Location: Southeastern United States -- less than one hundred miles (161 km) north of the Tropic Zone. Florida's southern tip is 1,700 miles (2,737 km) north of the Equator. Most of Florida lies in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT - 5). West of the Apalachicola River is in the Central Time Zone (GMT - 6).

State Capital: Tallahassee was selected as the capital in 1824. The location was a compromise between groups interested in locating the capital in Pensacola in west Florida and St. Augustine in east Florida. The legislature met for the first time in a log cabin near the site of the present capitol building.

Population: Fourth most populated state in the U.S. - 15.1 million (1999).
California - 33.2 million
Texas - 20.0 million
New York - 18.2 million

Geography: Total area is 58,560 square miles (151,670 square km). Larger in area than England, land makes up for 54,153 square miles (140,256 square km), and water 4,308 square miles (11,157 square km). From the most western point of Pensacola to the southernmost point of Key West is 832 miles (1,339 km).

One of the youngest parts of the continental U.S., Florida is estimated to be the last landmass to emerge from the ocean. Florida is sprinkled with more than 7,800 lakes ranging in size from one acre to the 448,000-acre Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake in the U.S. Nearly one-third of the state's lakes are located in four Central Florida counties--Lake, Orange, Osceola and Polk.

From any point in Florida, a beach is no more than 60 miles (96.6 km) away. Although beaches and palm trees are synonymous with Florida's landscape, the state is quite diverse with shady oaks and rolling hills in the north to dense forests in the central region and vast Everglades in the south.

Highest Temperature: The highest temperature recorded in Florida is 109°, Fahrenheit. This record high was recorded on June 29, 1931 at Monticello.  Click here for the current forecast and more weather details for Monticello.

Lowest Temperature: The lowest temperature in Florida, -2°, was recorded on February 13, 1899 at Tallahassee, the state capital.  Click here for the current forecast and more weather details for Tallahassee.

Average Temperature: Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 91.7 degrees to a low of 39.9 degrees.

Click here for the latest forecasts for all area of Florida.

Sand beaches, a Florida signature, account for 1,200 miles (1,932 km) of the state's 1,800 miles (2,898 km) of coastline. Actually, Florida has more than 8,460 miles (13,620 km) of tidal shoreline, second only to Alaska in that category.

Florida's beaches are rated among the finest in the U.S. based on everything from water and sand quality, temperature and beauty.

Golf Courses: The state boasts more golf courses (1,250 and counting) than any other state in the U.S. There are more golf holes per capita in Collier County and more golf courses in Palm Beach County than in any other counties in the U.S.

Flag: The flag is white with the Seal of the State in the center and red bars extending from the Seal to each corner of the flag.

Nickname: The "Sunshine State"

Song: "Old Folks At Home" (or "Suwannee River") by Stephen Foster

Tree: The Sabal Palm

Flower: The Orange Blossom

Bird: The Mockingbird

Shell: Horse Conch (Pleuroplaca giganta)

Mammal:  Manatee (freshwater) and Dolphin (saltwater)

Fish: Largemouth bass (freshwater) and Atlantic sailfish (saltwater)

Animal: Florida panther