20 Facts About Florida That Will Surprise You

Florida is one of America's most visited and most misunderstood states. Beyond the theme parks and retirement communities lies one of the most ecologically unique and historically rich places in the country. Here are 20 facts that reveal the real Florida.

1. The oldest city in the US is in Florida. St. Augustine, founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, predates Jamestown by 42 years. It's the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America.

2. Florida has more lakes than Minnesota. Despite Minnesota's "Land of 10,000 Lakes" nickname, Florida has approximately 30,000 lakes, ponds, and sinkholes. Lake Okeechobee, at 730 square miles, is the second-largest freshwater lake entirely within the United States.

3. Florida is the flattest state. The highest natural point in Florida is Britton Hill at just 345 feet above sea level — the lowest high point of any US state.

4. The state has a serious sinkhole problem. Florida sits atop porous limestone, and sinkholes can open suddenly, swallowing homes, roads, and cars. The state averages around 200 sinkhole insurance claims per year.

5. Florida has the most lightning strikes in the US. The "Lightning Capital of America" is actually the Tampa Bay area, which sees more lightning per square mile than anywhere else in the country.

6. Alligators are everywhere. Florida has an estimated 1.3 million wild alligators — roughly one for every 16 residents. They live in every county and have been found in swimming pools, golf courses, and even parking lots.

7. The Everglades is the only place where alligators and crocodiles coexist. The southern tip of Florida is the only place on Earth where American alligators and American crocodiles share the same habitat.

8. Cape Canaveral launched every American into space. Every US crewed space mission — from Alan Shepard's first flight to the Apollo moon missions to current SpaceX launches — has launched from the Florida coast.

9. Florida's beaches are made of quartz. The famous white sand beaches of the Panhandle, like Destin and Pensacola, get their brilliant whiteness from quartz crystal washed down from the Appalachian Mountains over thousands of years.

10. Florida produces 70% of the nation's orange juice. The orange blossom is the state flower, and citrus has defined Florida agriculture for over a century.

11. The Florida Keys are a coral reef archipelago. The Florida Keys extend 125 miles southwest from the mainland and are the only living coral reef system in the continental United States.

12. Florida has no state income tax. Like Texas, Florida has no personal income tax, making it a popular destination for retirees and high-income earners.

13. Miami is closer to Havana than to Jacksonville. Miami sits just 228 miles from the Cuban capital — close enough that Cuban AM radio stations can sometimes be heard clearly.

14. Florida was a Confederate state. Florida joined the Confederacy in 1861, though it was lightly populated and saw relatively little combat compared to other Southern states.

15. The state has over 700 springs. Florida has more freshwater springs than any other state, many of them crystal-clear with year-round temperatures of about 68°F.

16. Florida's population has grown by 15 million since 1970. The state had about 7 million residents in 1970; today it has over 22 million, making it the third most populous state in the country.

17. The Big Cypress Swamp covers 1,400 square miles. It's one of the largest expanses of subtropical wilderness in the US and protects the last habitat of the critically endangered Florida panther.

18. Key West is farther south than Cairo, Egypt. At 24.5 degrees north latitude, Key West is below the Tropic of Cancer and gets genuine tropical weather year-round.

19. Florida grows more watermelons than any other state. Sumter County in central Florida is known as the watermelon capital of the country.

20. Bioluminescent kayaking is a real thing here. Indian River Lagoon near Titusville has high concentrations of bioluminescent plankton. Kayaking at night turns the water around your paddle into glowing blue-green light — one of the most magical natural experiences in Florida.