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What Do You Know About Florida? Fun Facts to Share From the Florida Association of Realtors(R)

"Whether you're a native whose family has calledFlorida home for generations, you moved here so many years ago you forget the exact date, or you're a newcomer toFlorida, we can always learn more about our exciting state," Shelton says. "The more we know aboutFlorida, the more we can share that information with others, especially new residents. It's a great way to build community and pass along a sense of pride in our home state. For instance, many people may not know the origin of the state's name - it comes from the Spanish 'Pascua Florida,' which means 'feast of flowers.'"

OtherFlorida facts:

Admitted to U.S. as a state on March 3, 1845 (27th State)

Nickname - Sunshine State

State flower - Orange blossom

State animal -Florida panther

State bird - Mockingbird

State beverage - Orange juice

State fruit - Orange

State marine mammal - Manatee

State reptile - American alligator

State pie - Key lime pie

State Stone - Agatized coral

State Tree - Sabal palmetto palm

State Butterfly - Zebra longwing

State wildflower - Coreopsis or Tickseed

State song - "The Swanee River" (Old Folks at Home) by Stephen C. Foster; Revised lyrics (2008)

Number of counties inFlorida - 67

Total area - 58,560 square miles

Land area - 54,252 square miles

Total water area - 4,308 square miles

Geographic center - 12 miles northwest ofBrooksville inHernando County

Coastline - 1,197 statute miles

Beaches - 663 miles

Florida has more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams and waterways

Longest river - St. Johns River at 273 miles

Largest lake - Lake Okeechobee at 700 square miles (second largest freshwater lake in the U.S.)

Sources include: Florida Department of State; Visit Florida; U.S. Census Bureau; University of Florida's Bureau of Economic & Business Research; State of Florida.com research; Netstate.com; and "State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols" by Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer.

The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate inFlorida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 67 boards/associations. For more FAR media releases, go to www.media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Association of Realtors