1. FLORIDA - DEMOGRAPHICS CGG3O1

2. Florida Population  The population of the United States, as of July 2013 is estimated at 316,128,839.  Florida has the fourth largest state population in the country at 19,552,860.  During Florida’s peak growth year of 2005, it was the nations fastest growing state at an annual rate of 2.2%.

3. Racial and Ancestral Makeup  Before the American Revolution, when slavery was legal, African Americans made up nearly half of the entire state’s population.  Today, large concentrations of African American residents can be found in northern Florida.  There has been a large increase in Hispanic residents from Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico to south Florida  Those of English and Irish ancestry are present in large numbers in all of the urban/suburban areas across the state.

4. Languages  As of 2005, 74.54 percent of Florida residents over the age of 5 spoke English as a first language while 18.65 percent spoke Spanish.  English is still the official language of the state of Florida.  Florida is also known for it’s many American dialects with Miami’s locals being most famous of this group for their own colourful dialect which is spoken mainly by Miami born residents.

5. Religion  Florida is mostly a Protestant state, but Roman Catholicism is the single largest denomination in the state.  There is also a sizeable Jewish community, located mainly in southern Florida.  Non religious people make up around 17 percent of the total population showing a trend that has evolved throughout the united states in the last quarter of a century.

6. Economy  The GDP of Florida in 2010 was at a remarkable $748 billion dollars.  That has set Florida as the fourth largest economy in the United States.  The nineteen metropolitan areas account for roughly 96 percent of the entire economic contribution.  The main contributors to the economy are manufacturing, trade, and financial institutions.  Tourism is the number one contributor to the overall economy of Florida.  Amusement parks, especially in Orlando, make up a significant portion of the Tourist industry in Florida.

7. Economy continued...  Many beach towns are also popular tourist destinations, especially in the winter months.  Even though the public has a right to the beach front property, many of the beaches have been blocked off by private owners.  The second largest industry in Florida is agriculture.  Florida produces the largest number of citrus fruit grown in the United States. In 2006 that number was at around 67 percent.