Florida Fun Facts

Trend
Florida
www.FloridaTrend.com
WELCOME!
Publisher Andrew P. Corty
Executive Editor Mark R. Howard
This new edition of Florida Fun Facts should be just that—factual
and yet fun to read.
Florida Trend has put this information together to rally all residents
around the true nature of this fabulous state. It’s a huge place, ranging
about 835 miles from the tip of Key West to the northwestern corner
near Pensacola—almost the same distance as from Pensacola to Chicago!
Florida’s landscape is immensely varied, from beaches to prairies, from
forests to phosphate mines, and from swamps to manicured golf courses.
Floridians themselves are equally varied, from Native Americans to
migrants from every state and immigrants from dozens of countries.
Every color, every language, every ethnicity, and every religion is
represented here.
Right now, Florida’s population measures about 19.5 million. Various
estimates saying Florida will become the third largest state, surpassing
New York, sometime by the end of 2014. Next stop will be the 20 million
population mark.
So please sit back and learn all about Florida, its early history, its
plants and animals, its climate, and its people. While you’re at it, we’ve
thrown in data about businesses (that’s our speciality) and education,
transportation, and government. We’ve even included items on laws,
taxes, and regulations.
With best regards,
— Andy Corty
Publisher
[[email protected]]
P.S.: If you’re looking for a great book about Florida’s early development,
try “A Land Remembered” by Patrick Smith. It’s a multi-generational
saga starting in the Civil War era that follows a fictional pioneer family
through hardships, hurricanes and droughts to the boom years. The
author, a Florida Icon, died recently but his page-turner lives on.
EDITORIAL
Writer Janet Ware
Managing Editor John Annunziata
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FLORIDA FUN FACTS
CONTENTS
HISTORY
First to welcome the world and still fostering innovation GEOGRAPHY
No extremes, just a variety of interesting features to enjoy CLIMATE
With climate this perfect, who wouldn’t want to live in Florida?
FLORA & FAUNA
Colorful, cute, unusual, uninvited, scary, annoying — we’ve got ‘em all
POPULATION
Late to bloom, but growing…still
BUSINESS & JOBS
A business climate every bit as desirable as our physical one EDUCATION
From public to private to learning at home, choice is our hallmark
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health care options to match demographics and disease
COST OF LIVING
All things considered, Florida has real economic appeal TAXES & REGULATION
Unavoidable yes, but at least our bite’s not so bad
TRANSPORTATION
Getting in, getting around…by planes, trains and automobiles
LEGAL MATTERS
From hundreds of statutes, a few that count most
GOVERNMENT, POLITICS & VOTING
Politics and elections that are unusual, to say the least
RECREATION
Name your interest, we have it…along with regulations for keeping you safe
SPECIAL INTERESTS: SENIORS & KIDS
Services and activities for either end of the age spectrum
FLORIDA’S OFFICIAL STATE SYMBOLS
Those things we call special and why
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CHAPTER 1
HISTORY
Did dinosaurs roam the swamps of Florida?
No. During the time that paleontologists say dinosaurs
actually roamed the earth — about 200 million years
ago — the Florida peninsula was completely submerged
and uninhabitable to land creatures, which is why no
one has ever discovered dinosaur fossils in Florida.
You can, however, marvel at these massive creatures
by visiting Dinosaur World in Plant City, where
about 150 life-sized models of various dinosaurs
live and move today, thanks to animatronics.
When did people first arrive in Florida?
About 12,000 years ago, archaeologists surmise, when
sea levels were 320 feet lower and the Florida peninsula
was about twice today’s size. These early arrivals
subsisted on a diet of mostly small animals, plants, nuts
and shellfish. And despite climatic differences, they
would have seen many of the same plants and animals
we see today, plus quite a few we don’t, including sabertooth tigers, mastodons, giant armadillos and camels.
By the time the Spaniards arrived on Florida
shores in 1513, some 350,000 American Indians,
including the Apalachee, Calusa, Timucua and
Tequesta tribes, inhabited the peninsula.
Is it true that the Spaniards came to
Florida seeking the Fountain of Youth?
That is the legend, but whether it’s true or not,
no one seems sure.
What we do know for sure is this: in April 1513, the
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León waded ashore
in Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine,
but maybe closer to Daytona or Melbourne. And if he
was anything like the other Spanish explorers busily
nosing around the western hemisphere in those years,
Ponce de León came looking for gold not youth. He
found neither in Florida, nor did he stay for very long.
Before returning to Spain, however, he left us our
name —La Florida — in recognition of the fact, many
believe, that his landing coincided with Pascua Florida
(Festival of the Flowers), Spain’s Easter celebration.
FUN FACT
Safety Harbor, on the west shore of Tampa Bay,
is home to Espiritu Santo Springs, a natural
mineral spring long believed to have curative
powers. It was named in 1539 by Hernando de
Soto, another Spanish explorer who, some say,
also came searching for the Fountain of Youth.
On this site today, the Safety Harbor Resort and
Spa draws visitors from around the world
Is St. Augustine really the
oldest city in America?
Technically, no. It is, however, the oldest continuously
occupied European settlement in the U.S.
Prior to St. Augustine’s founding in 1565, several
so-called “cities” had already been established by
Native Americans in what would become the states
of Illinois, Arizona and New Mexico. One such
city — Childersburg, Alabama — claims a history
dating to 1540 and a connection with the Spanish
explorer Hernando de Soto whose expedition rested
there for a month during its exploration of the
Southeast. However, since Childersburg was only
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temporarily occupied by Spaniards, St. Augustine
rightfully lays claim to the moniker “oldest European
settlement in America,” founded 42 years before
the English colonized Jamestown and 55 years
before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
When did Florida become a state?
And here’s another bit of trivia that you can use
to wow your friends: although Ponce de León
was first to arrive in Florida, he did not found St.
Augustine. Credit for that particular feat goes to his
fellow countryman Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who
subsequently secured Spain’s control of the entire
Florida peninsula by running the French out of Fort
Caroline, near present-day Jacksonville. It wasn’t pretty.
Why is Florida’s capital in Tallahassee rather
than someplace more centrally located?
FUN FACT
In 2013, Florida commemorated the 500th
anniversary of the first Spanish landing
on its shores. However, Florida counts
relatively few Spaniards among its presentday population. In 2010, only about 48,815
Florida residents — 3/10 of 1% — described
themselves as being of Spanish ancestry.
Was Florida one of the original 13 colonies?
No, it was two of the original 16. Say what?
At the time of the American Revolution, England
held 16 North American colonies: the 13 that openly
rebelled against King George III, plus Canada and
East and West Florida, thanks to the Treaty of Paris
which had ended the Seven Years War (known in
the U.S. as the French and Indian War) in 1763.
When America’s 13 original colonies rose up against
England in 1775, East and West Florida remained loyal
to the King, and their capitals — St. Augustine and
Pensacola — became hubs of Loyalist activity as well as
safe havens for Tories fleeing the rebellion. Although the
American rebels made numerous raids into East Florida
throughout the war, they waged only one actual battle
here: the Battle of Thomas Creek, which took place on
May 17, 1777, in what is now Nassau County. The British
were victors that day, but ultimately lost Florida to
Spain in 1783 as part of another Treaty of Paris, this one
ending the American Revolutionary War. Spain would
formally cede Florida to the United States in 1821.
On March 3, 1845. Florida was admitted
to the Union as its 27th state.
When Tallahassee was selected as Florida’s capital
in 1824, it was the most centrally located city.
Under Spanish and English rule, Florida had two
capitals: St. Augustine and Pensacola. In 1820, as
plans were being made for statehood, Florida’s
territorial legislators decided, that to be fair, they
should convene alternately in each capital city.
That plan, however, soon proved counterproductive;
travel between the two took nearly 20 days. So they
compromised by naming Tallahassee, a city located
midway between St. Augustine and Pensacola,
the capital of Florida. And so it remains.
Which side did Florida take in the Civil War?
Florida sided with the South, becoming the
3rd state to formally join the Confederacy
by seceding from the Union in 1861.
FUN FACT
The state of Florida may have joined the
Confederacy, but Key West and its fort remained
in Union hands throughout the Civil War. Fort
Zachary Taylor was the home base of a successful
blockade of Confederate ships that some historians
say may have shortened the conflict by a full year.
Today, “Fort Zach” is a state park with one of
the best snorkeling beaches in the Keys and an
unobstructed view of Key West’s legendary sunsets.
Who are the Seminoles?
Descendants of the original peoples who inhabited
the southeastern United States some 12,000 years
ago. It is widely believed that Florida’s Seminoles
were actually Lower Creek Indians from Georgia and
Alabama, who began filtering into Florida around
1760 in search of land and to escape tribal conflicts.
These wanderers came to be known as Seminoles,
a name meaning “wild people” or “runaway.”
Although numerous attempts were made over the years
to drive the Seminoles from Florida, a small faction
remained at the end of the third and final Seminole
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War in 1858 and they continued to survive another 100
years primarily through agriculture and the sale of their
native crafts. In 1957, the Seminoles voted for a tribal
constitution and established the Seminole Tribe of
Florida as a formally recognized American Indian tribe.
Today, with six reservations, seven casinos, an
impressive multi-story tribal headquarters in
Hollywood, Florida, and the acquisition of Hard
Rock International in 2007, Florida’s Seminole
Indians represent an economic powerhouse.
What are the Seminole Wars?
Three 19th-century armed conflicts aimed at
driving the Seminoles out of Florida.
The First Seminole War occurred in 1817-18
when Gen. Andrew Jackson invaded thenSpanish Florida, attacking several key locations
and pushing the Seminoles farther south.
The Second Seminole War broke out in 1835 when the
U.S. Army arrived to enforce a treaty requiring Indians
to give up their Florida lands and move west. By the
time this conflict ended in 1845, the great Seminole
warrior Osceola was dead, along with more than 1,500
U.S. soldiers and uncounted American civilians.
The Third Seminole War broke out in 1855 when
conflicts — largely over land — arose between
whites and some Seminoles who remained in
Florida. When this war ended three years later,
only about 200 Seminoles remained in Florida,
most of whom disappeared into the Everglades.
How did Florida fare in the Great Depression?
Not so well, it seems. After many decades of rising real
estate values and per capita wealth, Florida’s economic
bubble burst in 1926, and to make matters worse, a
devastating hurricane pretty well leveled Miami that
same year. By the time the stock market crashed in
1929 and the Great Depression took hold nationwide,
Floridians were already familiar with economic hardship.
With an estimated 80% of its 11,000 residents on
relief, Key West was especially hard hit. Once
named “richest city in America” due to its lucrative
wrecking industry, the tiny island town assumed a
new title in 1934 — poorest city, per capita, in the
U.S. And as if conditions in the Keys weren’t bad
enough, portions of Henry Flagler’s “railroad to the
sea” were washed away by the 1935 Labor Day
Hurricane, the strongest to ever hit the U.S., essentially
cutting off easy access to Florida’s mainland.
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All was not lost, however. Financially unable to
rebuild the destroyed sections of track, the Florida
East Coast Railway sold the roadbed and remaining
bridges to the state of Florida, which, in turn, used
them to construct the first Overseas Highway (U.S.
1). The full road from the mainland to Key West
was completed in 1938 and the industry that would
save Key West — tourism — was launched.
Were the Germans really lurking off
Florida shores during World War II?
Yes. German U-boats sank more than two dozen ships
off Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts, many of which
could be seen burning from shore. In February 1942,
German submarines attacked four merchant ships off
the coast near Cape Canaveral and four months later,
four German saboteurs paddled ashore at Ponte Vedra
Beach on a rubber raft from a submarine. They were
captured before they had a chance to blow up Florida’s
railroad lines and stop shipment of war supplies.
Aside from enemy incursions, World War II proved to be
the jump start that Florida’s economy needed. Beginning
in 1941, hundreds of soldiers, sailors and aviators
arrived in Florida to be trained year-round. The number
of airfield flying schools increased from five to 45 and
tourist facilities in all major cities became barracks, mess
halls and classrooms. Highway and airport construction
accelerated to accommodate the war effort and, as a
result, when the fighting finally stopped, Florida was
left with a transportation network second to none.
How and when did Florida first
get into the tourist business?
It all started with two men and their railroads:
In 1879, Henry B. Plant began purchasing bankrupt
southern railroads with an eye to linking rail and
steamships for more efficient trade. He would go on
to form the Plant System of railways connecting key
Southern cities to Tampa, where he built a port for
steamships headed for Havana and the luxurious Tampa
Bay Hotel, complete with lavish gardens and Moorishstyle minarets, to accommodate winter visitors. (Today,
it is the University of Tampa’s administration building.)
In 1885, Henry Morrison Flagler started construction
on his $50-million, 540-room Ponce de Leon Hotel in
St. Augustine, the first in a series of hotels he would
connect by railroad along Florida’s east coast. Flagler’s
Florida East Coast Railway would eventually extend
to Miami and, by 1912, across the sea to Key West.
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When did Walt Disney come to Florida?
Officially, in 1971, which is the year Walt Disney
World Resort opened with one theme park — the
Magic Kingdom — two hotels, a campground and a
monorail in Lake Buena Vista, just outside Orlando.
Unofficially, representatives of Walt himself had
come to central Florida some seven years earlier to
begin quietly — without speaking the name Disney
— purchasing the 27,400 acres of property for what
would become a mega-complex of four theme parks,
two water parks and more than two dozen hotels.
When did the space program
first come to Florida?
In 1958, with the launch of the first U.S. satellite from
Cape Canaveral in 1958 in answer to the Soviet Union’s
launch of Sputnik 1 the previous year. Among the
program’s crowning achievements would be man’s
first landing on the moon in 1969, the maiden voyage
of the first space shuttle — Columbia — in 1981 and
the completion of the International Space Station in
2011, all of which originated from Cape Canaveral.
Why did NASA choose to launch
its rockets from Florida?
Not because of the weather that’s for sure. Over the
years, more shuttle missions at Cape Canaveral were
delayed by bad weather — hurricanes, hailstorms,
lightning, thick clouds and temperatures below
36° F — than any other reason. So why pick Florida
in the first place? Location, location, location.
NASA needed beachfront property, for starters. Rockets
are known to drop debris, shed booster packs and
sometimes even explode. Better that the scraps fall
into the ocean than onto city streets. There’s also
the matter of noise. People living near Kennedy and
Dulles airports when the Concorde was still flying
complained about the noise it made, which was nothing
compared to the noise of a rocket launch, not to
mention the shock waves that are generated at lift-off.
Launching over the Atlantic has advantages for NASA,
too. The earth rotates eastward, so a rocket launched
in the same direction gets an extra push — kind of like
swimming with the current instead of against it—thus
reducing fuel costs. And since that rotational push
is strongest along the equator, NASA also wanted
to locate in a southern state. Hawaii and Puerto
Rico are closer than Florida to the equator, but Cape
Canaveral was less remote while still providing plenty
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of empty land. The fact that it was already the site of
a military base—Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (aka
Patrick Air Force Base)—meant it would be secure.
Did any famous inventors or
inventions come from Florida?
You bet! Here’s a sampling:
Dr. John Gorrie of Apalachicola was granted the first
U.S. Patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851.
Thomas Edison built a home and laboratory
at Fort Myers; his good friend Henry Ford
purchased the property next door.
Miami Beach pharmacist Benjamin Green invented
the first suntan cream in 1944 by cooking cocoa
butter in a granite coffee pot on his wife’s stove.
A team of 12 engineers led by William C. (Bill) Lowe
came together in 1980 in Boca Raton to design and build
a product that would be released to the public in August
1981 as the IBM PC, the first-ever computer built from
off-the-shelf parts and marketed by outside distributors.
FUN FACT
University of Florida researchers Dr. Robert
Cade, Dr. Dana Shires, Dr. H. James Free and
Dr. Alejandro de Quesada devised a precisely
balanced carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage that
would replace the key components Gator football
players lost through sweating in order to reduce
their susceptibility to heat-related illnesses. The
concoction they called “Gatorade” is today the
official sports drink of the NFL, NBA, AVP, PGA,
Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and
many other elite sports organizations and teams.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Innovators across Florida are at work today
on cutting-edge research that may one day
cure diseases, save our oceans, keep us safe.
For information about the latest developments
at Florida-based universities and private
research institutions, visit The Florida Research
Consortium at www.floridaresearch.org.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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Were any U.S. presidents from Florida?
Nope, not a single one. However, Florida has been a
frequent venue for visits by U.S. Presidents, including:
Andrew Jackson: In 1821, then-General Jackson seized
possession of La Florida from Spain and was sworn
in as Florida’s first territorial governor in Pensacola.
Theodore Roosevelt: In 1898, Henry B. Plant’s
Tampa Bay Hotel was the staging area for thenCol. Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, prior
to heading off for the Spanish-American War
in Cuba and their assault on San Juan Hill.
Warren Harding: The Harding family escaped
bitter winters in their native Ohio with frequent
trips to Mrs. Harding’s childhood home in
Daytona Beach; it’s now The Cellar, a fine
dining restaurant featuring Italian cuisine.
Herbert Hoover: Hoover was one of several
presidents, including Warren Harding, to spend
some time in Fort Myers at the invitation of
inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford who
owned side-by-side winter estates there.
Harry Truman: President Truman first came to Key West
for some much-needed R&R in November 1946, then
returned for 10 more working vacations as president
and five post-presidential trips. Quarters A at Key West
Naval Air Station where he stayed would come to be
known as the “Truman Little White House.” Other
presidents who visited this site during their terms of
office include: William Howard Taft (1912), Dwight
Eisenhower (1955-56) and John Kennedy (1961 and 1962).
Former presidents Jimmy Carter (1996 and 2007) and
Bill Clinton (2005) also visited the Little White House,
and it was the site of international peace talks between
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2001.
FUN FACT
FUN FACT
All 44 U.S. Presidents “live” full-time in
Orlando — albeit in animatronic form — in
the “Hall of Presidents” at Walt Disney
World’s Magic Kingdom. Bill Clinton and
George W. Bush recorded their own dialogue
for this attraction; Barak Obama delivers
the oath of office several times daily.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Want to know more about Florida’s history? The
Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical
Resources website is a good place to start. Visit
www.flheritage.com for details about some of the
items we’ve only touched on, plus quick facts and
answers to the most frequently asked questions
about Florida’s past. For information about
Florida’s Seminole Tribe, visit www.semtribe.com.
A tiny island off Florida’s Atlantic coast near Palm
Beach held a presidential secret for years. Navy
Seabees constructed a secret bunker on Peanut
Island as an evacuation site for President Kennedy
in the event of a nuclear attack during the 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis. Never used, it has since
been declassified and is now open to the public.
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CHAPTER 2
GEOGRAPHY
How big is Florida?
Among all states, pretty average in size. With a total
area of 58,560 square miles — 54,136 in land, 4,424 in
water — Florida is the 22nd largest state, slightly bigger
than Missouri and just a tad smaller than Wisconsin.
FUN FACT
Florida’s geographic center is located 12 miles
northwest of Brooksville in Hernando County.
What are the largest and smallest
counties in Florida?
At 2,578 square miles, Florida’s largest county
is Palm Beach, located along the Atlantic
coastline; Union in north central Florida is
its smallest — just 245 square miles.
How far is it from one end of
Florida to the other?
Depends on which ends you choose to compare. For
example, the distance between the Florida cities
that by road are farthest apart — Pensacola and Key
West — is 789 miles. The distance from Jacksonville
to Miami, on the other hand, is a straight shot north
to south and just 342 miles; Key West lies another
152 miles to the south and west of Miami.
FUN FACT
The Florida Department of Transportation is
the state’s official source of highway mileage
between Florida cities. For a handy mileage
calculator and maps, visit www.dot.state.fl.us/
planning/statistics/hwydata/intercity.shtm.
How many miles of coastline
does Florida have?
Florida’s coastline measures 1,197 statute
miles, including 663 miles of beaches.
What kind of terrain does Florida have?
Mainly flat, much of which is at or just slightly above
sea level with three distinct geographical features:
• Hilly landscapes in northern and central Florida
interspersed with rivers, lakes and springs offering
a wide range of recreational opportunities
• Naturally formed barrier islands along
the Atlantic and Gulf coastlines
• Subtropical wilderness across the extreme
south central region (Everglades)
What’s a barrier island?
An island naturally formed along the coast by shifting
sands that build upon an existing sandbar. Barrier
islands make up more than 700 miles of Florida’s
coastline. Many remain small and mangrove-covered.
However, some do grow up over time to become capable
of supporting people, roads, structures and thriving
tourist industries. One notable example: the Florida Keys.
What is “the Everglades” exactly?
The Everglades is the largest remaining subtropical
wilderness in the continental U.S., encompassing
1.5 million acres across portions of Collier, Monroe
and Miami-Dade counties. This massive watershed
is a combination of saw grass marshes, mangrove
forests and hardwood hammocks. And it is home
to many rare and exotic plants, birds, mammals,
reptiles and amphibians, of which at least 23 are
officially listed as endangered or threatened.
Everglades National Park is worth visiting if you
want to get up close and personal with a delicate
Florida eco-system. Best time to visit — unless
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you want to be easy bait for mosquitoes — is
the dry season, roughly November to May.
No matter what time of year you visit, however,
the likelihood of seeing an alligator is quite high;
the likelihood of being attacked by one, pretty
low. According to the park’s website, there have
been no documented accounts of any alligator
attacks inside the park within the past decade.
Unlike their urbanized cousins, park gators have
not learned to associate people with food; they
are typically wary of human interaction.
FUN FACT
Long before environmental activists celebrated
the first-ever Earth Day, Floridian Marjory
Stoneman Douglas was already speaking out.
Her 1947 book, The Everglades: River of Grass,
got people to stop thinking of the Everglades
as a worthless swamp to be drained and start
viewing it as a treasured river to be saved.
What is the highest elevation in Florida?
Britton Hill at 345 feet.
Located in Walton County about a mile from the
Alabama border, not only is Britton Hill Florida’s
highest natural point, it’s the lowest highest point
in any U.S. state. Why does this matter? Because
there are people who’ve made it their mission to
visit the highest point in all 50 states. Since 1936
when such feats were first recorded, about 250
“highpointers,” as they like to call themselves, have
completed the task, which is pretty impressive when
you consider that the highest highest point in the
U.S. is Alaska’s Mt. Denali, elevation 20,320 feet.
Does Florida have earthquakes?
Not often and not with catastrophic consequences,
but, yes, Florida has experienced some earthquake
activity, mostly in the form of minor shocks. One,
which occurred near St. Augustine in January 1879,
reportedly knocked plaster from walls and articles
from shelves. Floridians also felt shocks from the
infamous Charleston, South Carolina, quake of August
1886. Said to be the most damaging earthquake
ever in the southeastern U.S., it rang church bells
at St. Augustine and jolted many towns along
Florida’s northeast coast, including Jacksonville.
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More recently, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that
originated in the Gulf of Mexico some 260 miles
west-southwest of Clearwater on September 10,
2006, rattled windows along Florida’s Gulf coast;
tremors were felt as far north as Georgia and
Alabama, but no major damage was reported.
What’s the longest river in Florida?
The St. Johns River in northeast Florida is the
state’s longest at 273 miles, but that’s not its only
claim to fame. The St. Johns is also one of only a
handful of rivers worldwide that flows from south
to north. (The Nile is the most famous one.)
FUN FACT
And speaking of rivers in Florida, there are two
bearing the name “Withlacoochee.” The northern
Withlacooche, which originates in Georgia,
meanders south to join the Suwannee River
near Live Oak. The southern Withlacoochee,
originating near Polk City, flows west, north,
northwest and west again before emptying
into the Gulf of Mexico at Yankeetown. Other
than the name Withlacoochee — which, you
have to admit is kind of fun to say — the two
have little in common. But should someone
suggest to you, “Let’s meet at the Withlacoochee
next weekend and go fishing,” be sure to ask
which one, or you might be fishing alone!
How many lakes does Florida have
and which one is the largest?
Florida boasts approximately 7,700 lakes that are greater
than 10 acres in size, but there’s no contest for which
one is largest. At 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee
is by far the biggest lake in Florida. In fact, it’s the 7th
largest freshwater lake in the U.S. and the 2nd largest
contained entirely within the lower 48 states. It’s also
the center of a much larger watershed stretching from
the Kissimmee River through the Everglades and out
into Florida Bay as well as a key component of South
Florida’s water supply and flood control systems.
FUN FACT
Lake Okeechobee means “big water” in the
Seminole Indian language, appropriate for a body
of water approximately the size of Rhode Island. Yet
despite its impressive size, Lake O is exceptionally
shallow, with an average depth of just 9 feet.
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Where does Florida’s drinking
water come from?
Groundwater primarily, which in Florida
is highly accessible and contained in two
primary reservoirs called aquifers:
• The Florida aquifer serves as the principal source
of water for most of the state, including the cities
of Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando,
Daytona Beach, Tampa and St. Petersburg.
• The Biscayne aquifer supplies water for
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
counties in southeastern Florida.
Five water management districts monitor water
supply in Florida and, along with other state
agencies, continue to seek innovative ways to
address the state’s expanding water needs.
FUN FACT
Florida’s aquifers derive their water chiefly from
rainfall. When the water in an aquifer rises high
enough to intersect with the ground surface, a
spring is born. When the water recedes, the top
layer gives way and the surface suddenly collapses
into the cavity below; now you’ve got a sinkhole.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.floridasprings.org to learn how springs
are being protected in Florida and where you
can find the best ones for diving, swimming,
kayaking, caving, glass bottom boat tours,
wildlife watching and manatee viewing.
What are sinkholes?
If you follow the news, you know a little something
about Florida’s sinkholes — they form suddenly,
sometimes grow quickly and have been known to
swallow cars, homes, resort properties and, quite
tragically in 2013, a person. They are reason to
be concerned; they are not reason to panic.
Sinkholes may form for many reasons,
both natural and man-made:
• An extended drought punctuated
by occasional heavy rains
• Land development
• Heavy groundwater pumping
• Diversion of natural water flow routes
• Construction of retention ponds
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Want to know more about Florida’s current
water supply and predictions for its future?
Check out these two books: Blue Revolution:
Unmaking America’s Water Crisis and Mirage:
Florida and the Vanishing Water of the
Eastern U.S. Both were authored by Cynthia
Barnett, an award-winning journalist and
former associate editor of Florida Trend.
What are springs?
By definition, simply a point where groundwater flows
out of the ground. Florida has approximately 700 of
them, which, geologists believe, might possibly be the
largest concentration of freshwater springs on earth.
Most are located in northern and central Florida.
All springs are ranked according to magnitude, which
is a measure of the volume of water flowing from
the ground; discharge from Florida springs can range
from less than 1 pint per minute (eighth magnitude)
to more than 64.6 million gallons per day (first
magnitude). Florida has 33 first-magnitude springs.
Florida Trend
The central and western regions of Florida seem
to be most susceptible to sinkhole formation.
What do I do if a sinkhole opens up in my yard?
Do not panic and do not try to fill it up. However,
do mark and secure the hole as best you can to
keep children and pets away. If the sinkhole is
directly impacting your house — sinking, sagging or
cracking walls are apparent — get out and stay out.
Call your property insurance adjuster to report sinkhole
activity immediately. If lives are in danger, call 911.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Florida Geological Survey (FGS) offers a detailed
and helpful set of frequently asked questions
about sinkholes at www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/
feedback/faq.htm. Or, you may call FGS directly
with your sinkhole questions at (850) 617-0301.
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CHAPTER 3
CLIMATE
Does Florida’s climate vary from one
part of the state to another?
to cover their flowering shrubs and strawberry
farmers to water their crops to create a thin coating
of protective ice; even then, hard freeze warnings
are the exception in Florida rather than the rule.
From north to south, yes; from east
to west, not so much.
Florida is divided into two climate zones
along an imaginary line stretching across the
peninsula from Fort Myers to Palm Beach:
Are heavy clothes needed for Florida winters?
• To the north of that line, Florida’s climate is
“humid subtropical,” characterized by hot, muggy
summers with frequent thunderstorms almost
any time of day and cool, damp winters.
• To the south of the line, the climate is classified
as “tropical moist,” having a defined rainy season
from June-September and dry, mild winters.
Temperature-wise, there’s not a huge difference
between the two; average highs and lows are
relatively similar in summer and, even at their most
extreme, less than 25 degrees apart in winter.
JANUARY
High
Low
JULY
High
Low
Pensacola
61.2
42.7
90.7
74.5
Tallahassee
63.9
39.8
91.5
71.7
Jacksonville
65.1
42.5
91.9
72.8
Orlando
71.8
49.9
92.9
73.0
Tampa
70.1
52.4
89.7
75.3
Miami
75.7
59.6
89.6
76.5
Key West
74.7
64.7
89.4
79.6
Source: Florida Climate Center.
Note: Temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit
Does it ever snow in Florida?
Yes, but rarely and mostly in northern counties, where
any snow that falls is only enough to dust windshields
in the morning and melt before noon. Frost, the more
common winter weather phenomenon in select regions
of the state, may occasionally prompt homeowners
Florida Trend
Not really. One of the advantages of living in Florida
is that you don’t need to stock two entirely separate
wardrobes, which is a good thing given that most
Florida homes have neither attics nor basements to
store all that extra gear. Ladies here wear winter
boots and knitted scarves more for a fashion
change of pace than for necessity. Most Floridians
find they can “endure” a Florida winter with just
a medium-weight jacket, a pair of closed-toe shoes
and a couple of sweaters and/or sweatshirts.
FUN FACT
If you truly want to escape the harsh winters
you may have grown up with, the place to
settle in Florida is Key West, where there’s
never been a frost and the all-time record
low is 41° F set in 1981. Locals there like to
say they rate the severity of winter by the
number of times they have to put on socks!
Does a person’s blood really get thinner
after living a while in Florida?
No. Living at high altitude thins the blood, but
living in a warm climate does not. If, after dwelling
a few years in Florida, you seem to feel the cold
more than you used to up North, it could be you’ve
simply adapted mentally to a warmer climate and
thus find unsettling any temperature too chilly for
shorts. It’s possible too that you’ve lost that little
extra layer of fat that mammals living in cooler climes
typically develop for insulation against the cold.
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What are Florida summers like?
About 90% of the year in the Florida is characterized
by sunshine and temperatures that would probably
be described as “summery” in Midwestern states.
True summer in Florida — July through September
— is just plain sticky, although not as hot as you
might think. Daytime temperatures here almost
never rise above 95° F, but the air is generally
moist; if you’re feeling uncomfortable, blame it on
the mix of heat and humidity. A relative humidity
of 90% combined with a temperature of 85° F “feels
like” 102° F, a measure of discomfort that weather
forecasters commonly refer to as the “heat index.”
FUN FACT
On June 29, 1931, the town of Monticello in
Florida’s Panhandle, posted a temperature of
109° F, highest ever recorded in the Sunshine State.
Are there any dangers associated
with Florida summers?
Yes: heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Both may
be brought on by prolonged exposure to high
temperatures and dehydration; both can kill. Heat
exhaustion is marked by weakness, dizziness,
nausea and profuse sweating. Symptoms of
heatstroke include rapid breathing, throbbing
headache and lack of sweating despite the heat.
In either case, the affected person should be
moved out of the sun and medical help summoned
immediately. The average Floridian simply enjoying
a day at the beach need not worry. But if you
engage in strenuous physical activity without breaks
and without proper hydration — even in average
summer temperatures — you run the risk of raising
your body temperature above the healthy range.
Alcohol consumption and wearing the wrong type
of clothing (too dark, too restrictive) can exacerbate
the situation. So be wise — take it easy, drink plenty
of water and if you start to feel a little lightheaded,
take a break and head for the air conditioning.
Does Florida have a rainy season?
With an average of 54 inches of rainfall each year,
Florida ranks second only to Louisiana as the nation’s
wettest state. The greatest rainfall typically occurs
during the summer months when thunderstorms are
prevalent. Showers may appear quickly out of sunny
skies and then disappear just as quickly, providing
some relief, albeit it temporary, from the heat.
Florida Trend
If Florida’s so wet, how come
we have droughts?
In terms of total annual rainfall, Florida is well ahead
of the national average — 54 inches compared to 30
nationwide — but it’s not evenly distributed from
one part of the state to another, from one season to
another or from one year to the next. Such variations
directly impact surface water and groundwater
supplies. Rivers and lakes respond to rainfall within
minutes or hours; groundwater levels do not.
Because it takes time for water to seep into the soil and
move to the aquifer, the effect of rainfall on groundwater
may not be seen for days or weeks. Thus Florida is
susceptible to periodic droughts and the devastating
wildfires they spawn. In 2007 — a record year for
drought in Florida — close to 3,500 wildfires burned more
than 500,000 drought-plagued acres across the state.
Is Florida really the lightning
capital of the world?
No, that dubious honor goes to the African country
of Rwanda, which reportedly has 2-1/2 times more
lightning strikes than Florida. However, with an average
of 10-13 deaths per year, Florida does rank first among
U.S. states in the number of people killed by lightning.
Florida’s combination of heat, humidity and location
between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean
makes this state more likely than most to experience
lightning strikes. Should you be scared? No, but you
should be cautious and follow this simple rule of
thumb: If you can hear thunder — even though the sky
around you is bright blue and the sun is shining — you
are within striking range; seek shelter immediately!
Does Florida have tornadoes?
Yes indeed. In fact, statistics from the National Weather
Service reveal that Florida has more tornadoes per
square mile than any other state and our geography
is largely to blame. The same climate conditions that
generate lightning strikes — heat, humidity and proximity
to ocean waters — are magnets for thunderstorms, some
of which produce tornados. Likewise, Florida is a target
for hurricanes, which are known to spawn tornadoes
as they move inland. On the bright side, while more
frequent, Florida tornadoes generally aren’t as intense
or destructive as those in many other states, such as
Oklahoma and Missouri. Many of the funnel clouds sited
off the Florida coast are actually waterspouts, which
although terrifying to look at, don’t usually come ashore.
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What are hurricanes
and when are they
likely to occur?
Hurricanes are tropical cyclones
with winds of 74+ miles per
hour accompanied by rain,
thunder, lightning and tornadoes.
Generally speaking, they are most
likely to occur between June 1
and November 30, which is the
official Atlantic hurricane season.
August, September and October
are typically the most active
hurricane months in Florida.
What does the
phrase “category 3
hurricane” mean?
All hurricanes are rated as
category 1 to category 5
according to the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale, which is
based on a storm’s sustained
wind speed. This scale helps
determine potential property
damage. Hurricanes reaching
category 3 and higher are
considered major hurricanes
because of their potential
for significant damage and
loss of life. Category 1 and 2
storms, while less intense, are
still dangerous and require
preventive measures. Keep in
mind, too, that the category
rating for any given hurricane
is likely to change periodically
as wind speeds fluctuate with
the storm’s movement over
land and/or warm water.
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE
Category
Sustained Winds
Type of Damage
1
74-95 mph
Very dangerous winds; some damage to
roof, shingles, vinyl siding, gutters; tree
branches snapped; power outages
2
96-110 mph
Extremely dangerous winds; major
roof and siding damage; uprooted
trees; near-total power loss
111-129 mph
Devastating damage; major damage of
roof decking/gable ends; many trees
uprooted with road blockages; electricity
and water unavailable for several days
4
130-156 mph
Catastrophic damage; loss of roof structure
and/or some exterior walls; trees and
power lines/poles down; most of the area
uninhabitable for weeks or months.
5
157 mph
or higher
Catastrophic damage; homes destroyed
with total roof failure and wall collapse;
trees and power poles down; most of the
area uninhabitable for weeks or month.
3
Note: Revised in 2012, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale no longer
incorporates storm surge as a component of each category.
What’s so dangerous about a hurricane?
Hurricanes pack some mighty winds to be sure, but the greatest killer of
people during one of these storms is not wind, it’s water. Storm surge — that
dome of water pushed ashore by powerful hurricane winds — is capable
of moving entire buildings, and Florida is extremely vulnerable because
of its coastal geography. You can stay safe by following two steps:
1. Know your surge zone and, if you live in a zone
that’s been ordered to evacuate, get out.
2. To find your surge zone, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/
PublicMapping/index.htm, then click on your county for a map.
How likely is it that a hurricane will hit Florida?
Considering past experience, quite likely, but no one can predict precisely when
or where. What we do know is this: each year, on average, 10 tropical storms
(of which six become hurricanes) develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean
Sea or Gulf of Mexico. Many never reach land, but approximately five will
strike the U.S. coastline every three years and, of these, two will be major
hurricanes (category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale).
Live long enough in Florida and the odds are better than good you’ll experience
a hurricane firsthand, but there’s no need for panic. If anything positive can be
said about living in a hurricane-prone state, it’s that you’ll know well enough in
advance when a storm is headed for Florida to make necessary preparations.
Florida Trend
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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Why do hurricanes have names and
who decides what they are?
Hurricanes have distinctive names in order to
reduce confusion when two or more tropical
cyclones occur at the same time in different parts
of the world. Rigid rules are already in place for the
naming of these storms so, no, you cannot request
to have one named for yourself or anyone else.
Atlantic hurricanes are named in six-year increments
by an international committee of the United Nations
World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Consisting
of 21 names in alphabetical order, these lists are
used in rotation and re-cycled every six years; in
other words, the 2013 list will be repeated in 2019.
Specific storms receive their names after reaching
tropical storm strength (sustained winds of 39 mph).
WMO revises the list only if a storm is so deadly or
costly that the committee deems the repeat of its name
to be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity.
In such cases, the offending name is stricken from the
list forever and another selected to replace it. Examples
of retired names include: Camille (1969), Hugo (1989),
Andrew (1992), Katrina (2005) and Sandy (2012).
In the event that more than 21 named Atlantic storms
occur in a season, additional storms take their names
from the Greek alphabet. This actually happened in
2005 — the most active Atlantic hurricane season
in recorded history — when the names Alpha, Beta,
Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Zeta were used.
What’s the worst hurricane to ever hit Florida?
That depends on how you define “worst.” For
example, the intensity of a hurricane is measured
by central pressure expressed as millibars; the
lower the millibars, the more intense the storm.
The Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 measured
892 millibars, making it the most intense storm to ever
hit the U.S., causing 408 deaths and an estimated $6
million in damages. (For comparison, consider that
Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans in 2005,
measured 920 millibars; we all saw that devastation.)
Although less intense, Hurricane Andrew, which
came ashore at Homestead in August 1992 was more
destructive than the 1935 storm, causing upwards
of $25 billion in damage in Florida alone. Perhaps
the most unpredictable storm to hit Florida in recent
years was Hurricane Charley. Traveling up the Gulf
Coast on August 13, 2004, it was forecast to strike
Tampa-St. Pete, but made a sudden right turn just
north of Captiva Island around 3:45 p.m. It passed
directly over Punta Gorda, then continued moving
across central Florida, passing near Kissimmee and
Orlando, before finally exiting the state — still at
hurricane strength, mind you — near Daytona Beach
around midnight. In the days to follow, Charley went
on to wreak more havoc in the Carolinas; the damages
across three states amounted to nearly $15 billion.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.floridadisaster.org for information
and tips for staying safe in every possible
weather hazard you’re likely to encounter in
Florida, including heat waves, hurricanes,
tornadoes, lightning, wildfires and floods.
Florida Trend
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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CHAPTER 4
FLORA & FAUNA
Palm trees all look alike to me.
How do you tell them apart?
The same way you tell all trees apart, by their leaves
and bark. Technically speaking, palms have neither,
but their equivalents — fronds and the trunk that
forms as a palm grows and the fronds fall away —
work just as well for ID purposes. More than 2,500
species of palms exist worldwide. If you’re truly
interested in differentiating one from another, whole
photo galleries of palm trees, by species, can be found
online. To narrow your search, here’s a sampling
of palms you’re most likely to see in Florida:
• Royal palms – extremely sensitive to cold; thrive
best in south Florida and the Florida Keys.
• Coconut palms – abundant in south Florida
and the Keys; beware of parking under
one — in heavy winds, coconuts become
missiles, easily shattering a windshield.
• Sabal (cabbage) palm – Florida’s state tree; its bud
is the edible delicacy known as hearts of palm.
• Saw palmetto – more shrub than tree; grows
in low clumps in “pine flatwoods”; along with
the pines, can withstand frequent brushfires
and rejuvenate within a few months.
• Canary Island date palm – often seen
in Florida yards and public spaces;
sometimes called “pineapple palm.”
• Sago palm – not a palm at all but a cycad, one
of nature’s oldest plant groups; rarely grows
taller than 10 feet; sagos are either male or
female and the designation King Sago or Queen
Sago has nothing to do with their gender.
Why don’t the oak trees in Florida lose
their leaves like the ones up north?
Because they’re a different breed called “live” oak.
Like their northern cousins, live oaks produce
acorns and shed some leaves, but they are never
completely bare. In fact, in addition to some year-
Florida Trend
round leaves, they are often draped prodigiously
in Spanish moss. Live oaks are extremely hardy;
some in Florida are said to be 300 years old.
FUN FACT
Spanish moss, that light gray, whispery-looking
“stuff” you see hanging from trees in pictures of
the Deep South, isn’t moss at all; it’s an air plant
and a member of the pineapple family. Best not to
pull on it, however. Those thick tangles are known
to be good nesting spots for black widow spiders.
What are mangroves exactly?
Dense thickets of salt-resistant tropical trees growing
along sheltered coastlines. Easily recognizable by
their roots which grow directly from the trees’
branches, mangroves offer protection and trap food
for small sea creatures in shallow waters. They are
important because they stabilize shorelines and
reduce inland storm flooding. Although 50 species
of mangroves exist worldwide, only the red, black
and white varieties are common to Florida.
I’m new to Florida and the plants here
are all foreign to me. What’s that one
with bright pink flowers called?
No idea. Florida is a veritable botanical garden of
trees, shrubs and vines sporting brightly colored
blooms; yours could be one of many. Why not
clip a bloom and take it to your nearest nursery
for an accurate ID and care instructions? In the
meantime, here are a few possibilities to consider:
• Bougainvillea – a woody but spiny vine with
clusters of red, pink, white or orange flowers
• Frangipani – an evergreen featuring the
delightfully fragrant white, pink or red flowers
that are used to craft Hawaiian leis
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• Hibiscus – a large but delicate trumpetshaped flower in red, white, yellow or pink;
each flower blooms only once a day and
sometimes changes color in the process
• Jacaranda –bell-shaped flowers that are more
purple than pink and bloom in spring on a tree with
fernlike leaves; lovely to behold, but messy when
the flowers drop their tiny petals all over your car
• Oleander – pink, white, red or yellow flowers
on delicate leafy evergreen branches; pretty to
look at, but take care: all parts of this plant —
flowers, leaves, stem and twigs — are toxic.
How many Florida animals are
on the endangered list?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission currently lists 133 fish, amphibians,
reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates as
federally endangered, federally threatened, state
threatened or state species of special concern.
NOT-SO-FUN FACT
When Congress passed the Endangered Species
Preservation Act in 1966 and compiled its firstever list of endangered species, three Florida
mammals were featured: the Florida panther,
the Florida manatee and the key deer. Sadly,
all three remain on the list to this day.
What’s the difference between
a dolphin and a porpoise?
Both are marine mammals related to
whales, but they differ in:
• Size: Dolphins can grow up to be 30 feet
long; porpoises are stouter and smaller
(averaging 4-8 feet in length).
• Fin shape: Most dolphins have curved dorsal fins
and although their fins appear to all look alike, each
is uniquely shaped; the dorsal fins on porpoises
are usually triangular, similar to a shark’s fin.
• Snouts: Dolphins have a distinct “beak”;
porpoises have blunt jaws instead of beaks.
• Attitude: Dolphins are quite social; porpoises are
shy and rarely seen in marine mammal shows.
Bottlenose dolphins are often misidentified
by casual observers as porpoises. There are
no true porpoises in Florida waters.
Where can I see dolphins in the wild?
Along almost any coastline in Florida, even
in busy waters like Biscayne Bay and Tampa
Bay. Feeding or harassing dolphins in the wild
is against federal law; however, you can swim
with them at selected Florida attractions or view
them up close on special dolphin boat tours.
Manatees look a little like walruses, but
without the tusks. Are they related?
Funny you should ask. Florida’s manatees (aka, sea
cows) do resemble walruses, but their closest relative
is actually the elephant. They are vegetarians, typically
weighing 800-1,200 pounds and averaging 9-12 feet in
length; they range freely between marine and freshwater
environments, but have little tolerance for cold.
In Florida waters, manatees are highly vulnerable
to collisions with boats and entanglement with
fishing lines. If spotted and caught, those in distress
can often be healed at one of the state’s manatee
rehabilitation facilities: Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa,
the Miami Seaquarium and SeaWorld in Orlando.
Harassing or otherwise interfering with a manatee is
against the law. Recently, a tourist, who apparently
didn’t know this, was seen trying to ride one (don’t
even think of it!). She was promptly hauled off to jail.
Florida Trend
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When and where can I go to
view manatees up close?
What’s the difference between white
pelicans and brown ones?
In winter, when temperatures dip below 68° F,
manatees seek warm-water locales such as springs
or the discharge canals at some power plants. Blue
Spring State Park, Chassahowitzka National Wildlife
Refuge and Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
are favorite Florida wintering sites for manatees. For
the locations of these state parks and best manatee
viewing times, visit www.floridastateparks.org.
You mean aside from their color?
FUN FACT
The Parker Manatee Aquarium at the South
Florida Museum in Bradenton is home to
Snooty, the world’s oldest captive manatee.
Each year in July, the museum hosts a birthday
party for Snooty and invites the public to
come; in 2013, he celebrated 65 years.
Where can I go to see turtles hatch in the wild?
Almost any Florida beach, but the timing can be tricky:
• From May through September each year,
sea turtles swim ashore at night, lay their
eggs — as many as 100 per nest — and cover
them with sand, then return to the sea.
• Approximately 60 days later, the baby turtles
hatch and must find their way back to sea
using only the moonlight as a guide.
Since the lights from the condos and hotels lining
Florida’s beachfronts can be disorienting, volunteers
from turtle watch groups throughout the state stand
ready with flashlights at hatching time to point the
tiny turtles in the right direction. If you want to be
assured of seeing a “hatch,” align yourself with one of
these groups and carry a flashlight, but do not touch.
All Florida turtles — green sea, loggerheads and
leatherbacks — are endangered and protected by
state and federal law. Interfering with the hatching
process, disturbing turtle nests or possessing turtles,
dead or alive, can mean fines and imprisonment.
What should I do if I come across an
injured turtle or a beached manatee?
If you spot injured or orphaned wildlife, the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants
to know. Call Wildlife Alert at 888-404-3922 to report
sick, injured or dead marine turtles and manatees.
Florida Trend
White pelicans are true “snowbirds.” They breed in
mountain lakes in states such as Montana and Utah
during summer months, then, like wintering tourists,
they fly to Florida for “the season.” Large flocks of
them can typically be seen in the town of Flamingo
(ironic, right?) in Everglades National Park. Unlike
their brown cousins who dive for food, white pelicans
use their pouches like fishnets and simply scoop it up
while swimming on the water’s surface near shore.
Brown pelicans live in Florida year-round and
are seen almost anywhere there’s saltwater and
the chance for an easy meal. They’re especially
abundant around docks where fish are being
cleaned. Once listed as “endangered” by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, brown pelicans are today
“delisted” due to their recovery in the wild.
How come I never see any real
flamingos in Florida?
Because flamingos are not native to Florida. According
to the Florida Audubon Society, the Europeans who
arrived here in the 1500s reported a small breeding
population of flamingos in extreme southern Florida;
over time, however, they simply disappeared. So
despite the fact that fake flamingos are everywhere —
on shirts and shot glasses, as stuffed toys and plastic
lawn ornaments — the only place you’re likely to find a
real one today is in the zoo. If you spot a bright pink
bird elsewhere in Florida, it’s likely to be our native
Roseate Spoonbill, so called for its spatula-shaped bill.
How come key deer are so small?
Adaptation, most likely. About the size of a large dog,
key deer are a subspecies of the white-tailed deer
believed to have migrated full-size from the mainland
when Florida’s land mass was considerably larger.
As sea levels rose, these deer found themselves
trapped and, over time, became smaller as they
adapted to a sparse island food supply. Today they
live primarily on No Name Key and adjacent Big
Pine Key, where the national Key Deer Refuge was
established in 1953. Only about 1,000 survive and
with limited access to fresh water and the threat
from cars speeding along U.S. 1 on their way to and
from Key West, their future remains precarious.
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What’s up with those six-toed cats
in Key West?
They have polydactylism, a congenital anomaly that
causes cats to be born with more than the usual
number of toes on one or more paws. The condition
is not limited to Key West, but the six-toed cats living
there are noteworthy because they trace their roots
to a cat once owned by Ernest Hemingway. In 1935,
while living and writing in Key West, he was given a
white female cat with six toes named Snowball who
was apparently quite prolific. Hemingway’s house in
Key West is today a museum and home to some 50 free
range cats reputed to be descendants of Snowball and
her offspring. Not all of them sport six toes, but enough
of them do to make their existence a bona fide curiosity.
Do alligators bite?
Yes, and you can probably thank human beings for
that. Alligators are normally not aggressive toward
humans — they’d rather flee than fight — unless, of
course, you get too close to their young. They are
very protective of their babies. Although it’s illegal
to feed alligators in Florida, people continue to do
it anyway and, as a result, these large carnivorous
lizards have come to associate humans with food.
Approach any alligator with caution. One used
to being fed by people who doesn’t see a hot
dog in your hand, just might take your hand!
What’s the difference between an
alligator and a crocodile?
• Bone structure: Alligators have broad snouts and
a socket in their upper jaw that hides their lower
fourth tooth. A crocodile’s snout is more tapered,
exposing that fourth tooth in its lower jaw.
• Habitat: Alligators are usually found in
freshwater, such as shallow lakes, rivers, creeks,
ponds, manmade canals and the occasional
swimming pool. Crocodiles prefer brackish
and saltwater habitats, such as marl banks,
porous sand and shell beaches; they feed at
night and build their nests in deep water.
• Attitude: Wild alligators turn away and
disappear when they see humans; crocodiles
will attack without provocation.
NEED TO KNOW
If an alligator shows up on your property,
don’t try to corral it yourself. Leave that job
to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission. Call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline:
866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) for assistance.
Can I hunt alligators?
Not without permission and a special permit.
Florida’s alligators are an endangered species that
can be “harvested” only under very strict conditions.
Approximately 5,000 alligator harvest permits are
available each year by random drawing; each permit
allows the hunter to take two alligators. There’s no
cost to apply for a permit, but each person awarded
one must pay for an alligator trapping license and
hide validation tags. For more information, visit:
www.myfwc.com/license/wildlife/alligator-permits.
Are there any bears in Florida?
Yes. Black bears are Florida’s largest native land
mammal and the only species of bear to be found here.
As many as 12,000 black bears are believed to have
once lived in Florida; today, only about 1,500 remain
due largely to habitat destruction. Bears require space
to roam, but finding less of it these days, they are
coming into increasing contact with people as they
go looking for food. If you live in an area known to
be populated by bears, don’t leave garbage, pet food
or bird seed lying around to attract their interest.
What should I do if I see a bear?
Nothing, if it’s a good distance away. Bears are typically
wary of humans, so one is not likely to venture over
just to get acquainted. If you encounter a bear at close
range, however, remain standing upright, back away
slowly, avoid eye contact and make a LOT of noise.
Do not turn your back, climb a tree (bears are agile
climbers!), play dead or run. If the bear is on your
property or in your neighborhood, call the Wildlife
Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).
What’s the likelihood of seeing a
Florida panther in the wild?
Slim to none. Fewer than 100 are left in Florida, and
most of them are hunkered down in Everglades National
Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. These large,
tawny-beige cats with black markings on the tips of
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FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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their tails, ears and around their snouts are members
of the puma family. They are distinguishable from
other cats by their crooked tails and the unique patch
of fur on their backs that resembles a cowlick.
Florida panthers are critically endangered and
susceptible to just about every major threat, including
habitat loss, death by automobile and feline leukemia.
Killing one on purpose can result in hefty fines and
significant jail time. If, by chance, you do see one,
pause to appreciate and consider it a blessing.
Should I be worried about
shark attacks in Florida?
No. Although shark attacks in Florida have made big
headlines over the years, they are actually quite rare.
On any given day, sharks may be seen swimming
just off our coasts, but they’re not hunting for people.
When sharks attack humans, it’s usually a case of
mistaken identity brought on by poor visibility or
heavy surf; they were simply looking for one of their
regular sources of food and you got in the way.
If you want to lessen the likelihood of
attracting interest from a shark:
• Don’t swim alone; sharks are more likely
to attack individuals than groups.
• Stay out of the water during active shark feeding
times — early morning and late afternoon.
• Never go into the water if you are bleeding,
even from a small cut; sharks can sense
blood from a long distance away.
• Don’t wear shiny jewelry; to a shark, your
diamond engagement ring might look like the
sheen from fish scales, their favorite prey.
FUN FACT
The Florida Museum of Natural History in
Gainesville maintains the International Shark
Attack File, a regularly updated database of
shark attacks worldwide, as well as information
on how, why and where shark attacks occur and
how to avoid becoming a victim. To learn more,
visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/isaf.htm.
Aside from sharks, what other creatures
can hurt me in the water?
Jellyfish and stingrays. Both can lurk in shallow
water and, if disturbed, deliver painful stings. The
good news is most of these stings are minor and
can be treated with simple home remedies.
As always, the first line of defense is to
avoid these creatures altogether:
• Stingrays bury themselves under the sand to
avoid being noticed; if you clomp around in
shallow water, you may inadvertently step on
one and get stung. So learn to do the “stingray
shuffle”: Instead of taking those big steps,
just slide your feet gently, slowly along the
sand. The shuffling motion will send vibrations
through the water and scare stingrays away.
• Jellyfish can be difficult to spot, unless they’ve
beached themselves, in which case they look
like bloated plastic bags strewn across the
sand; resist the urge to stomp on one, they
can still deliver a sting! Before you enter the
water, ask a lifeguard (or even that person
on the next towel over) if any jellyfish are
present. If the answer’s yes, stay on shore.
What do I do if I’m stung by
a stingray or jellyfish?
If you’re nailed by a stingray, soak the affected area
in a bucket of water as hot as you can stand for
about an hour and a half. (Most beachside snack
bars and lifeguard stations have hot water and
buckets for just such occasions.) In the rare event
that a stingray leaves part of its barb behind, head
for the ER; do not attempt to remove it yourself!
Jellyfish often leave pieces of their tentacles behind
when they sting, and you can remove those. First,
wash the affected area with seawater (freshwater is
a bad idea because it may activate any embedded
stingers that have not yet released their venom),
then gently brush across it with a rigid object like a
credit card. Avoid touching the tentacles with your
hands and don’t use a towel or clothing; you might
discharge even more venom and make your pain
worse. Once the tentacles are removed, apply vinegar
or a paste made from baking soda and seawater.
With either type of sting, medical treatment
is rarely needed unless you experience an
allergic reaction or systemic symptoms such as
nausea, dizziness or difficulty breathing.
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My pet iguana is getting too large to keep
inside. Is it okay if I just turn him loose?
NOOOOO! The same goes for Burmese pythons, giant
African land snails and any other exotic and/or nonnative-to-Florida species you may have bought or simply
carried home with you from a vacation elsewhere.
Unfortunately, some Floridians did not think to ask
before releasing their former pets into Florida’s fragile
eco-system and these are the unhappy results:
• Iguanas: Two varieties of these rather sizeable
lizards that are native to Central and South America
are now on the loose and procreating in Florida. In
Miami-Dade and Broward counties, green iguanas
have caused significant damage to landscape plants
and are just plain annoying to homeowners who
find them sunning on their pool decks. On Florida’s
west coast, black spinytail iguanas have become so
prevalent in the town of Boca Grande, officials there
considered hiring professionals to remove them.
Unfortunately, iguanas are difficult to trap and even
if you capture one or two, dozens more may still be
lurking in the neighborhood to take their place.
• Burmese pythons: Native to India, China, the Malay
Peninsula and East Indies islands, these snakes,
which can grow to 26 feet in length and have few
natural predators in Florida, are multiplying at an
alarming rate in the Everglades. How they got
there is unknown. Some may have escaped from a
breeding facility destroyed by Hurricane Andrew
in 1992; others are believed to be pets dumped
by owners who tired of them. For now at least,
the pythons remain pretty much contained in the
Everglades, but there is potential for spreading.
Reports have circulated about sightings in Naples
and Key Largo, indicating they may be on the move.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Permits are available for trained individuals
who desire to help remove Burmese pythons
from the Everglades. For more information,
visit www.myfwc.com/licenses.
• Giant African land snails: Like a bad horror movie,
giant African land snails, which can reportedly
grow as big as rats and gnaw through stucco and
plaster, are working their way across Miami-Dade
County. At last report, more than 1,000 were being
caught each week; 117,000 in all since the first
snail was spotted by a homeowner in 2011. The
mechanism of introduction is unknown, but it’s
Florida Trend
possible they hitchhiked their way in as container
freight. Regardless, these hungry mollusks need
to be gone and experts have been assigned to
that task. Stand by for further developments.
Eeeyew…what are all those dead black bugs
coating my windshield and the front of my car?
Did you notice if they were working in mated
pairs before their demise? If so, they’re the
biannual Florida plague known as “lovebugs.”
Technically, these are not bugs at all, but rather
a type of fly. They don’t bite or sting, but they do
make a nuisance of themselves in April/May and
September/October by swarming along highways all
over Florida and glombing onto the windshields of
moving cars where they create a smeary mess that
can significantly reduce visibility. In extreme cases,
enough lovebugs coating a car’s grill can actually
disrupt airflow and cause an engine to overheat.
Word to the wise: If your car falls victim to lovebugs,
scrub them off as soon as you can; the sticky acidic
residue they leave behind can damage the paint.
Help! I’m being eaten alive by mosquitos.
Is there any way to avoid them?
Not really, if you enjoy the out-of-doors in Florida.
Currently 80 species of mosquitos are known
to occur in Florida, more than any other state.
All of them are annoying, but 13 are capable of
actually causing disease in humans and animals.
Of special concern are mosquitoes carrying West
Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis; human
cases of both were reported in Florida in 2013.
While you may not be able to avoid mosquitoes
altogether in Florida, here are some measures you can
take to make yourself less susceptible to their bites:
• Stay inside. Or at least limit the time you
spend outdoors between the hours of dusk and
dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent.
• Cover up. When you do venture outdoors, wear longsleeved shirts, long pants and socks to prevent bites.
• Apply insect repellant. Spray it on exposed skin
and clothing whenever you go outdoors, no
matter what time of day. Repellants containing
30-50% DEET are effective for several hours and
recommended for adults and children over the
age of 2 months; repellants containing lower
amounts of DEET provide shorter-term protection
and must be applied more frequently.
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• Cover and drain. Cover doors and windows
with screens to keep mosquitoes out; drain
standing water from your yard to prevent
them from laying eggs and multiplying.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about mosquito-borne
illnesses in Florida and related efforts to
control the state’s mosquito population,
see our “Health and Wellness” section.
Are there any scorpions in Florida?
Yes. Three species of scorpions are native to Florida,
but none is capable of delivering a lethal sting.
Florida scorpions vary in size from 1-4 inches and
are easily identified by their claw-like pincers and
curled fleshy tails, the tip of which is the stinger.
Outdoors, they like to hide under boards (decks are
particularly popular), trash and other areas providing
shelter and protection; indoors, they can be found
in the backs of closets or inside boots and shoes. To
avoid being stung, always take care when reaching
into dark cupboards or between the cushions
of a couch; shake out shoes before wearing.
or the back of your closet. And since clothing is a
favorite place for spiders to hide, be sure to shake out
any you haven’t worn in a while before donning.
What should I do if I’m bitten by a spider?
Don’t panic, but do watch for symptoms. Widow
bites generate systemic symptoms that may include
intense pain, muscle cramping, sweating, nausea
and vomiting. Recluse bites range in intensity from
no noticeable effect to severe necrosis (cell or tissue
death). In either case, medical treatment is advised.
Are there any poisonous snakes in Florida?
Yes. Of the 44 species of snakes native to Florida,
6 are venomous: the eastern coral snake, the
southern copperhead, the cottonmouth, the
eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the timber
rattlesnake and the dusky pigmy rattlesnake.
Florida snakes are typically not aggressive and,
unless cornered, will generally flee at the sight of
a human. Most snake bites occur in the process of
trying to move or kill a snake, so here’s some advice:
If you encounter any kind of a snake, just leave it
alone; it will most likely slither off on its own.
What should I do if I’m stung by a scorpion?
What should I do if I’m bitten by a snake?
Follow the same general first aid procedures you
would follow for a bee sting: wash the affected area;
apply a layer of ointment containing an antihistamine,
corticosteroid and analgesic; apply ice to reduce
pain and inflammation. For children and those with
allergies to bee stings, seek medical attention.
Stay calm, remove any rings that could restrict
circulation if tissues swell, keep the bitten
limb below the level of your heart and seek
immediate medical attention. The only treatment
for a venomous snakebite is antivenin.
Are there any poisonous spiders in Florida?
Yes, two: widow spiders and recluse spiders. Both are
found in similar places — in or under objects where
their presence is not readily obvious, such as a pile
of firewood, storage boxes and closet corners.
To avoid being bitten, wear gloves whenever engaging
in activities that prevent you from seeing where your
hands are being placed, such as reaching into a box
Florida Trend
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Although most of the snakes you’re likely to encounter
in your yard are the non-poisonous type, it’s a good
idea to familiarize yourself with the venomous ones,
just in case. To view the Florida Museum of Natural
History’s online guide to Florida snakes, complete
with pictures, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/
fl-guide/Venomsnk.htm.
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CHAPTER 5
POPULATION
What is Florida’s population?
Which state loses the most residents to Florida?
19,317,568 (2012 estimate), according
to the U.S. Census Bureau.
New York. In 2012, some 59,228 New Yorkers
reportedly pulled up stakes and moved to Florida.
How does Florida rank in population?
Florida is the 4th most populous state in the nation,
but that could soon change. If Florida’s population
continues to grow as anticipated, it will break the
20 million mark by 2015, thus displacing its nearest
rival — New York — as the nation’s 3rd most populous
state. Only California and Texas will then be able
to boast about having more people than Florida.
How has Florida’s population count
changed over the years?
By leaps and bounds. In 1900, when Florida
was still largely undeveloped and considered by
many Americans to be a backwoods place, the
population numbered 528,542. Within 30 years,
it had almost tripled to reach 1,468,211.
From that point on, Florida’s population began its swift
rise: adding 1 million+ residents between 1940 and
1950; 2 million+ between 1950 and 1960 and another 2
million+ between 1960 and 1970; then approximately
3 million every 10 years between 1970 and 2010.
What is the reason for Florida’s
population growth?
In-migration, both domestic and foreign. Americans
have a long history of picking up stakes and moving
somewhere else to carve out a better life. And people
have flooded to Florida from other countries.
Although economists do not expect migration
levels to reach the previous highs of 300,000 in
some years, they forecast an influx of 170,000+
new residents in 2013 and 200,000+ in 2014.
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There was significant movement out of Georgia
too, where 38,658 residents crossed the state line
to settle in Florida. It’s interesting to note, however,
that some Floridians also move out. In 2012, 42,666
Floridians moved to Georgia, so Florida actually lost
a net population of 4,008 to its northern neighbor.
Why do people come to Florida?
For lots of reasons. Based on its most recent compilation
of survey data from Florida residents who said they
moved here from somewhere else, the University of
Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research
reported these top three: family/marriage (29%), job
(22%) and climate/weather (19%); the “other” category,
which included retirement as a reason for relocating,
accounted for 15% of moves to the Sunshine State.
What is Florida’s most populous metro area?
No contest. With a population of 5,672,717, MiamiFt. Lauderdale-West Palm Beach is Florida’s
most populous MSA and 8th in the U.S.
Next in line:
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater —
population 2,842,878; 18th in the U.S.
• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford — population
2,223,674; 26th in the U.S.
• Jacksonville — population 1,377,850, 40th in the U.S.
FUN FACT
With 12.2 million residents combined,
Florida’s four top MSAs account for
63% of the state’s total population.
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Which Florida counties are most
and least populated?
Not surprisingly, Florida’s most populous county is
Miami-Dade at 2,591,035. The least populous county
is Liberty in Florida’s Panhandle: just 8,276 people.
Florida’s Top 10 Counties
(ranked by population, 2012 estimated)
Rank
25,000, which may be surprising to some, considering
that, compared to the nation as a whole, Florida
ranks first in number of people over the age of 65.
The Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and
Demographic Research predicts that Florida’s total
population will grow another 5.1 million by 2030, and
persons over the age of 60 are expected to represent
55% of that growth. In 2030, prognosticators say, 24%
of Florida’s population will be age 65 and older.
County
Population
1
Miami-Dade
2,591,035
2
Broward
1,815,137
Age
Population
Percent
3
Palm Beach
1,356,545
0-14
3,284,608
17.5
4
Hillsborough
1,277,746
15-24
2,457,140
13.1
5
Orange
1,202,234
25-44
4,720,799
25.1
6
Pinellas
921,319
45-64
5,079,161
27.0
7
Duval
879,602
65+
3,259,602
17.3
8
Lee
645,293
9
Polk
616,158
10
Brevard
547,307
What is the density of population in Florida?
350 persons per square mile (U.S. Census 2010),
which is well above the national average of 87, but
considerably less than smaller eastern seaboard states
like New Jersey and Massachusetts, which come in at
1,195 and 839 persons per square mile, respectively.
Florida’s most densely populated county is Pinellas
with 3,345 persons per square mile; least densely
populated is land-locked Liberty County in Florida’s
Panhandle with 10 persons per square mile.
Population density here, it seems, is largely determined
by geography. Counties with coastal shorelines
typically have the highest densities; inland counties
rank lower. Notable exceptions to this rule are Orange
and Seminole counties; neither has ocean frontage,
but both are within easy proximity of numerous
world-class theme parks and the jobs they provide.
Still, with a total area of 58,560 square miles and a
population of 19.3 million in 2012, Florida offers plenty
of space to spread out as well as many vibrant urban
areas where you can live, quite literally, on top of
your neighbors in high-rise condo communities.
What is the age distribution of Floridians?
Florida has significant representation in every age
group; however, more than half of Florida residents
fall between the ages of 25 and 64. The youngest
Floridians (age 0-14) outnumber the oldest (age 65+) by
Florida Trend
Florida Population by Age Group, 2010
Source: Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research
FUN FACT
Florida has the reputation for being the No.
1 place Americans go to retire, but the state
with the oldest population is actually Maine,
not Florida. According to the 2010 U.S. census,
Florida has the nation’s highest percentage of
residents aged 65 or older, but Maine’s population
is more aged. The median age in Maine in 2010
was 42.7; Florida’s median age was 37.2.
How culturally diverse is Florida’s population?
The statistics speak for themselves. In 2011, more
than 27% of Floridians reported speaking a language
other than English in their homes, up 2% since
2006. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the
overwhelming majority (3.6 million) spoke Spanish
or Spanish Creole. Other non-English languages
spoken in large numbers in Florida were: French
Creole (500,000), Portuguese (86,000), German
(70,000), Vietnamese (60,000) and Chinese (58,000).
At 23.2% of the total population, Hispanic Floridians
represent the state’s largest ethnic group, but
they are not evenly distributed. More than half
of the 4.48 million Hispanics in Florida live in
Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Orange
counties. Among Florida’s larger cities, Jacksonville
has the lowest percentage of Hispanics — just
8% — while Miami has the highest at 66%.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Looking for specific population-related facts about
people and business firms in your Florida county
or city? Visit the U.S. Census Bureau, http://
quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12000.html, and
select “county” or “city” for more targeted details.
How many tourists come to Florida each year?
89.3 million visitors in 2012, breaking the previous
year’s record of 87.3 million. And, if the tourist numbers
recorded for the first half of 2013 are any indication,
it appears that another record is in the making.
These tourists came packing considerable
economic clout. Spending by visitors to Florida
in 2012 reached $71.8 billion, an increase of
$4.6 billion (6.8%) over 2011. Total tax revenues
from tourism totaled $4.3 billion in 2012.
How do most visitors get to Florida?
By airplane. In 2012, 46.4 million visitors (52%)
arrived in Florida by air compared to 42.9 million
(48%) by car or other means of transportation.
When is tourist season in Florida?
With sunshine and warm temperatures year-round,
Florida really welcomes tourists year-round. However:
• Coastal resorts in central and southern Florida
tend to draw the greatest number of visitors
in the winter months of November through
April (roughly Thanksgiving to Easter)
• Some other areas, like the Florida Panhandle,
have a more traditional summer tourist season
from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Florida’s mega-theme parks — Walt Disney World,
SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens
— are busy year-round regardless of the season.
Where do most of these tourists come from?
In 2012, 75.6 million visitors to Florida were
domestic, arriving primarily from Georgia (10.6%),
followed by New York (8.9%), Texas (5.7%), Illinois
(5.6%), New Jersey (4.5%), Michigan and Ohio (4.4%
each), Alabama (4.2%) and Pennsylvania (3.9%).
Among international visitors, 3.56 million
originated from Canada; another 10.2 million
came from other points of origin, including:
Brazil (1.6 million), United Kingdom (1.58 million),
Argentina (603,000) and Venezuela (451,000).
Florida Trend
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CHAPTER 6
BUSINESS & JOBS
Are there employment
opportunities in Florida?
Yes. Although Florida’s employment
numbers dropped significantly
during the recent recession, they
continue to bounce back every
month as new jobs are created
and more Floridians find work.
In August 2013, Florida’s
unemployment rate fell to 7.0%,
the lowest in the state since
September 2008. U.S. unemployment
remained at 7.3% in August.
At 7,543,700, the number of jobs
in Florida in August 2013 was up
134,400 from the same month a
year ago. The primary industries
gaining jobs in August were trade,
transportation and utilities; leisure
and hospitality; professional and
business services; and construction.
FUN FACT
Florida ranked No. 5 on
Forbes’ list of “10 Best States
for Future Job Growth”
released in October 2013.
With a projected annual
growth of 2.5%, Florida
was one of only two states
east of the Mississippi
River to make the list.
Where can I learn about job opportunities?
Where can I find qualified candidates to
fill the jobs I have available?
We’ve bundled these two questions together because the answer is the
same: Employ Florida Marketplace. No matter which side of the job-hunting
spectrum you fall on, you can begin your search at www.EmployFlorida.com,
the comprehensive, interactive website from Workforce Florida Inc. for people
seeking work and employers seeking workers.
A click on “Find a Job” opens the door to job listings, education
and training opportunities, career building assistance and more.
Click on “Find a Candidate” to enter the portal that allows you to
create a listing for the jobs you need to fill and to easily access
recruitment services, labor market facts and information on the
incentives and training grants available to Florida employers.
Can retirees find jobs in Florida?
Yes, and a good place to look for work is the Employ Florida Marketplace
Silver Edition, which lists job opportunities statewide for persons age 50
and above. At any given time, several hundred jobs may be listed — some
volunteer, some paid — and all are at older worker-friendly businesses and
organizations. For information and to browse these job opportunities, visit
https://silver.employflorida.com. Enter your zip code and radius for a list of
openings; click on the job title for the specifics of each.
What are the top five public and private employers in Florida?
The following charts list the top 5 public and private companies in Florida
by revenue. To make the list, these companies must have their corporate
headquarters in Florida.
Florida’s Top 5 Largest Public Companies, 2013
Rank
Name
Location
Revenue
Employees
Line of Business
1
World Fuel
Services
Miami
$38.9 B
2,490
Petroleum products
distribution
2
Tech Data
Clearwater
$25.4 B
8,300
Computer
distribution
3
Jabil Circuit St. Petersburg
$17.2 B
141,000
Electronics
component mfg.
4
AutoNation
Ft. Lauderdale
$15.7 B
21,000
Auto dealerships
5
Carnival
Miami
$15.4 B
89,700
Cruise line
© Copyright 2013 Trend Magazines Inc.
Florida Trend
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Florida’s Top 5 Largest Private Companies, 2013
Rank
Name
Location
Revenue
Employees
1
Sun Capital
Partners
Boca Raton
$45.0 B
165
2
Publix Super
Markets
Lakeland
$27.7 B
71,529
3
JM Family
Enterprises
Deerfield
Beach
$11.5 B
3,800
4
Southern Wine
& Spirits
Miami
$10.5 B
12,500
5
H.I.G. Capital
Mgmt.
Miami
$10.0 B
225
Line of Business
Private
investment firm
Retail grocery
stores
Automotive
Wine/spirits
distributor
Investment
holding company
© Copyright 2013 Trend Magazines Inc.
FUN FACT
Florida is home base for 15 companies on the 2013 Fortune 500 list.
The largest Florida company, at No. 74, is World Fuel Services, which is
headquartered in Miami. Other Florida companies on the 2013 list include:
Publix Super Markets (No. 108) in Lakeland; AutoNation (No. 177) in
Fort Lauderdale; CSX Corporation (No. 231) in Jacksonville; and Harris
Corporation (No. 429) in Melbourne. Florida will soon be able to claim a
16th on the list when car rental giant Hertz Global Holdings (No. 293 in
2013) officially relocates from New Jersey to Florida. Completion date for
the firm’s headquarters campus now under construction in Estero: 2015.
Is Florida a good place
to expand, relocate or
start a business?
You bet. Florida consistently
wins almost as many accolades
for its business climate as for
its physical one. Here’s why:
• Pro-business tax structure:
Business dollars go further
in Florida because of limited
corporate taxes and no personal
income tax. Florida imposes
no property tax on inventories
or goods-in-transit (up to 180
days) and no sales/use tax
on goods manufactured or
produced in Florida for export
outside the state; sales and
use tax exemptions are also
in place for specific industries
and circumstances. And in
2013, Florida’s legislature
gave businesses another
Florida Trend
break: no sales tax on the
purchase of new manufacturing
equipment for three years.
• Competitive cost: Land, labor
and capital are more affordable
in Florida than in many states.
Businesses in certain targeted
industries as well as companies
looking for workforce training
and road improvements may
qualify for financial incentives.
Site-specific incentives also
may be available to businesses
electing to locate in rural
and urban Enterprise Zones
or on Brownfield sites.
• Streamlined permitting:
Florida has eliminated more
than 2,600 costly and outdated
regulations over the last three
years and it shows. Significant
economic development
projects are made possible by
permitting processes that are
quicker, less costly and more
predictable than in the past.
• Business-friendly environment:
Economic development is a team
effort in Florida, where economic
development organizations,
educational institutions,
workforce boards, state/local
governments and the business
community have joined forces
to support business growth.
Business owners needing oneon-one assistance may find it at
35 Small Business Development
Centers throughout the state
and the National Entrepreneur
Center in Orlando. In addition,
high-tech incubators, accelerators
and university-based research
parks offer low-cost space and
business services for companies
just getting off the ground.
I’m thinking about starting
my own business in Florida.
What do I need to know?
You mean aside from some familiarity
with general business topics like
financial and personnel management,
record keeping, federal tax laws and
legal structures? In addition to all of
that, you’ll need to know how, where
and when to file the paperwork
Florida requires for licenses, sales
tax, worker’s compensation, etc.
Florida’s system isn’t any more
complicated than one you’d likely
encounter in another state, but it
does take some time to negotiate
and way more space than we have
to describe. So here’s a shortcut: visit
www.FloridaSmallBusiness.com, the
website for Florida Trend’s Florida
Small Business, to find success
stories from small business owners
across the state and helpful tips on
financing, labor law, taxes, insurance,
patents and other business topics.
And be sure to check out the
section titled “dba Florida.” Created
in conjunction with the Florida
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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27
Department of State, Division of Corporations, this
easy-to-follow guide includes a list of documents you’re
required to file, where to find and file them, web
addresses for state agencies and numbers to call if
you need to speak to a real person along the way.
What are Florida’s leading exports?
Top 5 Florida-Origin Exports, 2012
Rank
Industry
$ Value
1
Gold, unwrought, semi-manufactured
$8.00 B
FOR MORE INFORMATION
2
Civilian aircraft, engines & parts
$5.50 B
Whether you’re starting a business from
scratch or looking to grow an existing one,
the Florida Department of State, Division
of Corporations is your go-to information
source. Visit www.sunbiz.org to e-file the
necessary paperwork and find answers
to your most pressing questions on how
to start and grow a business in Florida.
3
Electrical apparatus for line
telephony etc., parts
$4.25 B
4
Automatic data process machines;
magnetic readers etc.
$2.83 B
5
Mineral or chemical fertilizers
$2.54 B
Who should I talk to about relocating
my business from another state?
We’re glad you asked because Florida Trend
has a tool to point you in the right direction and
help you get acquainted with all that Florida
has to offer in terms of workforce, infrastructure,
industry clusters, global access and more.
At www.BusinessFlorida.com, you’ll find just the
information you need — reasons to do business in
Florida, success stories from growing industry sectors,
reports on what each of Florida’s eight unique economic
development regions has to offer and a directory of
contacts at the state and local levels who can help you
with expansion or relocation plans. Included are links
to Enterprise Florida, the state’s primary economic
development organization, and to economic development
offices in each Florida region and all 67 counties.
Source: Enterprise Florida
Which countries are Florida’s
primary trading partners?
Top 5 Merchandise Trading Partners, 2012
1
Brazil
$19.60 B
2
Colombia
3
Switzerland
8.96 B
4
China (Mainland)
8.95 B
5
Costa Rica
8.05 B
10.64 B
Source: Enterprise Florida
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more statistics related to Florida’s economy,
employment and global trade, visit Enterprise
Florida’s “Knowledge Center” at www.eflorida.com.
How does Florida fare in the
international business arena?
Globally speaking, Florida’s a player, and
the numbers speak for themselves:
• Total merchandise trade of $162.2 billion: $90.4
billion in exports; $71.8 billion in imports
• 58,000+ exporting companies, representing
20% of all U.S. exporters
• 27% of total U.S. trade with Latin
America and the Caribbean
• No. 2 Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) network
in the nation, where tariff-free value can
be added to foreign goods before they
are shipped on to other countries
Florida Trend
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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28
CHAPTER 7
EDUCATION
What’s the enrollment age for kindergarten?
In Florida, a child must be at least 5 years old on or
before September 1 of the school year to enroll in
kindergarten. You may wait until your child is 6 to
first enter school. However, he/she will not be able to
enter 1st grade without first completing kindergarten.
Does Florida offer any options for
pre-kindergarten education?
Yes. In fact, Florida was one of the first states to
incorporate a Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
program into its statewide public school system.
Today, more than 100,000 four-year-olds enroll in VPK
programs annually across the state. VPK enrollment
is not compulsory in Florida, but it is free and
beneficial. VPK programs have been found to give
kids a leg up in acquiring basic skills, resulting in
higher test scores and higher lifetime earnings. For
information, visit: www.fldoe.org/earlylearning/.
How long must a child go to school in Florida?
All children in Florida must be enrolled in some type
of formal education program — public or private school,
home-based education or private tutoring — by age 6,
and they must remain in school until at least age 16.
Failure to comply with Florida’s rules for compulsory
education may result in disciplinary action for the
student and/or criminal prosecution for the parent.
What if my child decides to quit school?
Your child can certainly make that choice, but not
until he/she turns 16 and not without your knowledge
and some paperwork. In Florida, prospective
dropouts must file a formal declaration of intent to
terminate school enrollment with their school district.
This declaration contains an acknowledgement
that leaving school will likely reduce the student’s
earning potential, and it must be signed by both
the student and his/her parent or guardian.
Florida Trend
Does Florida levy any penalties
for quitting school?
You bet! A student under the age of 18 who drops
out of school cannot be issued a Florida driver’s
license or learner’s permit; if he/she already has
a Florida driver’s license, it will be suspended.
Additionally, families receiving cash assistance
under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families Program may find that the amount of
assistance for an eligible dependent child or teenage
participant is reduced if that child or teenager is
identified as either a habitual truant or dropout.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more specific details about school
attendance and enrollment in Florida, visit:
www.fldoe.org/faq/default.asp?dept=107.
How do I register my child for school?
School enrollment takes place at the district
level in Florida; to complete the registration
process, you will need to have:
• Proof of the child’s age
• A Florida Certificate of Immunization, Form 680
(blue card) completed by a Florida physician
or a Florida county health department
• Evidence of a medical exam completed no less than
12 months prior to the child’s school entry date
• Proof of residency within the school district
Specific rules apply to what is considered acceptable
documentation for each of these requirements,
and they may vary by school district. Check with
your local school district for specific details.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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29
May children of non-residents
attend Florida public schools?
Do programs exist for handicapped
or gifted children?
The rules regarding who qualifies for in-state
tuition at a Florida public university and who does
not are pretty specific, but the law is somewhat
vague with regard to whether children of nonresidents may enroll in K-12 Florida public schools
at no charge or even at all. Best advice: contact
your local school district for specific guidelines.
Yes. By law, Florida public schools must provide
special instruction and services for “exceptional”
students — i.e., students with disabilities or students
who have been identified as gifted. For specific
details about programs and services available for your
exceptional child, consult your local school district.
How do I find out which school my
child is supposed to attend?
In Florida, K-12 students are not assigned to a specific
school; their parents get to choose one. By statute,
options are available in three broad categories: public
schools, private schools and home-based education.
If you are new to Florida or preparing to send a child to
school for the very first time, the whole idea of school
choice may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, the Florida
Department of Education offers an online workbook/
guide to walk you through the process. “Choosing a
School for Your Child in Florida” provides information
about the various educational options available, along
with exercises to help you make the best choice
based on your child’s needs and learning style. To
view this booklet, visit: www.floridaschoolchoice.org/
information/private_schools/files/choosing_school.pdf.
I’ve decided to send my child to a
public school. Now what do I do?
In Florida, the public schools are organized by districts
and each of the state’s 67 counties constitutes a
separate district. In some circumstances, you can
send your child to school across district lines, but
for the sake of convenience, look first for a school
close to home. Once again, the Florida Department
of Education offers a handy tool. Visit www.fldoe.
org/Schools/schoolmap/flash/schoolmap_text.asp
for direct links to your local school district’s website
and a list of public schools within the district.
Florida Trend
Does Florida offer any online
options for education?
Yes. Founded in 1997, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) was
the nation’s first statewide Internet-based public high
school. Today, it is the largest state-funded online K-12
school in the U.S., serving students in all 67 Florida
school districts, 49 states and 57 countries. FLVS offers
125 courses, including core subjects such as algebra
and chemistry and electives like photography and
Chinese. In 2012-13, 206,000 students took classes
with FLVS. For information, visit www.flvs.net.
How do I find out about private schools?
Any non-public school that designates itself as an
educational center or provides instructional services as
defined by Florida law is considered a private school
in Florida, and there are several hundred of them from
which to choose. For more information, including general
requirements, tips for selecting a private school and a
directory of private schools in Florida compiled from
data submitted by the individual schools, visit www.
floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Private_Schools/.
If I decide to send my child to a private
school, can I get any financial help?
Possibly. Florida offers two scholarship programs to
help parents shoulder the financial burden of sending
their children to private schools: the Florida Tax Credit
Scholarship Program for children of families with
limited financial resources and the McKay Scholarships
for Students with Disabilities Program. For details on
either program, visit www.floridaschoolchoice.org.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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30
Does Florida allow home-schooling?
Absolutely. With more than 72,000 students enrolled
annually, Florida’s home-schooling program is one of
the largest in the nation. Any parent or guardian who
complies with Florida’s reporting, record keeping and
student evaluation requirements may conduct a home
education program. There is no set curriculum or
course of study and teacher certification is not required.
However, Florida does require an annual evaluation
of each student who is home-schooled to demonstrate
educational progress at a level equivalent to his/
her abilities. Three evaluation methods are available,
and parents decide which one they want to use.
FYI, home-schooled students in Florida have the
same opportunities as their public/private school
counterparts to enter a college of their choice
based on their qualifications and the school’s
admission requirements, and they are eligible to
apply for Florida Bright Futures Scholarships.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about home-schooling in Florida,
visit http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/
information/home_education/
Is transportation provided to public schools?
By Florida law, bus transportation to and from school is
provided free of charge to: (1) any child who lives more
than two miles from his/her school; (2) students with
disabilities; and (3) children through grade 6 who would
otherwise be subjected to hazardous walking conditions.
Under certain circumstances, bus transportation also
may be provided for students in grades 7-12 where
hazardous walking conditions are a concern.
Do I have to pay for my child’s textbooks?
If your child is enrolled in public school, no. By law,
school districts in Florida must supply materials used
as the basis for instruction in the core courses of
mathematics, language arts, social studies, science,
reading and literature to all students at no cost. This
includes textbooks (hardcover or soft backed), electronic
media and computer courseware or software. Parents
are responsible for providing supplemental materials,
such as school supplies, that cannot be reused.
Florida Trend
FUN FACT
For one weekend in early August, Florida
traditionally suspends sales tax on purchases
of school supplies and related back-to-school
items such as clothing, backpacks and shoes.
In 2013, the state added computers, tablets
and accessories, including keyboards and
monitors, costing $750 or less to its list of
temporarily non-taxable items. And you don’t
have to be a parent or of school-age yourself to
take advantage of these savings; all shoppers
can buy tax-free on the designated weekend.
How are Florida’s public schools funded?
By tax dollars primarily. In Florida’s 2013-14
budget $18.3 billion (29%) has been earmarked
for K-12 public school operations.
The Florida Education Finance Program (FEHP), which
is the formal title for that portion of the total budget
specifically allocated for public schools, operates on the
theory that every Florida child, regardless of county,
deserves equal educational opportunity. So, using a
complicated formula based on needs and resources, each
Florida county allocates a portion of its tax revenue
for schools and the state makes up most of the rest.
I thought the Florida Lottery was created to
fund education. What happened to that money?
You’re absolutely right. Florida’s Lottery was established
in 1986 for the purpose of generating additional funds
for education, and it continues to do so. Here’s how:
• Each year, Florida’s budget for education
includes an appropriation from the Educational
Enhancement (Lottery) Trust Fund; in 2012-13,
that appropriation was close to $1.5 billion.
• In its first year, total appropriations from the Lottery
to education were just under $144.5 million. Since
then, Florida’s educational system has received
$25 billion from the Lottery Trust Fund, including
more than $1 billion annually for the last 10 years.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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If that kind of money is being generated by the
Lottery for education in Florida, how come public
schools seem to always need more?
Florida’s public schools represent just one slice of the Lottery Trust Fund pie.
Total appropriations from the fund are divided annually among four educational
entities: public schools, Florida colleges, state universities and other (usually
made up entirely of student financial aid, such as Bright Futures Scholarships).
So while the monetary value of Lottery contributions to Florida’s public
school system has increased since 1986, share of total Lottery appropriations
designated for schools has declined. In 1988-89, for example, 79% of all Lottery
appropriations went to Florida public schools. In 2012-13, public schools
received just 48.3% of the pie; the rest of the money was divided as follows:
Florida colleges, 12.6%; state universities, 13.6%; student financial aid, 25.5%.
How many public universities does Florida have?
Which one is largest? Where are they located?
Florida boasts 12 public universities, the largest of which, by enrollment,
is the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The names, locations
and enrollments of the top 11 are shown below. The 12th public
university — Florida Polytechnic University — is under construction in
Lakeland and currently enrolling students for a fall 2014 opening.
Florida’s Public Universities, ranked by enrollment
Rank
Institution
1
University of Central Florida
2
Florida International University
3
Main Campus
Enrollment
Orlando
59,785
Miami
50,394
University of Florida
Gainesville
50,086
4
University of South Florida
Tampa/St.
Petersburg
47,854
5
Florida State University
Tallahassee
41,226
6
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton
30,282
7
University of North Florida
Jacksonville
16,356
8
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers
13,442
9
University of West Florida
Pensacola
12,680
10
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee
12,051
11
New College of Florida
Sarasota
833
12
Florida Polytechnic University
Lakeland
TBA
Source: Board of Governors of the State University System
©Copyright 2013 Trend Magazines Inc.
FUN FACT
With a combined total enrollment of close to 335,000, Florida’s public
universities — collectively known as the State University System of Florida
— award more than 74,000 bachelor’s, master’s, first professional and
doctoral degrees annually.
Florida Trend
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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What is the Florida College System and which schools belong?
The Florida College System (FCS) is made up of 28 state-supported
community and state colleges, which serve as the primary point of access
to higher education in Florida. Each member institution is governed by a
local board and coordinated under the jurisdiction of the State Board of
Education. The Chancellor of Florida Colleges, who serves as chief executive
officer of the FCS, reports to the Florida Commissioner of Education
who, in turn, serves as CEO of Florida’s K-20 educational system.
Collectively, FCS schools generate an annual economic impact in Florida of
$46.6 billion and award more than 105,000 degrees and certificates each year.
Approximately 65% of high school graduates in Florida begin their pursuit
of a postsecondary education at one of the FCS schools listed below.
Florida College System (FCS), ranked by enrollment
Rank
Institution
Main Campus
1
Miami Dade College
Miami
60,014
2
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale
35,533
3
Valencia College
Orlando
35,263
Enrollment
4
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg
27,033
5
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Jacksonville
27,938
6
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth
25,902
7
Hillsborough Community College
Tampa
24,060
8
Seminole State College of Florida
Sanford
17,522
9
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce
13,510
10
Santa Fe College
Gainesville
13,464
11
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach
13,262
12
Edison State College
Fort Myers
12,840
13
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee
12,698
14
Eastern Florida State College
(formerly Brevard Community College)
Cocoa
12,501
15
Pensacola State College
Pensacola
9,511
16
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Bradenton
9,315
17
Polk State College
Winter Haven
9,184
18
Pasco-Hernando State College
New Port Richey
8,134
19
College of Central Florida
Ocala
7,421
20
Northwest Florida State College
Niceville
5,824
21
St. Johns River State College
Palatka
5,098
22
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City
3,775
23
Lake-Sumter Community College
Leesburg
3,648
24
Florida Gateway College
Lake City
2,119
25
South Florida Community College
Avon Park
2,050
26
Chipola College
Marianna
1,770
27
Florida Keys Community College
Key West
1,012
28
North Florida Community College
Madison
976
Source: Florida Department of Education, Division of Florida Colleges
©Copyright 2013 Trend Magazines Inc.
Florida Trend
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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Are there many private colleges
and universities in Florida?
Yes, and 31 of them belong to the association known
as Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida.
ICUF members are private, not-for-profit educational
institutions based in Florida and, like Florida’s public
universities and state colleges, accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS).
Collectively, they serve more than 153,000 students
at 141 sites throughout the state and award 26% of
bachelor’s degrees and 1/3 of all college degrees in
Florida. For a list of ICUF member institutions and
direct links to their websites, visit www.icuf.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The “Get Smart Guide” inside Florida Trend’s Next
magazine is an excellent source of information
about Florida-based postsecondary learning
opportunities, including public universities,
state colleges/community colleges and private
colleges and universities, as well as public and
private career, technical and trade schools.
To check it out, visit www.floridanext.com.
How much does it cost for a Florida resident to
attend a state-supported college or university?
For the 2013-14 school year, Florida residents who
are undergraduates at a four-year state-supported
university will pay approximately $205 per credit hour
($6,150 for a 30-credit year). State and community
colleges are less expensive at $104 per credit hour
($3,090 for a 30-credit year). If you elect to attend
a private college or university, be prepared to shell
out considerably more — $10,000-$40,000 annually.
Higher education doesn’t come cheap anywhere, but,
for purposes of comparison consider this: Florida’s state
universities are at least more reasonably priced than
in many states. The University of Florida ranked 3rd
on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance “Top 100 Best Values
in Public Colleges 2013” for its in-state tuition, fouryear graduation rate and average debt at graduation.
Other Florida universities making the cut include: New
College (No. 7); Florida State University (No. 26); Central
Florida University (No. 42); University of South Florida
(No. 57); and University of North Florida (No. 64).
Florida Trend
FUN FACT
To help ease the cost-of-college burden for
students and their parents, in November 2012
Gov. Rick Scott challenged Florida’s state colleges
to develop bachelor’s degree programs that
would cost students no more than $10,000. By
January 2013, all of the 23 Florida College System
institutions offering baccalaureate degrees
were on board and developing specific degree
programs. Stand by for further developments.
Does Florida offer any programs to help
parents cover college expenses for their kids?
Yes, Florida provides parents with two options:
scholarships and savings plans.
Option 1: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Remember our discussion about the Florida Lottery’s
support for education? This is where a significant chunk
of that money goes. In 2012-13, the Florida Lottery
contributed approximately $3.8 million to send Florida
students to college through Bright Futures scholarships.
To be considered for a Bright Futures scholarship,
students must apply to the program during their last
year of high school (after December 1 and before
graduation), and there is one catch to receiving this
money: you can’t take it out-of-state. Bright Futures
funds are awarded for education at Florida colleges
and universities only. But even if you know you’re
directly headed to an out-of-state school, it’s not a bad
idea to submit a Bright Futures application before
graduation anyway. Should you decide to return to
Florida to complete your college degree within 2-3
years, you may be able to reinstate your application
for funding. For details about Bright Futures and
other scholarship programs available to Florida’s
students, visit www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.
Option 2: Florida Prepaid College Plans
Parents in Florida can begin setting aside funds for
their children’s college education at birth through
a variety of “Florida Prepaid College Plans.” Some
have limited, once-a-year enrollment terms and
allow you to “lock in” the cost of public university
tuition at today’s rates. Others are essentially savings
plans in which you choose from among several
investment options, make an initial investment and
then determine how much and how often you will
contribute additional savings; all the while, your
earnings accrue tax-free. For additional information and
enrollment forms, visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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My child doesn’t want to go to college.
What other options are available?
If your child’s interests lean more toward technical
or vocational education than college, the Florida
Department of Education can help you too.
For information about public schools offering
career and adult educational opportunities,
visit www.fldoe.org/workforce
For listings of private career, technical and trade
schools in Florida, by county, visit: www.fldoe.org/cie
Resources for More Information
• About statewide educational issues, including
K-12 registration, curriculum, testing, high
school graduation requirements, state college
tuition, etc., visit the Florida Department
of Education at www.fldoe.org
• About local schools, including bus routes, lunch
menus, school holidays, supply lists, etc. visit your
county school district website. For a complete
list of Florida school districts and direct links
to their home pages, go to www.fldoe.org/
Schools/schoolmap/flash/schoolreport.asp
• About colleges and universities in Florida, visit:
www.flbog.edu/aboutsus/universities/
(public universities)
www.fldoe.org/fcs/
(state and community colleges)
www.ICUF.org
(private colleges and universities)
Florida Trend
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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CHAPTER 8
HEALTH & WELLNESS
How big is Florida’s health care industry?
Big and getting bigger. According to a report issued
by the Florida Hospital Association in March 2013,
Florida has 301 licensed hospitals, representing
63,774 beds. Together, they paid a total of $14.6
billion in personal and business taxes to local,
state and federal governments and $17.1 billion in
employee salaries and benefits in 2011 alone.
Over the last decade, total employment in Florida’s
health care sector has experienced an average annual
growth rate of 3.1%, rising from 751,000 in 2001 to
984,000 in 2011. The total employment impact of
Florida hospitals on the statewide economy is on the
rise too, jumping 25.5% between 2009 and 2011. Valueadded impacts for the same period were up 29.3%.
Florida’s 5 Largest Hospitals
Hospital
City
Beds
System
Jackson
Memorial
Miami
1,259
Jackson
Health
System
Florida
Hospital
Orlando
Orlando
1,107
Adventist
Health
System
Tampa
General
Hospital
Tampa
1,018
Independent
Mount
Sinai
Medical
Center
Miami Beach
955
Independent
Shands
at the
University
of Florida
Gainesville
852
Shands
HealthCare
Source: Florida Hospital Association
Note: List does not include Florida or Northeast Florida State
Hospitals, both of which exclusively treat mental illness.
FUN FACT
Florida hospitals earned 24 top 50 rankings
in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-14 list of
“America’s Best Hospitals”; five were among the
top 25 nationwide in six medical specialties. And,
for the 10th year in a row, Bascom Palmer Eye
Institute at the University of Miami was named
the nation’s No. 1 hospital for ophthalmology.
How many doctors does Florida have?
44,804, who are considered by the Florida Department
of Health to be actively licensed and practicing
medicine in a variety of specialties throughout the
state. Close to 1/3 of them are concentrated in the
heavily populated southeast counties of MiamiDade, Broward and Palm Beach. About a quarter
of the licensed physicians statewide list their
primary specialty as family or internal medicine.
FUN FACT
When you’re considering relocation, what’s the first
thing you want to find out about your new home?
Probably not how many hospital beds are available
or if there were any reported cases of chicken pox
the previous year. But maybe you should, and in
Florida, you can. Visit http://www.floridacharts.com,
then click on “County & State Profiles” to learn about
health and wellness in Florida county-by-county.
Is Florida equipped to handle
the needs of patients beyond the
care provided by hospitals?
Yes and probably better than most states,
considering that a significant share (17.6%) of
our population is already over the age of 65
and, by 2030, is expected to top 24%.
Florida offers the following long-term care choices:
Nursing homes: 680 statewide, representing 83,229
beds and offering acute care and convalescent services
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not available elsewhere, such as: 24-hour nursing care;
case management and health monitoring; physical,
occupational and speech therapy; and respite care.
Assisted living facilities: 3,042 statewide,
representing 85,000 beds and providing fulltime living arrangements in a less restrictive and
more home-like setting than nursing homes.
Hospice care: 38 providers statewide, for persons
nearing the end of their lives who no longer wish to
pursue a cure for their illnesses. More information
and links to hospice providers throughout Florida
is available at http://www.floridahospices.org/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Choosing the right nursing home for yourself or a
loved one can be tough. Florida’s “Nursing Home
Guide,” prepared by the Agency for Health Care
Administration (AHCA), is designed to provide
information for anyone facing difficult decisions
related to long-term care. To access the guide, visit
www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Nursing_Home_Guide/.
If you are concerned about physical conditions or
patient care at a particular hospital, nursing home,
assisted living facility or other type of health care
facility in Florida, don’t hesitate to contact ACHA.
To register a complaint, call (888) 419-3456.
FUN FACT
Florida’s health care industry encompasses
way more than direct patient care. In
addition to hospitals, clinics, urgent care
centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing
homes and assisted living facilities, this state
is known for medical and pharmaceutical
manufacturing. Florida currently ranks:
• 2nd in the U.S. for FDA-registered medical
device manufacturing facilities
• 3rd in the U.S. for pharmaceutical and
medicine manufacturing businesses
Does Florida have any medical schools?
Yes, nine of them to be exact, as follows:
How do I find a doctor/hospital/nursing home?
Glad you asked because Florida has some nifty
online tools for conducting just such a quest:
To compare hospitals, health plans, physicians, nursing
homes, prescription drug prices and hospice providers,
visit www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov. This AHCAsponsored site does not recommend one option over
another, but it’s a good place to start your search for
health care facilities and providers that best match
your needs.
To find a doctor, ask family and friends for their
recommendations and/or consult the free physician
referral services available on most hospital websites. For
more information about specific Florida-based doctors,
visit www.FLHealthSource.com to view practitioner
profiles, search disciplinary actions, request public
records, file complaints or report unlicensed activity.
How are nursing homes evaluated in Florida?
• Florida State University College
of Medicine, Tallahassee
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic
Medicine, Bradenton
• Miller School of Medicine,
University of Miami, Miami
• Morsani College of Medicine, University
of South Florida, Tampa
• Nova Southeastern University College of
Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale-Davie
• Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida
Atlantic University, Boca Raton
• University of Central Florida College
of Medicine, Orlando
• University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
• Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida
International University, Miami
Florida nursing homes are licensed annually
and inspected regularly by ACHA, which also
investigates complaints, when necessary. Nursing
home inspections are unannounced and include
a facility tour; interviews with residents, families,
staff, visitors and volunteers; and a review of
sample medical records, policies and procedures.
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Is any medical research being done in Florida?
How long do Floridians typically live?
Absolutely. Thanks to years of aggressive, coordinated
effort, Florida is firmly established as a true life
sciences hub.
Slightly longer than the average American, it seems.
The average life expectancy in the U.S. for a person
born in 2012 was estimated at 78.7 years. Average life
expectancy for a Florida resident born that same year:
79.3. And here’s another bit of good news: Since 1970,
Florida life expectancy has increased by 8.2 years.
Florida ranks 6th in the nation for bioscience higher
education degrees awarded and its universities attract
more than $1 billion annually in funding for biosciences
R&D. In addition to university-based laboratories,
Florida is home to numerous private institutions where
researchers are studying and developing treatments for
such conditions as Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, heart disease,
diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders.
To keep tabs on the latest laboratory findings
throughout the state, visit The Florida Research
Consortium at www.floridaresearch.org.
What is Florida’s birth rate and
is it going up or down?
Birth rates in Florida seem to go up and down right
along with the nation’s economy. Florida recorded
its highest-ever birth rate in 2007: 239,120. When the
Great Recession came a year later, birth rates began to
drop. In 2012 — the 5th consecutive year of birth rate
decline — Florida recorded 212,954 resident live births.
How does infant mortality in Florida
compare to the rest of the U.S.?
In 2012, Florida reported an infant mortality
rate of 6.0 per 1,000 live births, which compares
favorably to the U.S. average of 5.9 per 1,000 live
births for the same period. By contrast, Mississippi
reported the nation’s highest infant mortality rate
(8.8) and New Hampshire the lowest (3.9).
How does Florida’s death rate
compare to the rest of the U.S.?
It’s on the high side. At 9.2 per 1,000 in 2012,
Florida’s death rate was higher that the U.S. average
of 8.4 per 1,000. Mississippi posted the nation’s
highest death rate at 9.9 per 1,000 in 2012. Hawaii’s
death rate of 6.9 per 1,000 was the lowest.
One thing to note: resident deaths in Florida have
increased annually from approximately 27,000 in
1950 to more than 175,000 in 2012. Experts cite
population increases both in total numbers and in the
proportion of elderly citizens as reasons for the rise.
What are the most common
causes of death in Florida?
175,849 Floridians lost their lives in 2012. The
leading causes of death overall were: cancer (41,696
deaths) and heart disease (41,643 deaths).
Leading causes of death by age groupings:
• 1-44: external causes, including unintentional
injury, suicide and homicide
• 45-84: cancer
• 85 and older: heart disease
FOR MORE INFORMATION
What are the primary causes of
infant death in Florida?
In 2012, 64% of resident infant deaths in Florida were
neonatal (occurring before infants were 28 days old);
39% occurred to infants less than one day old. The four
causes accounting for close to 80% of all Florida resident
infant deaths in 2012 were: perinatal period conditions,
congenital malformations, unintentional injuries
(accidents) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Florida Trend
The Florida Department of Health collects and
analyzes birth, death and life expectancy statistics
in Florida on an annual basis and, each year,
compiles these figures and related summaries
about them in an annual report that is accessible
online. To view a copy of “Florida Vital Statistics
2012,” visit www.floridahealth.gov and click on the
“statistics and data” tab.
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FUN FACT
Looking for a simple way to improve your
health? Consider the orange. It helps to regulate
high blood pressure, prevent cancer, protect
against heart disease, fight viral infections
and reduce the risk of forming kidney stones.
Florida produces more than 70% of the nation’s
orange crop, and 90% of that goes to make
juice. So next time you need a pick-me-up, grab
a Florida orange or a glass of fresh-squeezed
Florida orange juice. Just don’t overdo it. The
high sugar content in orange juice can cause
tooth decay and the high acid content can wear
away tooth enamel if consumed in excess.
What are some health hazards in Florida?
Dehydration: In Florida’s high temperatures, the
combination of too much sun and too little water
can bring on heat exhaustion and heatstroke, either
of which can be lethal. Feel free to enjoy a day
at the beach or several hours on the golf course,
but always carry plenty of water. And if you start
to feel lightheaded, take a break from the sun
and head inside for a dose of air conditioning.
Mosquito bites: Some 80 species of mosquitoes reside in
Florida, 13 of which carry diseases like West Nile virus,
eastern equine encephalitis, dengue fever, even malaria.
Most bites are harmless, but why take the chance? If
you’re going to be outside in Florida for more than a few
minutes at a time, slather on some mosquito repellant.
The ones containing 30-50% DEET are the most effective
and can be used on children as young as 2 months.
Sun exposure: Over-exposure to the sun has been
directly linked to incidences of skin cancer and, in
particular, to its deadliest form, melanoma. Data from
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
reveals that an average of 24.7 people per 100,000
receive a melanoma diagnosis every year; in Florida,
the rate of melanoma incidence is 17.9 per 100,000.
To keep your skin healthy, avoid exposure to the
sun’s harmful rays by wearing protective clothing
(long-sleeved shirts, hats and sunglasses) and
applying a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that
provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Allergies: There’s really no dormant growing season
in Florida, so you can expect to see plants sprouting
and blooming here pretty much year-round. That’s
good news for the state’s natural beauty ratings,
but not-so-good news for resident noses. In fact,
each spring and fall when the Asthma and Allergy
Florida Trend
Foundation of America puts together its list of the
100 worst cities in America for allergies, a whole
bunch in Florida are included. No wonder sales of
over-the-counter antihistamines are so high here.
FUN FACT
There’s a reason why Floridians seem happier
in the winter months than their northern
counterparts, and it’s not just our lack of ice and
snow. We’re happier because of our sunlight.
Residents of northern latitudes who don’t see
much sun for several months of the year are more
susceptible to a very real condition known as
seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — what many
describe as “the winter blues,” but which can
manifest itself as lethargy, moodiness, even severe
depression. In New Hampshire, for example, the
incidences of SAD are 9.7% per 1,000. In Florida,
they’re just 1.4%. Also worth noting: sunlight is
a source of vitamin D, which strengthens bones
and teeth and helps support the immune system.
So you see, exposure to Florida’s sun has an
upside. Just don’t overdo it and wear protection.
Any chance I can get malaria from
a mosquito bite in Florida?
It’s possible, not likely. The Anopheles mosquito,
which is the species potentially capable of transmitting
malaria, is found in Florida, but locally transmitted
cases are extremely rare. Although in recent years,
some minor outbreaks of malaria have occurred in
Florida, most of the cases were in persons with
recent travel histories to countries such as Haiti and
Nigeria where malaria continues to be a significant
health risk. If you are planning travel to Africa, Asia
or Central or South America, talk to your health
care provider about preventive measures to take
before you go and protective measures against
mosquito bites to use while you are there.
What about other mosquito-borne
illnesses? Should I be worried?
No, but you should be aware of them. In addition
to malaria, mosquitoes may carry yellow fever,
dengue fever, West Nile virus and eastern equine
encephalitis. The first one you don’t have to worry
about, unless you travel to certain parts of Africa
and South America. The last epidemic of yellow
fever in the United States occurred in New Orleans
in 1905. The others, however, have occurred in
Florida recently and here’s what you should know:
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Dengue fever: Up until 2009, there had been no reports
of dengue acquired in Florida since 1934. Then an
outbreak occurred in Key West, which was traced to a
strain brought in from Central America and apparently
passed to the local mosquito population. Mosquito
eradication efforts were put into overdrive and since no
cases have been reported in the Keys since November
2010, the disease apparently did not progress any
further than the first round of patients. A few isolated
outbreaks of dengue have been reported elsewhere in
Florida since the Key West incident, but all were traced
to travelers returning from dengue endemic regions
elsewhere and contained to the original patient.
West Nile virus: All 48 states in the continental U.S.
have reported West Nile virus cases. Anyone can
contract this disease and about 70-80% of people who
become infected experience no symptoms. One in 5
will develop a fever, headache and joint pain. Less than
1% will develop a serious neurologic illness such as
encephalitis or meningitis; children and adults over the
age of 50 are more susceptible to these complications.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE): More common in
horses than in humans, EEE has symptoms similar
to West Nile virus. Most infected persons have no
apparent illness; however, severe cases (involving an
inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden
onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting, then
progress to disorientation, seizures or coma. A third
of severe EEE cases result in death, and those who
survive may experience significant brain damage.
FUN FACT
Just as miners once used canaries to warn
of impending danger, Florida’s county-based
mosquito control departments use chickens.
These so-called “sentinel chickens” are not special
chickens, just ordinary ones purchased on the open
market at a young age and before they’ve been
exposed to viruses. Typically placed six to a cage
in “flocks” strategically located throughout the
county, they provide an early-warning system that
disease-carrying mosquitoes are in the area. Why
chickens? Because they are unaffected by West Nile
or any other encephalitis virus and, if exposed to
one, will simply develop antibodies that show up in
their blood approximately 10 days after infection.
Presence of these antibodies in a chicken’s
blood is an early signal to county officials that
infected mosquitoes may be in the neighborhood
and a reason to step up eradication efforts.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For some handy tips on making yourself less
susceptible to mosquito-borne illnesses by
avoiding mosquito bites, see the Q&A about
mosquitoes in our “Flora and Fauna” section.
Since there is currently no vaccine against contracting
dengue, West Nile or EEE, the best defense is offense.
Counties throughout Florida monitor neighborhoods
for standing water, which can become a breeding
ground for mosquitoes, and spray insecticides by
truck or plane when necessary. You can do your part
by listening for official alerts about the presence of
mosquito-borne illnesses in your immediate area and
practicing prevention: stay inside when mosquitoes
are biting or, if you must be outdoors, use repellant.
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CHAPTER 9
COST OF LIVING
How does Florida’s cost of living
compare to other states?
If you follow popular media reports, it’s neither good
nor bad. For example, no Florida cities landed on
Kiplinger’s most recent list of the “10 Cheapest U.S.
Cities to Live In,” but we didn’t make CNBC’s 2012
list of “Most Expensive States to Live In” either. And
Florida is not on the list of “10 Best States for Making a
Living” compiled by MoneyRates.com or its counterpart,
“10 Worst States for Making a Living”; on the full list,
Florida was No. 28.
It seems that whenever the 50 states are ranked on
such variables as per capita personal income and
cost of doing business, Florida lands somewhere
in the middle — neither expensive nor cheap. But
consider this: If you factor in quality of life assets
such as 2,300 miles of tidal shoreline, 1,350 golf
courses and year-round temps rarely dipping below
60° F, Florida zooms to the top of any chart.
Is it any cheaper to live in Florida
than in other U.S. states?
Maybe yes, maybe no. You’ll almost certainly save
on heating bills, but that extra cash in your pocket
could well go toward air conditioning and year-round
lawn care. Given that accepted attire in Florida is
lighter and less formal, your clothing allowance
could be lower, and you won’t need complete sets of
clothing for winter and summer. One slightly heavy
coat and a few sweaters or sweatshirts should see
you through a typical Florida winter. Your personal
income won’t be taxed by the state in Florida, but
you may find property taxes higher here (see our
“Taxes & Regulations” section for more details).
Florida Trend
FUN FACT
Being a tourist in Florida is cheaper when you
live here. All of the major attractions — Walt
Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld
Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida and Busch Gardens
— offer Florida resident discounts. Deals
vary depending on the park; check individual
websites for details. Likewise, many smaller
attractions and accommodations offer Florida
resident discounts, and in high-tourist towns
like Key West, some restaurants even discount
meals for locals with proof of residency.
How can I compare the cost of living
in Florida against other states?
Cost-of-living comparisons between two states
are difficult and not terribly accurate because, the
experts say, those costs can vary significantly within
a state depending on whether you live in an urban
or rural area. City-to-city comparisons using one of
the many cost-of-living calculators available online
may be more useful: Enter the city/state you live
in now and the city/state you’d like to know more
about, along with your current salary, and click.
The resulting profile reveals how much more or
less you’ll need to bring home in order to maintain
your present standard of living in a new location.
FYI, we used this technique to compare one Florida
city — Tampa — to several other cities across the
U.S. and found mixed results. Tampa was less
expensive than Seattle, Chicago and Newark; more
expensive than Detroit; and approximately the same
as Dallas. Within each city, individual items such
as food, housing, utilities and transportation were
sometimes more expensive, sometimes less.
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Do living costs vary in
different parts of Florida?
How do Florida salaries compare with
those in the rest of the country?
Yes. It costs more to live in
urban, resort and waterfront
areas of Florida than in small
towns or rural and inland areas.
According to the Florida Price
Level Index (FPLI), Florida’s most
and least expensive counties are:
Depends on the job. Florida’s heavy concentration of jobs in traditionally
low-wage industries such as retail trade and leisure/hospitality, tends to
skew across-the-board comparisons which make Florida wages appear lower
than other states. When the salaries for specific occupations in Florida are
pitted against like occupations in some other states, however, Florida’s
annual mean wages stand up quite well as this chart demonstrates:
2012 FLORIDA PRICE LEVEL
INDEX (State Average is 100)
Comparison of Annual Mean Wages by Occupation & State
Five Most
Expensive
Counties
Five Least Expensive
Counties
Palm Beach
104.90
Madison
89.82
Collier
103.92
Calhoun
90.12
Broward
103.05
Taylor
90.86
Monroe
102.96
Lee
102.15
Occupation
BLS
classification
FL
NJ
IL
TX
WA
Human
resources
specialist
13-1071
$53,120
$66,600
$63,370
$60,210
$64,670
Computer
programmer
15-1131
$74,180
$87,040
$63,370
$78,590
$93,380
Lafayette
91.01
Special
education
teacher,
middle
school
25-2053
$50,580
$66,240
$66,680
$50,490
$58,810
Jefferson
91.15
Registered
nurse
29-1141
$61,780
$75,820
$66,260
$66,350
$75,350
Firefighter
33-2011
$51,190
$53,240
$47,560
$46,790
$62,730
Bartender
35-3011
$21,640
$24,660
$21,230
$20,670
$27,220
Hotel desk
clerk
43-4081
$22,260
$23,680
$22,260
$19,490
$24,070
Carpenter
47-2031
$37,090
$53,820
$53,870
$32,820
$49,850
Machinist
51-4041
$37,760
$46,310
$40,840
$40,110
$49,290
Retail sales
41-2031
$24,400
$27,260
$25,350
$24,670
$29,180
Source: Bureau of Economic and Business
Research, University of Florida
What’s the average
annual wage/salary
per job in Florida?
$43,660. To put that figure
in perspective, consider that
the national average salary is
$48,301, and Florida’s average
is ahead of 27 other states.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May
2012 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Curious about how many others in Florida share your chosen occupation
and what kind of money they make in various cities? Visit the Florida
Department of Economic Opportunity website (www.floridajobs.org) and
click on the “Labor Market Information” tab to find answers to these and
other wage/employment questions.
What is Florida’s minimum wage and how does it compare
to other states?
Florida workers are guaranteed $7.93 per hour ($4.91 per hour if they are
tipped employees) through the end of 2014. And since Florida’s minimum wage
rates are automatically “indexed” (linked to inflation), they rise as the cost of
living goes up, so if you work for minimum wage, there’s a good chance your
paycheck will increase again in 2015.
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Compared to other states, Florida’s minimum wage is on
the high side. Florida is one of 21 states and the District
of Columbia offering minimum wages above the federal
minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Workers in 29 other states collect the federal minimum
or less if their states have no minimum wage requirements at all. Minimum wage workers in Georgia and
Wyoming are paid the least ($5.15 per hour); those in
Washington are paid the most ($9.32).
FUN FACT
Florida enacted its first state minimum
wage in 2005, and has bested the federal
minimum in all but three years since.
How healthy is Florida’s economy?
Pretty healthy, it seems, based on personal income
figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic
Analysis in March 2013:
At $40,344 Florida’s per capita personal income
in 2012 was:
• 2% higher than the comparable 2011 figure
of $39,563
• 5.6% higher than the 2010 figure of $38,210.
At $779.3 billion, the state’s total personal income
in 2012 was:
• 3.2% higher than the comparable 2011 figure
of $755.4 billion
FUN FACT
Forbes’ 2013 list of the 400 richest Americans
includes 31 billionaire Floridians.
How many Floridians own their own homes?
More than half statewide. U.S. Census data
for 2007-11 reveals a home ownership rate of
69% in Florida, compared to 66.1% across the
U.S. Among Florida counties, Sumter claims
the crown for highest rate of home ownership
— 89.6%; Alachua has the lowest at 54.5%.
How much does a single-family home cost
in Florida and how does that compare
to median home prices nationwide?
According to the National Association of Realtors®,
the median sale price for a single-family home
in Florida in 2011 was $133,000, compared to a
median price across the U.S. of $166,200.
Is it generally easy to find a house to buy
in Florida?
That depends on the MSA market and the overall state
of the economy. At the height of the Great Recession, as
owners scurried to get out from under their upside-down
mortgages, homes where plentiful and attractively priced.
Not so much today. Consumer confidence has risen to the
point that houses in desirable neighborhoods are being
snatched up almost as soon as they come on the market
and at higher prices to boot. Florida Realtors®, a trade
association composed of some 118,000 Florida-based real
estate professionals, reported an 8.5% increase in sales of
single family homes throughout the state between 2011
and 2012. In the first quarter of 2013 alone, realtors sold
48,976 existing single-family homes in Florida, at a median
price of $153,000, up 13.4% over the same period in 2012.
The most active Florida MSA markets for
single-family home sales in 2012 were:
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach — closed
sales: 39,232; median sale price: $202,000
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater — closed
sales: 33,477; median sale price: $129,000
• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford — closed sales:
25,746; median sale price: $137,500
Are sales of condos and townhouses up too?
Yes. In the first quarter of 2013, sales across Florida
totaled 24,655 units, up 3.2% from the same period in
2012. Statewide, the median sale price for condos and
townhouses was $116,000 in 2013, 18.4% higher than 2012.
The most active Florida MSA markets for
condominium and townhome sales in 2012 were:
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach — closed sales:
46,754 closed sales; median sale price: $103,000
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater — closed
sales: 12,383; median sale price: $83,500
• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford — closed sales:
8,455 sales; median sale price: $76,000.
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What’s the difference between
a condo and a co-op?
Type of ownership essentially. A condominium owner
gets fee simple ownership in an individual unit and an
undivided share of the common elements. The owner of
a co-op is, on the other hand, a stockholder who owns
a share of the corporation that owns the property.
Does Florida have a homestead tax exemption?
Yes. A homestead tax exemption of up to $50,000 is
available to every person who owns and resides on real
property in Florida on January 1, and who makes that
property his/her permanent residence. The first $25,000
applies to all property taxes; the second $25,000 applies
to assessed value over $50,000 and only to non-school
taxes. Additional exemptions are available to widows
and widowers, senior citizens and homeowners with
disabilities who qualify under certain conditions.
Does the homestead tax exemption
apply to duplexes?
Yes, but only to the portion actually occupied
by the owner. Condominium and co-op
owners also may qualify for the homestead
tax exemption under certain conditions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For complete details about Florida property tax
exemptions, visit http://dor.myflorida.com and
click on the “Property” tab.
What exactly is a manufactured home?
“Manufactured home” is the new name for what
we used to call a “mobile home.” Since these
structures are built in a factory, transported by
tractor-trailer to a home site and, once in place, stay
put, “manufactured” is the more technically correct
term today; from force of habit, however, you’ll
still hear many, including the Florida Department
of Revenue, refer to them as “mobile homes.”
How prevalent are manufactured
homes in Florida?
called “mobile home parks” in many places — around
a lake or pool and clubhouse. Considering that they
may be 10-35% less expensive to build than permanent
homes, manufactured homes remain popular with
senior citizens who retire in Florida on fixed incomes
and enjoy the communal activities they represent.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To view floor plans, find a community and learn
more about safety, financing, insurance and other
topics related to the purchase of a manufactured
home, visit the Florida Manufactured Housing
Association’s website at www.fmha.org.
Does the homestead tax exemption
apply to manufactured homes?
Yes, but only if the person owns the property where the
manufactured home is located and actually lives in it.
Florida taxes mobile homes in at least three ways. For
complete information, visit www.myflorida.com, then
type the words “mobile home taxation” in the search
box for a direct link to a Florida Department of Revenue
document titled “Taxation of Mobile Homes in Florida.”
How do apartment rents in Florida
compare to those up north?
Depends on which markets you’re comparing. In Florida,
rents run the gamut from dirt cheap to “you’ve got
to be kidding”; monthly prices pretty much depend
on location, location, location. An apartment within
walking distance of a beach will be considerably higher
than one a few miles inland. And timing is everything.
Monthly rents tend to be lower in summer when
fewer people are looking; they also may be lower in
waterfront communities if you’re willing to sign a full
year’s lease as opposed to a short-term seasonal one.
Before signing any lease, know exactly what you’re
paying for. Does the monthly asking price cover rent
only, or does it also include water, cable, off-street
parking, garbage pickup, on-site laundry facilities,
etc.? And once you find an apartment you like, keep
in mind that you will probably be asked to submit an
“application for rental” along with a small fee before
you can even think about moving in; this nonrefundable
“deposit” typically covers the cost of a credit check.
Not as prevalent these days as they once were. Twenty
years ago, 1 of every 3 homes constructed in Florida
was a mobile home; today, the ratio is closer to 1 in
5. Most are clustered in gated communities — still
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CHAPTER 10
TAXES & REGULATION
What is most of Florida’s tax money used for?
Before answering this question, let’s first consider
how Florida’s annual budget comes about.
Florida’s legislature convenes for a 60-day session
each year beginning in March. Early in that session,
the governor presents a proposed budget to the full
Florida legislature, which includes a total budget
figure for the year broken down by allocations to
specific program areas based on what the governor
considers to be the state’s spending priorities for
that particular year. The two houses — Florida Senate
and Florida House of Representatives — then have
the remainder of the legislative session to review the
governor’s proposed budget, make their individual
recommendations for allocation of funds, reach a
consensus and craft a general appropriations bill
(the formal budget), which takes effect on July 1.
As a result of that process, Florida’s budget
for 2013-14 totals $74.2 billion.
Revenues to support this budget are derived from
three primary sources in the following proportions:
• 36.0%, from recurring general revenue sources,
which include: sales tax (73.7%), corporate
income tax (8.7%), highway safety fees (3.3%),
insurance premium tax (2.4%), documentary
stamp tax (2.0%), beverage taxes (1.4%) and other
miscellaneous state-imposed fees and taxes.
• 35.5%, from federal trust funds, consisting of federal
receipts earmarked for specific purposes, either by
general law, the Constitution or a trust agreement.
• 28.5%, from state trust funds earmarked for
specific purposes, including the Educational
Enhancement Trust Fund (Lottery), which is
described in our “Education” section, and the
Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund, made up of
money awarded to Florida from the settlement
of lawsuits against the tobacco industry.
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On the flip side are expenditures, the percentages
of Florida’s revenue that have been allocated
to specific programs areas, as follows:
• 41.9%, to human services
• 29.6%, to education
• 16.8%, to natural resources, the environment,
growth management and transportation
• 6.0%, to general government
• 5.2%, to criminal justice and corrections
• 0.6%, to Florida’s judicial branch
So, to answer your original question, most of
Florida’s tax money — nearly three-quarters
to be exact — is used to support two program
areas: human services and education.
What tax savings does Florida offer?
Florida citizens reap tax savings in three ways:
• No state income tax
• No sales tax on groceries or medicine
• A homestead tax exemption on owneroccupied primary residences
Do Floridians pay personal income tax?
No. Florida is one of only seven states with no
state income tax, and that’s not likely to change.
In Florida, individual income tax is prohibited by
the state constitution. Any decision to levy such
a tax would require amending the constitution,
which in turn would require a vote of the people.
Does Florida have an estate tax?
No, and Florida does not levy an inheritance
tax either. So no portion of what is willed to
an individual goes to the state of Florida.
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Does Florida have an intangibles tax?
No. Floridians used to pay taxes on intangible
goods such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money
market funds and other investments, but no more.
The law requiring this tax was repealed in 2007.
Does Florida have a sales tax?
Yes. Florida’s general sales tax rate is 6%, which
you will pay on every retail sale, admission charge,
storage, use or rental, as well as some services. A few
items, such as groceries and medicine, are exempt.
By law, counties are allowed to levy a discretionary
sales surtax of up to 2.5% on top of the 6% state
tax. In 2013, 55 of Florida’s 67 counties elected
to impose some type of discretionary surtax, but
none higher than 1.5%. In the nine counties with
discretionary sales surtax rates of 1.5%, a total sales
tax of 7.5% will be added to your purchases. For a
list of Florida sales tax rates by county, visit: www.
myflorida.com/dor and search for Form DR15DSS.
What is a use tax and does Florida have one?
The term “use tax” refers to a tax that is levied on
items purchased out of state from Internet sites, mail
order catalogs, auctions, shopping networks and
toll-free shopping services and on items purchased
during out-of-state travel when the merchandise is
shipped to a location in Florida. And, yes, Florida has
one, although many people probably don’t know it.
Here’s how Florida’s use tax works:
Suppose you have purchased an item out-of-state.
Whether the transaction is in-person, over the phone or
by Internet doesn’t matter. What does matter is whether
you paid sales tax on that item and, if so, how much.
The general sales tax rate in Florida is 6%. If the outof-state dealer you purchased from charged you a sales
tax of 6% or more, you don’t owe another penny. If,
however, the dealer charged a sales tax that was less
than 6%, you must make up the difference to equal 6%.
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Now here’s where things get sticky. Attempts in Florida
to “legislate” the use tax so that out-of-state merchants
(i.e., Internet sellers) would have to automatically add
6% sales tax to bills for goods delivered to their Floridabased customers have so far been unsuccessful. Thus
the responsibility for paying this tax is left entirely to
you, the consumer. Instructions for filing are available
online at www.myflorida.com/dor, along with the
necessary paperwork (Form DR-15MO). Note: If the tax
you owe is less than $1.00, you are not required to file.
I’m bringing a car into Florida from another
state. Do I have to pay use tax on it?
That depends on when you originally purchased the car.
Florida’s 6% use tax applies to and is levied on
motor vehicles brought into the state within six
months from date of purchase. If you reside in a
county that imposes a discretionary sales surtax,
that tax also will apply. However, Florida use tax
and discretionary sales surtax does not apply if a like
tax equal to or greater than 6% has been lawfully
imposed and paid to another state or to the District
of Columbia prior to bringing the car into Florida.
You also may be exempt from Florida’s use tax on your
vehicle if you can prove that it was used for 6 months
or more in another state or the District of Columbia
prior to arriving in Florida. The same is not true of
vehicles brought in from foreign countries. Florida does
not recognize taxes paid to another country. The full
amount of use tax (6%) and applicable discretionary
sales surtax is due on any motor vehicle imported
from a foreign country into Florida regardless of how
long it has been in use prior to entering the state.
For additional information about licensing vehicles
in Florida, see our “Transportation” section or
visit www.flhsmv.gov/dhsmv/newflres.html.
Who pays property taxes in Florida and
how are the tax rates determined?
If you own property in Florida, you will be required to
pay property tax. Properties are assessed annually by
the property appraiser in each county to establish the
property tax base and determine the just value of each
parcel of property as of January 1 of each year. Tax
rates, which may vary from county to county, are set by
locally elected officials based on the assessed value of
the property.
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Does Florida offer any exemptions
to property tax?
Yes. They include:
• Homestead exemption: up to $50,000 from the
assessed value of an owner-occupied primary
residence; it does not apply to rented, vacation or
seasonal residences.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about property taxes, including how
to calculate the amount of your tax, what payment
options are available and whether you qualify for
one or more of the exemptions described above,
call your county property appraiser’s office. A
list of property appraisers is available online at
www.myflorida.com/dor/property/appraisers.
• Widow(er) exemption: of $500 available to widows/
widowers who have not remarried; if you were
divorced at the time of your ex-spouse’s death, you
do not qualify.
Does Florida have a tax on mortgages?
• Senior citizen exemption: available in addition to
the homestead exemption only in certain cities and
counties; valued up to $50,000 for residents 65 years
and older with income restrictions.
Yes. It’s called a documentary stamp tax, and if you
purchase a home or business property, apply for a
mortgage or loan or purchase bonds in Florida, you
will be required to pay it.
• Total and permanent disability exemption:
available to homeowners who have a total and
permanent disability; quadriplegics who use
their property as a homestead are exempt from
all property taxes; others who use a wheelchair
for mobility or are legally blind and meet certain
income requirements also may be exempt from
property taxes.
The documentary stamp tax is levied on documents
that transfer interest in Florida real property such as
warranty deeds and quit claim deeds. It is typically
paid to the Clerk of the Court at the time the
document is recorded.
• Veteran’s exemptions: several are available
depending on age, extent of disability and date of
deployment. For specific details, visit the Florida
Department of Revenue website (www.myflorida.
com/dor) and click on the “Property” tab at the top
of the home page.
• Surviving spouses of first responders: a surviving
spouse of a first responder who died in the line
of duty may be granted a total exemption on
homestead property.
Can real estate taxes be appealed?
Yes. Each county has a 5-member value adjustment
board that rules on challenges to a property’s
assessment, classification or exemptions. The value
adjustment board operates independently of the
property appraiser and tax collector, and may reverse
or confirm decisions of the property appraiser.
Value adjustment boards cannot change property
tax rates, which are adopted by local governments.
Additional steps of appeal are available. For further
information, consult your local property appraiser.
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The documentary stamp tax is also levied on notes,
certain renewal notes, bonds and other written
obligations to pay money executed, signed or
delivered in Florida and mortgages and other liens
filed or recorded in Florida. In these cases, the tax
is typically paid to the Clerk of the Court if the
document is recorded, or remitted directly to the
Florida Department of Revenue if it is not.
Does Florida give any tax breaks
to business owners?
Yes indeed. Florida imposes no property tax on
inventories or goods-in-transit (up to 180 days) and
no sales/use tax on goods manufactured or produced
in Florida for export outside the state. Sales and use
tax exemptions are also in place for specific targeted
industries and circumstances. And in 2013, a bill was
signed into law eliminating sales tax on the purchase
of new manufacturing equipment for three years.
Does Florida have a corporate income tax?
Yes. Corporations and artificial entities that conduct
business or earn or receive income in Florida,
including out-of-state corporations, are subject to
corporate income tax and they must file a Florida
corporate income tax return, even if no tax is due.
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Special rules apply to the following:
• Limited liability companies (LLCs) classified
as corporations for federal tax purposes: must
file a Florida corporate income tax return.
• Limited liability companies (LLCs) classified
as partnerships for federal tax purposes: must
file a Florida Partnership Information Return
(Form F-1065) if they are doing business in
Florida and one or more of their owners are
corporations. In addition, the corporate owner
must file a Florida corporate income tax return.
• S-corporations operating in Florida: usually do
not have to file a Florida corporate income tax
return unless there is federal taxable income.
The Florida corporate tax rate is 5.5%.
For additional information about who must file,
when and how, visit www.myflorida.com/dor/
taxes/ and click on “corporate income.”
My business is based in another state,
but I have an office in Florida. Do I
need to pay taxes in Florida?
Most likely, yes. Out-of-state businesses with activities
that create a business connection (also called “nexus”)
in Florida may be required to register or file tax
in Florida. Examples of such activities include:
• Have employees, agents or independent
contractors conducting sales or other
business activities in Florida;
• Maintain an office or other place
of business in Florida;
• Assemble, install, service or
repair products in Florida;
• Own, rent or lease real property or
tangible personal property in Florida;
• Deliver goods to Florida customers using
a company-owned or –leased truck.
For additional information about nexus and to
register online for any applicable tax, visit http://
dor.myflorida.com/dor/businesses/outstate.html.
Does Florida have a tangibles tax?
Yes. Businesses that own tangible personal property
(equipment, furniture, computers, etc.) used for
commercial purposes that is not included in the
assessed value of the real property must pay an annual
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county tax. Business inventory is not taxed. The tax
is paid to the county property appraiser on Form DR405 available online at www.myflorida.com/dor.
Does Florida have an unemployment tax?
Yes, only in Florida, where we like to think
positive, the name has been changed from “Florida
Unemployment Tax” to “Reemployment Assistance
Program.” Its purpose, however, remains the same:
to provide partial, temporary income to workers
who lose their jobs through no fault of their own,
and who are able and available for work.
Florida employers are required to report wages and
pay taxes to the Reemployment Assistance Program if
they paid $1,500 in wages within a calendar quarter,
have employed one person for any portion of a day
in 20 different weeks during the calendar year or are
liable for federal income tax. For information, visit www.
myflorida.com/dor/taxes and click on “reemployment.”
Are there any other taxes I should know about?
In certain counties or circumstances, Florida residents
may be required to pay other taxes and fees, such
as: convention development tax, local option tourist
tax, fuel taxes, communications services tax, gross
receipts tax, lead-acid battery fee, new tire fee, motor
vehicle fee (Lemon Law) or rental car surcharge.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Florida Department of Revenue is the state
agency charged with administering and collecting
taxes, fees and child support in Florida. For tax
information and assistance, call 800-352-3671.
For answers to your questions about child support,
call 800-622-5437. But be prepared to wait — the
DOR responds daily through its toll-free help lines
to approximately 3,000 taxpayers and 5,000
child support customers. It might be quicker to
find answers online at www.myflorida.com/dor.
FUN FACT
The Florida Department of Revenue is a busy
place. In a single year, this agency collects more
than $30 billion in taxes and fees; processes
more than 9 million tax filings; and collects and
distributes more than $1.4 billion in child support
payments. Phew — that’s a lot of paperwork!
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CHAPTER 11
TRANSPORTATION
How many commercial airports
are there in Florida?
19. Together, they offer direct flights to most major
U.S., Canadian and European cities and all key Latin
American and Caribbean destinations, plus one-stop air
services to the Asia/Pacific region. No wonder more
than half of all visitors to Florida arrive by air. And
here’s another interesting aviation fact: Florida airports
offer more direct flights to Latin America and Caribbean
destinations than all other U.S. airports combined.
Which is Florida’s busiest airport?
Miami International, which served
38,314,389 passengers in 2012.
Rounding out the top 5 busiest Florida airports
in order of passengers served are:
No. 2: Orlando International, 35,288,887 passengers
No. 3: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
International, 23,569,103 passengers
No. 4: Tampa International, 16,820,859 passengers
No. 5: Southwest Florida International
(Fort Myers), 7,350,168 passengers
FUN FACT
Fearless flyer Tony Jannus made history on
January 1, 1914, when he piloted the world’s first
scheduled passenger flight from St. Petersburg’s
downtown yacht basin to Tampa just across the
bay. Sadly, the young aviator died two years
later when a plane he was using to train Russian
pilots near Sevastopol experienced engine
problems and crashed into the Black Sea.
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Can I get to Florida by train?
Absolutely. Florida has a long history of welcoming
visitors and new residents arriving by train and that
tradition continues today, albeit on a much smaller scale.
If you read our “History” section, you may recall that two
Henrys — Plant and Flagler — shared a determination
to bring people and goods to this peninsula using
railroads as the vehicle. Separately, they laid tracks
down either side of the state — Plant on the west coast,
Flagler on the east — then added luxurious hotels and
amenities to attract their wealthy northern friends. In
the process, they created a multimodal transportation
system, some remnants of which remain in use today.
Amtrak’s Silver Meteor and Silver Star connect New York
City and Miami daily with dozens of stops in between,
including several along Florida’s east coast and links to
buses serving west coast destinations like Tampa/St.
Pete, Sarasota and Fort Myers. If you’d like to bring your
car to Florida, but would rather not make the arduous
trek down the east coast along I-95, opt for the Auto
Train, which travels daily between Lorton, Virginia,
about 25 miles south of Washington DC, and Sanford,
Florida (just outside Orlando). The 855-mile journey
takes approximately 17-1/2 hours, during which you
can kick back with a couple of cocktails and a tasty
meal, a good book, some conversation and a long nap.
FUN FACT
In one regard, Henry Flagler’s legacy lives on.
Florida East Coast Industries, an outgrowth of
his original Florida East Coast Railway, is gearing
up to provide passenger rail service between
Orlando and Miami, beginning in 2015. Dubbed
“All Aboard Florida,” the new route will incorporate
existing tracks between Miami and the Space
Coast and add new tracks in central Florida.
Stations are planned for downtown Miami, Fort
Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.
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Do any Florida cities have subway systems?
How do I get my first Florida driver’s license?
No. Our water table is too high for underground
mass transit. However, a few urban counties are
exploring the concept of light rail and discussing
how to pay for it. One idea: increase local sales
tax by a penny to cover the cost of constructing
a light rail system. Pinellas County voters will
have their say on just such a proposal in 2014.
Head for the nearest Florida DMV office (that’s
short for Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles) within 30 days of becoming
a Florida resident to fill out the necessary
paperwork and have your picture taken.
Meanwhile, a commuter rail system is under
construction in east central Florida. When completed,
the 61.5-mile SunRail commuter rail line will
connect Orlando/Orange County with neighboring
Volusia, Seminole and Osceola counties. The first
leg, linking Volusia County to downtown Orlando,
is expected to begin service in May 2014.
• You enroll your child in public school;
Now I’m confused. What’s the difference
between light rail and commuter rail?
Light rail, so-named because of its lighter frame and
smaller body than a traditional train, is essentially
the modern name for what we used to call streetcars.
Powered by overhead electrical wires, light rail cars
operate along narrow, crowded city streets on specially
designed tracks. Their lighter size and smaller turning
radius make these vehicles ideal for the tight spaces and
frequent stops needed to negotiate an urban corridor.
Commuter rail, on the other hand, is an ordinary
passenger train that is typically used to carry
commuters between city center and surrounding
“bedroom” communities. Operated by diesel fuel or
electricity, commuter trains travel in existing rail
corridors along freight and/or passenger rail lines
and are sometimes referred to as “regional rail.”
So if Florida cities don’t yet have mass transit
systems, how do most people get around?
By automobile. With so many wide open spaces, a
12,085-mile state highway system and 110,000 miles
of other public roads, plus Interstates 4, 10, 75, and
95 and Florida’s Turnpike, public transportation
is just not a priority here; we’re pretty much still
“married” to our cars. Bus service is available, though
spotty, in most urban areas and even between
cities, like St. Petersburg and Tampa, where some
workers commute across the bay on a daily basis.
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You are considered a resident if:
• Register to vote;
• File for a homestead exemption;
• Accept employment in Florida; or
• Reside here for more than six consecutive months.
Filing a Declaration of Domicile with the county clerk
is considered absolute proof of residency, but it is not
necessary in this case. Any of the other options listed
above will suffice. (See our “Legal Matters” section
for more information on declaration of residency.)
All applicants for a first-time Florida driver’s
license must present the following items:
• Primary identification, such as a U.S. birth certificate
(original or certified copy), valid U.S. passport,
alien registration card, employment authorization
card or proof of non-immigrant classification;
• Proof of a Social Security number; and
• Two documents showing your residential address.
Lack of correct identification is the most common
reason people fail to get their Florida driver’s
licenses on the first try, so to avoid a return trip
to the DMV, know exactly what you need to take.
Visit www.GatherGoGet.com to create your own
personalized checklist.
Will I have to take a driving test?
Probably not. The law says that first-time applicants
for Class E licenses (for non-commercial vehicles such
as passenger cars) must take the following tests:
vision, hearing, road signs, Class E road rules and
driving (actual road test). However, in most cases,
if you have a valid out-of-state license, you will be
able to simply convert it to a Florida driver’s license
without having to take a written or road test; consult
the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles website (www.flhsmv.gov) for specifics.
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NOT-SO-FUN FACT
There are approximately 14 million licensed drivers
in Florida, and every year, the Florida DMV issues
more than 800,000 licenses to existing residents,
plus licenses for new residents who arrive in Florida
at the rate of approximately 600 per day. That’s
a lot of licenses, which means that DMV offices
are always busy. First-time applicants can’t avoid
a visit to the DMV, but you can make the ordeal a
little less painful by following these two steps:
•Visit www.flhsmv.gov/offices/ to find the nearest
DMV office in your county of residence, then
• Make an appointment at https://services.
flhsmv.gov/Oasis/OnlineAppointments.aspx
How old do you have to be to get
a Florida driver’s license?
That depends. The minimum age for a full Class E
license in Florida is 16. Teens applying for their first full
operator’s licenses must hold a learner’s license (Class
E-Learner) for at least 12 months prior to making their
application; the minimum age for a learner’s license in
Florida is 15. In between, there’s an intermediate license,
which teens may apply for at age 16; it comes with
some restrictions on driving hours and passengers.
For a complete explanation of Florida’s
“Graduated Driver Licensing” program for teens,
visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/teendriv.html.
How much does a driver’s license
cost, and how long does it last?
A Class E license (original or renewal) costs $48. A
replacement costs $25. If you are under the age of 80, your
driver’s license will be good for 8 years. Drivers age 80 and
above must renew their driver’s licenses every 6 years.
How do I renew my driver’s license?
Compared to getting your first Florida driver’s
license, renewals are a piece of cake.
Most can be renewed by mail or online, and there
are no additional fees to do so, unless you fail to
renew by the expiration date, in which case you
will pay a $15 late fee. Typically, you will receive a
mail-in packet approximately 30 days prior to the
date of your license expiration (your birthdate).
To renew online, simply visit www.GoRenew.com and
follow the instructions. Be sure to renew ahead of the
license expiration date; if your application is received
after that, you will be required to pay the late fee.
All drivers who are 80 years of age or older, must pass
a vision test in order to renew their licenses. The test
may be administered at the DMV office at no additional
charge or by a Florida licensed health care practitioner
in which case a vision examination report must be
completed and submitted to the DMV. To avoid a trip
to the DMV office, ask your health care practitioner
to file the form electronically at www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/
vision.html, then renew your license online or by mail.
NOT-SO-FUN FACT
Beware of driver’s license renewal scams! Word
has reached us about web addresses that pop
up when you search online for “Florida Driver’s
License Renewal.” They look legit, but they’re
not. And although most contain a disclaimer,
it’s often in tiny print or buried at the bottom
of the page. These sites will gladly accept your
information — some even offer to “assist” you in
completing your renewal application for a fee
— but you’ll never receive your license through
one of them. The only correct site to renew a
Florida driver’s license is www.GoRenew.com.
Yikes! My wallet was stolen and my driver’s
license is gone. What do I do now?
If your driver’s license is lost or stolen, apply for a
replacement immediately. The replacement fee ($25)
will be waived if you provide a copy of the police
report and there are no changes to the card. Primary
ID, proof of Social Security number and two proofs
of residential address are required if you have not
been issued a Florida driver’s license or identification
card in a DMV field office since January 1, 2010.
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Can a driver’s license be revoked?
Yes. It can also be suspended and even cancelled.
Driving in Florida is considered a privilege, so if do
not follow the rules for obtaining and using your
Florida driver’s license as clearly spelled out in the
“Florida Driver’s Handbook,” it may be taken away
from you temporarily or, in extreme cases, for good.
Once your license is taken, getting it back will be
costly — $75 if it has been revoked, $45 if it has been
suspended. And if the reason your license was taken
away involves alcohol or a drug-related offense, you will
have to pay another $130 on top of the original fee.
How do I get a Florida license plate?
Head for the nearest tax collector’s office. Applications
for title, license plates and registration may be
made at any tax collector’s office in Florida, and
you may apply for all three at the same time.
If you are moving into Florida from another state,
you will need to show proof of ownership (title) and
provide VIN verification to obtain your first Florida
plate; you also must show proof of insurance. Later
on, if you buy a vehicle from a dealer in Florida,
the dealer is required to apply for a certificate of
title, certificate of registration and license plate on
your behalf. If you buy a vehicle from an individual,
you must obtain the title from the individual and
apply for a certificate of title in your name.
If all of your paperwork is in order and you’ve paid the
requisite fee, you’ll receive your license plate, vehicle
registration certificate and validation decal on the spot.
Note: Your vehicle must always carry a current license
plate and you must always carry your vehicle’s
registration and proof of insurance when driving.
Do I have to pay sales tax on my car
before I can get a license plate?
Probably not, unless you purchased the car less than
6 months ago in another state and paid no sales tax
there. If you can prove that you have either driven
the car for more than 6 months prior to arriving in
Florida or paid a like tax equal to or greater than
6%, you will not have to pay Florida sales tax.
For a more complete discussion of this topic, see
our “Taxes & Regulations” section or visit http://
www.flhsmv.gov/dhsmv/newflres.html.
Does my car have to be inspected
before I can get a plate?
No. Florida’s mandatory automobile inspection
requirement was terminated in 1981. It’s a good idea,
however, to periodically check your tires, brakes and
brake lights, directional signals, steering, windshield
wipers, horn and mirrors for your own safety and
the safety of others on the road. Keep in mind, too,
that you may be stopped at any time in Florida by
a law enforcement officer for a vehicle inspection.
How much does a license plate cost in Florida?
The cost of your plate will depend on the type
and weight of your vehicle; personalized and
specialty plates are available for additional charges.
For a complete list of motor vehicle registration
fees, visit www.flhsmv.gov/DHSMVfees.htm.
Does Florida issue specialty or
personalized license plates?
Yes. Florida issued its first specialty plate in 1986 to
honor the astronauts who perished in the Challenger
space shuttle explosion. Today, with close to 120 designs
representing everything from professional sports teams
and NASCAR to “End Breast Cancer” and “Trees Are
Cool,” specialty license plates are big business in Florida.
More than 1.3 million specialty plates are registered
to cars in Florida, which amounts to about 10%
of all plates registered in the state. The top six
bestsellers include two that support colleges —
University of Florida and Florida State University
— and four protecting Florida wildlife — sea
turtles, wild dolphins, panthers and manatees.
Fees for each specialty plate vary and are in addition
to the regular fee for a standard Florida plate; the
extra money is earmarked to support the cause.
How often do I need to renew my license plate?
Once a year or every other year, depending on
which option you choose next time you renew.
License plates expire on the birthday of the
first owner listed on the registration form. You
have until the 11th calendar day of the month
succeeding the birth month before you are
considered delinquent and subject to a late fee.
You may renew by mail or online at www.GoRenew.com.
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What about car insurance?
Do I have to have it?
I twisted my ankle and I’m having a hard time
walking. Can I park in a handicapped spot?
Yes. The state of Florida requires that every vehicle
with four or more wheels (including taxis and
limousines) maintain a specified minimum of insurance
coverage. You must have proof of this coverage when
you register your vehicle in Florida,. The minimum
requirement under what is referred to as Florida’s
No-Fault Law is $10,000 of personal injury protection
(PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL).
Not unless you have been issued an official placard
from the Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles or a special license plate.
You cannot buy a license plate and registration
for your car without having this insurance. And
once you have this insurance, anytime you renew
it, fail to renew it, cancel it or it is canceled by the
insurer, the insurance company must notify the
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles. In turn, the DMV will ask you to provide
proof of new coverage. If you fail to provide proof of
insurance, your driver’s license and license plate(s)
will be suspended for up to three years and you will
have to pay significant fees to get them back.
A second Florida law related to car insurance — the
Financial Responsibility Law — requires owners
and operators of motor vehicles to be financially
responsible for damages and/or injuries they may
cause to others when a motor vehicle crash occurs.
If you are involved in a crash or convicted of certain
offenses and do not have bodily injury liability (BIL)
insurance coverage, your driver’s license and/or license
plates will be suspended. You do not need to show
proof of BIL insurance in order to obtain a Florida
license plate; however, to protect yourself and others,
it’s wise to have liability insurance on any motor
vehicle you own or drive, including motorcycles.
Florida Trend
To qualify for a placard, you must submit an “Application
for Disabled Parking Permit” (Form HSMV 83039,
available online at http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/
forms/btr/83039.pdf), describing your disability and
signed by a physician to your local tax collector’s
office in person or by mail, along with your Florida
driver’s license or Florida identification card. There
is no charge for a four-year disabled parking placard,
and once you are approved for one, you will receive an
automatic renewal notice for your next one prior to the
expiration date. Temporary permits are issued for up
to 6 months at a cost of $15; they cannot be renewed.
As soon as you have your disabled parking placard
in hand, you may apply for a disabled license plate
— featuring the universally familiar “wheelchair”
symbol — at your local tax collector’s office.
You will need to surrender your current Florida
license plate in exchange for the new one.
If you’re a disabled driver visiting from another
state, don’t hesitate to use Florida’s “handicapped”
parking spots. Disabled plates and placards
from any state receive special parking privileges
here. And the reverse is true for Florida drivers
visiting other states with their special tags.
NOT-SO-FUN FACT
The disabled placard entitles an individual, not
the vehicle, to special parking privileges, so, if
you have one, don’t even think about loaning
it to family or friends. Anyone who obtains or
uses a permit that does not belong to them
could be fined $1,000 or spend up to 6 months
in jail. And running an errand for a disabled
person is no excuse to use the placard. If the
person who qualified for the permit because of a
disability is not present, the fine is still $1,000.
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What are the laws pertaining to
drinking and driving in Florida?
Under Florida law, driving under the influence (DUI)
is one offense, proved by impairment of normal
faculties or by an unlawful breath or blood alcohol
of .08 or above. The penalties upon conviction are
the same, regardless of the manner in which the
offense is proven. However, details such as the
amount of the fine and length of prison term do vary
depending on circumstances too numerous to describe
in this limited space. One thing all DUI convictions
have in common, however, is this: they remain on
your driving record for 75 years. For more detailed
information about Florida’s DUI laws and related
penalties, visit www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/duilaws.html.
Some additional factors related to DUI offenses to
consider include:
Does Florida have a seat belt law?
Yes. Florida’s seat belt law requires drivers and front
seat passengers to fasten their safety belts. Failure to do
so is considered a primary offense, which means officers
may stop a motorist simply for not wearing a seat belt.
This law, which took effect in 2009, applies to all
passenger cars manufactured beginning with the 1968
model year, and trucks beginning with the 1972 model
year. In addition, every passenger under the age of
18 must be is restrained by a safety belt or by a child
restraint device, regardless of seating position. A seat
belt violation will be charged to the driver when a
person under 18 is not restrained by a safety belt or
child restraint device. If the passenger is 18 years of age
or older and fails to wear a seat belt when required by
law, the passenger will be charged with the violation.
• Zero Tolerance
Does Florida have a child restraint law?
Yes. Florida requires every driver to properly secure
children 5 years of age or younger in child restraint
devices when they are riding in a passenger car,
van or pick-up truck, regardless of whether the
vehicle is registered in Florida. Infant carriers or
children’s car seats must be used for children up to
3 years of age and younger. Children ages 4-5 may
be secured using a separate carrier, integrated child
seat or seat belt. All infant carriers and car seats
must be crash-tested and approved by the federal
government. Regardless of age, children should be
secured in the rear seat, never in the front passenger
seat, especially if the vehicle has an air bag.
In Florida, any driver under the age of 21 who
is stopped by law enforcement and has a breath
or blood alcohol level of .02 or higher will
automatically lose his or her driving privileges
for 6 months. Any driver under age 21 with a
breath or blood alcohol level of .05 or higher will
be required to attend a substance abuse course.
An evaluation will be completed and parents or
legal guardians will be notified of the results for
all drivers under the age of 19. Any driver with
a breath or blood alcohol level of .08 or higher,
regardless of age, can be convicted of DUI.
• Implied Consent
By signing your driver’s license in Florida, you
have automatically agreed to take a blood test,
urine test or breath test if an officer thinks that
you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
while driving. If you refuse to take any of these
tests when asked, your license will automatically
be suspended for one year. A second refusal
is considered a second-degree misdemeanor
and will result in an 18-month suspension.
In DUI cases involving death or serious injury, you
will be required to take the blood test without
your consent. The blood must be drawn by a
doctor, nurse or other health professional. If you
are unconscious and cannot refuse the blood test,
blood may be drawn without your knowledge, and
the results of the test may be used as evidence,
even if you object after regaining consciousness.
Florida Trend
What is the speed limit in Florida?
That depends on the type of road and the surrounding
neighborhood. Florida “standard” speed limits are:
20 mph in school zones (15 mph when children are
present); 30 mph in business or residential areas; 70
mph on rural interstate or limited access highways.
Don’t assume, however, that simply because a road is
in a residential area or appears to be a rural interstate
that the Florida standard speed limit applies. Watch for
posted speed signs and know that the speed limits may
change from one area to another along the same road.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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NOT-SO-FUN FACT
Driving too slow in Florida can get you a ticket.
As a general rule, drive with the flow of traffic
(within the speed limit, of course) and do not
drive so slowly that you block other vehicles
moving at normal safe speeds. If you feel you
must drive slowly, keep right so others may
pass. How slow is too slow? Any speed below 50
mph, when the posted speed limit is 70 mph.
Who has the right-of-way in Florida?
Technically, no one. The law only says who must
yield (give up) the right-of-way. Rule of thumb:
Every driver, motorcyclist, moped rider, bicyclist
and pedestrian must do everything possible
to avoid a crash with anyone or anything.
Is there a law in Florida against
texting while driving?
Yes, and it just took effect on October 1, 2013. The
new law prohibits texting only while the car is in
motion; drivers may text while stopped at a red light.
Florida’s texting ban covers tablet computers as well as
mobile phones, but exempts drivers using talk-to-text
technology. One other thing to note: texting behind the
wheel in Florida is considered a secondary offense. In
other words, an officer has to spot another violation,
such as weaving or speeding, in order to stop a driver
for typing or reading text/email messages while the
car is in motion. The driver will then get two tickets
— one for the primary offense, the other for texting.
First-time violators of the new texting law are fined
$30; a subsequent violation within five years adds three
points to the driver’s license and carries a $60 fine.
One interesting fact to note: While motorists cannot be
stopped simply for texting while driving in Florida, truck
drivers can. A highway safety bill signed into law on
July 1, 2013, brings Florida into compliance with federal
regulations that ban truckers and other commercial
vehicle operators like bus drivers from either texting
while driving or talking on their cell phones, unless
they are using a wireless device such as a Bluetooth. In
addition to making texting behind the wheel a primary
offense for truckers, the new law imposes hefty fines
on both the drivers and the companies they represent.
Florida Trend
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Everything you need to know about driving in
Florida, including rules of the road, where to obtain
a driver’s license, how to report an accident and
laws related to the operation of motor vehicles,
is contained in the “Florida Driver’s Handbook,”
available online at www.flhsmv.gov/handbooks/.
How come some Florida toll roads have
toll booths but no toll collectors?
Because Florida is, little by little, moving to the
fully automated SunPass toll road system.
Florida drivers who are frequent toll road users carry
SunPass “transponders” which communicate via radio
frequency with toll plaza readers. As the car passes
through SunPass-equipped lanes, toll charges are
automatically deducted from a prepaid toll account.
And did we mention that SunPass customers typically
pay less than cash customers at most toll plazas and
Turnpike exits? Or that thanks to a federal mandate
requiring the nation’s toll roads to allow drivers to use
one transponder on any toll road, Florida’s SunPass will
soon work in other states? For information on where
to purchase a transponder and how to set up your
own prepaid toll account, visit www.sunpass.com.
If you don’t yet have or want a transponder and a
prepaid SunPass account, you can still travel Florida’s
toll road systems, at least for now. On stretches of road
that are labeled “SunPass only,” cameras will take a
photo of your license plate as your car goes through
the toll lane and you will receive a bill by mail.
Florida visitors with rental cars can be SunPass
drivers too. Most rental car companies offer their
customers the option of including tolls with the credit
card they use to rent the vehicle. If you choose this
option, you can breeze through the SunPass ONLY
lanes throughout Florida without stopping to pay;
the camera records your plate and sends the rental
car company a bill for the toll which is automatically
collected from your credit card. How cool is that?
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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How safe are the bridges in Florida?
Does Florida have any deep-water seaports?
Among the safest in the nation, says the Associated
Press, which released its study of federal records
on the nation’s highway bridges in September 2013.
According to the AP report, of the 6,661 bridges
maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation
and another 2,496 it inspected in 2012, only 17 were
found to have structural deficiencies; just two of
those were listed as fracture critical. For purposes of
comparison, consider that there are 65,605 structurally
deficient highway bridges nationwide of which 20,808
are fracture critical. Why are Florida’s bridges so
much safer? Warm weather, durable construction
and regular maintenance, say FLDOT officials.
Yes, 15 of them to be exact and at least one is
within 90 miles of every Florida business. Cargorelated activity at Florida seaports generates more
than 550,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributes
$566 billion in economic activity to the state. Cruise
industry activities generate another 126,000 jobs
and $5.2 billion in wages for Florida workers.
FUN FACT
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which spans Tampa
Bay a towering 190 feet above the water on I-275
between St. Petersburg and Bradenton, is not
only a marvel of engineering, it ranks No. 3 on
the Travel Channel’s list of the “World’s Top 10
Bridges.” Constructed at a cost of $244 million,
the structure is a continuous pre-stressed concrete
cable-stayed bridge, instantly recognizable by its
unique bright yellow support cables which spread
from the two center pillars. The piers of the main
span and the approaches for one-quarter mile
are surrounded by large concrete barriers called
“dolphins” that are designed to protect the piers
from collisions with ships — an excellent feature
considering that the previous Sunshine Skyway
Bridge, constructed in 1954, collapsed after
it was struck by an outbound freighter on the
morning of May 9, 1980, sending a Greyhound
bus, six cars and one pickup truck over the edge;
35 people lost their lives in the accident. Today’s
Skyway Bridge offers a main span that is 50%
wider than the old one and unobstructed views of
the water during the entire 4.1-mile trip across.
Florida Trend
Which of Florida’s ports are busiest?
That depends on how you define busiest. In terms
of cruise passengers, PortMiami, which logged more
than 4 million cruise passengers in 2012, is the
busiest. In terms of cargo tonnage, top honors go to
the Port of Tampa, which handled 34.3 million tons
of cargo in 2012 and, coincidentally is also Florida’s
largest port by acreage. The Port of Jacksonville
handled just 8.2 million tons of cargo in 2012, but
that included more than 608,000 vehicles, making
Jaxport the nation’s No. 1 port for vehicle exports.
To learn more fun facts about seaports in Florida,
visit www.flaports.org.
FLORIDA FUN FACTS
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CHAPTER 12
LEGAL MATTERS
What constitutes a declaration
of residence in Florida?
Filing for a homestead exemption or registering to vote
are widely accepted as ways to establish residency in
Florida, but filing a “Declaration of Domicile” makes
it official. Other actions required of new Florida
residents, such as obtaining a driver’s license or
registering an automobile within a particular timeframe,
only indicate the intent to establish residency; the
Declaration of Domicile, which is a sworn statement
of permanent residency, is proof of that intention.
Declaration of Domicile forms must be filed in person
with the clerk of the court in the county where you
have chosen to reside. Be sure to bring a valid form of
identification, such as a driver’s license or Florida-issued
ID card, along with your previous address and present
address. If you are not an American citizen, you will
also need to bring proof of your permanent alien status
issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Am I required to have a will in Florida?
No, but if you have property or personal belongings
that you care about and that you would like someone
in particular to have after you die, it’s a good idea. In
Florida, you may will your assets to whomever you
choose, but to avoid any questions of validity after
your death, your last will and testament should be in
writing and signed in the presence of two witnesses.
Can I prepare my own will?
Sure, but you may want to at least run it by an
attorney who knows the ins and outs of estate
planning. Holographic (handwritten) wills are not
valid in Florida unless they are properly signed
and witnessed; oral wills are not valid at all.
Florida Trend
Is a will made in another state good in Florida?
Maybe, maybe not; it depends on individual
circumstances. In most cases, if the will is in writing
and valid in the state where it was prepared, it will
be deemed valid in Florida, even though it may
not meet Florida requirements. But do you really
want to take the chance? If you are moving into
Florida with a will from another state, it would be
wise to seek counsel from a Florida attorney.
What happens if a person dies without a will?
If you die intestate (without a will) in Florida, your
estate will automatically pass to your heirs — entirely
to your spouse if there are no surviving descendants
or if surviving descendants are the children of both
you and your surviving spouse. If either you or
your surviving spouse has children from another
relationship, then your spouse takes half of the estate
and the other half goes to the children you share.
Beyond that, things get a lot more complicated.
If there is no will and no entitled survivors, the
disposition of assets is quite simple: your property
automatically reverts to the state of Florida.
We want to get married in Florida. Now what?
All couples wishing to be married in Florida —
whether residents of the state or not — must apply
for a marriage license from a Clerk of the Circuit
Court. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older;
however, a license may be issued to persons 16 or
17 years of age in certain circumstances such as: the
written (and notarized) consent of both parents or
legal guardian; parents are deceased; the minor has
been previously married; or the applicants can prove
they are parents or expectant parents. No blood
test or physical exam is required to be married in
Florida, and couples may apply for their license at
any clerk’s office throughout the state, regardless of
where they reside or intend to be married in Florida.
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What is needed to obtain a marriage license?
The application for the license is available online and
may be completed at home; however, both parties
must apply for the actual license together, in person.
If the couple has children together that were born
in Florida, an Affirmation of Children Born in Florida
form also must be filed at the time of application.
Each party must show valid identification — a driver’s
license, state identification card, passport or military ID
— and Social Security number. The ending date of any
previous marriage(s) must be noted on the application.
In addition, Florida law requires couples to read the
Family Law Handbook (prepared by The Florida Bar
and available at the county clerk’s office or online
at http://www.flclerks.com/PDF/2000_2001_pdfs/799_VERSION_Family_Law_Handbook.pdf) and sign
a statement acknowledging that they have done
so prior to applying for their marriage license.
How much does a Florida marriage license
cost and how soon do I receive it?
Currently, the fee for obtaining a marriage license
in Florida is $93.50; however, Florida residents may
reduce it to $61.00 if the couple provides proof of
having participated in a premarital preparation
course. A list of qualified course providers is
available from any circuit court clerk office.
Typically, marriage licenses are issued at the time
of application. Florida couples that do not provide
proof of having completed a premarital preparation
course are required to wait three days for their
license. There is no waiting period for non-residents.
How soon can we get married
after receiving our license?
Immediately. If all necessary paperwork is in order
and pre-arrangements have been made, the Clerk of
the Court or his/her deputized employees will marry
you on the spot for an additional charge of $30.
Otherwise, you have up to 60 days from the date of
issuance before your license is declared invalid.
A certified copy of the marriage license is
automatically mailed to the couple within 10 days
after the officiator returns it to the Clerk of the
Court for recording. There is no charge for this copy;
additional copies are available for a slight fee.
A marriage license issued in Florida can only
be used for marriages performed in Florida.
Does the bride have to change her name?
There’s no law on the books in Florida that says a bride
must change her name. However, if she decides to
do so, the following agencies must be notified: Florida
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
Division of Driver Licenses; local Social Security office;
County Supervisor of Elections (voter registration); and
military reserve commanding officer, if applicable. Most
changes need to be made in person, and be sure to
bring along a certified copy of the marriage license.
FUN FACT
Couples may use their Florida marriage license
for a shipboard wedding, as long as the captain
is a notary and the ship is in Florida waters
(within 3 geographic miles from the coastline) at
the time of the ceremony. For weddings aboard
ships sailing from Florida ports into international
waters, check with the cruise line for exact rules.
What are considered grounds
for divorce in Florida?
The official term for divorce in Florida is “dissolution
of marriage,” and there are only two grounds for it:
either the marriage is irretrievably broken or at least
one party suffers from a medically certifiable mental
incapacity. Either party may file for the divorce,
which in Florida, is strictly the “no-fault” kind —
neither spouse needs to show that the other bears
any responsibility for the collapse of the marriage,
nor is it even necessary to prove that the marriage
is broken; simply saying that it is, makes it so.
Those authorized to perform marriage ceremonies
(called “officiators”) in Florida include ordained clergy,
elders in communion with a church, all Florida judges
and Notaries Public of the State of Florida. In all
cases, a properly issued license is required before
the ceremony may commence, and the officiator is
responsible for returning the completed marriage
license to the Clerk of the Court for official recording.
Florida Trend
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How long does it take to get
a divorce in Florida?
Are there any special laws in Florida that
new residents need to be aware of?
Divorces in Florida have the potential for being
quick. A divorce here can be wrapped up in as
little as 20 days if at least one of the spouses has
lived in Florida for 6 months, there are no minor or
dependent children involved, the wife is not pregnant,
neither party is seeking alimony and both spouses
agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken. In
such cases, it may not be necessary for the spouses
to appear in court or, for that matter, to even hire
attorneys. However, if the divorce is contested and
the parties cannot reach agreement on property
distribution, parental responsibilities and other postdivorce arrangements, they have the right to crossexamine one another in court and to introduce
financial and other personal documents as evidence
to support their contentions. In such cases, the
proceedings can drag on for months or even years.
Three come immediately to mind:
How are marital assets/liabilities
divided in a divorce?
Florida statutes provide for “equitable distribution”
of marital assets and liabilities, which sounds simple,
but is rarely so cut and dried. Generally, any asset or
liability acquired during the marriage is considered
“marital” and subject to equitable distribution which
is based on a long list of factors. Once property is
divided, there also may be alimony to consider as
well as determination of parental responsibility, and
while fault is not grounds for divorce in Florida, it may
enter into the equation in resolving these matters.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
What seems a simple process can end up
becoming quite complicated as two people
who are already at odds try negotiate their
way through difficult legal language and
often complicated judicial procedures. The
Florida Bar Association recognizes this
dilemma and offers a series of consumer
pamphlets on many legal issues, including
divorce, as well as an easy-to-access Lawyer
Referral Service. Visit www.floridabar.org/
consumerpamphlets for more information.
Florida Trend
• Florida Litter Law: Toss a candy wrapper on
the ground and walk away, you’ve just broken
this law. Littering is considered a noncriminal
offense in Florida, but if you’re caught, you will
be fined $100 and you could also be required to
pick up litter or perform some other community
service. Litter is defined as any garbage, rubbish,
refuse or trash, including cans, bottles, boxes,
containers and paper and tobacco products.
• Florida Open Container Law: Florida law
prohibits the possession of open containers of
alcoholic beverages in vehicles by drivers or their
passengers, regardless of whether the vehicle is
in operation, parked or stopped at the side of the
road. Exceptions may apply to passengers in limos
and party buses, or in motor homes more than 21
feet long. If you absolutely must carry an open
container of liquor home from a party, lock it in your
trunk. Be aware, too, that many municipalities have
laws in place that prohibit persons from carrying
open containers while walking along city streets.
• Florida Move Over Law: Enacted to protect first
responders, this law requires drivers to slow down
and “move over” to the next lane when approaching
the scene of an accident or a vehicle breakdown to
avoid hitting law enforcement officers, emergency
workers and/or tow truck drivers who are simply
trying to do their jobs. Violating the Move Over
Law can result in fines and points on your license.
For additional laws related to the operation of motor
vehicles, such as seat belts and child restraints, driving
under the influence and texting while driving, see the
“Transportation” section.
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How is the court system structured in Florida?
Unless you run afoul of the law, find it necessary
to adjudicate a family situation (i.e., divorce,
child custody, adoption, etc.) or are called for jury
duty, you probably won’t ever see the inside of a
courtroom in Florida. You may find it interesting,
however, to know how the judicial system is
structured and which courts handle what.
In Florida, courts fall into four general categories,
from highest to lowest, as follows:
• Supreme Court – located in Tallahassee and
composed of seven members appointed by
the governor and approved by a vote of the
people; hears appeals directly from trial courts
in criminal cases when the death penalty has
been imposed, and in civil cases when the trial
court’s decision passes on the validity of a state
or federal law, a treaty or provision of the state
or federal constitution or in cases concerning the
validity of revenue or general obligation bonds.
• District Court of Appeals – Florida has five,
which are located in: Tallahassee, Lakeland,
Miami, West Palm Beach and Daytona Beach;
composed of more than 50 judges with
jurisdiction in all appeals not directly appealable
to the Florida Supreme Court or to a circuit
court; may issue writs of mandamus, certiorari,
prohibition, quo warranto and habeas corpus.
What is the likelihood of being called for
jury duty and what should I do if I am?
Hard to say, but the state of Florida may send
a summons for jury duty to any person who is
eligible to serve. You are deemed eligible if you
are a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of Florida and at
least 18 years old, and if you have a valid Florida
Driver’s License or a Florida Identification Card;
you do not need to be a registered voter.
You’ll know you’ve been called for jury duty if you
receive a summons from the Clerk of the Court in
your county through regular mail. The summons will
contain instructions for when, where and how to
report, as well as information concerning exemptions
from jury duty and compensation for your time.
Do not ignore the summons; to do so, is to risk being
held in contempt of court. It’s unlikely that anyone
will show up at your doorstep with a warrant if you
don’t report for jury duty, but if you are stopped for,
say, a traffic violation and your failure to report shows
up on the computer, you just might go to jail.
• Circuit Court – 20 judicial circuits with a varied
number of judges per circuit; handles jury trials
for civil cases involving $15,000 or more and most
criminal cases involving felonies or misdemeanors;
has jurisdiction over all appeals from county courts.
• County Court – one in each county, mostly
handling non-jury trials for misdemeanors and
traffic cases, violations of municipal ordinances
and civil actions involving less than $15,000.
Florida Trend
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CHAPTER 13
GOVERNMENT, POLITICS & VOTING
How is Florida’s government structured?
Much like the federal government with three
separate and relatively independent branches:
• Executive: the law-administering,
law-enforcing branch
Organized somewhat like a corporation,
with a six-member Cabinet consisting of the
governor as chairman and three independently
elected and two appointed members that
functions as a quasi-board of directors.
• Legislative: the law-making branch
Consists of two houses — Senate and House of
Representatives — which meet for a regular 60-day
session each year in spring, and may be called
into special and/or extended sessions as needed.
Considered to be the most powerful of Florida’s
three branches of government because decisions
made at this level affect every Floridian’s life
through legislation relating to taxes, investigative
and budgetary matters, the operation of cities/
counties and appointment of state officials.
• Judicial: the law-interpreting branch
Consists of a series of courts with differing levels
of authority as established by the Florida State
Constitution. See the “Legal Matters” section for
a brief description of Florida’s court structure and
the duties/jurisdictions of courts at various levels.
What are the governor’s and
lieutenant governor’s responsibilities
and how long do they serve?
Florida’s governor is responsible for overseeing the
day-to-day operations of the state. In addition, he/
she serves as chief law enforcement officer; appoints
heads of departments under his/her direct oversight
as well as heads of departments under the combined
oversight of the governor and Cabinet and members
of several regulatory boards and commissions.
Florida Trend
The lieutenant governor’s only official responsibility is
to assume the position of governor in the event that
office becomes vacant due to death, impeachment
trial or incapacity. Other duties of this office are left
to the discretion of the governor and legislature.
Florida’s governor is elected to a four-year term
and may serve up to two terms in succession.
The lieutenant governor, who is chosen by the
gubernatorial candidate as running mate, is elected
to a four-year term on the same ticket as governor.
Who serves on Florida’s cabinet?
In addition to the governor, the attorney general,
chief financial officer and commissioner of
agriculture who are elected; and the secretary
of state and commissioner of education who are
appointed by the governor. Each cabinet member
administers at least one state department; most
others are administered by the governor.
How is the legislature organized and how
many legislators does Florida have?
Florida’s legislature consists of two bodies:
• Florida Senate: made up of 40 members, each
elected to a four-year term; half are elected every
two years, providing for staggered terms.
• Florida House of Representatives: made
up of 120 members, all of whom are elected
every two years during the general elections
which are held in even-numbered years.
Districts for both the Senate and the House are
determined by population with each Senator/House
member representing approximately the same number
of Florida residents. As a result, some Senators/House
members represent only one county or just a portion
of one county; others may represent multiple counties.
Districts are subject to reapportionment every 10
years when results of the U.S. Census are released.
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What types of elections are held in Florida?
Who is eligible to register to vote in Florida?
• First primary: Only Democrats and Republicans
may vote for their party candidates; all voters may
vote for issues or for non-partisan candidates
To register to vote in Florida, you must:
• Second primary: If one candidate fails to
win a majority in the first primary, the two
candidates having the highest number of
votes face each other in a run-off election;
party restrictions apply to eligible voters.
• General elections: All voters may
vote for any candidate or issue.
• Special elections (referendum): May
be called at any time for any issue that
requires a vote of the people.
• Be a U.S. citizen — born in the U.S or certain U.S.
territories, born to U.S. citizen parents or naturalized.
For purposes of registration and voting, a lawful
permanent resident (“green card holder”) is not
considered a U.S. citizen.
• Be a Florida resident.
• Be 18 years old; you may pre-register to vote as
early as age 16, but you cannot actually vote until
you are 18.
• Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated
with respect to voting in Florida or any other state
without having the right to vote restored.
• Presidential preference primary: Held
every four years so voters can inform party
delegates of their presidential choice.
• Not have been convicted of a felony without your
civil rights having been restored.
• Municipal elections: Vary from city to city;
for information about a specific election,
consult the appropriate city clerk’s office.
How do I register to vote?
When are elections held in Florida?
• For a voter registration application, go to: http://
election.dos.state.fl.us/pdf/webappform.pdf.
Election dates depend on the type of election as follows:
• General election: the first Tuesday after the first
Monday of every even-numbered year
• Primary election to nominate party candidates for
the general election: the Tuesday 12 weeks before
the general election
• Presidential preference primary: no earlier than
the first Tuesday in January and no later than the
first Tuesday in March of presidential election years
• Special elections: may be called at any time during
the year
• Registration book closing: to vote in any election
in Florida, you must be registered with the Florida
Division of Elections by the “book closing date,”
which is normally the 29th day before each election.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Actual dates for upcoming primaries and general
elections as well as the deadline for registering
to vote in each are available online at http://
election.dos.state.fl.us/calendar/elecdate.shtml
Florida Trend
Follow these easy steps:
• Fill the application out online, then print a
hard copy; or, print the application and fill it
out by hand using a black ballpoint pen.
• Verify that all information is complete and correct.
• Sign your application. Note: Since you are
swearing or affirming to an oath, an original
signature is required.
• Place the application in an envelope with a first
class stamp and mail it to the Supervisor of
Elections in your county; the correct address can
be found online along with the application.
• You may also mail or hand deliver your application to
any Supervisor of Elections’ office in Florida, driver’s
license office or voter registration agency, including
an armed forces recruitment office, public library
or the Florida Division of Elections in Tallahassee.
If your application is complete and you qualify as a
voter, you will receive an official voter registration card
by mail. Verify that all information on the card is correct.
If you do not receive your card within two weeks or if
you have questions, call your Supervisor of Elections.
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FUN FACT
Hispanics make up 13.9% of active registered
voters in Florida – 476,000 are registered
Republicans and 645,000 are Democrats.
Is there a two-party system in Florida?
Essentially yes. Although the Florida Division of
Elections lists a total of 16 registered political
parties on its website, the two major ones are
Democrat and Republican. The reason this matters
is that cross-over voting in certain primary
elections is prohibited. For a complete list of
political parties registered in Florida, visit http://
election.dos.state.fl.us/candidate/parties.shtml.
Do I have to declare a political party on
my voter registration application?
No. Although you will be asked to declare a party
affiliation on your voter registration application
— Democrat, Republican, minor political party or
none — you don’t have to select one at all. Please
know, however, that if you choose to leave the
party affiliation field blank on your application,
you will be considered non-affiliated and will not
be able to vote in certain primary elections.
Florida is a closed primary election state, which
means that only registered voters affiliated with a
particular political party may vote for that party’s
candidates in a primary election. However, if you
register “no party affiliation” or leave the field blank,
you may still vote in primary elections on any issue,
nonpartisan race (judges, for example) or any race
where the candidate will face no opposition in the
general election. Municipal elections are non-partisan.
And by the way, you can’t just change parties when
you get to the polls on Election Day because you
like one slate of candidates better than another. By
law, all changes of party affiliation must be made
by the 29th day preceding a primary election.
What if I need to change my
voter registration info?
If you are already registered to vote in Florida, but
need to change your name, address or party affiliation,
update your signature or apply for a replacement card,
visit http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/
voter-reg.shtml and scroll down for instructions
regarding the specific change you wish to make.
Florida Trend
I’m going to be out of town on Election
Day. Can I get an absentee ballot?
Sure. Any registered voter in Florida may
request an absentee ballot for any reason; no
special criteria or explanation is required.
Requests for absentee ballots may be made online
through your county Supervisor of Elections website,
in person, by phone or by email. A family member
or legal guardian may apply for an absentee ballot
on your behalf using the same application. You may
request an absentee ballot for a single upcoming
election or for all elections through the next two years.
For a direct link to your county Supervisor of
Elections, visit: https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/SOE/
supervisor_elections.asp
How far ahead do I need to
request an absentee ballot?
In order to receive an absentee ballot by mail, your
request must be received by the Supervisor of Elections
in your county no later than 5 p.m. on the 6th day before
an election. Your ballot will be mailed to the address you
have on file with the Florida Division of Elections unless
you specify otherwise. If you have moved since the last
election, be sure to provide your current address. By law,
absentee ballots may not be forwarded automatically.
What’s the deadline for returning
absentee ballots?
To be counted, marked absentee ballots must be
received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than
7 p.m. on Election Day. Other deadlines apply for
military members and their families who are absent
from the U.S. due to active duty and overseas civilians.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Go to http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/
absentee.shtml for full details about absentee
voting procedures, including what to do if
you’ve received an absentee ballot, but decide
to visit the polls on Election Day instead.
Once you’ve returned your absentee ballot, you
can check to see if it was received and counted
by linking to the Division of Elections’ Voter
Information Lookup at www.elections.myflorida.com
or through your Supervisor of Elections’ website.
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Does Florida allow early voting?
How do I know where I should go to vote?
Yes. In fact, it’s required for all elections in
which there is a state or federal office race.
Check your voter registration card or contact
the Supervisor of Elections in your county of
residence to determine your polling place.
Precincts and polling places also may be found
on individual Supervisor of Election websites.
Defined as “casting a ballot prior to Election Day at a
location designated by the Supervisor of Elections and
depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system,”
early voting has been allowed in Florida since 2004.
Its original intent was to streamline the election
process and ensure convenient access to polling sites.
Over the years, however, attempts to curb costs by
reducing hours and the number of polling sites for
early voting in some counties were found to actually
decrease the opportunities to cast early ballots and
thus created longer-than-usual lines on Election Day.
To avoid future early voting “meltdowns,” Florida
lawmakers passed legislation in 2013 to extend
the early voting period and allow county election
officials more leeway in choosing accessible locations
for early voting sites. Since details vary from one
county to another, be sure to contact the Supervisor
of Elections in your county of residence for exact
dates, times and locations. Remember, too, that early
voting sites adhere to the same rules as Election
Day polling places: To vote, you will be required
to show a valid picture ID with signature.
FUN FACT
More than a third of registered voters in
Florida would apparently rather not go to
the polls on Election Day. Newspaper reports
filed on the day before the 2012 presidential
election revealed that approximately 4.5 million
Floridians had already cast their ballots —2.1
million by absentee ballot, 2.4 million in person
at early voting sites throughout the state.
Do I need to bring anything
with me to the polls?
Yes, a valid picture ID with signature. The
following photo IDs are accepted as valid:
• Florida driver’s license
• Florida identification card issued by the Department
of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• U. S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military identification
• Student identification
• Retirement center identification
• Neighborhood association identification
• Public assistance identification
If the photo ID you carry does not contain your
signature, then you will need to bring along some
additional identification that does. If, by chance,
you haven’t brought proper identification, you may
still vote using a provisional ballot, which you will
be asked to sign at the polling place on Election
Day. As long as the signature on your provisional
ballot matches the signature on the original voter
registration application that is on file with the
Florida Division of Elections, your vote will count.
What if I do want to go to the polls on
Election Day? Any tips for “smooth sailing”?
Florida’s polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
on Election Day, and they are normally least busy
during mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours. If you
work a 9-to-5 job and want to avoid crowds, don’t
stop on your way to or from work; be there when
the polls open or right before they close. As long
as you are standing in line at 7 p.m., you will be
allowed to cast a vote, no matter how long the line.
Florida Trend
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I’ve heard about people being “challenged”
at the polls. What’s that all about and if it
happens to me, will my vote still count?
Your eligibility to vote at the polls could be challenged
for a variety of reasons. The most common ones are:
• your legal address is not within the precinct;
• you have moved within a precinct and your
address no longer matches the one on file; or
• you have moved from one county to another
but failed to file your change of address
with the Supervisor of Elections.
Not to worry. You will be allowed to vote a provisional
ballot, regardless of the reason, and your vote
will be counted as long as the signature on your
provisional ballot matches the signature you have
on file with the Florida Division of Elections.
I hear you saying that my vote will
get tabulated, but will it count?
For the answer to that question, take a look
at presidential election history or, better yet,
ask a few Floridians who witnessed the 2000
election recount firsthand. In three closely-called
presidential elections over the last 137 years,
votes from Florida have made a difference:
1876, Tilden vs. Hayes: New York Democrat Samuel
J. Tilden clearly won the popular vote, but when
electoral votes were counted, he was one short of
the 185 needed to win. Meanwhile, Ohio Republican
Rutherford B. Hayes held 165 electoral votes and
another 20 combined votes belonging to Florida,
Louisiana, South Carolina and Oregon were in dispute.
Just ahead of the March 1877 inauguration, Congress
reached a compromise: The Democrats agreed to
cede the presidency to Hayes in exchange for the
Republicans’ agreement to withdraw federal troops
from the South, thus effectively ending Reconstruction.
The resulting 185-184 victory for Hayes remains the
narrowest margin in U.S. presidential election history.
2000, Gore vs. Bush: Few who were alive and voting
in 2000 are likely to forget Florida’s role in this one.
Americans woke up the day after the election to
discover that neither George W. Bush nor Al Gore had
the required 270 electoral votes to declare victory. A win
in Florida would push either one over the top, but those
results were too close to call. And so began six weeks
of counting and recounting, legal challenges and court
decisions during which the country learned a whole
new vocabulary, including phrases like “butterfly ballot,”
“punch card voting” and the ever-popular “hanging/
pregnant/dimpled chad.” Finally, on December 12,
2000, the U.S. Supreme Court brought the recount to
a halt, and on the following day, Gore conceded the
election to Bush with just 537 votes separating the two.
2012, Obama vs. Romney: It took four full days of
counting after the polls closed on Tuesday, November
6, 2012, before President Obama was declared the
winner of Florida’s 29 electoral votes. Although he’d
already clinched reelection on Tuesday night without
those votes, his slim margin of victory in the Sunshine
State — 50% compared to Mitt Romney’s 49.1% — helped
underscore the value of every ballot cast. This time,
the margin of victory was above the half-percent
mark that, in Florida, triggers an automatic computer
recount, and thus the nation was spared another
count-recount scenario similar to the one in 2000.
Florida Trend
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CHAPTER 14
RECREATION
What aquatic sports does Florida offer?
You name it, we’ve got it. With 2,300 miles of tidal
shoreline, 663 miles of beaches, 11,000 miles of
rivers, streams and waterways and 7,700 lakes larger
than 10 acres, including one that is the 2nd largest
freshwater lake in the continental U.S., Floridians
enjoy ready access to a wide variety of aquatic sports.
Options include swimming, water skiing, windsurfing,
parasailing, rowing, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Boating is a favorite pastime here too. In 2012,
Florida led the nation in number of registered
vessels, at 901,969, including 870,031 pleasure craft,
25,822 commercial vessels and 6,116 canoes.
Must all pleasure boats used in Florida
be registered by the state?
Yes and no. All vessels, with the exception of nonmotor-powered vessels less than 16 feet in length and
non-motor-powered canoes, kayaks, racing shells or
rowing sculls, regardless of length, must be registered
in Florida. Furthermore, Florida residents must register
their vessels within 30 days of purchase. During
this 30-day grace period, a boat may be operated
without registration as long as the owner has on
board a bill of sale with proof of the purchase date.
Exemptions from Florida registration are as follows:
• Out-of-state registration and numbers for vessels
owned by military personnel on active duty in
Florida are valid in Florida until their expiration
date, after which they must be registered and titled
in Florida in order to be operated in state waters.
• Vacationers may operate their boats in Florida
waters for 90 consecutive days without registering
them, provided their boats have a valid registration
from the owner’s home state. After 90 days,
the boat must be registered in Florida.
Florida Trend
How do I register my boat and
how much does it cost?
Applications for vessel registration and title certificates
(original or duplicate) must be filed by the vessel
owner with the tax collector’s office in the county
where the vessel is located or in the county where
the vessel owner resides. A manufacturer’s certificate
of origin is required when registering new boats.
Registration fees are determined by the length of the
vessel and are the same regardless of whether the
craft is classified as recreational or commercial. Fees
range from $12.25 for motorboats less than 12 feet
long to $196.50 for vessels 110 feet or more in length,
and you have the option of renewing for either one
year or two. For a list of registration fees by vessel
size, visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html.
Non-residents are assessed an additional $50 on
top of the standard registration fees. In addition,
some counties have elected to impose an additional
county registration fee. Contact the tax collector’s
office in the county where you will be registering
your vessel to determine the exact amount.
Where do I put my registration numbers
and my registration certificate?
The Florida registration number issued to a vessel
is permanent and remains with the vessel as long
as it is operated or stored in Florida, even though
ownership may change. Registration numbers must
be at least three inches high and must be placed
so that they read left to right on both sides of the
vessel’s bow (forward half). The block numbers/
letters must be painted or permanently attached.
The decal signifying the year during which the
registration is valid that is issued with each registration
certificate must be placed immediately before or
after the registration number on the left side of the
vessel. Decals for a previous year’s registration must
be removed. In addition, the owner must carry the
registration certificate on board while the boat is in use.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Need additional details about titles, registration
fees, transfer of ownership and other topics
related to owning boats in Florida? You can
find them in the booklet titled “Facts for
Florida Vessel Owners” available online at
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/FFFVO.pdf.
Is safety equipment required for boating?
Yes. Florida has detailed laws regarding the minimum
safety equipment you must carry on board, and
these requirements are based on vessel size. For
a detailed list pertaining to the length of your
vessel, visit: http://www.myfwc.com/boating/
safety-education/boat-safety-equipment/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Anything else I need to have in order
to operate a boat in Florida?
Yes, to legally operate a motorboat of 10
horsepower or more in Florida, you must:
• Successfully complete an approved
boating safety course
• Obtain a “Florida Boating Safety Education
Identification Card” issued by the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
These requirements apply to all Florida residents born
on or after January 1, 1988, and to visitors who wish
to operate a boat while vacationing in Florida. Visitors
who can show proof of having completed a boater
safety course or equivalent exam in another state that
meets or exceeds Florida’s requirements may obtain the
Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card without taking
an additional safety course. For details and a list of
approved boating safety course providers, visit: http://
myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/boating-courses/.
NOT-SO-FUN FACT
In 2012, the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission logged a total of
704 reportable boating accidents, resulting
in 55 fatalities, 386 injuries and $8,064,331
in property damage. Sadly, 71% of the
operators involved in fatal boating accidents
in 2012 had no formal boater education.
Boat operators in Florida learn the state’s
requirements with regard to speed, equipment
and lighting, mooring to markers and buoys,
maximum loading and horsepower, etc. as part
of the boating safety education course they are
required to take in order to receive their boating
license. But for a quick refresher or to check laws
affecting a specific item or boating category,
visit http://myfwc.com/boating/regulations/.
Does a boat trailer need to be licensed?
Yes. Tags for boat trailers are administered
by the Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicle; like automobile tags, they
are available from your county tax collector’s
office. For more specific information and fees,
visit www.flhsmv.gov/DHSMVfees.htm.
Where can I purchase a chart of Florida
coastal and/or intracoastal waters?
Just about anywhere you’d buy boating or fishing
supplies — i.e., marinas, marine hardware companies
and some sporting goods stores. Charts also are
available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) in electronic and paper formats.
To download electronic charts of Florida waters, free
of charge, visit http://www.charts.noaa.gov/. For a list
of Florida-based NOAA chart agents where you can
purchase a paper chart, visit http://aeronav.faa.gov/
agents.asp.
What’s the minimum age to
operate a boat in Florida?
There is none. However, to operate a personal
watercraft in Florida, you must be at least 14; to
rent a personal watercraft, you must be 18.
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Where are the best beaches in Florida?
What makes Florida fishing famous?
Hard to say. Most Floridians have favorites, but
there’s no statewide consensus about which is
the best. The closest we could come to a rating
system is the annual list put together by Dr. Beach
— aka Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida
International University’s Laboratory for Coastal
Research. He’s been rating U.S. beaches for 23 years
now and his most recent list, “America’s Best Beaches
2013,” includes three candidates from Florida:
The fact that we have the longest tidal shoreline of
any state in the continental U.S., more than 7,000 lakes
exceeding 10 acres in size and 11,000 miles of rivers and
streams maybe? Or perhaps our ready availability of
rental boats, skilled guides and free fishing piers? More
than likely, it’s the sheer numbers, size and variety of
fish to be found in Florida waters, both salt and fresh,
that have put us on the map as the go-to site for fishing.
Successful anglers have never been known to be shy
about sharing their fish tales; word just gets around.
• St. George Island State Park near Apalachicola
in Florida’s Panhandle (No. 3)
• Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs (No. 6)
Do I need a license to fish in Florida?
• Cape Florida State Park in Key
Biscayne near Miami (No. 8).
Yes. You must have a Florida fishing license, if you are:
If you don’t see your personal favorite on this list,
here’s a probable reason: once a beach is rated No.
1 by Dr. Beach in any given year, it cannot appear
on his annual list again. To date, seven Florida
beaches have earned a place in this elite category:
• either a resident or visitor
• Siesta Beach on Siesta Key, near Sarasota
Florida residents under 16 and over 65 do not need
fishing licenses. Seniors who want to fish may
carry a complimentary senior card (available at any
county tax collector’s office), but it is not required.
Seniors and youth who don’t have to carry fishing
licenses should, however, carry proof of age.
• Caladesi Island State Park, near Tampa
• Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg
• St. Joseph Peninsula in Port St. Joe
• St. Andrews State Park in Panama City
• Grayton Beach State Park in Santa Rosa Beach
• between the ages of 16 and 64
• plan to cast your line into any Florida waters,
regardless of whether you catch nothing, catch
a fish and release it or catch a fish and keep it
For information about other exemptions to these
fishing license rules, visit www.myfwc.com/license/
recreational/.
• Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key
NOT-SO-FUN FACT
Rip currents kill more people in Florida during
an average year than hurricanes, tornadoes
and lightning combined. And the really scary
part is that drownings due to rip currents often
take place on days you’d least expect it — when
the sky is blue and there’s only a light breeze
blowing onshore. To avoid becoming a rip current
statistic, learn what these currents are, how to
spot them and, most important, what to do if you
or someone you know gets caught in one.
For details, visit www.floridadisaster.org.
Click “search” and type “rip currents.”
Florida Trend
Does one fishing license cover both
saltwater and freshwater fishing?
No. To take freshwater fish, you need a freshwater
license; to take saltwater fish, you need a saltwater
license. To fish for both, you’ll need one of each.
This sounds simple enough, but it can be tricky if
you’re fishing in places like estuaries where salt and
fresh water comingle. Rule of thumb: know your fish.
The license you purchase should be appropriate to the
species you fish for regardless of where it’s caught.
Suppose, for example, that you have a freshwater license
for bass fishing, but happen to catch a saltwater species,
such as a red drum. What should you do? Throw the red
drum back; your license does not qualify you to take it.
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How much does a fishing license
cost and where can I buy one?
Cost varies depending on type, length of license
and place of purchase. An annual Florida resident
freshwater or saltwater license costs $17; five-year
freshwater or saltwater licenses are $79. A oneyear combination freshwater/saltwater license
is $32.50. Various combinations of fishing and
hunting licenses also are available. Be aware too
that additional fees apply to fishing for certain
species, such as snook, lobster and tarpon, For a
complete list of license fees, visit http://www.myfwc.
com/license/recreational/freshwater-fishing/.
Florida fishing Licenses may be purchased at any tax
collector’s office (least expensive option); online at
https://license.myfwc.com/Customer/CustomerLookup,
or at most bait-and-tackle shops and sporting goods
retailers, such as Walmart, Sports Authority, Bass
Pro Shops, etc. Keep in mind, however, that you
will pay additional charges for the convenience of
purchasing your license online or from a vendor.
To qualify for Florida residency rates, you must
show a Florida driver’s license or Florida-issued ID
card. If you do not have either one, a current Florida
voter registration card, Declaration of Domicile or
proof of homestead exemption may be accepted.
I have guests coming in from out-of-state.
Can I take them fishing on my license?
No. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 64 who casts a
fishing line into Florida waters must have his/her own
fishing license. And since Florida does not recognize
fishing licenses from other states, your guests will have
to purchase licenses here. Fees for nonresident fishing
licenses (either freshwater or saltwater) are as follows:
3-day license, $17; 7-day license, $30; annual license, $47.
Is there anywhere I can go in
Florida to fish for free?
Yes, most any saltwater pier that is open to the public
for fishing at no charge. The owners/operators of piers
where saltwater fishing is permitted in Florida are
required to purchase commercial fishing licenses. So
if the only fishing you plan to do is from one of those
piers, there’s no need for you to purchase an individual
saltwater license. The same goes for charter fishing
vessels. You’ll have to pay the cost of the charter, of
course, but you won’t need your own fishing license.
Word of caution, however: Before you throw your line
in anywhere in Florida without a license, check with
the pier or charter operator to be sure you’re covered.
Florida Trend
FUN FACT
Florida offers at least four free fishing days a year
— two for freshwater fishing, two for saltwater
fishing — when anyone, regardless of age or
residency, may fish in Florida without a license.
The dates are set annually by the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For exact
dates and details, visit http://myfwc.com/license/
recreational/do-i-need-a-license/free-fishing/.
What are Florida’s freshwater fish?
Several varieties of bass, including the largemouth,
are particular favorites here. Also popular are channel
catfish, crappie and bluegill. For a list of Florida’s most
popular freshwater fish plus tips for catching them, visit
http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/fish/
freshwater/.
FUN FACT
If you’re a diehard bass angler, congratulations!
You’ve landed in the right place. Bassmasters’ 2013
list of the “Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in America”
includes seven spots in Florida: Lake Okeechobee,
Rodman Reservoir/St. Johns River, Kissimmee
Chain of Lakes, Lake Istokpoga, Florida Everglades,
Lake Seminole and Lake Tarpon. Fish on!
What are Florida’s saltwater fish?
Many varieties of saltwater fish can be caught in
shallow water from piers, bridges and small boats
along Florida’s coastline, including snook, mangrove
snapper, trout, sheepshead, bluefish, redfish, flounder,
pompano, shark and tarpon. In deeper water, you’re
likely to find mackerel, grouper, kingfish, bonita, jack,
snapper and barracuda. Big game fish abound in the
Gulf Stream, which flows past the Florida Keys and
along Florida’s east coast, and in the Gulf of Mexico’s
“loop” current flowing eastward along the Panhandle
and southward well offshore. Here, you may be able
to hook sailfish, marlin, tuna, swordfish, wahoo, king
mackerel and dolphin (the fish, not the mammal).
A list of Florida’s saltwater fish, including big
game varieties, plus angling tips and ID information
is available by clicking on “saltwater fish” at
www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/.
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Are there any closed seasons and bag limits on
Florida fish?
How much does a hunting license
cost and where can I buy one?
Yes. Florida has a bunch of regulations affecting what,
when, where and how you may take specific species
of fish, but they are too many and too complicated
to spell out here. To learn about minimum sizes, bag
limits, seasons and such, visit http://myfwc.com/,
then click on the “Fishing” tab for drop-down boxes
organized by “freshwater” and “saltwater” choices.
Costs and regulations vary depending on the type
and length of the license and place of purchase; some
exemptions for age, disabilities and the hunting of
certain species on private land may be available.
What animals can I hunt in Florida, and when?
Florida is home to many animals that may be
hunted. Some, like rabbit, raccoon, opossum, coyote,
skunk, nutria, beaver and wild hog, may be taken
statewide throughout the year. Others, such as deer,
gray squirrel, turkey, quail, bobcat and otter may
be hunted only in certain regions and seasons.
Protected mammals, which in Florida include Florida
black bears, fox squirrels and Florida panthers,
cannot be taken or pursued in any season; to do
so, is to risk substantial fines and jail time. For
a complete list of endangered species in Florida
visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.
If, by chance, you see someone harassing or otherwise
disturbing an endangered animal, report it by calling the
Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).
Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible
for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.
For more details about hunting specific species
in Florida, including hunting zones, seasons
(by weapon type) and limits, visit http://
www.myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates.
Is a license required for hunting in Florida?
Yes. If you are between the ages of 16 and 64 and
plan to hunt game or fur-bearing animals in Florida,
you must purchase a basic Florida hunting license,
plus any species-related permits or stamps required for
the type of game you want to hunt or the weapon you
plan to use.
An annual Florida resident hunting license costs $17;
five-year licenses are $79. A one-year combination
hunting/ freshwater fishing license is $32.50; a oneyear combination hunting/freshwater/saltwater
fishing license is $48.00. Be aware too that additional
fees apply to permits for specific species and
weaponry. For a complete list of license fees, visit
http://myfwc.com/license/recreational/hunting/.
To qualify for Florida residency rates, you must
show a Florida driver’s license or Florida-issued ID
card. If you do not have either one, a current Florida
voter registration card, Declaration of Domicile or
proof of homestead exemption may be accepted.
Hunting licenses, as well as additional species-related
permits and stamps, may be purchased at any Florida
tax collector’s office (least expensive option), online,
by phone or from a licensed vendor such as a sporting
goods store or gun shop. Keep in mind that you will pay
additional charges for the convenience of purchasing
your license online, by phone or from a vendor.
To purchase your license by phone, call 888-HUNTFLORIDA (888-486-8356). To purchase your
license online, visit www.myfwc.com/license.
A buddy of mine is coming to town. Will his
home-state hunting license be valid in Florida?
Unfortunately, no. Out-of-state hunting licenses
are not valid in Florida so your buddy will have to
purchase a non-resident hunting license. Annual
licenses for non-residents cost $151.50; a 10-day
license is available for $46.50. The requirement for
completion of a hunter safety course applies to nonresidents too, but here’s a piece of good news: Hunter
safety cards or certificates issued for a safety course
completed in another state are accepted in Florida.
And one more thing: to apply for a hunting license
in Florida, you must be able to show proof of having
successfully completed a hunter safety course. For
information and to register for classroom or online
options, visit www.myfwc.com/hunting, then click on
“Safety & Education.”
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Besides boating, fishing and
hunting, what other forms of outdoor
recreation are available?
Given that Florida has no natural elevation higher
than 345 feet above sea level, this is a pretty good
place to walk. Our white sandy beaches are great
venues for “hoofing it,” but if you want to see
the “real” Florida — the one that existed before
all the high-rise condos came to town — you’ll
want to head for Florida’s interior counties.
One option is the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic
Trail, which stretches the entire length of the Florida
peninsula and across the Florida Panhandle. But don’t
think you have to hike it all. Individual segments are
within an hour’s drive of most Floridians and trailheads
can be found along many major highways, including
US 98, US 90, US 441 and US 301. For maps and
more information, including tips on hiking safety and
suggested routes for short- and long-distance hikes
along the trail, visit http://www.floridatrail.org/.
Florida has many other trails ranging in length
from a mere 1.5 miles to the 110-mile Marjorie
Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, and more are
under development. For information about trail
conditions and amenities/activities along the way,
visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/findapark/.
FUN FACT
The Pinellas Trail, a 47-mile hiking/biking trail
connecting St. Petersburg with Clearwater
and north Pinellas County, is the longest
continuous urban linear trail in the eastern
United States. Created along an abandoned
railroad corridor, the trail — which is elevated
over busy urban streets — provides a unique
and protected green space for walking, jogging,
skating and biking. For more information and
a map, visit www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd.
Does Florida have any national parks?
Yes, three to be exact, plus a national
preserve and two national seashores:
• Biscayne National Park: Within sight of
downtown Miami, yet worlds away; enjoy
boating, snorkeling and camping or simply relax
in rocking chairs overlooking Biscayne Bay.
• Everglades National Park: At nearly 1.5 million
acres, the largest subtropical wilderness
in the U.S. and habitat for numerous rare
and endangered species, such as the
American crocodile and Florida panther.
• Dry Tortugas National Park: 70 miles west of Key
West and accessible only by boat or seaplane;
home to Civil War-era Fort Jefferson, crystal-clear
blue waters and superlative coral reefs; primitive
camping is permitted but bring your own tent.
• Big Cypress National Preserve: Encompassing
some 729,000 acres of the Big Cypress Swamp,
which is essential to the health of its neighbor,
the Everglades; contains a mix of tropical and
temperate plant communities and a diversity of
wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther.
• Canaveral National Seashore: The longest
expanse of pristine shore in Florida and home to
many threatened animals, including sea turtles.
• Gulf Islands National Seashore: spans the Gulf
coast of three states: Florida, Alabama and
Mississippi; activities include camping, hiking,
fishing, boat rides, Fort Barrancas tour.
FUN FACT
Greater Miami is the only metropolitan area in
the United States whose borders encompass
two national parks: Everglades and Biscayne.
NOT-SO-FUN FACT
Hiking in Florida is a little different than what
you may be used to elsewhere. In our warm
temperatures and constant sunshine, you can
easily become dehydrated, a condition that
can progress to heat exhaustion and deadly
heatstroke if you’re not careful. Always bring
along plenty of water — at least one liter for
every four miles you travel, twice that much
when temperatures top 80° F. It’s a good idea
to carry sunblock and insect repellant, too.
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What about state parks?
Does Florida have many cultural activities?
Florida has 160, each unique in its own way. Hours
may vary, but these parks are typically open 8 a.m.
to sunset daily year-round; on-site museums, visitor
centers and historic sites may be closed 2 days a
week, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Entrance
fees range from $5 to $10 per vehicle (up to 8
persons); pedestrians, cyclists or extra passengers
are $2 each. Annual passes are available and
additional fees apply to concessions, camping, special
tours, equipment rentals and other amenities.
Tons of them. Every major metropolitan area in Florida
has a performing arts center as well as a variety of
arts organizations; many have symphony orchestras,
opera companies and ballet troupes too. Type the
words “performing arts centers in Florida” into your
search engine for a list, or simply watch your local
newspaper for ads about upcoming performances.
55 Florida state parks offer campgrounds, 19
have cabins and 1 (Wakulla Springs) has a
lodge. Reservations are recommended.
Yes, and we also have an abundance of private galleries
and art fairs. In fact, 8 Florida cities (more than any
other state) have been named “Top Arts Destinations” by
AmericanStyle magazine. Four topped their categories
in 2012: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Bradenton.
Other Florida cities of artistic note included Miami,
Jacksonville, Naples and Key West. Of special interest
is the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Pete, which not only
houses one of the most extensive collections of works
by the Spanish surrealist, but is a work of art itself.
• For admission prices, activities and amenities at
specific parks, visit www.floridastateparks.org/
findapark/, then click on individual parks.
• To reserve overnight accommodations, visit
http://floridastateparks.reserveamerica.
com or call (800) 326-3521.
Are there many spectator sports in Florida?
Yes. Florida is home to 9 major professional sports
franchises in baseball (Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay
Rays), basketball (Miami Heat and Orlando Magic),
football (Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and hockey (Florida Panthers
and Tampa Bay Lightning), and their top trophies for
World Series, NBA Championship, Super Bowl and Stanley
Cup playoff wins. In addition, 15 Major League Baseball
teams have their Spring Training venues in Florida.
Florida also serves as headquarters for several worldclass sporting events and organizations, including
NASCAR and its Daytona 500 and the PGA Tour,
LPGA and PGA of America. And let’s not forget
college sports — every public university in Florida
offers some type of intercollegiate athletics.
Are there any participant sports in Florida?
You bet…too many to name. Suffice it to say, however,
that on any given weekend, there’s an amateur
competition of some kind going on somewhere
in Florida — everything from golf and tennis
tournaments to 5K and 10K races, marathons and
Iron Man competitions, even dragon boat races.
And here’s an interesting statistic: A total of 30
Florida athletes competed in the 2012 Olympics
in London and together, they brought home
9 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals.
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Does Florida have many art museums?
FUN FACT
The Florida Association of Museums maintains
an online database of more than 400 Florida
museums along with in-depth information
about their collections, special exhibits and
educational programs. To search for Florida
museums by type and/or location visit http://
www.museumsusa.org/hosting/fam/museums/.
How many public libraries does Florida
have and how are they funded?
117, which includes at least one outlet in each
of Florida’s 67 counties, according to the Florida
Department of State. The public library system
in Florida is free and serves even very rural
areas of the state. Many offer bookmobiles for
those residents who might otherwise not have
an opportunity to visit a library. Local tax dollars
provide approximately 90% of the funding for Florida
public libraries. The rest is made up of state revenue
(4.5%), federal revenue (.5%) and other funds, such
as private donations, grants, fees and fines (5%).
For a complete list of Florida libraries, including
academic, public and special interest types,
as well as direct links to their websites, visit
http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/fgils/fl_lib.html.
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CHAPTER 15
SPECIAL INTERESTS: SENIORS & KIDS
What special services are available
to seniors in Florida?
Do most Florida attractions offer
discount admissions for seniors?
Way too many to describe in this limited space.
Depends on how you define the word “attractions.”
If you’re talking mega-theme parks — Walt Disney
World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch
Gardens — the answer is no. Adult day tickets at all
four parks are available at one price only; no discounts
for seniors. The same is true of annual passes at all
but Busch Gardens, which does discount its annual
passes for seniors age 65+. Keep in mind, however,
that while age may not earn you theme park discounts,
your Florida residency will. All four venues offer
discount admission packages for Florida residents.
Check online before you go for terms and prices.
But here’s a tip: our state has an entire agency —
the Florida Department of Elder Affairs — devoted
to the needs and concerns of senior citizens.
Simply visit http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/index.
php and look for the list of topics on the lefthand side of the home page to find information on
programs, services and current initiatives related
to senior health insurance, legal services, disaster
preparedness, employment, elder abuse and more.
If you’d prefer to phone rather than surf online, call
the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 for information
about a full range of elder services and activities.
I’m recently retired and new to Florida. How
can I connect with other seniors in my area?
A good place to start is a community senior citizen
center. Florida has more than 250 of them, some
operated by county or municipal governments, others by
private non-profit organizations. Most offer recreational
activities — bridge, bingo, book groups, arts and crafts,
field trips, etc. — and many have incorporated health
and wellness options such as aerobics, Tai Chi and
health screenings into their programming. To find a
senior center in your county of residence, visit http://
elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/seniorcenter/sc.pdf.
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Most other Florida attractions are quite senior friendly.
At LEGOLAND, for example, you can buy day tickets
and annual passes for children’s admission prices if
you’re 60 or older. Most museums, zoos and aquariums
throughout the state offer senior admission discounts
too, although the minimum age may vary from place to
place. Some don’t actively promote their discounts, so be
sure to ask when you step up to purchase tickets and
do carry your ID in case you need to prove your age.
FUN FACT
Do you enjoy camping? Florida residents who
are 65 or older are eligible to receive 50%
off the base fee for camping overnight at a
Florida State Park. You must show proof of age
and residency to qualify. To find a park with
overnight accommodations, visit http://www.
floridastateparks.org/findapark/default.cfm.
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Does Florida offer any educational
opportunities just for seniors?
What special services are
available for kids in Florida?
You bet we do. By law, public universities in Florida
may waive any or all application, tuition and related
fees for persons 60 years of age and older who
are residents of the state and who attend classes
for credit. Now before you dash off to sign up for
classes at the nearest university thinking you can
earn a degree for free, note that the law says “may”
not “must,” and that some conditions apply.
Once again, way too many to describe here.
The granting of tuition waivers is at the discretion
of the individual institution of higher education.
Furthermore, the law specifies that no academic credit
be awarded for attendance in classes for which fees are
waived and, that in cases where classroom spaces are
limited, persons paying full fees and state employees
taking courses on a space-available basis be given
priority over those persons whose fees are waived.
If you’re simply looking for academic enrichment or
want to learn a new skill, a better option might be
the lifelong learning opportunities that many Florida
universities and colleges offer to seniors, such as:
• Florida Atlantic University’s Lifelong Learning
Society: Founded in 1980, the LLS offers non-credit
courses in such subject areas as music, art, history,
science, literature, philosophy, foreign policy and
current events taught by FAU professors and guest
lecturers. For information, visit www.fau.edu/lls/.
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes: Available
at six Florida universities, OLLIs offer non-credit
classes in foreign languages, computer skills,
literature, local history, creative writing, painting,
dance, photography and more on-campus and in
community settings. To learn more about OLLIs in
general and for links to Florida universities offering
OLLI programs, visit www.osherfoundation.org/.
What about jobs for seniors?
Are any available?
If you read our section titled “Business & Jobs,” you
already know the answer to this question. But in
case you missed it, yes, jobs for seniors are available
in Florida. For information and to browse specific
opportunities throughout the state for job seekers over
the age of 50, visit https://silver.employflorida.com.
Your best source of information on services available for
kids is the Florida Department of Children and Families
(DCF). Start by visiting http://www.myflfamilies.com/,
then click on the “programs and services” tab at the top
of the page for a drop-down box of subject categories
related to children’s health, welfare and day-to-day care.
Clicking on any category opens the portal to program
options and more specific information about child
care, food and financial assistance, adoptions, foster
care, background screening, abuse and other pertinent
topics affecting Florida children and their families.
I just moved to Florida and have children
who aren’t school age yet. Where can I find
out about child care options in my area?
The Department of Children and Families’ Office of
Child Care Regulation and Background Screening
is responsible, by law, for the administration of
child care licensing and training throughout Florida
for the purpose of ensuring that children are well
cared for in safe, healthy, positive and educational
environments by trained, qualified child care staff. This program currently regulates licensed child care
facilities, licensed family day care homes, licensed
large family child care homes and licensed mildly ill
facilities in 62 of Florida’s 67 counties. In addition,
the Office of Child Care Regulation and Background
Screening administers the registration of family
day care homes not required to be licensed.
As part of this effort, DCF maintains a database of
child care facilities throughout the state. Visit http://
www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-care, to
open the “Child Care” portal and click the “For Families”
button. The link “Provider Search” will take you directly
to the facilities database, where you can enter your
county, a specific provider name (if you happen to have
one) and any services or special accreditations/programs
you specifically desire from a child care facility. Click
the “SEARCH” blocks at the bottom of the page and
a list of facilities that meet your criteria will pop up,
along with direct links to details about each, such as
capacity, program information and inspection reports.
Also available under the “Child Care” umbrella: some
helpful tips for choosing child care facilities and a
checklist for evaluating early learning programs.
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We’ve already “done” the major theme
parks in Florida. What else is there
for families to do in Florida?
Glad you asked because no matter how many
times you visit or how long you live in Florida,
you’ll never run out of family-friendly things to see
and do. We can’t begin to list them all, of course,
but here’s a few suggestions, by category:
Science Centers
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI),
Tampa: 400,000 square feet of permanent
interactive exhibits centered on the human
body, weather disasters, life inside a lunar
colony and more, plus a planetarium, IMAX
Dome Theatre and a high-wire bike for riding.
• Museum of Science and Discovery, Fort
Lauderdale: hang out with bats, practice
piloting skills in nine cockpit simulators, learn
about Florida’s amazing Everglades, experience
hurricane force winds, dig for fossils and more.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Cape
Canaveral: stand face-to-face with the actual
space shuttle Atlantis, touch a moon rock, meet
an astronaut, walk under the largest rocket ever
made and feel what it’s like to lift off the launch
pad — all in the same day, keeping in mind that
this is real-world science, not make-believe!
Zoos
• Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa: named America’s No.
1 “Family Friendly Zoo” by Parents magazine
and remarkable for how close kids can get to
the animals — they can brush a goat’s fur; feed
a giraffe, a white rhino, stingrays, parakeets
and lorikeets; and ride a real llama or camel.
• Zoo Miami: the largest and oldest zoological
park in Florida, and the only tropical zoo in the
U.S., featuring more than 2,000 animals. Opening
in 2014: “Mission Everglades,” an exhibit area
showcasing southeast Florida’s unique plants
and animals, including the Florida panther,
black bear, crocodiles, alligators, pelicans, wood
storks and all of our native venomous snakes.
• Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, Gainesville:
the only zookeeper training facility in the U.S.
with its own American Zoological Associationaccredited zoo on-site; home to 200 individual
animals, representing 75 species grounds; offering
guided tours led by zookeepers and students.
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Aquariums
• Florida Aquarium, Tampa: named America’s No. 5
“Family Friendly Aquarium” by Parents magazine;
more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals on
display, including river otters, sharks, penguins
and many varieties of fish, sea horses and coral.
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium: home to Winter,
the injured dolphin outfitted with a prosthetic
tale featured in the movie Dolphin Tale.
• Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota: a working
marine research facility that also includes an
aquarium with a touch pool for stingrays and
a 135,000-gallon shark habitat where narrated
shark training sessions are conducted regularly.
• Miami Seaquarium: a 38-acre oceanarium
located on an island in Biscayne Bay and famous
for its wide variety of marine life and stateof-the-art rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
• Nature’s aquarium: Why be content with merely
looking at sea creatures behind glass when you can
swim among them? John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park and the adjacent Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary offer some of the best views of
the coral reef that lies beneath the water’s surface
along the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West.
Join a snorkeling tour or hire your own personal inwater guide. If you don’t feel up to swimming or just
plain don’t want to get wet, you can still see the reef
aboard a glass-bottom boat. Tours lasting 2-1/2 hours
are available three times daily, weather permitting.
Animal Encounters
• Butterfly World, Coconut Creek: largest butterfly park
in the world with 20,000 butterflies and hundreds of
birds flying freely and safely in their outside aviaries.
• Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee: Florida’s only
drive-through safari park featuring more than 900
animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos,
zebras and more, all roaming free. P.S. Stay in
your car!
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm: opened in 1893, it
remains one of Florida’s oldest continuously running
attractions; includes ponds packed with various
species of alligators and crocodiles, plus educational
talks and shows.
• Turtle Hospital, Marathon: a rehab facility where
sick and injured sea turtles are treated with the
goal of returning them to their natural habitat;
90-minute guided tours offered daily with reservations
recommended.
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• Big Cat Rescue, Tampa: a sanctuary not a
zoo, where big cats — lions, tigers, leopards
and the like — go to retire and and/or be
rehabilitated; all tours are guided.
• Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key: home to
a family of bottlenose dolphins and California
sea lions, offering opportunities for 30-minute,
one-on-one interaction in a structured format.
FUN FACT
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Hard to believe that anyone could run out of
ideas for things to see and do in Florida, but if,
by chance, that happens to you, don’t despair.
The folks whose job it is to promote Florida’s
amenities and attractions to residents and
visitors have plenty to spare. For suggestions
about more fun, family-friendly activities in
Florida, head directly to www.visitflorida.com.
Want to teach your kids some Florida history?
The Florida Department of State, Division
of Historical Resources has a “Florida Kids”
website. For links to quick facts about Florida’s
history, state symbols, governors and more,
visit http://www.flheritage.com/kids/.
Children’s Museums
Museums just for kids abound in Florida and all
of them offer child-sized exhibits and plenty of
interactive exploration opportunities. Kids can:
• Pilot a cruise ship, build a noodle sculpture, fly an
airplane, paint with light and slide down a firehouse
pole at Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa.
• Sail a Spanish galleon, try on firefighter
gear, pretend to be veterinarians, practice
changing a tire and bring fairy tales to life on
the theater stage at the Children’s Museum
of the Treasure Coast, Jensen Beach.
• Crawl on their hands and knees past obstacles,
inclines and textures in a 100-foot tunnel; take
a sneak peek at the secret lives of reptiles and
arachnids; pretend to be a news anchor and
read a story in front of the camera; and create
pizzas with soft sculpture ingredients, then
serve them to guests at café tables at Great
Explorations Children’s Museum, St. Petersburg.
• Dress in costume and cruise on a police motorcycle;
climb through a 2-story sandcastle; visit a
recording studio; and explore the elements of a
real construction zone using a crane, bulldozer and
wheelbarrows at the Miami Children’s Museum.
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CHAPTER 16
FLORIDA’S OFFICIAL STATE SYMBOLS*
Animal:Florida panther
How are state symbols chosen?
Anthem:
“Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky”
Beverage:
Orange juice
Generally speaking, they are established by state
statute following identification and extensive research
by individual citizens and organizations. Candidates
for designation as an official symbol typically represent
the culture and natural assets unique to a particular
state, and categories may vary from one state to
another. In most cases, the final decision is made by
a legislative body. However, in those instances where
several choices are being considered for a particular
category, the people may be given an opportunity to
vote. That’s how the panther became Florida’s official
state animal. It was chosen in 1982 over the manatee,
alligator and key deer by students across the state.
Bird:Mockingbird
Fish, freshwater:
Largemouth bass
Fish, saltwater:
Atlantic sailfish
Flower:Orange blossom
Fruit:Orange
Gem:Moonstone
Insect:
Zebra longwing butterfly
Mammal, marine:
Manatee
Mammal, saltwater
Dolphin
Reptile:American alligator
Shell:Horse conch
Song:
“Old Folks at Home”
Tree:
Sabal (cabbage) palm
Wildflower:
Coreopsis
If one state selects a particular species
as its “official” something, does that
mean no other state can claim it?
Not at all. Although state symbols are selected because
they are representative of a particular state, they may
not be exclusive to that state. A good example is the
mockingbird. In addition to Florida, four other states
— Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas — have
designated the mockingbird as their official state bird.
What’s a moonstone and how did it
get to be Florida’s state gem?
That’s an interesting story. Moonstones, which belong
to the mineral group feldspar, can be found in several
states, but Florida is not one of them. Florida is,
however, connected to the moon. Apollo 11, which
carried U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin
(Buzz) Aldrin to the moon in 1969, was launched from
Cape Canaveral. To memorialize that “giant leap for
mankind,” the Florida legislature adopted the moonstone
as Florida’s official state gem in 1970. Ironically,
moonstones are not found on the moon either.
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How come Florida has a state
song and a state anthem?
Good question. Florida did not have a state song
at all until 1913 when “Florida, My Florida” (sung
to the tune of “O Christmas Tree”) was designated
the official state song. In 1935, it was replaced by
Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home,” which opens
with the line “Way down upon the Swanee River….”
The logic behind this choice is somewhat fuzzy since
Florida has such a river, but it’s spelled “Suwannee”
and Foster himself never actually set foot in Florida.
Then, too, there’s the issue of the song’s lyrics
which harken back to pre-Civil War plantations and
slavery. Although the version sung in Florida schools
and at official events contained revised lyrics, “Old
Folks at Home” remained offensive to many. The
controversy came to a head in 2007 when newly
elected Gov. Charlie Crist refused to allow “Old Folks
at Home” to be played at his inauguration. A contest
was launched to select a new song. Three finalists
emerged from the 243 entries, and the choice was
put to a vote of the people. The winner was “Florida,
Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky,” composed by
Jan Hinton, a music teacher from Pompano Beach.
Just when it seemed the controversy might be over,
a bill to adopt the new tune as Florida’s official state
song met with opposition from north Florida legislators
who continued to argue forcefully on behalf of their
beloved Suwannee River. In the meantime, scholars
at the Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of
Pittsburgh had approved modernized lyrics for “Old
Folks at Home,” and so a compromise was reached.
In 2008, Gov. Crist signed a bill designating the new
song as Florida’s state anthem and the reworded
version of “Old Folks at Home” as its state song.
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