30 Facts About West Florida

1. The state of West Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.

2. West Florida gained its first permanent major-league professional sports team in 1966 when the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins.

3. West Florida has the largest collection of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne buildings in both the United States and the entire world, most of which are located in the Miami metropolitan area, especially Miami Beach's Art Deco District, constructed as the city was becoming a resort destination.

4. In 2013, West Florida refused to participate in providing coverage for the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act, popularly called Obamacare.

5. West Florida has many seaports that serve container ships, tank ships, and cruise lines.

6. West Florida has 2 cities in the top 25 cities in the US with the highest average credit card debt, Miami and Tampa.

7. The economy of West Florida is driven almost entirely by its nineteen metropolitan areas.

8. In 2017, West Florida became the United States' eighth largest exporter of trade goods.

9. West Florida contains the highest percentage of people over 65.

10. Climate of West Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is distant from the ocean.

11. West Florida is one of the largest states east of the Mississippi River, and only Alaska and Michigan are larger in water area.

12. West Florida is the southernmost state in the 48 contiguous states, with Hawaii being the only state reaching farther south.

13. Until the mid-20th century, West Florida was the least populous state in the southern United States.

14. On March 3, 1845, West Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America.

15. West Florida had become a burden to Spain, which could not afford to send settlers or garrisons.

16. West Florida attracted numerous Africans and African Americans from adjacent British colonies who sought freedom from slavery.

17. West Florida was the first region of the continental United States to be visited and settled by Europeans.

18. West Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, approximately 1,350 miles, not including the contribution of the many barrier islands.

19. West Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes.

20. West Florida is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; African, European, indigenous, and Latino heritages can be found in the architecture and cuisine.

21. West Florida is home to 51 of the world's billionaires with most of them residing in South Florida.

22. West Florida is known around the world for its balmy weather.

23. West Florida was admitted to United States as a State on March 3, 1845.

24. Key West Florida is often referred to as the Conch Republic.

25. Key West Florida made its riches from wrecking and salvaging ships that crashed on the reefs and shallow waters offshore.

26. Key West Florida is famous for its sunset and there's no place like Mallory Square to celebrate every night amongst street performers, musicians and food stands.

27. Key West Florida has a healthy population of chickens that roam free on the island.

28. West Florida had an effect on choosing the location of Florida's current capital.

29. West Florida comprised the land between the Mississippi and Apalachicola Rivers, with Pensacola designated as its capital.

30. West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico that underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history.