A few days later, on January 8, 1833, at the Jackson Day dinner at Indianapolis, a prominent Indianian toasted The Hoosier State of Indiana. The name stuckalthough the original spelling of Hoosher did not. Florida has a humid subtropical to full tropical climate, with abundantly sunny days and a mean daily temperature of 71F (22C). Today, these Unconquered People comprise two federally-recognized tribes: the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, both of which belong to the Creek Confederacy. Perhaps this is because there are many who think of Wisconsin as Americas Dairyland, the name that the Wisconsin Dairy Farmers prefer. According to the Maryland government, the nickname The Old Line State was bestowed by then General George Washington for its courageous line troops who served in the Revolutionary War. More than 3,000 Seminoles were forcibly moved before the U.S. government withdrew in 1842 without signing a peace treaty. This little known plugin reveals the answer. The two other major contenders for the nickname Sunshine State are New Mexico and South Dakota. The state seal also includes a drawing of a female Seminole Indian who is strewing flowers upon the land. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. What did all those Florida tourists do while they were here? 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". How could the state legislators have gotten it so wrong? He later founded the Coppertone Corporation. Washington, the only state named for a U.S. president, was given this nickname by C.T. In the mid to late 1700s, Native Americans from Georgia, Alabama and other states, including tribes of the Creek Nation such as the Miccosukee, migrated to Florida to escape European expansion. One group believes it stems from the sound of cracking whips ranchers used to herd cattle. Is it OK for a 13 year old to shave their legs? In 1817, the U.S. government officially invaded Florida. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It rarely rains in the subtropics, and the heat tends to be intense, particularly in the summer. Two men who were promoting the state pushed the name into popularity, the story goes, and the nickname was approved as official in 1838, eight years before Iowa became a state. A popular theory has to do with the states pride in having fought against Mexico to win its independence. We call it the sun. Additionally, winters tend to be milder and are typically the most popular months to visit the state for those hailing from colder pastures, as it feels much like a summers day for them, despite being much colder than the summer months in Florida. The state of Kansas has been known by a number of different nicknames, writes the Kansas Historical Society, but the most popular is the Sunflower state. The answer comes down to geography. Ohioans began referring to themselves as Buckeyes at least since the presidential election of 1840, which state resident William Henry Harrison won. Lets take a look at how the 27th state to join the U.S. got its name and the many nicknames that perfectly describe it. 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. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". F lorida! The explorers homeland of Spain was celebrating Pascua Florida, the feast of flowers, as he claimed the newly found territory on April 2nd. 10 Fun Facts About the United States of America, 10 Reasons Why California is Called the Golden State. Given its eclectic style and vast culture, its a city that has attracted many celebrities in recent years. Key West, the string of tropical islands at the southernmost tip of Florida, receives an average of 76 percent partly sunny skies over the year. Two other states have made use of the official state nickname of Florida. Freedom of information legislation (Florida), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florida_Sunshine_Law&oldid=1108298745, Freedom of information legislation in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 September 2022, at 16:56. The Florida Keys (surrounded by water) have a more tropical climate, with less variability in temperatures compared to mainland Florida. Floridas official nickname, the sunshine state, was officially adopted by the Florida Legislature back in 1970 as a promotor for tourism within the state, trying to attract those who reside in colder climates down to Florida, especially in the winter months, for some well-earned sun and heat. It also makes a difference when it comes to how long the day is. Although the state has many features associated with it, the one nickname stuck. Here are the most difficult-to-pronounce places in every single state. It didnt become its official nickname until May 23, 2002, following a request by Mrs. Anabelle OMalleys First Grade Class at Mt. Or maybe its the fact that the Miami Heat have been so successful. What is the origin of Florida's nickname? Now, it's more than $300,000. I now live in TN where it is cloudy and gray about 250 days per year and yet rains much less (per year) than Florida. The name Idaho was originally believed to be a Native American Shoshone word for Gem of the Mountain, which seemed appropriate because of the lands vast natural resources, including gemstones like star garnets, opals, and jade. Conover, pioneer Seattle realtor and historian, for its abundant evergreen forests, according to the state government. Fast forward to today and check out Visit Floridas website and flip through their travel magazine thats distributed worldwide. The governor's war on Disney started with the state's . While Cubans had already migrated to nearby Florida for many years, immigration accelerated at the end of the 1800s, when many people who no longer wanted to be under Spanish rule left for the U.S. Cuban workers also moved to Florida to work in the sugar, coffee and tobacco industries. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. But not even the denizens of the Sunshine State are exempt from having nicknames. Florida joined the Union as the 27th state in 1845 and is nicknamed the Sunshine State for its balmy climate and natural beauty. 1 Why Florida is called The Sunshine State? Still, the early pioneers sold the seeds as bluegrass from Kentucky, and over time, the state came to be known as The Bluegrass State.. "Meeting" is construed broadly, and is not confined to "formal" assemblages at which a ritualistic vote takes place. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. This article relating to law in the United States or its constituent jurisdictions is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Not only is the bird on the state flag and seal (shown as a mom with three chicks in a nest), its the reason for its nickname. Hawaii has been referring to itself as The Aloha State since 1959 when the state legislature voted to make that the states official nickname. Florida joined the Union as the 27th state in 1845 and is nicknamed the Sunshine State for its balmy climate and natural beauty. It does not store any personal data. Cape Canaveral is owned by the U.S. Air Force. Vermonts nickname, The Green Mountain State refers to the mountains after which the state got its name: the Verd Mont, which is what the first French settlers in the early 1600s, called the areas mountains. The state nickname of Florida is not included on the states flag. Why Is South Dakota Called the Mount Rushmore State? In 1861, Florida became the third state to secede from the Union. Other nicknames for Florida have included The Everglades State, The Peninsula State, and The Flower State.. The nickname derives from Nevadas large silver mine industry, which dates back to when it was still part of what was then the Utah Territory. 50 Florida State Facts. 2. Some people also call it the Orange State, because of Florida's many orange groves. Another fun fact about Florida state is that Florida's nickname - the Sunshine State is actually not unique to Florida, with New Mexico's unofficial nickname being the same. Florida Fun Facts. Ron DeSantis (R) for what he called "campaigning in Ohio" amid heavy rains and flooding in the Sunshine State. Why Florida is called The Sunshine State? He named it Pascua de Florida or "Feast of Flowers" for the succulent flora and abundant flowers. The state is a peninsula so theres no guesswork here. While European colonists quickly decimated the Indigenous population, Florida became home to a Seminole community of Indigenous and enslaved people who migrated from nearby states in the 18th century. While the two cities may both have warm weather, Miami is gaining ground when it comes to celebrity lifestyle. 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. Beaver fur was prized in the 19th century and the beaver is also featured on the reverse side of the Oregon state flag. According to the site, as early as the 19th Century, John Fiske, a popular historian from Connecticut, made the claim that the Fundamental Orders of 1638/1639 were the first written constitution in history.. Even if the fountain wasnt what really brought him to the peninsula, its not hard to imagine that this land of flourishing flowers could be home to a mythical spring of everlasting life. By the end of the century, this diverse community collectively became known as the Seminoles. What about us locals? In 2014, Florida surpassed New York and became the 3rd most popular state in America. Thanks to Floridas proximity to the equator, the state gets more hours of sunshine per day on average compared to most of the other states in the U.S., So its no mystery that Floridas nickname is The Sunshine State. How many fishing tournaments are held all across our state? It was Easter Sunday when Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon laid eyes on a lush and thriving land. Southern cities also partake in sunny days, with Apalachicola, Jacksonville, Miami and West Palm Beach receiving 60 percent or more. [1] The legislature intended to make open the entire decision-making process by the enactment of the Sunshine Law. Learn the U.S. trivia your teacher never told you. Florida Legislature officially adopted the nickname "The Sunshine State" in 1970. Not all of these nicknames are considered official. The nickname has been in use since the early 1600s, when the Latin phrase, En Dat Virginia Quintam (referring to Virginia being within the English Crowns domain) appeared on the colonys seal. With 17 million acres of forests, trees, and pine trees, in particular, figure heavily into Maines cultural identity. The Sunshine Review Act of 1995 applies to meetings. All photos captured by the PHF team. Another nickname for Florida is The Peninsula State. Why Is South Dakota Called the Mount Rushmore State. Florida is called the 'Sunshine State' because of its abundant sunshine and warm temperatures . Florida isn't called the Sunshine State for nothing. 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 orange groves, so numerous across the state, earned this nickname for the state. Florida has been called the sunshine state for almost as long as it has been an official U.S. state. Others believe it comes from the cracked corn used to make moonshine. Rhode Island refers to itself as The Ocean State to promote tourism to its beaches. And almost all of them live outside of Jacksonville proper in Ponte Vedra Beach, the wealthiest enclave in St. Johns County, which is itself the wealthiest county in Florida north of Palm Beach. Due to its proximity to the equator, Florida receives an average of more than 10 hours per day of sunshine. Floridas nickname is The Sunshine State, and it was adopted officially by Florida legislature in 1970. The Orange State This Florida nickname stems from the unusual rich abundance of orange groves growing across the state. The nickname "Sunshine State" entices winter-weary visitors to Florida, more so than "Alligator State" or swampy "Everglade State" ever could. Although the state is nicknamed The Land of 10,000 Lakes, it actually has 11,842, shares Explore Minnesota. According to the websiteAll About Michigan, the most popular origin story for the state nickname is that during the 1835 Toledo War between Michigan and Ohio, Ohioans called Michiganians wolverines because they fought with such stubbornness, which wolverines are known for. The Seminole Wars began when American militias first attacked and seized Spanish and Seminole lands in 1812. Both have unofficial state nicknames referencing the sunshine they receive. North Florida has the bragging rights to nearly a thousand springs gushing out pure crystal-clear waters from the underground caves. . But wait the state of New Mexico has more days of sunshine per year than us! Manage Settings Why is Florida called the sunshine state? But wait - the state of New Mexico has more days of sunshine per year than us! The name most likely originates from the Spanish word cimarron, or wild runaway.. After the war, Cuba became its own country with increasingly repressive policies, leading more people to leave Cuba for Florida. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Each state has not only a nickname, but a motto too! Montanas nickname, The Treasure State, refers to its rich mineral reserves, and specifically, its gold and silver mines, according to History. Floridas climate is extremely humid and tropical, and it has been since its discovery, experiencing mostly incredibly sunny days with a mean daily temperature of 71F (22C). 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. With its rich history and abundant produce, it's no wonder that the food scene in South Florida is thriving. "The Sunshine State" is the official nickname of Florida. So, both history and modern-day statistics give a pretty clear indication as to why Florida is called the Sunshine State! Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Copyright FloridaInsider - All Rights Reserved. It seemed to work well, and the state has since gathered an extremely large reputation for filling in the void left by extremely cold and wet weather for those living in the much colder northern states. That's why when you visit Florida, you bring summer clothes. Legislators made The Sunshine State the official state nickname of Florida in 1970, but the phrase itself was popularized by the state for many years prior to its official adoption by its inclusion on automobile license plates. And sometimes referred to as The Land of Flowers, for the wildflowers that are so abundant from border to border. Menndez de Avils expelled the French and captured Fort Caroline, renaming it San Mateo. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 18 history facts your teacher lied to you about, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. There is a reason why Florida is called the Sunshine State. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We strive for accuracy and fairness. funny town namestheres one in every state. Spend Recreational Marijuana Taxes On This! The Seminole Wars concluded three years later when a treaty was signed giving land to Seminoles in Oklahoma. As far as I know, the orange blossom has always been the state flower of Florida. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys. Melissa's career in writing started more than 20 years ago. All State Nicknames. That's why Florida is called the Sunshine State. As many other states do, Florida has a few other nicknames adopted over the past several years, the more notable being Alligator State and Everglade State. The sunshine state certainly does work for Florida and could be one of the reasons why it has become such a tourism powerhouse. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It's easy to see why, since oranges are a common crop in the state. So if its not our sunshine what makes Florida so darn great? They called it gunshine state to prevent concealed carry from being legalized. Florida's nickname of the Sunshine State was officially adopted by the Florida state legislature in 1970. New York has been known as The Empire State for so long that the origins of the nickname arent certain. Why is Florida Called the Sunshine State? From the man who claimed it to the pioneers who tamed it to the inhabitants soaking it all in, this is how Florida got its name and nicknames associated with it. This list excludes the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. But in the 17th and 18th centuries, English colonists began migrating south and set their sights on Spanish holdings in Florida, attacking missions and St. Augustine. In the 20th century, tourism became one of the state's most important industries, attracting millions of visitors annually. And think about it claiming a natural resource we have no control over may have caused us to ignore the beautiful waters lapping at our feet. Pleasant Elementary School in Wilmington. On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth when he blasted off from Cape Canaveral. What is Floridas nickname The Sunshine State? However, the famous nickname to represent Florida was made official in 1970, despite many people referring to Florida as the sunshine state before this. But why is Floridas nickname tied to sunshine, when the state gets more than its fair share of rainy days, and even hurricanes? Known by other state nicknames such as "Alligator State," "Orange State" and "Everglade State," the nickname "Sunshine State" was officially adopted by the Florida Legislature in 1970. Florida's wildlife includes mammals like armadillos, black bears, and the Florida panther; reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, and snakes; sea life like manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales; and birds such as raptors, owls, cranes, and Florida's state bird, the mockingbird. At the equator, days and nights are the same lengths: roughly twelve hours, any time of the year. The Sunshine State is Floridas nickname because of the states geography and abundance of sunny weather. The dominant Native American communities that emerged included the Calusa, Tequesta and Jeaga tribes in southern Florida and the Apalachee and Timucua people in the north. National Weather Service statistics confirm your suspicion that Florida is not the nation's sunniest state, but it does rank near the top of the list. Florida is home to a vast network of Everglades. Its also unofficially known as The Flickertail State and The Roughrider State.. And by the way, where else on this planet is a family from Ohio going to see mermaids in water so clear they built an underwater theatre? (Sadly, he died 31 days into his presidency of pneumonia.) In 1889, when the Indian Territory of which Oklahoma was a part, was opened to settlers, thousands lined up and raced into the territory to claim their land. All rights reserved. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Because of the states vast corn farmland, its also occasionally known as the Corn State.. Find out why when it comes to funny street names, Nebraskas got every other state beat by a half.. Matter of fact 135 million tourists visited our state in 2022 which drives our tourist-based economy (New Mexico only had 35 million tourists). It was scary. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Florida declared the alligator their official state reptile in 1987. Answers .com is . 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. In South Florida is called the Sunshine state for its abundant Sunshine and temperatures. 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