Portal:Florida

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The Florida Portal

Florida (/ˈflɒrɪdə/ (listen), Spanish pronunciation: [floˈɾiða]) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. With a population of over 21 million, Florida is the third-most populous and the 22nd-most extensive of the 50 United States. The state is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida. The state's capital is Tallahassee and its most populous municipality is Jacksonville. The Miami metropolitan area, with a population of almost 6.2 million, is the most populous urban area in Florida and the seventh-most populous in the United States. Other urban areas in the state with a population of more than one million are Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Florida's $1.0 trillion economy is the fourth-largest of any U.S. state, and if it were a country, Florida would be the 16th-largest economy in the world.

The first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who called it la Florida ([la floˈɾiða] "the land of flowers") upon landing there. At various points in its colonial history, Florida was administered by Spain and Great Britain. Florida was admitted as the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Florida was the principal location of the Seminole Wars (1816 – 1858), the longest and most extensive of Indian Wars in United States history. Florida declared its secession from the Union on January 10, 1861, and was one of the seven original Confederate States. After the Civil War, Florida was restored to the Union on June 25, 1868.

Today, Florida is distinctive for its large Cuban expatriate community and high population growth, as well as for its increasing environmental issues. The state's economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also renowned for amusement parks, orange crops, winter vegetables, the Kennedy Space Center, and as a popular destination for retirees. It is the flattest state in the United States, and Lake Okeechobee is its largest freshwater lake.

The state's close proximity to the ocean influences many aspects of Florida culture and daily life. Florida is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; African, European, indigenous, Latino, and Asian heritages can be found in the architecture and cuisine. Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports. Several beaches in Florida have turquoise and emerald-colored coastal waters.

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The Siege of St. Augustine occurred in Queen Anne's War during November and December 1702. It was conducted by English provincial forces from the Province of Carolina and their native allies, under the command of Carolina's governor James Moore, against the Spanish colonial fortress of Castillo de San Marcos at St. Augustine, in Spanish Florida.

After destroying coastal Spanish communities north of St. Augustine, Moore's forces arrived at St. Augustine on 10 November, and immediately began siege operations. The Spanish governor, José de Zúñiga y la Cerda, had advance warning of their arrival, and withdrew civilians and food supplies into the fortress, and also sent messengers to nearby Spanish and French communities for relief. The English guns did little damage to the fortress walls, prompting Governor Moore to send an appeal to Jamaica for larger guns. The Spanish calls for relief were successful; a fleet sent from Havana, Cuba landed troops nearby on 29 December. Moore lifted the siege the next day, and was forced to burn many of his boats before retreating to Charles Town in disgrace. Read more...

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... that George Wilson, Jr. was a starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins while his father, George Wilson, Sr., was the head coach?
... that prior to the first town council elections in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, a political forum for the candidates was hosted at a nudist resort?
... that upon its completion in 2016 at SeaWorld Orlando, Mako became the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the Orlando area of Florida?
... that oceanographer and former Florida State University dean Nancy Marcus was also a magician and ventriloquist?
... that Ralph Nader was nominated by the Ecology Party of Florida as a presidential candidate in 2008?
... that in Florida, winged termites are sometimes found stuck to wet foliage, buildings, or vehicles after rain?

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Yesterday, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would run for governor of California. The announcement was good news for Florida residents who now live in the second flakiest state in the country

— Conan O'Brien

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Color head-and-shoulders shot of Marino, in jacket and tie, wearing broadcaster's headset.

Marino preparing for 2005 ESPN interview

Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. After a successful college career at Pittsburgh and being named First-team All-American in 1981, Marino was the last quarterback taken in the first round of the quarterback class of 1983. Marino held or currently holds dozens of NFL records associated with the quarterback position, and despite never being on a Super Bowl-winning team, he is recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

Best remembered for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino helped the Dolphins become consistent postseason contenders, leading them to the playoffs ten times and one Super Bowl appearance in XIX, although a title victory ultimately eluded him during his career. Marino is considered by many to be one of the greatest players to never win a Super Bowl and has the most career victories of quarterbacks to not win a title at 155. Read more...

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A Great blue heron at Alafia River State Park
Farles Prairie in Ocala National Forest
The main street in Alachua downtown historic district
Florida from space, taken by Shuttle Mission STS-95 on October 31, 1998
Fountains at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, Florida
Downtown Miami, viewed from Virginia Key
Fort Jefferson at the Dry Tortugas
A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich that originated among the Cuban workers in the cigar factories in Key West, Florida^[1]^[2]
Fort Brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank (at the mouth) of the Hillsborough River in present-day Tampa, Florida

Current events

September 16, 2020 – 2020 Atlantic hurricane season: Hurricane Sally strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane. The storm has forced evacuations and left more than 150,000 people without electricity. It is now expected to make landfall near southeastern Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. (CNN); Part of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Pensacola, Florida, collapses due to a crane falling on it. (USA Today)
September 13, 2020 – Hurricane Sally: Hurricane warnings are issued to multiple locations in Louisiana and Mississippi as Hurricane Sally approaches from the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h). Flood watches are still in effect in Florida's west coast, including Tampa. (CNN)
September 11, 2020 – Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 pandemic in Florida; It is announced that bars in South Florida counties such as Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County will remain closed. However, bars in the rest of the state will be allowed to reopen at a 50% capacity. (The Sun-Sentinel) (New York Daily News)
September 7, 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 pandemic in Florida

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The following are images from various Florida-related articles on Wikipedia.

The expanded West Florida territory in 1767.
Timucua Indians at a column erected by the French in 1562
A map of Florida showing county names and boundaries
A depiction of what might be Florida from the 1502 Cantino map
Royal Poinciana tree in full bloom in the Florida Keys, an indication of South Florida's tropical climate
Tourists hunting in 1893
Seminole leader Osceola.
Typical summer afternoon shower from the Everglades traveling eastward over Downtown Miami
A 1527 map by Vesconte Maggiolo showing the east coast of North America with "Tera Florida" at the top and "Lavoradore" at the bottom.
South Florida's climate is ideal for growing sugarcane.
The brick Capitol as built in 1845.
"Butterfly ballot"
The Florida scrub jay is found only in Florida
Juan Ponce de León (Santervás de Campos, Valladolid, Spain). He was one of the first Europeans to set foot in the current U.S.; he led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named.
Fall foliage in North Florida
The Battle of Olustee was the only major Civil War battle fought in Florida.
Destruction in Lakes by the Bay near Miami following Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew bearing down on Florida on August 23, 1992
A 1591 map of Florida by Jacques le Moyne de Morgues.
Crandon Park in Key Biscayne
Five flags of Florida, not including the current State Flag or France.
Platydemus manokwari in Florida
Andrew Jackson served as the first military Governor of Florida.
The beach at Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys
Topographic map of Florida
Sunniland stratigraphic column
Sunniland Oil Fields
Kennedy Space Center.
Alligator in the Florida Everglades
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
Key deer in the lower Florida Keys
Soldiers and crowds in Downtown Miami 20 minutes after Japan's surrender ending World War II (1945).
A shell midden at Enterprise in 1875.
Bernard Picart Copper Plate Engraving of Florida Indians, Circa 1721
Snow is very uncommon in Florida, but has occurred in every major Florida city at least once; snow does fall very occasionally in North Florida
Florida map of Köppen climate classification.

Quality content

This is a list of recognized content, updated weekly by JL-Bot (talk · contribs). If an article is missing from the list, make sure it is tagged (e.g. {{WikiProject Florida}}) or categorized correctly. See WP:RECOG for configuration options.

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Did you know? articles

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office (2020-08-13) • WNDO (2020-07-01) • Frank Varga (2020-06-15) • WEBY (2020-06-03) • WDWR (2020-06-01) • WNMA (2020-05-13) • Luria's (2020-05-08) • Disappearance of Don Lewis (2020-05-01) • Carole Baskin (2020-04-29) • John Tiedtke (2020-04-20) • Port Charlotte Town Center (2020-04-19) • Amitermes floridensis (2020-03-22) • Mary Helen Johnston (2020-03-11) • WIRK-TV (2020-02-29) • WETV (Florida) (2020-02-08) • 2016 24 Hours of Daytona (2020-01-29) • WZKO (2020-01-25) • 2018 24 Hours of Daytona (2020-01-21) • Cypress Creek Middle High School (2020-01-14) • WFAB (Miami) (2020-01-11) • WHSR (2020-01-09) • WGAG-FM (2019-09-29) • Maggy Hurchalla (2019-09-22) • History of West Palm Beach, Florida (2019-08-24) • Stony coral tissue loss disease (2019-07-27) • Mike Gioulakis (2019-04-20) • Florida shuffle (2019-04-09) • Marjorie Paxson (2019-04-05) • Wayne Messam (2019-03-15) • 2003 Budweiser Shootout (2019-03-05) • Gaspar Jiménez (2019-02-24) • Emilio Milián (2019-02-24) • Steve Swindal (2019-02-15) • 2018 Florida Amendment 4 (2019-02-09) • Steinbrenner family (2019-02-02) • Reticulated siren (2018-12-24) • Agnes Ballard (2018-12-15) • Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (2018-12-12) • 2018 Tallahassee shooting (2018-12-09) • Mako (roller coaster) (2018-10-04) • Colonial Plaza (2018-10-03) • Ybor Stadium (2018-09-06) • Loxahatchee Groves, Florida (2018-08-02) • Bradenton Riverwalk (2018-05-10) • Tyler Kinley (2018-04-29) • 1989 Florida's 18th congressional district special election (2018-04-21) • Murder of Harry and Harriette Moore (2018-04-02) • Nancy Marcus (2018-03-18) • Savannah Jordan (2018-02-03) • Ochlockonee River State Park (2018-01-19)

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Credit: Ebyabe

DeFuniak Springs is a city in Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,089 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,141.

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Tag all talk pages of Florida articles and categories with {{WPFlorida|class=|importance=}}
Ensure all Florida categories have a brief text description (e.g. Stuff in the U.S. state of Florida.)
Find images for articles (see Category:Wikipedia requested photographs in Florida)
Provide sources for unreferenced articles (see lists at Cite sources and Unreferenced BLPs)
Add county templates ({{Hamilton County, Florida}}, {{Jackson County, Florida}}, etc.) to appropriate cities.
Expand many, many articles and locate other articles that require expansion.

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Requests: James Speer, Leigh Reed, Rubin Stacy, Fellsmere Frogleg Festival, El Sentinel Orlando, Larry D. Simpson, Ruth Eckerd, Florida Public Housing Projects, Bay District Schools (Florida), Orlando Ballet
Expand: Nathan Mayo, Lake Weir, Dorcas Drake, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Cape Romano, Ten Thousand Islands, Great Florida Birding Trail, more...
Copyedit, Cleanup or Wikify: Orlando Health, Withlacoochee, Plant City and Boca Grande Railroad, Tampa International Airport, USF Soccer Stadium, Scott Camil, WDAE (AM), U.S. Route 92, Central Florida Research Park, Lawton Chiles High School, Rutherford High School
Cite sources: Central Florida Krush, WVEN-TV, more...
Images wanted: Heathrow, Florida, ALLTEL Stadium, Fantasy Fest more...
SVGs to make Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach City Seals, Maps of Lake Okeechobee and Everglades National Park, more...