After the states that start with D, the alphabet moves on to F. Florida is the only US state that starts with F, and it carries a story full of history, culture, and contradictions.
Most people picture sunshine, beaches, and theme parks. Yet the roots of Florida reach back to the earliest chapters of America. Spanish explorers claimed its coasts, Seminole tribes fought fiercely to defend their land, and settlers shaped new towns in the swamps and along the shoreline.
History
Florida entered the Union in 1845 as the 27th state. Its path to statehood came after centuries of shifting control between Spain, Britain, and the United States. That mix of influences left marks on its cities, language, and traditions that remain visible today.
- Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed in 1513 and named the land “La Florida,” meaning “land of flowers.”
- St. Augustine, founded in 1565, became the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental US.
- Control passed to Britain in 1763, then back to Spain in 1783, before the United States finally gained it in 1821.
- Florida joined the Confederacy during the Civil War and was a major supplier of beef and salt to Southern troops.
- Massive land booms in the 1920s and 1950s fueled population surges that still shape the state’s rapid growth.
Geography
Florida stretches out into the ocean like a giant thumb, surrounded by the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico(or Gulf of America) on the other. Water defines nearly everything here. The Everglades cover the southern part of the state with slow-moving rivers and sawgrass marshes. The Keys trail off into the sea with coral reefs that draw divers from around the world.
Flat land is the rule, not the exception. The highest natural point, Britton Hill, barely clears 345 feet, which makes Florida the flattest state in the nation. That lack of elevation, combined with a tropical and subtropical climate, sets the stage for hurricanes that strike with more force and frequency than anywhere else in the United States.
The geography explains the contrasts people see every day. Miami is global and fast-paced, the Panhandle feels tied to the Deep South, and central Florida mixes farmland with theme parks that attract millions. Nature and development constantly push against each other, shaping the future of the state.
- Lake Okeechobee covers more than 700 square miles and serves as the “liquid heart” of the state.
- The Everglades is the only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators live side by side.
Surprising Facts
Florida has earned a reputation for the unusual, and plenty of details about the state confirm that reputation. Beyond its beaches and theme parks, the state hides stories that surprise even longtime residents.
- The largest occupied wooden structure in the world is the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Clearwater, built in 1897.
- Flamingos were once thought to be non-native escapees from zoos, but recent studies show they are a historic part of Florida’s ecosystem.
- A small island town called Islamorada hosts an annual Underwater Music Festival where divers listen to live music beneath the waves.
- Plant City is known as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, producing millions of pounds each year when most of the country cannot grow them.
- The world’s first passenger airline service took off in Florida in 1914, flying between St. Petersburg and Tampa.
- The Navy once trained dolphins and sea lions in Florida waters for mine detection and recovery missions.
- Florida has more than 30,000 lakes, with Lake George being one of the largest, covering 46,000 acres.
- Key Largo is home to an underwater hotel where guests scuba dive to their rooms.
The Florida Man Phenomenon
Every state has its oddball news stories. Only Florida turned them into a cultural export. “Florida Man” is no ordinary meme. It is the strange, shirtless antihero of American headlines, stumbling out of mugshots and into the internet’s collective imagination.
The idea exploded when people noticed how often headlines started with the same words: “Florida Man…”
Florida Man became something bigger than a headline. He is a character the world laughs at, sometimes unfairly, but always with fascination. In a way, he is the state distilled: unpredictable, chaotic, and impossible to ignore.
Some of the most notorious Florida Man headlines include:
- Florida Man arrested at job interview while impersonating a nurse using his roommate’s revoked credentials
- Florida Man used a live alligator’s jaws to open a beer can on his boat
- Florida Man rescued a teenage girl from drowning using a drone at Pensacola Beach
- Florida Man detained by immigration officials after saving a 9-year-old girl from a shark attack
- Florida Man stormed a court podium while shackled, spit at a judge, and lunged toward the bench before deputies tackled him
- Florida Man dressed as Ronald McDonald made clown noises while trespassing before being arrested
- Florida Man called 911 because his kitten was not allowed into a strip club
- Florida Man threw a live alligator through a Wendy’s drive-thru window
- Florida Man rode a manatee and refused to let go despite being ordered by authorities
- Florida Man ran into a convenience store with an iguana, swung it at customers, and shouted about reptile justice
If you want more of these ,mostly hilarious, headlines, just search popular news and type in “Florida Man…“
Final Thoughts
Florida is the only US state that begins with F, but it fills that space with more stories and contradictions than most larger groups combined.
Its history stretches from Spanish explorers to Civil War battles, its geography ranges from coral reefs to swamps, and its modern identity swings between retirement haven, tourist capital, and political battleground.
US states that start with G will follow next in the series.