Economy of Florida explained

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Unemployment:2.7% (Aug. 2022)
Country:Florida
Per Capita:$72,861 (2024)[1]
Gdp:$1.6 trillion (2024)
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The economy of the state of Florida is the fourth-largest in the United States, with a $1.647trillion gross state product (GSP) as of 2024. If Florida were a sovereign nation (2024), it would rank as the world's 15th-largest economy by nominal GDP according to the International Monetary Fund, ahead of Spain and behind South Korea.[2] [3] [4] Agriculture, tourism, industry, construction, international banking, biomedical and life sciences, healthcare research, simulation training, aerospace and defense, and commercial space travel contribute to the state's economy.

Overview

Florida's economy ranks among the largest in the country. As of 2024, the gross state product (GSP) is about $1.647trillion, the fourth largest economy in the United States. Florida is responsible for 5.82% of the United States' approximately $28trillion gross domestic product (GDP)., Florida's nominal GDP is larger than all but 15 countries; if it were a sovereign nation, it would be ranked ahead of Spain and behind South Korea. In terms of Purchasing Power Parity, it is larger than all but 22 countries.[5] Agriculture, tourism, industry, construction, international banking, biomedical and life sciences, healthcare research, simulation training, aerospace and defense, and commercial space travel contribute to the state's economy.

The top five industries in Florida for employment are: trade, transportation, and utilities; government; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality.[6] In output, the five largest sectors are: finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing, followed by professional and business services; government and government enterprises; educational services, health care, and social assistance; and retail trade.[7]

In 2017, Florida became the United States' eighth largest exporter of trade goods. Florida's top countries for export are Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Colombia.[8] In 2017, Florida became the United States' tenth largest importer of trade goods. Florida imported US$75.4billion worth of goods globally in 2017. The value of Florida's imports equals 3.2% of United States' overall imported products for 2017. Florida's top countries for imports are China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and France.[9]

The Miami Metropolitan Area has the highest GDP of all the metro areas in Florida with $344.9billion in 2017.[10] This is more than twice the number of the next metro area, the Tampa Bay Area, which has a GDP of $145.3billion. The economy of Florida is driven almost entirely by its nineteen metropolitan areas. In 2004, they had a combined total of 95.7% of the state's domestic product.[11]

Per capita GDP in 2017 was $39,842, ranking 40th in the nation.[12] Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. North Florida and the rural counties of the Florida Panhandle are the most impoverished in the state. Florida has a poverty rate of 14.0%, the seventeenth lowest of any state in the country. Many coastal cities include some of the wealthiest per-capita areas in the United States.

In 2018, there were more than 427,824millionaires in the state, the fourth-highest number in the nation.[13]

For 2018–19, the approved state budget is $88.7billion, a 4.4% increase over the previous 2017–18 budget of $84.9billion. Chief Executive Magazine named Florida the third "Best State for Business" in 2011.[14]

In 2022, as job numbers continue to surge, Florida's unemployment rate dipped to 2.7 percent in July which hit historic low.[15]

Personal income

See also: List of Florida locations by per capita income. In 2017, Florida's per capita personal income was $47,684, ranking 26th in the nation.[16] The state's unemployment rate in September 2018 was 3.5% and ranked as the 18th lowest in the United States.[17] Florida is one of seven states that does not impose a personal income tax.[18]

In 2017, Florida had a personal income of $1,000,624,065,000. This personal income ranked 4th in the United States.

Florida's constitution establishes a state minimum wage, which is adjusted annually for inflation., Florida's minimum wage was $6.98 for tipped positions, and $10.00 for non-tipped positions, which was higher than the federal rate of $7.25. The wage will increase by $1 per hour yearly, until 2026 when the minimum wage for non-tipped positions will reach $15 per hour.[19]

Florida has two cities in the top 25 cities in the U.S. with the highest average credit card debt, Miami and Tampa.[20]

The poverty rate in Florida in 2018 was 14%, down from a peak of 17.1% in 2012.[21]

Sectors

Agriculture

See main article: Agriculture in Florida. Florida was ranked in 2019, "first in the value of production for fresh market bell peppers and tomatoes, as well as grapefruit, oranges, sugarcane, and watermelons" in the United States according to Florida Agriculture by the Numbers.[22] In 2002 peppers and tomatoes were #1 and #2 in dollar value for the state and citrus fruit, especially oranges, were also a major part of the economy.[23] By 2019 tomatoes were #1, oranges #2, and peppers were #3.[24] Of exports, meat is Florida's biggest earner. Florida produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the United States.

Strawberry

Strawberry is another major crop in Florida.[25] [26] Florida is second only to California for strawberry production by volume and by dollars per year and the Plant City area grows of America's winter strawberries. The represents growers here.[27] Strawberry gray mold is economically important.[28] This is the Botrytis Fruit Rot of strawberries caused by Botrytis cinerea. (See .) Growers here ship strawberries December to April. The state's Strawberry Festival is held in March every year in Plant City.[29]

The varieties '', '' (not to be confused with the Florida Strawberry Festival), and 'Florida Beauty' are among the most commonly grown here. 'FR' is higher yielding in real producer conditions in the state than 'SF'.[30]

Peach

Peaches have probably been grown in Florida since the 1500s, brought by the Spanish.[31] By the late 1700s an export trade had developed with the mid-Atlantic states, with Baltimore the first hub to distribute Florida peaches into the surrounding region. Similar to the strawberry tool above, a cut-down SNP array for genomic selection has been adapted[32] by University of Florida for peach.[33]

Peach is a growing crop due to citrus greening.[34] [35] Florida produces far less than the leading state, California, but has the advantage of an earlier season than any other in the country.[36] The harvest season runs from late March to late May or early June depending on the year's weather. Due to increasing pest and disease pressure with increasing rainfall here, yield declines rapidly in the summer and profitable harvest ends for the year. This combined with competitor states coming into season means that late-bearing cultivars are commercially inviable here.

Citrus

Although citrus cultivation also began in Florida in the 1500s, commercial scale production was only attempted in the 1920s. At first this went badly due to severe pest and disease epidemics, which were themselves due to poor understanding of the local climate and terrain. oranges make up 93% of Florida's citrus production, followed by 6% for grapefruit, and 1% for tangerines and tangelos.[37] For 2018, 10.9% of all cash receipts were citruses.[38] In 2006, 67% of all citrus, 74% of oranges, 58% of tangerines, and 54% of grapefruit were grown in Florida. About 95% of commercial orange production in the state is destined for processing (mostly as orange juice, the official state beverage). The top 5 citrus-producing counties, according to data in 2019, was "DeSoto (12.8 million boxes), Polk (12.5 million boxes), Highlands (10.8 million boxes), Hendry (10.5 million boxes) and Hardee (8.16 million boxes)", according to Florida Agriculture by the Numbers. Together they contribute 71% of Florida's total citrus production. The Central produced the most citrus, followed by the Western area and the Southern areas. International citrus fresh fruit exports totaled to "2.05 million 4/5 bushel cartons", and Japan received the majority of the grapefruit exports. Canada received most of Florida's orange and tangerine exports. Florida Agriculture by the Numbers reports "4.70 million gallons of Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ), and 0.38 million gallons of Frozen Concentrated Grapefruit Juice (FCGJ) was exported in the 2018–2019 season".

Other crops

The largest farm category by sales in Florida is the $2.3billion ornamental industry, which includes nursery, greenhouse, flowers, and sod products.[39]

Other products include sugarcane, tomatoes and celery. The state is the largest producer of sweet corn and green beans for the U.S.[40]

The Everglades Agricultural Area is a major center for agriculture. The environmental impact of agriculture, especially water pollution, is a major issue in Florida today.[41]

The state has a near monopoly on saw palmetto berries, an alternative medicine used to treat prostate and urinary disorders.[42]

The state is #1 in .[43] [44] Harvest is almost year-round, from October to June. The highest temperatures of the summer from July to September end profitable yield and even the heat of June and October limit productivity, such that April to May and November to January are the largest harvests of the year. Federal Crop Insurance for fresh tomatoes specifically excludes insects and diseases.[45] See also,, and .

Much of the in the country is grown here, especially around Dade.[46] [47] Okra is grown throughout the state to some degree however and so okra is available ten months of the year here. Yields range from less than to over . Wholesale prices can go as high as $18/bushel which is . The Regional IPM Centers provide integrated pest management plans specifically for the southern part of the state.

California and Florida account for most commercial Persimmon production in the United States. The first commercial orchards in Florida were planted in the 1870s and production peaked in the 1990s before declining. Most persimmon orchards in the US are small scale (70% less than 1round=0.5NaNround=0.5 and 90% less than 5round=0.5NaNround=0.5).[48]

Fishing

In 2009, fishing was a $6billion industry, employing 60,000 jobs for sports and commercial purposes. Florida aquaculture producers reported sales in 2018 of $72 million, according to a survey administered by the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service.[49]

Government and military

Since the development of the federal NASA Merritt Island launch sites on Cape Canaveral (most notably Kennedy Space Center) in 1962, Florida has developed a sizable aerospace industry.

Another major economic engine in Florida is the United States military. There are 24 military bases in the state, housing three Unified Combatant Commands; United States Central Command in Tampa, United States Southern Command in Doral, and United States Special Operations Command in Tampa. Some 109,390 U.S. military personnel stationed in Florida,[50] contributing, directly and indirectly, $52billion a year to the state's economy.

In 2009, there were 89,706 federal workers employed within the state.[51] Tens of thousands more employees work for contractors who have federal contracts, including those with the military.

In 2012, government of all levels was a top employer in all counties in the state, because this classification includes public school teachers and other school staff. School boards employ nearly one of every thirty workers in the state. The federal military was the top employer in three counties.[52]

Mass media

See also: List of newspapers in Florida, List of radio stations in Florida and List of television stations in Florida.

Broadband Internet in Florida is deployed by both government agencies and private companies. Examples of government agencies include the North Florida Broadband Authority.

Mining

Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone Valley, is the state's third-largest industry. The state produces about 75% of the phosphate required by farmers in the United States and 25% of the world supply, with about 95% used for agriculture (90% for fertilizer and 5% for livestock feed supplements) and 5% used for other products.

Biotech

After the watershed events of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida began investing in economic development through the Office of Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development. Governor Jeb Bush realized that watershed events such as Andrew negatively impacted Florida's backbone industry of tourism severely. The office was directed to target Medical/Bio-Sciences among others. Three years later, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) announced it had chosen Florida for its newest expansion. In 2003, TSRI announced plans to establish a major science center in Palm Beach County, a facility on, which TSRI planned to occupy in 2006.[53]

Real estate

In the early 20th century, land speculators discovered Florida, and businessmen such as Henry Plant and Henry Flagler developed railroad systems, which led people to move in, drawn by the weather and local economies. From then on, tourism boomed, fueling a cycle of development that overwhelmed a great deal of farmland.[54]

At the end of the third quarter of 2008, Florida had the highest mortgage delinquency rate in the US, with 7.8% of mortgages delinquent at least 60 days.[55] A 2009 list of national housing markets that were hard hit in the real estate crash included a disproportionate number in Florida. The early 21st-century building boom left Florida with 300,000 vacant homes in 2009, according to state figures. In 2009, the US Census Bureau estimated that Floridians spent an average 49.1% of personal income on housing-related costs, the third-highest percentage in the US.

In the third quarter of 2009, there were 278,189 delinquent loans, 80,327 foreclosures. Sales of existing homes in February 2010 was 11,890, up 21% from the same month in 2009. Only two metropolitan areas showed a decrease in homes sold: Panama City and Brevard County. The average sales price for an existing house was $131,000, 7% decrease from the prior year.[56]

Seaports and boating

Florida has many seaports that serve container ships, tank ships, and cruise lines. Major ports in Florida include Port Tampa Bay in Tampa, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Port of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, PortMiami in Miami, Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Port Manatee in Manatee County, and Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach. The world's top three busiest cruise ports are found in Florida with PortMiami as the busiest and Port Canaveral and Port Everglades as the second and third busiest.[57] Port Tampa Bay meanwhile is the largest in the state, having the most tonnage., Port Tampa Bay ranks 16th in the United States by tonnage in domestic trade, 32nd in foreign trade, and 22nd in total trade. It is the largest, most diversified port in Florida, has an economic impact of more than $15.1billion, and supports more than 80,000 jobs.[58] [59]

Florida is the leading state for sales of powerboats. Boats sales totaled $1.96billion in 2013.[60]

Tourism

See also: List of amusement parks in Central Florida, List of shopping malls in the Miami metropolitan area and List of casinos in Florida. Tourism makes up one of the largest sectors of the state economy, with nearly 1.4million people employed in the tourism industry in 2016 (a record for the state, surpassing the 1.2million employment from 2015).[61] [62]

In 2015, Florida broke the 100-million visitor mark for the first time in state history by hosting a record 105million visitors.[63] The state has set tourism records for eight consecutive years, most recently breaking the 120-million visitor mark for the first time in 2018 with 126.1million visitors reported.[64]

Many beach towns are popular tourist destinations, particularly during winter and spring break. Twenty-three million tourists visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $22billion. The public has a right to beach access under the public trust doctrine, but some areas have access effectively blocked by private owners for a long distance.[65]

Data released shows 30.9 million visitors coming to the state from October to December 2021, up nearly 60% from the same period in 2020 and topping pre-pandemic levels from the same quarter pre-pandemic.[66]

Amusement parks, especially in the Greater Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited vacation resort in the world with more than 58million visitors annually,[67] consisting of four theme parks, 27 themed resort hotels, nine non-Disney hotels, two water parks, four golf courses and other recreational venues.[68] Other major theme parks in the area include Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa.[69]

Florida's many state parks and protected areas receive a lot of visitors as well with 25.2million visitors visiting Florida State Parks in 2013.[70]

Tourists also come to Florida to watch rocket launches in person. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex received 1.7 million tourists in 2016.[71]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: QuickFacts Florida. Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201222173239/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html. December 22, 2020. live.
  2. Web site: GDP by State . March 26, 2021 . GDP by State | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) . Bureau of Economic Analysis. https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/lagdp1222.pdf Bureau of Economic Analysis – Full release and tables – Gross Domestic Product by State, 3rd Quarter 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  3. Web site: October 2021 . World Economic Outlook Database, October 2021 . January 10, 2022 . IMF.org . International Monetary Fund.
  4. Web site: GDP (Current US$) . July 28, 2021 . The World Bank.
  5. Web site: GDP, PPP (current international $)—Data . data.worldbank.org.
  6. Web site: September 2018 . Florida's September Employment Figures Released . October 23, 2018 . Lmsresources.labormarketinfo.com.
  7. Web site: October 23, 2018 . Florida . https://web.archive.org/web/20181023034758/https://apps.bea.gov/regional/bearfacts/pdf.cfm?fips=12000&areatype=STATE&geotype=3 . October 23, 2018.
  8. Web site: State Exports from Florida . October 23, 2018 . Census.gov.
  9. Web site: Florida State Imports . October 23, 2018 . Census.gov.
  10. Web site: Gross Domestic Product by Metropolitan Area, 2017 . October 23, 2018 . Bea.gov.
  11. Web site: The Role of Metro Areas in the US Economy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091216130547/http://usmayors.org/metroeconomies/Top100_2006.pdf . December 16, 2009 . November 4, 2011.
  12. Web site: Sign in Register Help E-mail Address Password Register Forgot your password? E-mail Address Password Verify Password Sign in Forgot your password? E-mail Address Sign in Register Regional Data GDP & Personal Income . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080037/https://apps.bea.gov/itable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=70&step=1#reqid=70&step=1&isuri=1 . October 23, 2018 . November 9, 2019.
  13. Web site: MAPPED: Here's how many millionaires there are in each US state . Businesinsider.com.
  14. Web site: Site Selection Rankings . October 18, 2011 . Greyhill Advisors.
  15. Web site: Blankley . Bethany . Florida's job growth continues surge as unemployment rate hits historic low . 2022-08-24 . The Center Square . en.
  16. Web site: Analysis . US Department of Commerce, BEA, Bureau of Economic . Bureau of Economic Analysis . apps.bea.gov.
  17. Web site: Unemployment Rates for States . Bls.gov.
  18. Web site: Loudenback . Tanza . February 6, 2020 . There are 9 US states with no income tax, but 2 of them still tax investment earnings . March 23, 2020 . Business Insider . Insider, Inc.
  19. Web site: Florida's Minimum Wage Changes Through 2026 | Office of Human Resources .
  20. Web site: Zhao . Helen . February 7, 2018 . These US cities have the highest credit card debt . Cnbc.com.
  21. Web site: Chokey . Aric . Poverty rate in Florida dips to lowest level since Great Recession, census says . Sun-sentinel.com.
  22. Hudson . Mark . 2019 . FLORIDA AGRICULTURE BY THE NUMBERS-2019 . Florida Agriculture by the Numbers . 2019 . 9.
  23. Rosskopf . Erin N. . Chellemi . Daniel O. . Kokalis-Burelle . Nancy . Church . Gregory T. . 2005 . Alternatives to Methyl Bromide: A Florida Perspective . . . 6 . 1 . 19 . 10.1094/php-2005-1027-01-rv . 1535-1025 . 221233464. free .
  24. Web site: 2020-01-01 . Florida Agriculture Overview and Statistics . 2022-04-28 . Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
  25. Web site: Jones . Katie . How Plant City became the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World . . 2022-03-03 . 2022-06-03.
  26. Web site: FE1013/FE1013: Florida Strawberry Production Costs and Trends . Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) . Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), UFl . 2020-11-05 . 2022-06-03 . Zhengfei . Guan . Feng . Wu . Alicia . Whidden.
  27. Web site: Enjoy fresh Florida strawberries, available December through April! . . 2018-03-12 . 2022-06-03.
  28. Web site: PP230/PP152: Botrytis Fruit Rot or Gray Mold of Strawberry . Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) . Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), UFl . 2022-02-15 . 2022-06-03 . J.C. . Mertely . M. S. . Oliveira . N. A. . Peres.
  29. Web site: Special Days & Discounts . Florida Strawberry Festival . 2017-11-08 . 2022-06-03.
  30. 2018-04-03 . 2 . 2018 . Wu . Feng . Guan . Zhengfei . Whitaker . Vance . EDIS . University of Florida George A Smathers Libraries . 2576-0009 . Florida Strawberry Growers Need More Early Yield to Improve Profitability . 10.32473/edis-fe1032-2017. free .
  31. Book: Integrated Pest Management Pesticide Problems, Vol.3 . David . Pimentel . Rajinder . Peshin . 10.1007/978-94-007-7796-5 . . 2014 . 978-94-007-7795-8 . 1 . XXI+474+27 b/w illustrations, 33 colour. 32316692 . . .
  32. 2017 . 75–82 . International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) . 1156 . . 0567-7572 . Verma . S. . Bassil . N.V. . van de Weg . E. . Harrison . R.J. . Monfort . A. . Hidalgo . J.M. . Amaya . I. . Denoyes . B. . Mahoney . L. . Davis . T.M. . Fan . Z. . Knapp . S. . Whitaker . V.M. . Development and evaluation of the Axiom® IStraw35 384HT array for the allo-octoploid cultivated strawberry Fragaria × ananassa . 10.17660/actahortic.2017.1156.10.
  33. 1 . 7 . 2020-11-01 . . . 2662-6810 . Iezzoni . Amy F. . McFerson . Jim . Luby . James . Gasic . Ksenija . Whitaker . Vance . Bassil . Nahla . Yue . Chengyan . Gallardo . Karina . McCracken . Vicki . Coe . Michael . Hardner . Craig . Zurn . Jason D. . Hokanson . Stan . van de Weg . Eric . Jung . Sook . Main . Dorrie . da Silva Linge . Cassia . Vanderzande . Stijn . Davis . Thomas M. . Mahoney . Lise L. . Finn . Chad . Peace . Cameron . RosBREED: bridging the chasm between discovery and application to enable DNA-informed breeding in rosaceous crops . 177 . 10.1038/s41438-020-00398-7 . 33328430 . 7603521 . 226217178 . ORCIDs: KC 0000-0003-4391-5262. NB 0000-0001-8625-2740. JDZ 0000-0001-8360-486X. EvdW 0000-0002-9443-5974. TMD http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5455-0524.
  34. Web site: Peaches can be profitable in three years: Researcher to growers . Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) . University of Florida . 2022-06-06 . 2022-06-08.
  35. Web site: FE1016/FE1016: Establishment and Production Costs for Peach Orchards in Florida: Enterprise Budget and Profitability Analysis . Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) . Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), UFl . 2021-02-26 . 2022-06-08.
  36. Web site: RFAC018/AC018: Alternative Opportunities for Small Farms: Peach and Nectarine Production Review . Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) . Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), UFl . 2022-05-06 . 2022-06-08.
  37. Hudson . Mark . 2019 . Florida Agriculture By The Numbers-2019 . Florida Agriculture by the Numbers . 23.
  38. Hudson . Mark . 2019 . FLORIDA AGRICULTURE BY THE NUMBERS-2019 . Florida Agriculture by the Numbers . 11.
  39. Web site: Mayo . Doug . June 28, 2019 . Florida Panhandle Ag Facts from the 2017 Ag Census . https://web.archive.org/web/20190708195016/http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2019/06/28/florida-panhandle-ag-facts-from-the-2017-ag-census/ . July 8, 2019 . Panhandle Agriculture.
  40. Web site: January 1, 2011 . Corn, Green Bean Prices Rise After Florida Freezes . dead . https://archive.today/20120707024227/http://calorielab.com/labnotes/20101231/green-bean-prices-sweet-corn-florida-freeze-damage/ . July 7, 2012 . Calorielab.
  41. Web site: January 5, 2012 . Pollutants threaten the Everglades' future . Earthmagazine.org.
  42. News: Moore . Mary Helen . October 8, 2018 . Berry poachers at heart of change in harvest rules . 1A . Florida Today . Melbourne, Florida . October 9, 2018.
  43. FE1027/FE1027: The US Tomato Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade . Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) . . 2021-08-30 . 2022-06-28 . FE1027.
  44. Web site: Tomatoes . Agricultural Marketing Resource Center . 2022-06-27 . 2022-06-28.
  45. Web site: 7 CFR § 457.139 - Fresh market tomato (dollar plan) crop insurance provisions. . Legal Information Institute (LII) . 2016-07-25 . 2022-06-28.
  46. Web site: Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers Database . Southern Florida 2005 Okra PMSP . 2022-05-04 . 2022-06-30.
  47. Book: Aguiar . José L . McGiffen . Milt . Natwick . Eric . Takele . Etaferahu . Okra Production in California . University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) . 2011 . 978-1-60107-002-9 . 10.3733/ucanr.7210 . 3 . 7210.
  48. Web site: Sarkhosh . Ali . Andersen . Peter C. . Huff . Dustin M. . JAPANESE PERSIMMON CULTIVARS IN FLORIDA1 . edis.ifas.ufl.edu . University of Florida . 10 May 2022.
  49. Hudson . Mark . 2019 . FLORIDA AGRICULTURE BY THE NUMBERS-2019 . Florida Agriculture by the Numbers . 105.
  50. News: State-by-State Listing of Major U.S. Military Bases—Florida . live . July 6, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101208160957/http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/statefacts/blfl.htm . December 8, 2010.
  51. News: Waymer . Jim . April 7, 2011 . Shutdown spares essential services . 1A . . Melbourne, Florida . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140904042622/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070326/Government-shutdown-would-spare-essential-services . September 4, 2014.
  52. News: May 16, 2012 . Study: Government a top employer in Florida . 12B . . Melbourne, Florida . dead . May 16, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140904033201/http://www.floridatoday.com/viewart/20120516/NEWS01/305160046/Study-Government-top-employer-Florida . September 4, 2014.
  53. Web site: October 2003 . TSRI Plans to Open Major Science Center in Palm Beach County, Florida . May 14, 2012 . News & Views . The Scripps Research Institute.
  54. Web site: PineapplePress . The Two Henrys Henry Plant and Henry Flagler and Their Railroads—Pineapple Press . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180903083942/http://www.pineapplepress.com/shop/the-two-henrys-henry-plant-and-henry-flagler-and-their-railroads/ . September 3, 2018 . March 3, 2020 . Pineapplepress.com.
  55. News: December 3, 2008 . State scores well in credit card, mortgage payment delinquency . . December 3, 2008.
  56. News: Price . Wayne T. . March 24, 2010 . Area home sales down . 6C . Florida Today . Melbourne, Florida . https://web.archive.org/web/20120513224312/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1991621571.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+24%2C+2010&author=WAYNE+T+PRICE&pub=Florida+Today&edition=&startpage=C.6&desc=Brevard+home+sales+down . dead . May 13, 2012 . March 27, 2011.
  57. Web site: Forgione . Mary . July 25, 2017 . World's busiest cruise ports are in Florida . Los Angeles Times.
  58. Web site: Top 50 Water Ports by Tonnage—Bureau of Transportation Statistics . Bts.gov.
  59. Web site: Port Tampa Bay . Port Tampa Bay.
  60. News: Price . Wayne T. . February 10, 2015 . Sea Ray Boats to resume operations . 1A . Florida Today . Melbourne, Florida . February 11, 2015.
  61. Web site: Gov. Scott: Florida Sets Another Tourism Record . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170216172933/http://www.flgov.com/2017/02/16/gov-scott-florida-sets-another-tourism-record-2/ . February 16, 2017 . February 16, 2017 . Florida Government.
  62. Web site: What They Are Saying ... Florida Leaders Celebrate Record 105 Million Tourists in 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160421071636/http://www.flgov.com/2016/02/18/what-they-are-saying-florida-leaders-celebrate-record-105-million-tourists-in-2015/ . April 21, 2016 . April 20, 2016 . Government of Florida.
  63. News: Day . Ashley . March 6, 2016 . Florida shines brightly in spring . 3U . USA Today/Florida Today . Melbourne, Florida . March 6, 2016.
  64. Web site: February 20, 2019 . VISIT FLORIDA Announces an All-Time Record 126 Million Visitors in 2018 . February 20, 2020 . Visit Florida.
  65. Web site: Laying out an "unwelcome mat" to public beach access . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120520090919/http://www.law.fsu.edu/Journals/Landuse/vol18_2/sullivan.pdf . May 20, 2012 . November 4, 2011.
  66. Web site: Dunne . Daniel Dahm, Samantha . 2022-02-15 . Florida's latest tourism numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels . 2022-04-02 . WKMG . en.
  67. Web site: May 28, 2019 . TEA/AECOM 2018 Theme Index and Museum Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report . February 20, 2020 . . November 11, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191111194113/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_328_381804_190528.pdf . dead .
  68. Web site: June 2, 2014 . 10 Most Popular Theme Parks in the World—US City Traveler . October 23, 2018 . Uscitytraveler.com.
  69. Web site: Florida Theme Parks—Discover the Best Amusement Parks in Florida . Visit Florida.
  70. Web site: Bray . Taryn . November 18, 2013 . Florida Parks Receive Record Number of Gold Medals For Excellence . May 19, 2019.
  71. News: Record attendance prompts new KSC visitor complex contract . August 1, 2017 . Florida Today . en.