Welcome to my Florida page. I hope you enjoy your visit and learn something new as well. The following is a poem I wrote about my lovely home state. It really says how I feel about living here...in MY Florida

I Must Be Home

If I can...walk on the gulf's emerald shore,
sugar-white sand between my toes, feel the balmy breeze,
hear the pound of the waves as constant as a heartbeat.
and if I see...tree lined paths of mossy oaks,
branches reaching up and over to form a canopy of green.
and if I can smell...honeysuckle, sweet and fragrant,
peach blossoms, magnolia and jasmine
and if I am...sitting on the porch at night,
listening to the crickets chirp,
the whipporwill's lonely call,
hearing the sounds that are a balm to my soul.

Then I must be........ahhh, HOME.

Symbols

State bird:mockingbird State Flag State Flower: Orange Blossom

State Animal: Panther
State Marine Mammal: Manatee
State Saltwater Mammal: Porpoise
State Freshwater Fish: Largemouth Bass
State Saltwater Fish: Sailfish
State Butterfly: Zebra Longwing
State Reptile: Alligator
State Wildflower: Coreopsis
State Tree: Sabal Palmetto Palm
State Stone: Agatized Coral
State Shell: Horse Conch

State Soil: Myakka fine sand
State Gemstone: Moonstone
State Beverage: Orange Juice (What else?!) :o)
State Play: "Cross and Sword" written by Paul Green

State Song: "The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)"
written by Stephen C. Foster

Motto: In God we trust

Origin of State Name: The Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León called the region La Florida, roughly translated as Land of the Flowers, when he visited it in 1513.

Nickname for State: The Sunshine State. The state nickname reflects the economic importance of its climate, which has been called its most important natural resource.

Nickname for residents: Floridians

Thanks for this wonderful award, Southern Women!

Demographics

Statehood: March 3, 1845, the 27th state
Capital: Tallahassee
Total Area: 23rd among states, 155,213 sq km (59,928 sq mi)
Water Area: 15,517 sq km (5,991 sq mi)
Highest Point: Sec. 30, T6N, R20W, Walton County, 105 m (345 ft)
Total Population: 4th among states
1990 census - 12,937,926
1998 estimate - 14,915,980

Population Density in 1998: 107 people per sq km (277 per sq mi)
Distribution in 1990: 85% Urban, 15% Rural

Economy:
Gross State Product - $360.5 billion (1996)
Personal income per Capita - $24,795 (1997)

Largest cities in 1990:
Jacksonville: 672,971
Miami: 358,548
Tampa: 280,015
Saint Petersburg: 238,629
Orlando: 164,693

plaque from Heart Nuggets

Famous Floridians

my apologies if all of the following links don't work. The sites they are linked to may change URLS without my knowledge

Wallace Amos (1936 - ) Founder of Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Corporation; born in Tallahassee.

Bobby Bowden (1934- ) Record-breaking coach of the Florida State Seminoles. Bowden ranks fifth on the all-time Division 1A coaching list with 281 victories, 83 losses and four ties.

Jimmy Buffett (1946- ) Key West warbler who had hits with "Margaritaville" and other songs in the 1970's.

Ray Charles (1930-2004 ) Grammy winning R&B and Pop singer.

Jacqueline Cochran (1910 - 1980) Pilot who organized women pilots during World War II; born in Pensacola.

Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (1890- ) Environmental acivist who urged preservation of the Everglades and launched a fight against development of the Everglades.

Gloria Estefan (1957 - ) Cuban singer and songwriter; raised in Miami.

Dwight Gooden (1964 - ) Baseball pitcher, born in Tampa.

Harry T. Moore (1905 - 1951) 1930-40's Civil Rights worker; born in Houston.

Osceola (c. 1800 - 1838) Seminole Indian leader.

Sidney Poitier (1927 - ) First African-American actor to win an Oscar, which he won for the movie "Lilies of the Fields;" Born in Miami.

A. Philip Randolph (1889 - 1979) Labor leader; born in Crescent City.

Marjorie Kinan Rawlings (1896-1953) Author of the classic "The Yearling" which won her a Pulitzer award in 1939.

Burt Reynolds (1936 - ) Actor made famous in films like Hustle and Smokey and the Bandit; owns ranch in Jupiter.

Charles Ringling (1864 - 1926) and John Ringling (1866 - 1936) Co-founders of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, were born in the late 1800s.

David Robinson (1965 - ) Basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs; born in Key West.