georgia, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the 22nd largest state in terms of total area and has a varied landscape with both lowlands and highlands.
The highest point in Florida is Britton Hill which stands at 345 feet above sea level. The majority of Florida’s landmass is flat with much of it situated at or near sea level. However, there are some areas with rolling hills including parts of the panhandle region near Tallahassee.
Much of Florida’s landscape consists of swamps and marshes due to its humid subtropical climate which allows for a wide variety of vegetation to grow throughout the year. There are also numerous lakes, rivers, and streams that crisscross through different parts of the state making it an ideal destination for fishing and other water activities such as kayaking or canoeing.
In addition to its coastal areas, Florida also has a number of national parks including Everglades National Park which spans over 1.5 million acres; Biscayne National Park which protects coral reefs along its coast; Big Cypress National Preserve; Dry Tortugas National Park; and Canaveral National Seashore among others where visitors can explore a variety of wildlife habitats as well as enjoy recreational activities such as camping, fishing, swimming, hiking and more.
Administrative Regions in Florida
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, Florida is divided into 67 counties, each of which is governed by a county commission and headed by an elected county commissioner. Each county is responsible for providing services such as law enforcement, public education, health care, and public works. The state government is divided into three branches – executive, legislative, and judicial – with the Governor serving as the head of the executive branch.
The legislative branch is made up of the Senate and House of Representatives which are responsible for creating laws that govern the state. The judicial branch consists of various courts including district courts, circuit courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court which has jurisdiction over all other courts in Florida.
In addition to its 67 counties, Florida also has 19 metropolitan areas which are designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) or consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs). These MSAs are typically composed of one or more counties that have strong economic and social ties to each other and serve as hubs for business, culture, entertainment, education, healthcare services and more.
The state also has two special districts: Northwest Florida Water Management District and Southwest Florida Water Management District which are responsible for managing water resources in their respective regions. Finally, there are several independent cities within Florida such as Jacksonville Beach or St Petersburg that operate autonomously from their respective counties but still remain part of them in terms of governance structure.
Demographics of Florida
Florida is one of the most diverse states in the United States with a population of 21.48 million people as of 2019. The state is home to a variety of ethnicities and cultures, making it one of the most racially and ethnically diverse states in the country. According to U.S. Census data, Florida is approximately 57% White, 26% Hispanic or Latino, 16% African American, 3% Asian American, 2% Multiracial and 1% Native American or Alaskan Native.
The population of Florida is predominantly concentrated in major metropolitan areas such as Miami-Dade County (2.7 million people), Broward County (1.9 million people), Palm Beach County (1.5 million people) and Hillsborough County (1.4 million people). These four counties account for over 50 percent of the state’s population and are home to some of its most vibrant cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Tampa respectively.
In addition to its large metropolitan populations, Florida also has a large rural population which accounts for about 18 percent of the total population according to U.S Census estimates from 2019. These rural areas are mostly concentrated in northern and central parts of the state such as Jackson County (population: 48K) or Levy County (population: 40K).
The median age in Florida is 41 years old with a gender ratio that leans slightly towards women (51 percent female; 49 percent male). The median household income in 2018 was $53,637 which was slightly higher than the national average at $57,652 while the poverty rate was 12 percent compared to 13 percent nationally according to U.S Census data from 2018-2019.
Transportation in Florida
Florida is home to a comprehensive transportation network that serves both its residents and visitors. The state is crisscrossed by major highways such as I-95, which runs along the east coast and I-75 which runs north to south through the center of the state. In addition to these major highways, Florida also has an extensive network of state roads, county roads, and toll roads.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is responsible for maintaining the state’s highway system which includes over 13,000 miles of roadways. The FDOT also operates a number of public transit systems including commuter buses, trolleys, and light rail services in major cities such as Miami and Orlando. In addition to these public transit systems, many cities across the state offer shuttle services as well as bike share programs.
Air travel is another popular option for getting around Florida with several international airports located throughout the state including Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Tampa International Airport (TPA), and Orlando International Airport (MCO). In addition to these airports, there are several smaller regional airports located throughout the state that offer domestic flights to other parts of the US.
Rail travel is another popular option for getting around in Florida with Amtrak providing service along the east coast from Jacksonville down through Miami with stops in several cities along the way such as Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach. Additionally, freight railways operated by CSX Transportation provide service throughout much of central and northern parts of Florida connecting major cities like Tampa and Jacksonville with each other.
Finally, sea travel is also available in Florida with multiple ports located along both coasts serving both passenger cruises and cargo vessels alike. These ports include PortMiami on Biscayne Bay near downtown Miami as well as Port Everglades near Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic Coast among others.