Florida - Sunshine, Tourism, and 22 Million Residents
Florida passed New York as the third most populous state in 2014 and shows no sign of slowing down. Roughly 22 million people live across 67 counties that stretch 450 miles from Pensacola to Key West. The state has no personal income tax, which has drawn retirees, remote workers, and corporate relocations in recent decades. Net domestic migration has exceeded 300,000 people per year in several recent periods, straining infrastructure and housing markets from Jacksonville to Naples.
Tourism generates more than $100 billion annually. Walt Disney World in Orlando, the most visited theme park complex on Earth, employs over 75,000 people. Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and Legoland operate within an hour's drive. Miami Beach draws international visitors year-round. The cruise industry operates major terminals in Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa. Kennedy Space Center on the Atlantic coast has launched every crewed American spaceflight since 1968, including SpaceX missions.
Agriculture remains a significant economic force despite urbanization. Florida produces most of the country's oranges, though citrus greening disease has reduced output dramatically since the 2000s. Sugar cane dominates the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee. Cattle ranching in the central interior dates back to Spanish colonial times. The fishing industry, both commercial and recreational, contributes billions to the coastal economy.
Military installations are spread across the state. MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa hosts U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Pensacola, and Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle are among the largest. Patrick Space Force Base supports Cape Canaveral launch operations.
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Florida passed New York as the third most populous state in 2014 and shows no sign of slowing down. Roughly 22 million people live across 67 counties that stretch 450 miles from Pensacola to Key West. The state has no personal income tax, which has drawn retirees, remote workers, and corporate relocations in recent decades. Net domestic migration has exceeded 300,000 people per year in several recent periods, straining infrastructure and housing markets from Jacksonville to Naples.
Tourism generates more than $100 billion annually. Walt Disney World in Orlando, the most visited theme park complex on Earth, employs over 75,000 people. Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and Legoland operate within an hour's drive. Miami Beach draws international visitors year-round. The cruise industry operates major terminals in Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa. Kennedy Space Center on the Atlantic coast has launched every crewed American spaceflight since 1968, including SpaceX missions.
Agriculture remains a significant economic force despite urbanization. Florida produces most of the country's oranges, though citrus greening disease has reduced output dramatically since the 2000s. Sugar cane dominates the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee. Cattle ranching in the central interior dates back to Spanish colonial times. The fishing industry, both commercial and recreational, contributes billions to the coastal economy.
Military installations are spread across the state. MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa hosts U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Pensacola, and Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle are among the largest. Patrick Space Force Base supports Cape Canaveral launch operations.
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