Happy Birthday, Florida!

Today is the anniversary of Florida being admitted to our United States of America.

Date of Admittance: March 3, 1845

Parentage: The name was coined by explorer Ponce de Leon 
from the Spanish word for "flowery."    

Place in the Family 

Number 27

Florida was admitted a few years after Michigan (jan 1837) 
and nine months before Texas (Dec 1845). 

Motto 

"In God We Trust"

This was on the State Seal since the 1800s but was not made the official State Motto until 2006.
Nick-Name 

The Sunshine State

I would think places like Arizona or Nevada would have something to say about this. 

On the License Plate 

Orange Blossoms are the State Flower and OJ is the State Beverage

 



State Flag

A white field with a red X (called a saltire) with the State Seal in the center. 

This design is usually called a St. Andrews' Cross, but
I don't know why Florida would have chosen it as its flag. 

 First City You Probably Think of 

When You Think "Florida" 

Miami

Actual State Capital:Tallahassee

State Size (Area) is 22nd of 50
Population is closer to 4th of 50

(per 2000 Census figures)

Florida Sports: 
NFL (Miami Dolphins)

NFL (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

NFL (Jacksonville Jaguars)

MLB (Miami Marlins)

MLB (Tampa Bay Rays)

NBA (Miami Heat)

NBA (Orlando Magic)

NHL (Florida Panthers)

Anybody From Florida
Ever Grow Up To Be President?
Not yet, no. 

Florida Celebrities

Sidney Poitier
Academy Award-winning actor

Faye Dunaway

Academy Award-winning actress

Ben Vereen

actor, "Roots"

Johnny Depp

actor, "The Tourist"

Angela Bassett 

actress, "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

Wesley Snipes

actor, "Blade"

Wayne Brady

comedian

Mandy Moore
singer, actress, "Tangled"

Wilmer Valderrama
actor, "That 70's Show"

Daniel Tosh
comedian

Musical Floridians

 Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Free Bird" etc etc

38 Special

"Caught Up In You"

Tom Petty

"Free Fallin'" 

Flor Rida

"Whistle" 

A Song For You....
"Coming Out of the Dark"
by Jon Seceda, Emilio Estefan, & Gloria Estefan
performed by Gloria Estefan

Miami Sound Machine is based in Miami, although
lead singer Gloria actually emigrated from Cuba