Ponce de León, seeking the mythical “Fountain of Youth,” discovered and also named Florida, claiming it for Spain. Later, Florida was held at different times by Spain and England until Spain finally would sale it to the United States in the year 1819. (Incidentally, France established a colony named Fort Caroline in the year 1564 in the state that was to become Florida.)
Florida's history in the early 19th century was marked with wars by the Seminole Indians, which did not end until the year 1842.

Florida's economy rests on a solid base of tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. Leading in the manufacturing sector are electrical equipment and electronics, publishing and printing, transportation equipment, food processing, and machinery. Grapefruit, oranges, and other citrus fruits lead Florida's agricultural products list, followed by potatoes, strawberries, melons, sugar cane, dairy products, peanuts, and cattle.

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
Statehood: Mar. 3, 1845 (27th state)
Highest pt.: 345 ft (105 m), Walton co.; lowest pt., sea level
Nickname: Sunshine State
Motto: In God We Trust
State bird: Mockingbird
State flower: Orange blossom
State tree: Sabal palmetto palm
Abbr., Fla.; FL