Lauren Cahn is a New Yorkbased writer whose work has appeared regularly on Reader's Digest and in a variety of other publications since 2008. South Dakota called itself The Sunshine State and emblazoned the phrase on its flag until 1992, when lawmakers there chose to adopt for their mountainous state a unique nickname, The Mount Rushmore State. Start planning your vacation at VISITFLORIDA.comSubscribe to see our latest travel videos about top Florida destination. Critics of the nicknameThe Prairie State argue that Prairie doesnt do much to distinguish Illinois from other states with vast amounts of flat grassy land, including the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. Recognized as a prolific business plan writer by many prominent immigration attorneys in the U.S., Jason has written over 1,200 business plans over the past 16+ years for start-ups looking to establish and expand their footprint in the United States. The third is because Wyoming women were the first women in this United States to have the right to vote, serve on juries, and hold public office. Check out the number of water adventures our recreation industry offers. Cover & Photo 1 CJ Oliverio / Photos 2 & 3 John Starrett / Photo 4 Tessa Skiles. For a state that is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, it is notable that its shoreline on Narragansett Bay in the Atlantic Ocean runs for 400 miles, notes the state government. Tennesees nickname, The Volunteer State is a tribute to its volunteer soldiers, that much is clear. The state nickname of Florida is not included on the states flag. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon after Apollo 11 launched from the nearby Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969. This East Coast home of Mickey Mouse is known for its natural beauty, such as the Florida Everglades. The connection between Florida and sunshine is a strong one, but other U.S. states have many sunny days. Still, the early pioneers sold the seeds as bluegrass from Kentucky, and over time, the state came to be known as The Bluegrass State.. Due to its warm climate and abundant sunshine, Florida was nicknamed "The Sunshine State" in 1845. Washington, the only state named for a U.S. president, was given this nickname by C.T. It is in Florida's best interest to be considered the "Sunshine State" since so much of its economy relies on tourists expecting fair southern weather during dreary northern winters. It also makes a difference when it comes to how long the day is. The Sunshine State is Florida's nickname because of the state's geography and abundance of sunny weather. That phrase has appeared on state automobile license plates since the 1950s, although in 2002, the term, Stars Fell on Alabama, which refers to a famous meteor shower over Alabama in 1833, also found its way on to license plates. In 1835, the Seminoles attacked American troops, launching seven more years of bloody battles between the two sides. Although Wisconsin has long been known as The Badger State (after the animal), a Senate bill to make the name official failed to pass in 1996. The other is California. What about us locals? All rights reserved. New Mexico even tried to market itself as The Sunshine State but Florida beat them to the punch and officially took the name for itself in 1934. Salt Lake Magazine notes that this has nothing to do with actual bees and everything to do with ancient symbolism and the Bible, which refers to the promised land as the land of milk and honey.. Why Florida is called The Sunshine State? Where do most celebrities live in Florida? Florida joined the Union as the 27th state in 1845 and is nicknamed the Sunshine State for its balmy climate and natural beauty. Lauren is also an author of crime fiction, and her first full-length manuscript, "The Trust Game," was short-listed for the 2017 CLUE Award for emerging talent in the genre of suspense fiction. Due to its location as the closest U.S. state to the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, Florida is renowned for its exceptionally sunny, but humid, tropical climate. Perfect Climate - Florida is called the Sunshine State for a good reason.The average annual high temperature 27 C, while the average annual low temperature remains a comfortable 16 C. 2. International - We will make you feel at home!We are experts in supporting international students through academic advising, career counseling, research opportunities and over 1000 student . We recommend our users to update the browser. 6. Florida has been a destination for Americans moving from neighboring and northern states since the late 1800s for its citrus industry and warm weather. Melissa's career in writing started more than 20 years ago. But that doesnt just mean warm weather and hurricanes. More than 3,000 Seminoles were forcibly moved before the U.S. government withdrew in 1842 without signing a peace treaty. Four years ago, property insurance for their 66-unit building was $80,000, he said. With an average of 237 sunny days a year, the state is a bastion of solar energy production.Its most recent solar installation figures confirm thisthe Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranks the state third in solar installations in 2023 and third overall in 2021. Much of the state rarely drops below temperatures in the seventies and eighties all year long. Whats the reason South Florida is getting so much rain this dry season. Motor vehicle licenses and every state-issued license plate, along with a few other state-issued documents, already used the nickname in the 60s. The Palmetto tree is the states official, it appears prominently on its flag, and its the states nickname. If youre ever in Wisconsin in early August, be sure to stop by the State Fair for some authentic Wisconsin Dairyland Cream Puffs. 10 Fun Facts About the United States of America, 10 Reasons Why California is Called the Golden State. New York has been known as The Empire State for so long that the origins of the nickname arent certain. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. On April 26, 1865, Florida officially surrendered to the Union. In 2011, tourism is the largest industry in the state and one of the top domestic and international destinations in the world. First and foremost, the moniker "Sunshine State" is a bald faced lie. The Florida state nickname became law in 1970, although the connection between sunshine and Florida already existed before that. Harrisons supporters carved campaign souvenirs out of buckeye wood to illustrate their support for their native son. All State Nicknames Florida is the fourth most-populated state in the country, and it's beaches draw thousands of tourists every year. Beaver fur was prized in the 19th century and the beaver is also featured on the reverse side of the Oregon state flag. While the terms exact origins are debated, what is agreed upon is that North Carolina was the largest producer of naval storesincluding, tar, pitch, rosin, and turpentinefrom 1720 to 1870. Covid-19 and work-from-home policies have increased. Although the state is nicknamed The Land of 10,000 Lakes, it actually has 11,842, shares Explore Minnesota. The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution and handed Florida from England to Spain, which acted as an ally to the Americans in exchange for the Bahamas. So naturally, its nickname is The Mount Rushmore State. Did you know that Mount Rushmores hiding a secret? Florida has a humid subtropical to full tropical climate, with abundantly sunny days and a mean daily temperature of 71F (22C). At the end of the Seven Years War, in 1763, Spain handed Florida to the British in exchange for Cuba, which England had taken from Spain. Although the state has many features associated with it, the one nickname stuck. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I am from Missouri. According to another hypothesis, the state earned its name because of its lush vegetation and beautiful blossoms. There are two states in the U.S. that immediately bring to mind water and sunshine, and Florida is one of them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ok. Ok. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 1. Official State Nickname of Florida Florida's nickname is "The Sunshine State," adopted officially by Florida legislature in 1970. The Sunshine Review Act of 1995 applies to meetings. Just like the Florida state motto has reached an official status by legislature, this Florida state nickname was adopted as official state nickname by legislature in 1970. Offering warmth and low cost (Florida is one of seven states to levy no income tax), the Sunshine State is a famous magnet for retirees. After the war, Cuba became its own country with increasingly repressive policies, leading more people to leave Cuba for Florida. Who controlled the House of Representatives in 1982? Learn the U.S. trivia your teacher never told you. However, it was Spanish explorer Pedro Menndez de Avils who established the first permanent European settlement in the United States at a place he called St. Augustine in 1565. "After it stairrods down it dries out so quickly and you are by the pool in minutes STATE". With six months of rain and a tighter grip on public records than Fort Knox, not sure why it's called the SunShine State. When will South Florida gas stations return back to normal after the shortage? Re: Why is Florida called the sunshine state? I probably won't move back to Florida but I am planning to spend my winters there, just to escape the relentless dull gray climate. And speaking of the Floridan Aquifer it is one of the most productive and beautiful on this earth. Collider We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Like a keystone in an arch that provides support for the pieces around it, Pennsylvania supports its neighbors, shares the Farmers Almanac. Why Is South Dakota Called the Mount Rushmore State. This makes Florida, on average, the warmest state in the United States. How long can a foreign object stay in your ear? So if its not our sunshine what makes Florida so darn great? He later founded the Coppertone Corporation. Others believe it comes from the cracked corn used to make moonshine. U.S. state facts that virtually everyone gets wrong. So why does Florida get the distinction? Wyoming has several state nicknames, according to its state government: Big Wyoming, The Cowboy State, and The Equality State. The first two are self-explanatory. How many Florida communities are dependent on water resources for tourism, food, property values, aesthetics, quality of life, entertainment, industry, commerce, recreation? Known as natures engineer the beavers dam-building activities are important to natural water flow and erosion control, according to the Oregon Secretary of State. In 1898, the Spanish-American War started and ended within months, when Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands and Guam to the United States. Test your knowledge of state flags: can you match the state to its flag in this quiz? The state might not be the sunniest in the U.S. statistically speaking, but it certainly has one of the most consistently warmest weather in the nation. Others believe it comes from the cracked corn used to make moonshine. Some people also call it the Orange State, because of Florida's many orange groves. The Natural State, was officially adopted as the states nickname by the Arkansas state legislature in 1995 after lobbying by the Arkansas parks system (which consists of three national forests, five national parks, and 52 state parks). funny town namestheres one in every state. Why is Florida called the Gunshine State? It is in Florida's best interest to be considered the "Sunshine State" since so much of its economy relies on tourists expecting fair southern weather during dreary northern winters. California has officially been known as The Golden State since 1968, according to the California Senates website. The Florida Keys (surrounded by water) have a more tropical climate, with less variability in temperatures compared to mainland Florida. Answers .com is . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Because of the states vast corn farmland, its also occasionally known as the Corn State.. Find out the most historical hotel in every state. Florida receives more sunshine throughout the year because it is one of the states within the subtropical climate zone. They called it bluegrass, although when its cut short (or sheered off from animals feeding on it), it doesnt look blue at all. Theme parks started cropping up all over Florida, including Walt Disney World Resort. The clouds come up, it pours heavily for an hour to 4, then the clouds go away. Why Is Washington Called the Evergreen State? Florida shares this nickname with Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, which all have shorelines on the Gulf of Mexico. The fort was also used during the Spanish-American War. Although the French fought back over the years, the Spanish military and Catholic missionaries dominated the area and expanded their territory. . There are two competing theories on how this sobriquet came about. Just like the Florida state motto has reached an official status by legislature, this Florida state nickname was adopted as official state nickname by legislature in 1970. The origin of the nickname The Alligator State is the population of alligators in Florida and the Everglades. Our states Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is ranked 4th in the nation New Mexico is far behind with a GDP ranked 37th. You can learn every states motto here. Chapman notes that writer Peter Parley, who composed an 1860 history and geography textbook, wrote that Florida "received its name from the abundance of wild flowers that flourished upon its soil." 4 Why is Florida called the Gunshine State? "Teachers Guide to Floridas Native People," floridamuseum.ufl.edu, The Timucua: North Floridas Early People, nps.gov, 16th Century Settlements, dos.myflorida.com, European Exploration and Colonization,dos.myflorida.com, Florida Frontiers Florida in the American Revolution, myfloridahistory.org, Florida: As a British Colony, fcit.usf.edu, Acquisition of Florida: Treaty of Adams-Onis (1819) and Transcontinental Treaty (1821), history.state.gov, Florida's Native American Tribes, History & Culture,visitflorida.com, Seminole Indian Wars, seminolecountyfl.gov, Florida Migration History 1850-2018, depts.washington.edu, Spanish-American War for Cuba's Independence, fcit.usf.edu, Cape Canaveral: Launchpad to the Stars, fcit.usf.edu, Facts About Florida Oranges & Citrus, visitflorida.com. Apparently, this comparison is apples to our sweet oranges. The law forced the Indigenous peoples east of the Mississippi to modern-day Oklahoma on what became known as the Trail of Tears. But some snuck into the land thats now Oklahoma before the designated start time; these early squatters were known as the Sooners. The word that came to symbolize an energetic, can-do spirit, soon was embraced as a nickname for the entire state, according to History. The state is one of the biggest growers of blueberries, cranberries, spinach, bell peppers, and peaches in the country. Floridians must vote for the representatives that truly understand this and can follow up with action (legislation)! Its nickname became The Centennial State because the territory became a state in our nations Centennial Year (1876), 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. There are 18 Fortune 500 companies between our shores and 0 in New Mexico. Florida declared the alligator their. Was this also one of the state's flowers, or do I have it confused with another state? Mississippi and Alabama, which all have shorelines on the states within the climate. 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