Changes

See [[History of Florida]]

See [[History of Florida]]

Florida was first settled by Europeans in 1513, when Spaniard [[Juan Ponce de Leon]] landed near where [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] stands today. de Leon originally spotted Florida on Easter Sunday, so he named it ''Pascua Florida'', which means "Flowery Easter" in Spanish. <ref>[http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Florida/FloridaNameOrigin.html Florida state name origin]</ref>

Florida was first settled by Europeans in 1513, when Spaniard [[Juan Ponce de Leon]] landed near where [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] stands today. de Leon originally spotted Florida on Easter Sunday, so he named it ''Pascua Florida'', which means "Flowery Easter" in Spanish.<ref>[http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Florida/FloridaNameOrigin.html Florida state name origin]</ref>

For some time, Spain and France ran competing colonies in Florida, with the Spanish eventually expelling the French. [[John Quincy Adams]], serving as the Secretary of State for President [[James Monroe]], negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty with the Spanish in 1819, purchasing the territory of Florida from Spain. <ref>[http://future.state.gov/when/timeline/1801_timeline/acquisition_of_florida.html Acquisition of Florida]</ref>

For some time, Spain and France ran competing colonies in Florida, with the Spanish eventually expelling the French. [[John Quincy Adams]], serving as the Secretary of State for President [[James Monroe]], negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty with the Spanish in 1819, purchasing the territory of Florida from Spain.<ref>[http://future.state.gov/when/timeline/1801_timeline/acquisition_of_florida.html Acquisition of Florida]</ref>

Florida seceded from the Union in 1861 and joined the [[Confederate States of America]]; there was little military action in the remote state.

Florida seceded from the Union in 1861 and joined the [[Confederate States of America]]; there was little military action in the remote state.

[[Image:Florida ref 2001.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The state of Florida]]

[[Image:Florida ref 2001.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The state of Florida]]

==Economy==

==Economy==

A large sector of Florida's economy is based on the cultivation of citrus fruit. As of 2006, Florida produced 67 percent of the [[United States]]' total citrus fruit. This breaks down to 74 percent of [[oranges]] grown in the US, 58 percent of [[tangerines]] and 54 percent of [[grapefruit]]. <ref>[http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Florida/fruit_orange.html Florida state fruit: orange]</ref> The orange blossom is Florida's state flower, the orange is the state fruit and orange juice is the official state beverage.

A large sector of Florida's economy is based on the cultivation of citrus fruit. As of 2006, Florida produced 67 percent of the [[United States]]' total citrus fruit. This breaks down to 74 percent of [[oranges]] grown in the US, 58 percent of [[tangerines]] and 54 percent of [[grapefruit]].<ref>[http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Florida/fruit_orange.html Florida state fruit: orange]</ref> The orange blossom is Florida's state flower, the orange is the state fruit and orange juice is the official state beverage.

Tourism is also a primary driver of the economy, with over 76 million tourists visiting and generating 57 billion dollars in revenue per year.<ref>http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=95</ref> Particularly popular attractions include the Everglades, Walt Disney World, and Miami's South Beach district.

Tourism is also a primary driver of the economy, with over 76 million tourists visiting and generating 57 billion dollars in revenue per year.<ref>http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=95</ref> Particularly popular attractions include the Everglades, Walt Disney World, and Miami's South Beach district.

{{USstates}}

{{USstates}}

[[Category : Florida]]

[[Category:Florida]]

[[Category : Purple States]]

[[Category:Purple States]]

[[Category : East Coast of the United States]]

[[Category:East Coast of the United States]]

[[Category : Eastern United States]]

[[Category:Eastern United States]]

[[Category : The South]]

[[Category:The South]]

[[Category : Southern United States]]

[[Category:Southern United States]]

[[Category : Gulf Coast of the United States]]

[[Category:Gulf Coast of the United States]]

[[Category : Southeastern United States]]

[[Category:Southeastern United States]]

[[Category : Regions of the United States]]

[[Category:Regions of the United States]]

[[Category : United States Geography]]

[[Category:United States Geography]]

[[Category : United States of America]]

[[Category:United States of America]]

[[Category : Geography]]

[[Category:Geography]]