brightfuture americausa
- State website
- Florida at the Open Directory Project
- Florida State Guide, from the Library of Congress
- Florida travel guide from Wikitravel
- Florida Memory Project Over 300,000 photographs and documents from the State Library & Archives of Florida
- Online collection of the Spanish Land Grants.
- USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Florida
- University of Florida Digital Collections Digital collections of texts and images, including Florida aerial photography, ephemeral photographs and postcards, letters, and more
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Economic and farm demographics fact sheet from the USDA
- Energy & Environmental Data For Florida
- List of searchable databases produced by Florida state agencies hosted by the American Library Association Government Documents Roundtable
- Heliconius charitonia, zebra longwing Florida state butterfly, on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
- Florida stone quarry information on Stone Quarries and Beyond
- "Scenes in Florida", in Picturesque America, with Illustrations, by Harry Fenn, 1872, on Stone Quarries and Beyond.
- Florida Rivers and Watersheds – Florida DEP
Coordinates: 28°06′N 81°36′W / 28.1°N 81.6°W
Related information
 |
 Alabama |
.svg/22px-Flag_of_Georgia_(U.S._state).svg.png){kind=small} Georgia (U.S. state) |
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| Gulf of Mexico |  |
Atlantic Ocean | ||
 Florida: Outline • Index  |
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 |
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| Straits of Florida Caribbean Sea |
 The Bahamas |
| Preceded by Michigan |
List of U.S. states by date of statehood Admitted on March 3, 1845 (27th) |
Succeeded by Texas |
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Tourism
Tourism makes up the largest sector of the state economy. Warm weather and hundreds of miles of beaches attract about 60 million visitors to the state every year. Florida was the top destination state in 2011. 42% of all residents in the Northeast United States planned on visiting Florida over spring break.[135]
Amusement parks, especially in the Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort is the largest vacation resort in the world, consisting of four theme parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; it, and Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and other major parks drive state tourism. Many beach towns are also popular tourist destinations, particularly in the winter months. 23.2 million tourists visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $21.9 billion.[136]
The public has a right to beach access under the public trust doctrine. However, some areas have access effectively blocked by private owners for a long distance.[137]
Agriculture
Historically, Florida's economy was based upon cattle farming and agriculture (especially sugarcane, citrus, tomatoes, and strawberries).
The second largest industry is agriculture. Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the U.S.—in 2006 67% of all citrus, 74% of oranges, 58% of tangerines, and 54% of grapefruit. About 95% of commercial orange production in the state is destined for processing (mostly as orange juice, the official state beverage).[138] Citrus canker continues to be an issue of concern. Other products include sugarcane, strawberries, tomatoes and celery.[139] The state is the largest producer of sweet corn and green beans for the country.[140]
The Everglades Agricultural Area is a major center for agriculture. The environmental impact of agriculture—especially water pollution—is a major issue in Florida today.
Industry
Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone Valley, is the state's third-largest industry. The state produces about 75% of the phosphate required by farmers in the United States and 25% of the world supply, with about 95% used for agriculture (90% for fertilizer and 5% for livestock feed supplements) and 5% used for other products.[141]
Since the arrival of the NASA Merritt Island launch sites on Cape Canaveral (most notably Kennedy Space Center) in 1962, Florida has developed a sizable aerospace industry.
Another major economic engine in Florida is the United States Military. There are currently 24 military bases in the state, housing three Unified Combatant Commands; United States Central Command in Tampa, United States Southern Command in Doral, and United States Special Operations Command in Tampa. There are 109,390 U.S. military personnel currently stationed in Florida,[142] contributing, directly and indirectly, $52 billion a year to the state's economy.[143]
Fishing
In 2009, fishing was a $6 billion industry, employing 60,000 jobs for sports and commercial purposes.[144]
Education
Florida's public primary and secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of Education.
State University System
The State University System of Florida was founded in 1905, and is governed by the Florida Board of Governors. During the 2008 academic year 301,570 students attended one of these member institutions.
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Private universities
Florida's first private university, Stetson University, was founded in 1883. The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida is an association of 28 private, educational institutions in the state.[145] This Association reported that their member institutions served over 121,000 students in the fall of 2006.[146]
c
Infrastructure
Communication
27% of Floridians exclusively own cell phones for communication; no landline. Nationally, figures vary from 13–35%, with the higher percentages an indication of lower income.[147]
Transportation
Highways
Florida's interstates, state highways and U.S. Highways are maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation. Florida's interstate highway system contains 1,473 miles (2,371 km) of highway, and there are 9,934 miles (15,987 km) of non-interstate highway in the state, such as Florida state highways and U.S. Highways.
In 2011, there were about 9,000 retail gas stations in the state.On an average day, Floridians consume 21 million gallons of gasoline, ranking it third in national use.[148][149]
State highways are numbered according to convention. The first digits of state highways[150] are numbered with the first digit indicating what area of the state the road is in, from 1 in the north and east to 9 in the south and west. Major north-south state roads generally have one- or two-digit odd route numbers that increase from east to west, while major east-west state roads generally have one- or two-digit even route numbers that increase from north to south. Roads of secondary importance usually have three-digit route numbers. The first digit x of their route number is the same as the first digit of the road with two-digit number x0 to the immediate north. The three-digit route numbers also increase from north to south for even numbers and east to west for odd numbers.
Following this convention, State Road 907, or Alton Rd. on Miami Beach, is farther east than State Road 997, which is Krome Ave, or the farthest west north-south road in Miami-Dade County. One notable exception to the convention is State Road 826, or the Palmetto Expressway (pictured at the right heading north) which, although even numbered, is signed north-south. State roads can have anywhere from one to four digits depending on the importance and location of the road.[151] County roads often follow this same system.
Prior to the construction of routes under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, Florida began construction of a long cross-state toll road, Florida's Turnpike. The first section, from Fort Pierce south to the Golden Glades Interchange was completed in 1957. After a second section north through Orlando to Wildwood (near present-day The Villages), and a southward extension around Miami to Homestead, it was finished in 1974.
Florida's primary interstate routes include:
I-4, which bisects the state, connecting Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, and Daytona Beach, connecting with I-95 in Daytona Beach and I-75 in Tampa. 
I-10, which traverses the panhandle, connecting Jacksonville, Lake City, Tallahassee and Pensacola, with junctions with I-95 in Jacksonville and I-75 in Lake City. 
I-75, which enters the state near Lake City (45 miles west of Jacksonville) and continues southward through Gainesville, Ocala, Tampa's eastern suburbs, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples, where it crosses the "Alligator Alley" as a toll road to Fort Lauderdale before turning southward and terminating in Hialeah/Miami Lakes having junctions with I-10 in Lake City and I-4 in Tampa. 
I-95, which enters the state near Jacksonville and continues along the Atlantic Coast through Daytona Beach Melbourne/Titusville, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale before terminating in Downtown Miami, with junctions with I-10 in Jacksonville and I-4 in Daytona Beach.
Intercity rail
Florida is served by Amtrak: Sanford, in Greater Orlando, is the southern terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train, which originates at Lorton, Virginia, south of Washington, D.C.. Orlando is also the eastern terminus of the Sunset Limited, which travels across the southern United States via New Orleans, Houston, and San Antonio to its western terminus of Los Angeles. Florida is served by two additional Amtrak trains (the Silver Star and the Silver Meteor), which operate between New York City and Miami.
The Florida Department of Transportation was preparing to build a high speed rail between Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.[152] This is the first phase of the Florida High Speed Rail system.[153] Soil work began in July 2010[154][155] and construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial Tampa-Orlando phase completed by 2014.[156] The second phase, would extend the line to Miami. Governor Scott, however, refused federal funds and the project has been canceled.
Airports
Florida's extensive coastline made it a perceived target during World War II, so the government built airstrips throughout the state; today, approximately 400 airports are still in service. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, Florida has 131 public airports, and more than 700 private airports, airstrips, heliports, and seaplane bases.[157] Major international airports in Florida which processed more than 15 million passengers each in 2006 are Orlando International Airport (34,128,048), Miami International Airport (32,533,974), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (21,369,577) and Tampa International Airport (18,867,541). Secondary airports, with annual passenger traffic exceeding 5 million each in 2006, include Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers) (7,643,217), Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm Beach) (7,014,237),[158] and Jacksonville International Airport (5,946,188). Regional Airports which processed over one million passengers each in 2006 are Pensacola (1,620,198) and Sarasota-Bradenton (1,423,113). Sanford, which is primarily served by international charter airlines processed 1,649,565 passengers in 2006.[159]
Sports
Most Major League Baseball's spring training, and nearly 2/3 of all MLB teams have a spring training presence in the state. Yet Florida did not have a permanent major-league-level professional sports team until the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins in 1966. The state now has three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams, and two NHL teams.
Three of the Arena Football League's teams are in Florida.
Golf, tennis, and auto racing are popular.
Minor league baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer and indoor football teams are based in Florida. Florida's universities have a number of collegiate sport teams.
| Club | League | Venue | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | National Football League | Sun Life Stadium (Miami) | 2 (1972, 1973) |
| Miami Heat | National Basketball Association | American Airlines Arena (Miami) | 1 (2006) |
| Florida Marlins | Major League Baseball | Sun Life Stadium (Miami) | 2 (1997, 2003) |
| Florida Panthers | National Hockey League | BankAtlantic Center (Sunrise) | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | National Football League | Raymond James Stadium (Tampa) | 1 (2003) |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Major League Baseball | Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg) | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | National Hockey League | St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa) | 1 (2004) |
| Orlando Magic | National Basketball Association | Amway Center (Orlando) | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | National Football League | EverBank Field (Jacksonville) | 0 |
Spring training
Florida is the traditional home for Major League Baseball spring training, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit League". For 2010, Florida will host the following major league teams for spring training:
| Club | Location |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | Walt Disney World |
| Baltimore Orioles | Sarasota |
| Boston Red Sox | Fort Myers |
| Detroit Tigers | Lakeland |
| Florida Marlins | Jupiter |
| Houston Astros | Kissimmee |
| Minnesota Twins | Fort Myers |
| New York Mets | Port St. Lucie |
| New York Yankees | Tampa |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Clearwater |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Bradenton |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Jupiter |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Port Charlotte |
| Toronto Blue Jays | Dunedin |
| Washington Nationals | Viera |
Auto-racing tracks
- Daytona International Speedway
- Homestead-Miami Speedway
- Sebring International Raceway
- Streets of St. Petersburg
- Walt Disney World Speedway
Culture
Food unique to Florida include rock shrimp[160] and blue crabs.[161]
Sister states
| Sister jurisdiction | Country | Year[162] |
|---|---|---|
| Languedoc-Roussillon |  France |
1989 |
| Taiwan Province |  Taiwan, R.O.C. |
1992 |
| Wakayama Prefecture |  Japan |
1995 |
| Western Cape |  South Africa |
1995 |
| Nueva Esparta |  Venezuela |
1999 |
| Kyonggi |  South Korea |
2000 |
See also
Additional, more specific, and related topics may be found at:
- Outline of Florida
- Index of Florida-related articles
- List of Florida-related topics
- List of National Register of Historic Places in Florida
- List of people from Florida
- List of places in Florida
- U.S. state
References
Metropolitan areas
Largest cities in Florida
See also: List of urbanized areas in Florida (by population), Florida census statistical areas, List of cities in Florida, and Florida locations by per capita income
Largest cities in Florida[80]
City population > 500,000
City
Population
Metropolitan area
821,784
City population > 200,000
City
Population
Metropolitan area
399,457
335,709
244,769
238,300
224,669
South Florida
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Greater Orlando
South Florida
City population > 150,000
City
Population
Metropolitan area
Tallahassee
Fort Lauderdale
Port Saint Lucie
Pembroke Pines
Cape Coral
181,376
165,521
164,603
154,750
154,305
Tallahassee
South Florida
Port St. Lucie
South Florida
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
City population > 100,000
City
Population
Metropolitan area
Hollywood
Gainesville
Miramar
Coral Springs
Clearwater
Miami Gardens
Palm Bay
140,768
124,354
122,041
121,096
107,685
107,167
103,190
South Florida
Gainesville
South Florida
South Florida
Tampa Bay
South Florida
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
Largest metropolitan areas in Florida
Rank
Metropolitan Area
Population
1
South Florida
5,564,635
2
Tampa Bay
2,783,243
3
Greater Orlando
2,134,411
4
Greater Jacksonville
1,345,596
5
Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice
702,281
The largest metropolitan area in the state as well as the entire southeastern United States is the South Florida metropolitan area, with about 5.5 million people. The Tampa Bay area, with over 2.7 million people, is the second largest metro area and Greater Orlando, with over 2.1 million people, is the third.
Florida has twenty Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Thirty-nine of Florida's sixty-seven counties are in an MSA. Reflecting the distribution of population in Florida, Metropolitan areas in the state are concentrated around the coast of the peninsula. They form a continuous band on the east coast of Florida, stretching from the Jacksonville MSA to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA, including every county on the east coast, with the exception of Monroe County. There is also a continuous band of MSAs on the west coast of the peninsula from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA to the Naples-Marco Island MSA, including all of the coastal counties from Hernando County to Collier County. The interior of the northern half of the peninsula also has several MSAs, connecting the east and west coast MSAs. A few MSAs are scattered across the Florida panhandle.
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Languages
Florida (
i/ˈflɒrɪdə/) is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census conducted by United States Census Bureau, it is the fourth most populous state in the country.[5][6] With an area of 65,755 square miles (170,305 km2), Florida ranks 22nd in size among the 50 U.S. states. The state capital is Tallahassee, its largest city is Jacksonville, and the South Florida metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S.
Much of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida. Its geography is marked by a coastline, by the omnipresence of water and the threat of hurricanes. Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, encompassing approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), and is the only state to border both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the state is at or near sea level and its terrain is characterized by sedimentary soils. The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south.[7] Its symbolic animals like the American alligator, Florida panther and the manatee, can be found in the Everglades, one of the most famous national parks in the world.
Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León – who named it La Florida ("Flowery Land") upon landing there during the Easter season, Pascua Florida[8] – Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845. It was a principal location of the Seminole Wars against the Indians, and racial segregation after the American Civil War. Today, it is distinguished by its large Hispanic community, and high population growth, as well as its raising environmental concerns. Its economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture and transport, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of oranges and the Kennedy Space Center.
Florida culture is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; Native American, European American, African American and Hispanic 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 tennis, golf, auto racing and water sports.
Contents
[hide]
History
821,784
399,457
335,709
244,769
238,300
224,669
South Florida
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Greater Orlando
South Florida
Tallahassee
Fort Lauderdale
Port Saint Lucie
Pembroke Pines
Cape Coral
181,376
165,521
164,603
154,750
154,305
Tallahassee
South Florida
Port St. Lucie
South Florida
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
Hollywood
Gainesville
Miramar
Coral Springs
Clearwater
Miami Gardens
Palm Bay
140,768
124,354
122,041
121,096
107,685
107,167
103,190
South Florida
Gainesville
South Florida
South Florida
Tampa Bay
South Florida
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
| Largest metropolitan areas in Florida | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Metropolitan Area | Population |
| 1 | South Florida | 5,564,635 |
| 2 | Tampa Bay | 2,783,243 |
| 3 | Greater Orlando | 2,134,411 |
| 4 | Greater Jacksonville | 1,345,596 |
| 5 | Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice | 702,281 |
Florida (i/ˈflɒrɪdə/) is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census conducted by United States Census Bureau, it is the fourth most populous state in the country.[5][6] With an area of 65,755 square miles (170,305 km2), Florida ranks 22nd in size among the 50 U.S. states. The state capital is Tallahassee, its largest city is Jacksonville, and the South Florida metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S.
Much of Florida is situated on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of Florida. Its geography is marked by a coastline, by the omnipresence of water and the threat of hurricanes. Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, encompassing approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), and is the only state to border both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the state is at or near sea level and its terrain is characterized by sedimentary soils. The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south.[7] Its symbolic animals like the American alligator, Florida panther and the manatee, can be found in the Everglades, one of the most famous national parks in the world.
Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León – who named it La Florida ("Flowery Land") upon landing there during the Easter season, Pascua Florida[8] – Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845. It was a principal location of the Seminole Wars against the Indians, and racial segregation after the American Civil War. Today, it is distinguished by its large Hispanic community, and high population growth, as well as its raising environmental concerns. Its economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture and transport, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of oranges and the Kennedy Space Center.
Florida culture is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; Native American, European American, African American and Hispanic 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 tennis, golf, auto racing and water sports.
Contents[hide] |
History
The Thirteen Colonies of Colonial America
Connecticut Colony · Delaware Colony · Province of Georgia · Province of Maryland · Province of Massachusetts Bay · Province of New Hampshire · Province of New York · Province of New Jersey · Province of North Carolina · Province of Pennsylvania · Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations · Province of South Carolina · Colony of Virginia
[hide]Colonial Colleges
Preceded by
New Jersey
List of U.S. states by date of statehood
Ratified Constitution on January 2, 1788 (4th)
Succeeded by
Connecticut
- Georgia state government website
- Georgia state information and cities
- Georgia State Guide, from the Library of Congress
- Official Georgia Tourism Website
- Georgia Archives – Official archives of the State of Georgia.
- Summary of duties, powers and responsibilities of the branches of Georgia state government (Georgia Secretary of State website)
- Energy Profile for Georgia
- USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Georgia
- U.S. Census Bureau
- The New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Georgia Guide
- Digital Library of Georgia
- Georgia (U.S. state) at the Open Directory Project
- Georgia State Databases – Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Georgia state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
- Georgia Constitution Web Page, Carl Vinson Institute of Government at The University of Georgia (includes historical Constitutions of Georgia)
Coordinates: 33°00′N 83°30′W / 33°N 83.5°W
[edit] Related information
Tennessee • 
North Carolina
South Carolina
Alabama
Georgia: Outline • Index
FloridaAtlantic Ocean
[hide] Articles Related to Georgia
The Peach State
[hide].svg/23px-Flag_of_Georgia_(U.S._state).svg.png)
State of Georgia
Atlanta (capital)
Topics
Geology | History | Delegations | Government | Governors | Culture | People | Music | Elections | Politics | Geography | State Parks | Demographics | Economy | Sports | Visitor Attractions
Regions
Largest cities
Counties
Appling | Atkinson | Bacon | Baker | Baldwin | Banks | Barrow | Bartow | Ben Hill | Berrien | Bibb | Bleckley | Brantley | Brooks | Bryan | Bulloch | Burke | Butts | Calhoun | Camden | Candler | Carroll | Catoosa | Charlton | Chatham | Chattahoochee | Chattooga | Cherokee | Clarke | Clay | Clayton | Clinch | Cobb | Coffee | Colquitt | Columbia | Cook | Coweta | Crawford | Crisp | Dade | Dawson | Decatur | DeKalb | Dodge | Dooly | Dougherty | Douglas | Early | Echols | Effingham | Elbert | Emanuel | Evans | Fannin | Fayette | Floyd | Forsyth | Franklin | Fulton | Gilmer | Glascock | Glynn | Gordon | Grady | Greene | Gwinnett | Habersham | Hall | Hancock | Haralson | Harris | Hart | Heard | Henry | Houston | Irwin | Jackson | Jasper | Jeff Davis | Jefferson | Jenkins | Johnson | Jones | Lamar | Lanier | Laurens | Lee | Liberty | Lincoln | Long | Lowndes | Lumpkin | Macon | Madison | Marion | McDuffie | McIntosh | Meriwether | Miller | Mitchell | Monroe | Montgomery | Morgan | Murray | Muscogee | Newton | Oconee | Oglethorpe | Paulding | Peach | Pickens | Pierce | Pike | Polk | Pulaski | Putnam | Quitman | Rabun | Randolph | Richmond | Rockdale | Schley | Screven | Seminole | Spalding | Stephens | Stewart | Sumter | Talbot | Taliaferro | Tattnall | Taylor | Telfair | Terrell | Thomas | Tift | Toombs | Towns | Treutlen | Troup | Turner | Twiggs | Union | Upson | Walker | Walton | Ware | Warren | Washington | Wayne | Webster | Wheeler | White | Whitfield | Wilcox | Wilkes | Wilkinson | Worth | (Campbell) | (Milton)
[hide]Former Confederate States of America (CSA)
Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Georgia · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia
[hide]Mayors of cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in Georgia
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Other states: AL • AK • AZ • AR • CA • CO • CT • DE • FL • GA • HI • ID • IL • IN • IA • KS • KY • LA • ME • MD • MA • MI • MN • MS • MO • MT • NE • NV • NH • NJ • NM • NY • NC • ND • OH • OK • OR • PA • RI • SC • SD • TN • TX • UT • VT • VA • WA • WV • WI • WY
[hide]Political divisions of the United States
States
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Federal district
Insular areas
Outlying islands
Health care
Georgians can find medical and dental care "via 151 general hospitals, more than 15,000 doctors and nearly 6,000 dentists."[58] The state is ranked forty-first in the percentage of residents who engage in regular exercise.[59]
[edit] Education
Anderson Hall at Savannah College of Art and Design
Main article: Education in Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia high schools (grades nine through twelve) are required to administer a standardized, multiple choice End of Course Test, or EOCT, in each of eight core subjects including Algebra I, Geometry, U.S. History, Economics, Biology, Physical Science, Ninth Grade Literature and Composition, and American Literature and Composition. The official purpose of the tests is to assess "specific content knowledge and skills." Although a minimum test score is not required for the student to receive credit in the course, completion of the test is mandatory. The EOCT score comprises 15% of a student's grade in the course.[60] The Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) is taken in 1st–8th grade.
High school students must also receive passing scores on four Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and the Georgia High School Writing Assessment in order to receive a diploma. Subjects assessed include Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. These tests are initially offered during students' eleventh-grade year, allowing for multiple opportunities to pass the tests before graduation at the end of twelfth grade.[61]
Georgia has almost 70 public colleges, universities, and technical colleges in addition to over 45 private institutes of higher learning.
The HOPE Scholarship, funded by the state lottery, is available to all Georgia residents who have graduated from high school/earned a GED. The student must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average and attend a public college or university in the state.
[edit] Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Georgia (U.S. state)
_welcome_sign.jpg/220px-Georgia_(US_state)_welcome_sign.jpg)
Georgia state welcome sign.
Transportation in Georgia is overseen by the Georgia Department of Transportation, a part of the executive branch of the state government. Georgia's major Interstate Highways are I-75 and I-85. On March 18, 1998, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution naming the portion of Interstate Highway 75, which runs from the Chattahoochee River northward to the Tennessee state line the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. Larry McDonald, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, had been on Korean Air Lines Flight 007 when it was shot down by the Soviets on September 1, 1983.
Other important interstate highways are I-95, I-20, I-16, I-59 and I-24. I-285 is Atlanta, Georgia's perimeter route and I-575 connects with counties in north Georgia on I-75.[62] Major freight railroads in Georgia include CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway. Passenger service in Georgia is available on two Amtrak routes: the Crescent, which runs from New York to Washington, D.C., through north Georgia and Atlanta to New Orléans and the other runs from New York to the Georgia coast and from there to Florida.[63]
[edit] Interstate highways
Interstate 16, 
Interstate 516 
Interstate 20, 
Interstate 520 
Interstate 24 (two interchanges) 
Interstate 59 (four interchanges) - Interstate 75,
Interstate 475, 
Interstate 575, 
Interstate 675
Interstate 85, .svg/25px-I-185_(GA).svg.png)
Interstate 185, 
Interstate 985 - Interstate 95
Interstate 285 (The Perimeter around Atlanta) 
Interstate 3 (proposed) 
Interstate 14 (proposed)
[edit] United States highways
[edit] North-south routes
[edit] East-west routes
[edit] Airports
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport's 398-foot (121 m) tall control tower
Georgia's primary commercial airport is Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and is the world's busiest passenger airport.[64] In addition to Hartsfield-Jackson, there are eight other airports serving major commercial traffic in Georgia. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the state as measured by passengers served, and is the only additional international airport. Other commercial airports (ranked in order of passengers served) are located in Augusta, Columbus, Albany, Macon, Brunswick, Valdosta, and Athens.[65]
Georgia has 98 public-use general aviation airports in addition to its primary commercial airports. The busiest of these airports in terms of daily takoff and landing traffic is DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Georgia (known as "PDK" due to its DOT call letters). PDK has averaged more than 230,000 takeoffs and landings per year for over thirty years, and serves as a "general reliever airport" for the Atlanta area.[65] Other general reliever airports in the metro Atlanta area include Charlie Brown Field in Atlanta, Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, and McCollum Field in Kennesaw.
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
Georgia resident Ted Turner founded TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, CNN and Headline News, among others. The CNN Center, which houses the news channel's world headquarters, is located in downtown Atlanta, facing Marietta Street, while the home offices of the Turner Entertainment networks are located in midtown, near the Georgia Tech campus, on Techwood Drive. A third Turner building is on Williams Street, directly across Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 from the Techwood Drive campus and Swim and Williams Street Studios.
The Weather Channel's headquarters are located in the Smyrna area of metropolitan Atlanta in Cobb County.
WSB-TV was the state's first television station, and the southeastern United States' second. WSB-TV signed on Channel 8 in 1948, and moved to its present day location on Channel 2 in 1952.
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) operates nine major Non-commercial educational television stations across the state as Georgia Public Broadcasting Television.[66]
SportSouth and Fox Sports South are the leaders in sports television in the southeast. The Television studio and offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia on Peachtree Street.
[edit] Radio
See also: List of radio stations in Georgia
WSB-AM in Atlanta was the first licensed radio station in the southeastern United States, signing on in 1922. The station currently broadcasts a news/talk format. WMAZ (Watch Mercer Attain Zenith) in Macon first broadcast commencement exercises of Mercer University in June 1921 but was unlicensed and had a power of only 10 watts. It was licensed in February 1923 and today has a power of 50,000 watts daytime and uses the call sign WMAC AM 940.See http://www.antiqueradio.com/wmaz_03-98.html WSB-FM signed on in 1948 on 104.5 FM, and moved to 98.5 FM in 1952. The station broadcasts today, still with the WSB-FM callsign, but is known as "B98.5FM".
Georgia Public Radio has been in service since 1984 and, with the exception of Atlanta, it broadcasts daily on several FM (and one AM) stations across the state. 1984.[67][68] Georgia Public Radio reaches nearly all of Georgia (with the exception of the Atlanta area, which is served by WABE), as well as portions of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
[edit] Newspapers
There are several notable newspapers in Georgia. Among them are The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Augusta Chronicle, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, The Telegraph (formerly The Macon Telegraph) and the Savannah Morning News.
[edit] Sports and recreation
Main article: Sports in Georgia (U.S. state)
Sports in Georgia include professional teams in all major sports, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports. The State of Georgia has a team in seven major professional leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, ABA, AFL, IL, and ECHL). Georgia has an abundance of outdoor recreational activities. Outdoor activities include, but are not limited to, hiking along the Appalachian Trail; Civil War Heritage Trails; rock climbing and whitewater paddling.[69][70][71][72] Other outdoor activities include hunting and fishing. Less rustic activities are trips to Callaway Gardens; and Zoo Atlanta.[73][74][75][76] NBA superstars Dwight Howard, Josh Smith,and Javaris Crittenton, Heavyweight champion boxer Evander Holyfield and wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan are also from Atlanta.
[edit] State facts and symbols
Georgia i/ˈdʒɔrdʒⁱə/ is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788. It declared its secession from the Union on January 21, 1861, and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It was the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870.
The 2010 US Census reported 9,687,653 residents, making Georgia the ninth most populous state.[1] From 2007 to 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing, second only to Texas.[3] Georgia is known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city.
Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina; on the west by Alabama; and on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. The northern part of the state is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a mountain range in the vast Appalachian Mountains system. The central piedmont extends from the foothills to the fall line, where the rivers cascade down in elevation to the continental coastal plain of the southern part of the state. The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, 4,784 feet (1,458 m); the lowest point is sea level.
With an area of 59,425 square miles (153,909 km2), Georgia is ranked 24th in size among the 50 U.S. states. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area, although it is the fourth largest (after Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin) in total area, a term which includes expanses of water which are part of state territory.[4]
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| The Thirteen Colonies of Colonial America | |
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Connecticut Colony · Delaware Colony · Province of Georgia · Province of Maryland · Province of Massachusetts Bay · Province of New Hampshire · Province of New York · Province of New Jersey · Province of North Carolina · Province of Pennsylvania · Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations · Province of South Carolina · Colony of Virginia
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| Preceded by New Jersey |
List of U.S. states by date of statehood Ratified Constitution on January 2, 1788 (4th) |
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Tennessee • North Carolina |
South Carolina |
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| Georgia: Outline • Index |
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Atlantic Ocean |
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Georgians can find medical and dental care "via 151 general hospitals, more than 15,000 doctors and nearly 6,000 dentists."[58] The state is ranked forty-first in the percentage of residents who engage in regular exercise.[59]
[edit] Education
Georgia high schools (grades nine through twelve) are required to administer a standardized, multiple choice End of Course Test, or EOCT, in each of eight core subjects including Algebra I, Geometry, U.S. History, Economics, Biology, Physical Science, Ninth Grade Literature and Composition, and American Literature and Composition. The official purpose of the tests is to assess "specific content knowledge and skills." Although a minimum test score is not required for the student to receive credit in the course, completion of the test is mandatory. The EOCT score comprises 15% of a student's grade in the course.[60] The Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) is taken in 1st–8th grade.
High school students must also receive passing scores on four Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and the Georgia High School Writing Assessment in order to receive a diploma. Subjects assessed include Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. These tests are initially offered during students' eleventh-grade year, allowing for multiple opportunities to pass the tests before graduation at the end of twelfth grade.[61]
Georgia has almost 70 public colleges, universities, and technical colleges in addition to over 45 private institutes of higher learning.
The HOPE Scholarship, funded by the state lottery, is available to all Georgia residents who have graduated from high school/earned a GED. The student must maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average and attend a public college or university in the state.
[edit] Transportation
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Transportation in Georgia is overseen by the Georgia Department of Transportation, a part of the executive branch of the state government. Georgia's major Interstate Highways are I-75 and I-85. On March 18, 1998, the Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution naming the portion of Interstate Highway 75, which runs from the Chattahoochee River northward to the Tennessee state line the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. Larry McDonald, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, had been on Korean Air Lines Flight 007 when it was shot down by the Soviets on September 1, 1983.
Other important interstate highways are I-95, I-20, I-16, I-59 and I-24. I-285 is Atlanta, Georgia's perimeter route and I-575 connects with counties in north Georgia on I-75.[62] Major freight railroads in Georgia include CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway. Passenger service in Georgia is available on two Amtrak routes: the Crescent, which runs from New York to Washington, D.C., through north Georgia and Atlanta to New Orléans and the other runs from New York to the Georgia coast and from there to Florida.[63]
[edit] Interstate highways
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[edit] United States highways[edit] North-south routes |
[edit] East-west routes |
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[edit] Airports
Georgia's primary commercial airport is Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and is the world's busiest passenger airport.[64] In addition to Hartsfield-Jackson, there are eight other airports serving major commercial traffic in Georgia. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the state as measured by passengers served, and is the only additional international airport. Other commercial airports (ranked in order of passengers served) are located in Augusta, Columbus, Albany, Macon, Brunswick, Valdosta, and Athens.[65]
Georgia has 98 public-use general aviation airports in addition to its primary commercial airports. The busiest of these airports in terms of daily takoff and landing traffic is DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Georgia (known as "PDK" due to its DOT call letters). PDK has averaged more than 230,000 takeoffs and landings per year for over thirty years, and serves as a "general reliever airport" for the Atlanta area.[65] Other general reliever airports in the metro Atlanta area include Charlie Brown Field in Atlanta, Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, and McCollum Field in Kennesaw.
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
Georgia resident Ted Turner founded TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, CNN and Headline News, among others. The CNN Center, which houses the news channel's world headquarters, is located in downtown Atlanta, facing Marietta Street, while the home offices of the Turner Entertainment networks are located in midtown, near the Georgia Tech campus, on Techwood Drive. A third Turner building is on Williams Street, directly across Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 from the Techwood Drive campus and Swim and Williams Street Studios.
The Weather Channel's headquarters are located in the Smyrna area of metropolitan Atlanta in Cobb County.
WSB-TV was the state's first television station, and the southeastern United States' second. WSB-TV signed on Channel 8 in 1948, and moved to its present day location on Channel 2 in 1952.
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) operates nine major Non-commercial educational television stations across the state as Georgia Public Broadcasting Television.[66]
SportSouth and Fox Sports South are the leaders in sports television in the southeast. The Television studio and offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia on Peachtree Street.
[edit] Radio
WSB-AM in Atlanta was the first licensed radio station in the southeastern United States, signing on in 1922. The station currently broadcasts a news/talk format. WMAZ (Watch Mercer Attain Zenith) in Macon first broadcast commencement exercises of Mercer University in June 1921 but was unlicensed and had a power of only 10 watts. It was licensed in February 1923 and today has a power of 50,000 watts daytime and uses the call sign WMAC AM 940.See http://www.antiqueradio.com/wmaz_03-98.html WSB-FM signed on in 1948 on 104.5 FM, and moved to 98.5 FM in 1952. The station broadcasts today, still with the WSB-FM callsign, but is known as "B98.5FM".
Georgia Public Radio has been in service since 1984 and, with the exception of Atlanta, it broadcasts daily on several FM (and one AM) stations across the state. 1984.[67][68] Georgia Public Radio reaches nearly all of Georgia (with the exception of the Atlanta area, which is served by WABE), as well as portions of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
[edit] Newspapers
There are several notable newspapers in Georgia. Among them are The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Augusta Chronicle, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, The Telegraph (formerly The Macon Telegraph) and the Savannah Morning News.
[edit] Sports and recreation
Sports in Georgia include professional teams in all major sports, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports. The State of Georgia has a team in seven major professional leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, ABA, AFL, IL, and ECHL). Georgia has an abundance of outdoor recreational activities. Outdoor activities include, but are not limited to, hiking along the Appalachian Trail; Civil War Heritage Trails; rock climbing and whitewater paddling.[69][70][71][72] Other outdoor activities include hunting and fishing. Less rustic activities are trips to Callaway Gardens; and Zoo Atlanta.[73][74][75][76] NBA superstars Dwight Howard, Josh Smith,and Javaris Crittenton, Heavyweight champion boxer Evander Holyfield and wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan are also from Atlanta.
[edit] State facts and symbols
Georgia i/ˈdʒɔrdʒⁱə/ is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788. It declared its secession from the Union on January 21, 1861, and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It was the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870.
The 2010 US Census reported 9,687,653 residents, making Georgia the ninth most populous state.[1] From 2007 to 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing, second only to Texas.[3] Georgia is known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city.
Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina; on the west by Alabama; and on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. The northern part of the state is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a mountain range in the vast Appalachian Mountains system. The central piedmont extends from the foothills to the fall line, where the rivers cascade down in elevation to the continental coastal plain of the southern part of the state. The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, 4,784 feet (1,458 m); the lowest point is sea level.
With an area of 59,425 square miles (153,909 km2), Georgia is ranked 24th in size among the 50 U.S. states. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area, although it is the fourth largest (after Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin) in total area, a term which includes expanses of water which are part of state territory.[4]
Contents
[hide]
i/ˈdʒɔrdʒⁱə/ is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788. It declared its secession from the Union on January 21, 1861, and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It was the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870.