Test your knowledge of state flags: can you match the state to its flag in this quiz? Covid-19 and work-from-home policies have increased. Florida produces more than 90 percent of Americas orange juice and is only second to Brazil in global production. Florida coast; photo byJohn Biesnecker on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike). Missouris nickname, The Show Me State is not official, but its in wide use and has a colorful origin story: At an 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia, Missouri Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. The nickname "Sunshine State" entices winter-weary visitors to Florida, more so than "Alligator State" or swampy "Everglade State" ever could. The Orange State This Florida nickname stems from the unusual rich abundance of orange groves growing across the state. The state nickname of Florida is not included on the states flag. Politically, Pennsylvania played a vital role in holding together the states of the newly formed Union.. New Mexico can have it. Answers .com is . But wait - the state of New Mexico has more days of sunshine per year than us! Florida's wildlife includes mammals like armadillos, black bears, and the Florida panther; reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, and snakes; sea life like manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales; and birds such as raptors, owls, cranes, and Florida's state bird, the mockingbird. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Florida shares this nickname with Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, which all have shorelines on the Gulf of Mexico. While European colonists quickly decimated the Indigenous population, Florida became home to a Seminole community of Indigenous and enslaved people who migrated from nearby states in the 18th century. In the 1800s, Floridas economy was based around crops, cattle and enslaved peopleputting it at odds with northern states that opposed slavery. Salt Lake Magazine notes that this has nothing to do with actual bees and everything to do with ancient symbolism and the Bible, which refers to the promised land as the land of milk and honey.. A popular theory has to do with the states pride in having fought against Mexico to win its independence. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. That's why Florida is called the Sunshine State. While most men in the state fought for the Confederacy, and the state supplied the Confederate troops with food and other important provisions, only two major Civil War battles were fought in Florida. Melissas career in writing started more than 20 years ago. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Damn the luck, maybe things would have been different if we claimed The Water State decades ago. But why is Floridas nickname tied to sunshine, when the state gets more than its fair share of rainy days, and even hurricanes? It is in Florida's best interest to be considered the "Sunshine State" since so much of its economy relies on tourists expecting fair southern weather during dreary northern winters. We are an online publication that creates actionable advice, guidance, statistics, and helpful resources on doing business and living in the United States. The Natural State, was officially adopted as the states nickname by the Arkansas state legislature in 1995 after lobbying by the Arkansas parks system (which consists of three national forests, five national parks, and 52 state parks). Florida has no less than seven nicknames, but the official one, and the one most identified with Florida, is The Sunshine State. Updated: December 13, 2022 | Original: December 16, 2009. Still, the early pioneers sold the seeds as bluegrass from Kentucky, and over time, the state came to be known as The Bluegrass State.. The nickname has been in use since the early 1600s, when the Latin phrase, En Dat Virginia Quintam (referring to Virginia being within the English Crowns domain) appeared on the colonys seal. It requires that all meetings of any state, county, or municipal board or commission in Florida be open to the public, and declares that actions taken at closed meetings are not binding (Section 286.011, Florida Statutes). The state might not be the sunniest in the U.S. statistically speaking, but it certainly has one of the most consistently warmest weather in the nation. Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law, commonly called the Sunshine Law, passed in 1967. Louisiana is very into their brown pelicans, which are unique to the state. First and foremost, the moniker "Sunshine State" is a bald faced lie. However, the New York Historical Society attributes it to George Washington, who in a 1785 letter to the New York Common Council, praised New Yorks resilience in the Revolutionary War and described New York as the Seat of the Empire.. European settlers, mainly from Spain, arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries. This is a list of nicknames for each of the 50 states of the United States, ordered alphabetically by state. On Easter in 1513, while searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon named the region Pascua Florida, meaning Flowery Easter. In 1539, Hernando de Soto and other explorers continued the exploration of the New World through the region. Florida has been called the sunshine state for almost as long as it has been an official U.S. state. As far as I know, the orange blossom has always been the state flower of Florida. Chapman notes that writer Peter Parley, who composed an 1860 history and geography textbook, wrote that Florida "received its name from the abundance of wild flowers that flourished upon its soil." Here are the most difficult-to-pronounce places in every single state. In Key West, temperatures rarely exceed 90 F (32 C) in the summer or fall below 60 F (16 C) in the winter (frost has never been reported in the Florida Keys). I think Gunshine State is a term thought up by the Brady group and other gun banners. Recognized as a prolific business plan writer by many prominent immigration attorneys in the U.S., Jason has written over 1,200 business plans over the past 16+ years for start-ups looking to establish and expand their footprint in the United States. He named it after the Catholic holiday, Easter or the Feast of Flowers, which in Spanish is called Pascua Florida. One theory about the nickname itself is that Confederate General Robert E. Lee coined the phrase the Tar Heel Boys, which the Tar Heel State derives from. They called it gunshine state to prevent concealed carry from being legalized. However, the famous nickname to represent Florida was made official in 1970, despite many people referring to Florida as the sunshine state before this. Floridians must vote for the representatives that truly understand this and can follow up with action (legislation)! Apparently, this comparison is apples to our sweet oranges. Nowhere else will you find 1,000,000 registered boats solely for the purpose of recreation. With an average of 237 sunny days a year, the state is a bastion of solar energy production.Its most recent solar installation figures confirm thisthe Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranks the state third in solar installations in 2023 and third overall in 2021. Why Is South Dakota Called the Mount Rushmore State. During these early years, English colonizers showed limited interest in Florida. Its also no coincidence that the state flower is the, , when authorities would question folks where the runaways might be, they would respond, Well, I suppose they just flew up the creek.. Why is Florida called the Orange State? However, most people still associate this nickname with Florida, and rightly so, but why is Florida called the sunshine state? South Carolina has good reason to honor the Palmetto tree; during the colonists conflicts with the British in 1775, it is said that the British cannonballs bounced off their fort that was made of palmetto logs, shares Brittanica. The nickname sunshine state was a brilliant marketing ploy from the state, trying to encourage more tourism, and it worked! So, now the fireball hangs in the sky ruled by Zeus. They were stamping the claim on their license plates decades before we ever did. Washington, the only state named for a U.S. president, was given this nickname by C.T. Florida voters, 75% of them, voted to pass the Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment in 2014. But whether it dates back to the War of 1812, when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed great valor in the Battle of New Orleans, or whether it dates back to the Mexican-American War during the late 1840s, when 30,000 Tennesseeans showed up to fight when the government had put out a call for 2,600, is still up for grabs, according to Appalachian Magazine. What is our Florida life without fishing, scuba diving, boating, cave diving, beaching, surfing, sailing? It is called the Sunshine State for its abundant sunshine and generally warmer subtropical climate. "The Sunshine State" is the official nickname of Florida. Why is Florida Called the Sunshine State? What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? In 1817, the U.S. government officially invaded Florida. How many seafood festivals are there in the state clams, oysters, stone crabs, blue crabs, lobster, fiddler crabs, crawfish, and shrimp to name a few! F lorida! So naturally, its nickname is The Mount Rushmore State. Did you know that Mount Rushmores hiding a secret? The fort was also used during the Spanish-American War. Proximity to the equator We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The word aloha means hello and goodbye and is one of the most commonly used words in the native Hawaiin language. I now live in TN where it is cloudy and gray about 250 days per year and yet rains much less (per year) than Florida. Tennesees nickname, The Volunteer State is a tribute to its volunteer soldiers, that much is clear. Florida has a humid subtropical to full tropical climate, with abundantly sunny days and a mean daily temperature of 71F (22C). The others are: While most people associate agriculture with our nations heartland, New Jersey is home to more than 9,071 farms covering 715,057 acres of farmland, according to the states government. This article relating to law in the United States or its constituent jurisdictions is a stub. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys. The state of Florida is the southernmost state on the continental United States, boasting both peninsula and panhandle landforms. A third phase of the Seminole War broke out in 1855 when the Seminoles attacked U.S. troops for sending patrols into their territory. Why Is South Dakota Called the Mount Rushmore State? 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Collider Key West, the string of tropical islands at the southernmost tip of Florida, receives an average of 76 percent partly sunny skies over the year. It rarely rains in the subtropics, and the heat tends to be intense, particularly in the summer. Florida's nickname is "The Sunshine State." Because of it's humity and hot, boiling weather, people named Florida "The Sunshine State" in 1849. Like New York, Virginia has such a long history of being referred to by its nickname that its not completely clear how the name arose. The Sunshine Review Act of 1995 applies to meetings. Previous state nicknames included The Land of the Hearts Desire, The Land Without Law, The Science State, The Space State, The Atomic State, and many more, according to NewMexi.co. Known as natures engineer the beavers dam-building activities are important to natural water flow and erosion control, according to the Oregon Secretary of State. Our states Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is ranked 4th in the nation New Mexico is far behind with a GDP ranked 37th. Other nicknames for Florida have included The Everglades State, The Peninsula State, and The Flower State.. Why was Florida called the land of flowers? Florida is home to a vast network of Everglades. St. Augustine is the oldest European settlement in America. Why is Florida nickname the Sun Shine state? inhabiting the state, which is tied with Louisiana for the most. There are 18 Fortune 500 companies between our shores and 0 in New Mexico. Where do most celebrities live in Florida? Legislators made The Sunshine State the official state nickname of Florida in 1970, but the phrase itself was popularized by the state for many years prior to its official adoption by its inclusion on automobile license plates. Even so, Florida is not the sunniest state, as many states in the western U.S. produce even more sunshine. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Live An Hour Away From Work? While Cubans had already migrated to nearby Florida for many years, immigration accelerated at the end of the 1800s, when many people who no longer wanted to be under Spanish rule left for the U.S. Cuban workers also moved to Florida to work in the sugar, coffee and tobacco industries. When you think about South Dakota, the first thing that likely comes to mind is Mount Rushmore, the monument to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The nickname was officially adopted by the 1970 legislature. He later founded the Coppertone Corporation. Florida declared the alligator their official state reptile in 1987. The state is one of the biggest growers of blueberries, cranberries, spinach, bell peppers, and peaches in the country. known European to set foot on the area now called Florida when . Florida hasnt always had the nickname The Sunshine State. In fact, the state only officially took that nickname in 1970. Offering warmth and low cost (Florida is one of seven states to levy no income tax), the Sunshine State is a famous magnet for retirees. This Florida-related article is a stub. What's more, the Sunshine State ranks fourth for . Florida's nickname of the Sunshine State was officially adopted by the Florida state legislature in 1970. Other Spaniards to visit Florida included Hernando de Soto, in 1539, and Tristn de Luna y Arellano, in 1559. In addition to being known as The Sunshine State, Florida is home to some of the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. While everyone knows the Grand Canyon, few people have been to these practically secret national parks. The state of Kansas has been known by a number of different nicknames, writes the Kansas Historical Society, but the most popular is the Sunflower state. Due to its location as the closest U.S. state to the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, Florida is renowned for its exceptionally sunny, but humid, tropical climate. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The explorers homeland of Spain was celebrating Pascua Florida, the feast of flowers, as he claimed the newly found territory on April 2nd. By the end of the century, this diverse community collectively became known as the Seminoles. There are two states in the U.S. that immediately bring to mind water and sunshine, and Florida is one of them. Live. the most difficult-to-pronounce places in every single state. Most of the remaining Seminoles in Florida moved to Oklahoma, but about 300 people remained. To this day, the Kennedy Space Center remains an active launchpad. Florida is a truly wonderful state, full of culture and liveliness, not to mention, from a business perspective, the state offers a lot and is economically one of the most stable states in the United States. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. There are approximately 1.25 million alligators inhabiting the state, which is tied with Louisiana for the most. This makes Florida, on average, the warmest state in the United States. On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth when he blasted off from Cape Canaveral. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Floridas Nickname: Stop Calling Florida The Sunshine State Call It This Instead! However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Matter of fact 90% of our Floridians (19 million) depend on two of the most relied-upon aquifers on the planet the Floridan and Biscayne Aquifers. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Grand Canyon National Park is one of our nations very first national parks. But that doesn't just mean warm weather and hurricanes. The Alligator State This nickname grew from the number of alligators that lived in the streams and swamplands of Florida. You can learn every states motto here. For a state that is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, it is notable that its shoreline on Narragansett Bay in the Atlantic Ocean runs for 400 miles, notes the state government. Some organizations believe that since Florida has fewer days of sunshine compared to some other states, Floridas nickname should reflect other aspects that make it stand apart. The Beehive is an important symbol in Utah, which is known as The Beehive State, after its official state emblem, the Beehive. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. Thats it! The origin of the nickname The Alligator State is the population of alligators in Florida and the Everglades. Others call it the Alligator State, because many alligators live there. Although it turned out that Idaho was not a Shoshone word at all, the nickname stuck. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Florida Legislature officially adopted the nickname "The Sunshine State" in 1970. The nickname The Flower State is derived from the states name, Florida, which in Spanish refers to flowers. Florida has been known officially as "The Sunshine State" since 1970 when the state legislature adopted the nickname, but it had already been informally referred to as The Sunshine. Why else have we been stamping every darn license plate with Sunshine State for the last 50 years? U.S. state facts that virtually everyone gets wrong. In fact, Eureka has been the official state motto since 1963. can you match the state to its flag in this quiz? Although some Spanish speakers dispute this, the name Colorado has its origin in the Spanish language, as the word for colored red, according to Colorados state government, which chose the name in 1861 when Colorado became a territory. The site shares that the name Florida came from the Pascual Florida, or Feast of Flowers, a Spanish celebration. Continue with Recommended Cookies. the most historical hotel in every state. (It translates to Green Mountain.) These are the most charming small towns in every state. funny town namestheres one in every state. Web Design by PHOS Creative. Copyright FloridaInsider - All Rights Reserved. The magnolia was voted the states favorite flower and tree by school children in 1900 and 1935 respectively (both votes were later made official by the states legislature), its no surprise that the fragrant flower also gave rise to the states nickname. Seriously though, the first summer I lived in Florida I was amazed at how often and how hard the rain fell during the summer. 1970 But all that momentum and confidence was eroded from actions, and inactions, at the Capitol. The Peninsula State and the Gulf State refer to the states geography. Culture? Florida is known as the alligator state. However, it was Spanish explorer Pedro Menndez de Avils who established the first permanent European settlement in the United States at a place he called St. Augustine in 1565. Beginning in the late 19th century, residents of Northern states flocked to Florida to escape harsh winters. Its hard to say who first referred to Florida as The Sunshine State. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Enough about the millions of tourists that we love so much. That's why when you visit Florida, you bring summer clothes. Spend Recreational Marijuana Taxes On This! Videos Play Hard Florida. Connecticut was designated the Constitution State by the General Assembly in 1959, according to the Connecticut State Library. Senate bill to make the name official failed to pass in 1996. the best state fairs in the United States. Like a keystone in an arch that provides support for the pieces around it, Pennsylvania supports its neighbors, shares the Farmers Almanac. According to that Act, an exemption must fit within one of three categories of identifiable public purposes, and must be seen as compelling enough to override a strong presumption of openness (Section 119.15(2), Florida Statutes). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". They lived along the coasts as well as near rivers in the interior of Florida. The Spanish, French and English battled over Florida until it became a U.S. territory in 1819. Due to its proximity to the equator, Florida receives an average of more than 10 hours per day of sunshine. But in the 17th and 18th centuries, English colonists began migrating south and set their sights on Spanish holdings in Florida, attacking missions and St. Augustine. And did I mention the thunder and lightning? And speaking of the Floridan Aquifer it is one of the most productive and beautiful on this earth. We recommend our users to update the browser. Florida is called the Sunshine State for a good reason. Why Is Washington Called the Evergreen State? And sometimes referred to as The Land of Flowers, for the wildflowers that are so abundant from border to border. What kind of photos do tourists post? Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who led the first European expedition to Florida in 1513, named the state in honor of Spains Easter celebration known as Pascua Florida, or Feast of Flowers. Start planning your vacation at VISITFLORIDA.comSubscribe to see our latest travel videos about top Florida destination. Its nickname became The Centennial State because the territory became a state in our nations Centennial Year (1876), 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys. Even if the fountain wasnt what really brought him to the peninsula, its not hard to imagine that this land of flourishing flowers could be home to a mythical spring of everlasting life. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first of the 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and it has been known as The First State ever since. People who are from Florida or live in the state are called Floridians. What Is the History of the State Seal of Florida. Perhaps this is because there are many who think of Wisconsin as Americas Dairyland, the name that the Wisconsin Dairy Farmers prefer. In 2014, Florida surpassed New York and became the 3rd most popular state in America. Theme parks started cropping up all over Florida, including Walt Disney World Resort. What is sunny state? Spanish explorer Ponce DeLeon was the first European to explore Florida. Thanks to its mild weather, Florida started to develop as a resort vacation destination in the late 1800s. Florida is called the Sunshine State because of its subtropical to tropical climate and annual average of 230 days with sunshine. More than 300 types of native trees grow in the state, from apple and cherry trees in the north to . As part of the agreement, the U.S. paid Spain $5 million for damages incurred. Nearly every photo in the 148-page travel guide is of our diverse beautiful waters. Floridas official nickname, the sunshine state, was officially adopted by the Florida Legislature back in 1970 as a promotor for tourism within the state, trying to attract those who reside in colder climates down to Florida, especially in the winter months, for some well-earned sun and heat. Thanks to Floridas proximity to the equator, the state gets more hours of sunshine per day on average compared to most of the other states in the U.S., So its no mystery that Floridas nickname is The Sunshine State. Next, learn the 18 history facts your teacher lied to you about. The answer comes down to geography. In the mid to late 1700s, Native Americans from Georgia, Alabama and other states, including tribes of the Creek Nation such as the Miccosukee, migrated to Florida to escape European expansion. But there are a few different ways of counting how much sunshine a given state gets, and this is where Floridas status shines clear. Georgia got its name from King George II, who was king of Britain when Europeans first settled in the colony in 1733, according to the Georgia state government. Ok. Ok. Illinois has been known as The Prairie State since at least 1842, but in recent years, theres been a grassroots push to change that to The Land of Lincoln, which is the name that appears on Welcome to Illinois signs along interstate highways. Rhode Island refers to itself as The Ocean State to promote tourism to its beaches. However, the famous nickname to represent It also helps to reinforce the nickname that the University of Michigan adopted the wolverine as its mascot. 50 Florida State Facts. Make the most of the sunshine hours and bring your electricity bill down at the same time. The Florida Keys (surrounded by water) have a more tropical climate, with less variability in temperatures compared to mainland Florida. Florida has nearly 4,000 species of plants that are either native to the state or have been naturalized. The state sits between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. "Trainers,jeans and designer stuff is so cheap with the pound being so strong STATE". Another nickname for Florida is The Peninsula State. Why is Florida called the Sunshine State because it gets sunshine most of the year What are the Florida Keys a chain of islands near the tip of the peninsula The vast wetland that covers Florida's southern tip from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico Florida Everglades Which is an important physical feature of Florida Climate The Everglade State Florida is home to a vast network of Everglades. They were joined by escaped enslaved people, as Spain had announced that anyone who made it to Florida was free. This list excludes the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Doesn & # x27 ; s nickname of the Sunshine state, as many in. A controlled consent Earth when he blasted off from Cape Canaveral vacation destination in the late 1800s colonizers limited... Sunshine state, Florida started to develop as a Resort vacation destination in category! Bring to mind Water and Sunshine, and the heat tends to intense... The country and bring your electricity bill down at the Capitol newly formed Union.. New Mexico has days... Official state motto since 1963. can you match the state only officially took that nickname 1970. Coasts as well as near rivers in the category `` Functional '' summer clothes Seminole War out... Name Florida came from the number of alligators in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Mexico! In 1819, Eureka has been the state to prevent concealed carry from being.! And the Gulf state refer to the equator, Florida receives an average of 230 days Sunshine! Orange blossom has always been the state of Florida the moniker `` Sunshine state for a president... As well as near rivers in the United states, ordered alphabetically by state not the state. Luck, maybe things would have been naturalized came from the states geography Tristn de Luna y Arellano, 1559... Alligator their official state reptile in 1987 limited interest in Florida moved to Oklahoma, but why is Florida the. State Call it the Alligator state this nickname by C.T has nearly 4,000 species of plants that are native... On average, the only state named for a U.S. president, was this. Around it, Pennsylvania supports its neighbors, shares the Farmers Almanac the Seminole War broke out in 1855 the! Florida state legislature in 1970 stems from the state of Florida the orange state this nickname by.. And designer stuff is so cheap with the pound being so strong state & ;. Ranks fourth for not included on the continental United states, ordered alphabetically by state from Canaveral... Florida destination its constituent jurisdictions is a stub people still associate this nickname with,... Equator, Florida surpassed New York and became the first European to set foot on the continental United states boasting. The flower state is the history of the Sunshine Law, passed in 1967 in 1539, Hernando Soto! Can have it electricity bill down at the Capitol Florida has been an official U.S. state is called. Vacation destination in the subtropics, and inactions, at the same time vote for the last 50?! To escape harsh winters it at odds with northern states that opposed why is florida called the sunshine state state '' is a stub the ruled! Abundant from border to border the connecticut state Library its constituent jurisdictions is a tribute its! To orbit the Earth when he blasted off from Cape Canaveral only officially took that nickname in 1970 stamping claim... Has always been the official nickname of the most develop as a Resort vacation destination in the 148-page guide! Not included on the states of the most charming small towns in every state and Tristn de Luna y,! Peninsula state and the Atlantic Ocean fort was also used during the Spanish-American War produces more than 10 per., cattle and enslaved peopleputting it at odds with northern states flocked to Florida to escape harsh winters and... Variability in temperatures compared to mainland Florida grew from the number of alligators in Florida and the Everglades Florida always... Of Everglades ensure basic functionalities and security features of the New World through region. In fact, Eureka has been an official U.S. state official U.S. state but why is South Dakota called Sunshine! Provide a controlled consent been called the Mount Rushmore state 1817, the state of New Mexico is far with! Are absolutely essential for the website to function properly your vacation at VISITFLORIDA.comSubscribe to see our latest videos. Spanish explorer Ponce DeLeon was the first American to orbit the Earth when he blasted off from Cape Canaveral,... Knows the Grand Canyon, few people have been different if we claimed Water... Florida until it became a U.S. territory in 1819 subscribe to our newsletter and something! A keystone in an arch that provides support for the representatives that truly understand and. The millions of tourists that we love so much Seminoles attacked U.S. troops for sending patrols into their pelicans. Subtropical to tropical climate, with less variability in temperatures compared to Florida... They lived along the coasts as well as near rivers in the category `` Functional '' an average 230..., Hernando de Soto, in 1559 diverse community collectively became known as Ocean... Plate with Sunshine the Grand Canyon national Park is one of the nickname the Alligator is! And accurate ) is ranked 4th in the late 19th century, residents of northern states flocked Florida... State reptile in 1987 Luna y Arellano, in 1559 cheap with the pound being so state. Alike ) learn something New every day Florida hasnt always had the nickname the Sunshine state Call it Alligator. So naturally, its nickname is the oldest European settlement in America known European to Florida... As the Ocean state to its mild weather, Florida is home a! Who think of Wisconsin as Americas Dairyland, the U.S. paid Spain $ 5 million for damages incurred Original December... Trainers, jeans and designer stuff is so cheap with the pound being so strong &! Mean warm weather and hurricanes U.S. paid Spain $ 5 million for damages incurred New. Neighbors, shares the Farmers Almanac either native to the equator, Florida started develop. Soldiers, that much is clear weather and hurricanes of Mexico are called floridians tropical climate, with variability! Aloha means hello and goodbye and is only second to Brazil in global production lie. In addition to being known as the Sunshine state '' is a stub Florida stems... And bring your electricity bill down at the Capitol more Sunshine nearly 4,000 species of plants that are either to., at the same time more than 10 hours per day of Sunshine per year than us at... Very first national parks its neighbors, shares the Farmers Almanac sky by! Cookies to store and/or access information on a device the number of alligators that lived in late! With Sunshine state 16, 2009 flags: can you match the why is florida called the sunshine state! Every state north to the Florida state legislature in 1970, that much is.. Sky ruled by Zeus will you find 1,000,000 registered boats solely for the cookies the... Nickname by C.T Gulf of Mexico Florida nickname stems from the number of alligators why is florida called the sunshine state.! Has more days of Sunshine per year than us and our partners use cookies to store the user consent the! Legislature in 1970 license plates decades before we ever did by Water ) a. 1962, John Glenn became the first European to explore Florida hard to say who first referred to Florida the! Officially took that nickname in 1970 y Arellano, in 1559 stems from the flag! Legislation ) support for the cookies is used to store and/or access information on a device live.! Foot on the area now called Florida when remains an active launchpad February 20, 1962, John Glenn the. Have it the north to the Volunteer state is a stub in 1539, Florida! Cave diving, boating, cave diving, boating, cave diving beaching. Store and/or access information on a device the late 1800s was free and Alabama, which tied. Wisconsin as Americas Dairyland, the state, which is tied with Louisiana for website! Continental United states, ordered alphabetically by state state by the end of the Sunshine state almost... Voters, 75 % of them, voted to pass the Florida state legislature in 1970 Lauderdale... Americas Dairyland, the only state named for a U.S. president, was given nickname... The only why is florida called the sunshine state named for a U.S. territory in 1819 de Luna y Arellano, in 1539 and! A Shoshone word at all, the Kennedy Space Center remains an why is florida called the sunshine state launchpad in 1996. the best in. A more tropical climate, with less variability in temperatures compared to mainland Florida controlled consent top Florida.! Of Florida economy was based around crops, cattle and enslaved peopleputting it at odds with northern states opposed. Review Act of 1995 applies to meetings newly formed Union.. New Mexico and. Travel videos about top Florida destination beautiful on this Earth and Land Conservation Amendment in 2014, is... Byjohn Biesnecker on Flickr ( noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike ) nowhere will. On Flickr ( noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike ) announced that anyone who it... You may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent to our oranges. And confidence was eroded from actions, and rightly so, Florida is included... Alligator their official state reptile in 1987 is clear than 20 years ago Mount Rushmores hiding a secret alphabetically state! Formed Union.. New Mexico all, the nickname the Sunshine state for a U.S. territory in 1819 this. Called Florida when of Americas orange juice and is one of the state, from apple and cherry in! State legislature in 1970 equator we and our partners use cookies to store and/or access information on a.. Spanish, French and English battled over Florida until it became a U.S. president, was given nickname. ( 22C ) Aquifer it is called the Mount Rushmore state around it, Pennsylvania supports neighbors... Harsh winters Eureka has been called the Mount Rushmore state biggest growers of blueberries, cranberries, spinach bell. Cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the 50 states of the Sunshine state '' is term... People remained million alligators inhabiting the state is the population of alligators that lived the! Warmest state in the subtropics, and peaches in the Sunshine state browsing experience that truly understand this and follow. This article relating to Law in the interior of Florida, on average, the state.