| State in the extreme SE United States. A long, low peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is bordered by Georgia and Alabama. Area, 58,560 sq mi (151,670 sq km). Pop. (2000) 15,982,378, a 23.5% increase since the 1990 census. Capital, Tallahassee. Largest city, Jacksonville. Nickname, Sunshine State. Motto, In God We Trust. State bird, mockingbird. State flower, orange blossom. State tree, Sabal palmetto palm. Tourism plays a primary role in the state's economy; in 1996 visitors to Florida spent over $48 billion. Walt Disney World, a massive cluster of theme parks near Orlando that is one of the world's leading tourist attractions; Universal Studios, a combination theme park and film and television production facility, also near Orlando; and other attractions draw millions yearly. Famed beaches, such as those at Miami Beach , Daytona Beach , and Fort Lauderdale , attract hordes of vacationers. With more than 4,000 sq mi (10,360 sq km) of inland water and with the sea readily accessible from almost anywhere in the state, Florida is a fishing paradise. Other attractions include Everglades National Park, with its unusual plant and animal life; Palm Beach , with its palatial estates; and Sanibel Island's picturesque resorts.
Famous for its citrus fruits, Florida leads the nation in the production of oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and market-ready corn and tomatoes. Other important crops include sugarcane and many varieties of winter vegetables. Cattle and dairy products are important, as is commercial fishing, with the catch including crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. *Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
Celebration Town
With our modern offices based in Celebration Town, visitors to Florida can step back in time to the small town feel of the 1950's America where children played safely in the streets and neighbors shared a glass of Lemonade whilst relaxing on their Front Porch. Celebration Town has been voted amongst America's favorite small Towns every year since its creation in the mid 1990's. Founded and built by Walt Disney on Disney Property, the Downtown area was designed around a beautiful Lake and Conservation area with Nature walking trails and inviting rocking chairs by the Lake posed to enjoy the Florida sunsets every evening. Visitors and residents of Celebration enjoy the delightful Downtown area with regular festivals, fabulous restaurants and boutique shops as well as Sunday Farmers' Markets. If you are considering a move to Central Florida, we offer informative tours of the Town with lots of local, school and Church information - Email us anytime for more information at Richard@TonyDavidsHomes.com. |