What is the abbreviation for Florida, and what region is it in?

Florida's two-letter postal abbreviation is FL. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the South region, in the South Atlantic division. About 21.5 million people lived there in the 2020 census, the third most of any state.

When did Florida become a state, and what number state was it?

Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Spain transferred Florida to the United States under the Adams-Onís Treaty, signed in 1819 and in force from 1821, and Congress organized the Florida Territory in 1822.

Who named Florida, and what does the name mean?

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León named the land "La Florida" when he reached its coast in 1513, during the Easter season, known in Spanish as Pascua Florida. The name also fits the Spanish word for "flowery."

What is the capital of Florida, and has it always been the capital?

Tallahassee has been the capital since 1824. Under Spanish and British rule Florida had two capitals, St. Augustine in East Florida and Pensacola in West Florida, and the territorial legislature chose Tallahassee in part because it lay between them. Tallahassee was the only Confederate state capital east of the Mississippi River not captured during the Civil War.

What states border Florida?

Florida borders only two states, Alabama and Georgia, both to the north. The rest of the state is surrounded by water: the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and the Straits of Florida to the south, where Key West lies about 90 miles from Cuba.

What is the oldest city in Florida?

St. Augustine, founded by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in September 1565, is the oldest continuously inhabited city of European origin in the continental United States. Its Castillo de San Marcos, completed in 1695, is now a national monument.

What are Florida's nickname and state symbols?

Florida is known as "The Sunshine State," a nickname the legislature adopted in 1970, and its motto is "In God We Trust." Its state bird is the northern mockingbird, its flower is the orange blossom, and its tree is the sabal palm.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Florida have?

Based on the 2020 census, Florida gained a seat and now has 28 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which gives it 30 votes in the Electoral College, the third most of any state.

State Guide27th StateEst. 1845

Florida FL

"The Sunshine State"

America's third most populous state and its most visited, a land of space launches and sunsets, orange groves and alligators, art deco hotels and ancient cypress swamps. From the moment Spain claimed it in 1513 to the moment Florida's recount decided a presidency, no state has shaped American history quite like the one at the end of the peninsula.

State Debt - FY2024

$20.1 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$63.1 billion

Total Florida state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Florida has no individual income tax, so collections are led by the state sales and use tax ($40B), with the corporate income tax ($6.1B) next.

Borrowing

Florida issues voter-approved general obligation bonds and revenue bonds, backed by dedicated revenues such as documentary stamp and gross receipts taxes, sold to investors in the municipal market. State policy targets a falling debt-to-revenue ratio, and Florida's tax-supported debt is low for its size. The state reported about $575 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

27th

State admitted to the Union

23.4M

Population, 3rd largest state

1,350

Miles of coastline

Most visited state in America

Florida's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Alright, Florida, let's do this. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a new governor (Ron DeSantis is term-limited), a U.S. senator in a special election, your member of the U.S. House, the Cabinet offices, and three amendments to the state constitution.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. Florida's House districts are new this year: the Legislature redrew them and the governor signed the map on May 4, so many of you are in a different district than in 2024.

Amendments in Florida need 60 percent of the vote to pass, not a simple majority. Two of the three this year are about property taxes, so they're worth a careful read.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each part of the ballot. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to register to vote	Monday, October 5
Some counties start early voting (check yours)	Monday, October 19
Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot (5 p.m.)	Thursday, October 22
Early voting required in every county, through October 31	Saturday, October 24
Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mail ballots due by 7 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Florida

Register by Monday, October 5. Check your registration, district, and sample ballot with your county Supervisor of Elections.

Early voting runs at least October 24 through 31 in every county, and many counties also open October 19 through November 1; hours and sites are set by your county. On Election Day, vote at your assigned polling place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Anyone can vote by mail. Request a ballot from your Supervisor of Elections by 5 p.m. on October 22 (requests from before the last general election have expired, so you may need to ask again). It must reach the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day; a postmark doesn't count, so mail it early or drop it off.

At the polls, bring a photo ID with your signature, like a Florida driver's license or ID card, passport, or military ID. If you don't have one, you can vote a provisional ballot.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Florida's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Amendments in Florida need 60 percent of the vote to pass, not a simple majority. Two of the three this year are about property taxes, so they're worth a careful read.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each part of the ballot. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Last day to register to vote

Monday, October 5

Some counties start early voting (check yours)

Monday, October 19

Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot (5 p.m.)

Thursday, October 22

Early voting required in every county, through October 31

Saturday, October 24

Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mail ballots due by 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Florida

Register by Monday, October 5. Check your registration, district, and sample ballot with your county Supervisor of Elections.

At the polls, bring a photo ID with your signature, like a Florida driver's license or ID card, passport, or military ID. If you don't have one, you can vote a provisional ballot.

Florida's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Florida

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Florida's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Florida

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading