Florida

Florida is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Straits of Florida and Cuba to the south. About two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, spanning approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km), not including its many barrier islands. It is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of over 21 million, it is the third-most populous state in the United States and ranks eighth in population density as of 2020. Florida spans 65,758 square miles (170,310 km2), ranking 22nd in area among the states. The Miami metropolitan area, anchored by the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, is the state's largest metropolitan area, with a population of 6.138 million; the most populous city is Jacksonville. Florida's other major population centers include Tampa Bay, Orlando, Cape Coral, and the state capital of Tallahassee.

Some of the key events about Florida

1513
The first European exploration of Florida occurred
1816
Spain ceded Florida to the United States, ending centuries of Spanish rule
1835
The Second Seminole War began, resulting in significant loss of life and forced relocation of Native Americans
1845
Florida was admitted as the 27th U.S. state
1861
Florida seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States during the American Civil War
1905
The Overseas Railroad connecting Key West to the mainland was completed
1920
The Ocoee massacre occurred, resulting in the deaths of numerous African Americans and destruction of their community
1928
The Okeechobee hurricane struck Florida, causing over 2,500 deaths and massive destruction
1935
The Labor Day Hurricane devastated the Florida Keys, killing over 400 people
1947
Everglades National Park was established
1950
Cape Canaveral became the site of U.S. space launches
1962
The Cuban Missile Crisis brought Florida to the brink of nuclear war
1971
Walt Disney World Resort opened near Orlando
1980
The Mariel boatlift led to a sudden influx of Cuban refugees, straining local resources
1981
NASA's Space Shuttle program began with the launch of Columbia from Kennedy Space Center
1992
The Florida Aquarium in Tampa opened to the public
1992
Hurricane Andrew caused catastrophic damage in South Florida, resulting in $25 billion in damages
2000
The International Space Station began continuous human occupation
2000
The controversial presidential election recount in Florida delayed the outcome of the national election
2009
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando Resort

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.