Florida

Spain's Florida territory originally extended into what's now Louisiana.  Tallahassee was chosen as the capital as a compromise between the westerners, who wanted Pensacola (the capital of West Florida), and the easterners, who wanted St. Augustine (the capital of East Florida).

Historic Spanish Florida

St. Augustine, established in 1565, is the oldest city in the U.S.

Only 345' separate the lowest point in Florida (Atlantic Ocean) from the highest (Britton Hill) - the lowest rise of all the states.

Florida is 18% water.

In 1900, the population was 44% black; by 1960, it was 18% black, a reduction achieved by the boll weevil, that destroyed the cotton crops, and the lynchings and other racial violence.  They moved north and west in what's become known as the Great Migration.

Central Florida has the most lightning strikes in the U.S.

Florida has the highest crime rate in the U.S.  Miami has the highest crime rate of any U.S. city.

Florida has the most college football bowl games in the U.S.

Florida has the most art museums in the U.S.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has more endangered species living there than in any other refuge in the Americas.

Roseate Spoonbill at Merritt Island NWR

Florida is the world's largest producer of grapefruit and the 2nd largest producer of oranges and orange juice (after Brazil).

The powdery white sand on the beaches of the North Gulf coast squeaks when you walk on it because it's made of round-edged grains of quartz that washed down from the Appalachians thousands of years ago.  The sand on the Atlantic Coast is made of shells and coral and doesn't squeak.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore is the largest national seashore in the U.S.

Wakulla Springs may be the world's deepest and largest freshwater spring.

Wakulla Springs