List Of Florida State Symbols - Wikipedia

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• 1 Insignia
• 2 Florida plants
• 3 Fauna
• 4 Geology
• 5 Culture
• 6 State quarter
• 7 See also
• 8 Notes
• 9 References
• 10 External links

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The state of Florida has numerous symbols defined by state statutes. The majority of the symbols were chosen after 1950; only the two oldest symbols—the state flower (chosen in 1909), and the state bird (chosen in 1927), and the state nickname (chosen in 1970)—are not listed in the 2010 Florida Statutes.[1] Under the Statutes, all state symbols fall under the purview of the Executive Branch (Title IV), Secretary of State (Chapter 15), as part of the secretary's role as "Chief Cultural Officer".[2]

Insignia

[edit] Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Statute
Flag	Flag	A red saltire (diagonal cross) on a white background, with the seal of Florida superimposed on the center. The current flag was adopted in 1985, when the state seal was last changed. The basic design, however, dates back to 1900, when the design was approved by voters in a constitutional amendment.[3]	1985		15.012[4]
State day/week	Pascua Florida	Pascua Florida (Flowery Easter) is usually celebrated on April 2, unless the 2nd falls on a weekend. When it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the governor may declare either the preceding Friday or following Monday as the state day. Pascua Florida commemorates the discovery of Florida by Juan Ponce de León on April 2, 1513. Children and adults may celebrate the holiday by attending educational programs focusing on the history of the area.[5]	1953	—	683.06
Motto	"In God We Trust"	The state motto was not adopted until 2006; however, it has appeared on the state seal since 1868.	2006		15.0301[6]
Nickname	Sunshine State	The use of "Sunshine State" has been in place since 1949, when it first appeared on license plates. The nickname was made official by the state legislature in 1970.	1970	— [7]
Seal	Seal of Florida	The seal has evolved since 1868, although the basic elements have remained consistent. Florida statute states: "The great seal of the state shall be of the size of the American silver dollar, having in the center thereof a view of the sun's rays over a highland in the distance, a sabal palmetto palm tree, a steamboat on water, and an Indian female scattering flowers in the foreground, encircled by the words 'Great Seal of the State of Florida: In God We Trust.'"[8] The most recent revisions were made in 1985.[9]	1985		15.03[8]

Florida plants

[edit]

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Statute
Flower	Orange blossom(Citrus sinensis)	The fragrant blossoms of the orange tree also represent the largest portion of the state's agriculture industry, which stands behind only tourism as a proportion of the state's economy.	1909		– [10]
Tree	Sabal palm(Sabal palmetto)	The sabal palmetto tree is native to Florida and coastal regions of North and South Carolina and Georgia. It has been widely used as both a landscape plant and as a food source; hearts of palm are the bud of the tree. Another name for it is cabbage palm.[11]	1953		15.031[12]
Wildflower	Tickseed(Coreopsis)	There are several native tickseed species to Florida, though many nonnative species are widely planted in highway beautification and roadsides. They are named due to their round and small fruit (or achene) and two short spines, which make them resemble a bug. Aside from the Swamp Tickseed, most tickseeds have yellow ray flowers.[13]	1991		15.0345[14]

Fauna

[edit]

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Statute
Animal	Florida panther(Puma concolor coryi)	The Florida panther is a critically endangered subspecies of the cougar native to southern Florida. While its numbers have rebounded from a low of about 25 in the early 1990s, there are only about 100 alive in the wild.[15]	1982		15.0353[16]
Bird	Northern mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)	The northern mockingbird, native throughout Florida year-round, is also the state bird for four other southern states. Legislation was introduced in 2023 to change it to the flamingo.[17]	1927		– [18]
Butterfly	Zebra longwing(Heliconius charithonia)	The zebra longwing is a common sight in Florida; the adult butterfly has a long lifespan because it consumes pollen as well as nectar, extending its lifespan from roughly two weeks to about three months.[19]	1996		15.0382[20]
Fish(fresh water)	Florida largemouth bass(Micropterus salmoides floridanus)	The largemouth bass is a sought-after sportfish, which is also the state (freshwater) fish for four other states. The Florida subspecies has smaller scales and grows larger than the northern subspecies.[21]	1975		15.036[22]
Fish(salt water)	Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)	The Atlantic sailfish is sometimes known as Istiophorus albicans,[23] but the Florida legislature used the nomenclature I. Platypterus in the statute naming the state's salt water fish.	1975		15.037[24]
Heritage cattle breed	Florida Cracker cattle	Florida Cracker cattle is among the oldest breeds in the U.S., descended from Spanish cattle which arrived in the 1500s.[25]	2018		15.0527[26]
Horse	Florida Cracker Horse	The Florida Cracker Horse is a small horse, descended from horses brought to the state from Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries. They are known for their stamina, intelligence, quickness, strength, and easy ride. Their name is inspired by Florida cattlemen and the sound that their whips make when they move cattle.[27]	2008		15.0526[28]
Mammal(marine)	Florida manatee(Trichechus manatus latirostris)	The statute naming the manatee as the state marine mammal did not identify the specific species, but the Florida manatee subspecies is the only one normally found in Florida waters.[29]	1975		15.038[30]
Mammal(salt water)	Porpoise(Tursiops truncatus)	The statute naming the porpoise as the state saltwater mammal did not identify the specific species, but it is generally believed that the reference was intended to recognize the bottlenose dolphin.[31] Dolphins are dark gray on top, and very pale gray on their underside, and range in length from 6 to 13 feet.	1975		15.038[30]
Reptile	American alligator(Alligator mississippiensis)	1987		15.0385[32]
Reptile(salt water)	Loggerhead sea turtle(Caretta caretta)	Florida is one of the world's two largest nesting areas for the loggerhead sea turtle.[33] The turtle is a large (up to 7 feet) and heavy (up to 350 lbs) reptile with yellowish-to-brown skin and a reddish-brown shell.	2008		15.0386[34]
Shell	Horse conch(Triplofusus papillosus)	The horse conch is one of the largest univalves in the world, capable of reaching a length of 24 inches. The young shells are often orange, while older specimens are usually greyish-white. They are found along the entire coast of Florida, in intertidal flats and coastal areas to a depth of 20 feet.	1969		15.033[35]
Tortoise	Gopher tortoise(Gopherus polyphemus)	2008		15.03861[36]

Geology

[edit]

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Statute
Gem	Moonstone	Moonstone does not occur in Florida, but after the Apollo 11 mission, in which astronauts launched from Cape Canaveral landed on the moon, the state legislature chose to commemorate the mission by designating the moonstone as the state gemstone.[37]	1970		15.034[38]
Soil	Myakka soil	Myakka soil is the most widespread soil in the state. It is unique to Florida.[39]	1989		15.047[40]
Stone	Agatized coral	Agatized coral, which is a form of silicified coral similar to petrified wood, is found in Florida near Tampa Bay and in the Withlacoochee River (Suwannee River) region. It is the only gemstone found in the state.[41]	1979		15.0336[42]

Culture

[edit]

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Statute
Anthem	"Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)"	Written by music teacher Jan Hinton, "Florida (Where the Sawgrass meets the Sky)" was first heard in an online contest organized by the Florida Music Association in the hopes of finding a song that represented the state. In a legislative session in 2008, it was decided that the song would share its state song title with a revised version of the old state song, "Old Folks at Home".[43]	2008		15.0326[44]
Beverage	Orange juice	Oranges are the most valuable agricultural product of the state, and over 95% of Florida's orange production is processed, the vast majority of which becomes orange juice.[45]	1967		15.032[46]
Dessert	Strawberry shortcake	Plant City, Florida annually hosts the Florida Strawberry Festival, where strawberry shortcakes are the signature dessert, and the region's strawberries account for 75% of the United States' winter strawberry crop. Strawberry shortcake became the state dessert after the Florida Senate passed a bill to have it recognized by the state. The state dessert is separate from the state pie, Key Lime Pie, and both titles co-exist as being recognized by Florida.[47]	2022		S.B. 1006[48]
Festival	"Calle Ocho-Open House 8"	"El Festival de la Calle Ocho" (the Calle Ocho Festival) is a one-day rumba (fiesta) held at the end of the Miami Carnaval. The Calle Ocho Festival is held in March on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami (Southwest 8th Street from 27th Avenue and 4th Avenue).[49]	1980		15.0395[50]
Fruit	Orange	Oranges are the most valuable agricultural commodity of the state, which produces almost three-quarters of all oranges produced in the United States.	2005		15.0315[51]
Citrus archive	Florida Citrus Archives	Housed at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, the Florida Citrus Archives are an extensive collection of citrus related materials, believed by many in the citrus industry to be the largest collection of its kind.[52]	2001	15.0325[53]
Pie	Key lime pie	Key lime pie (traditionally made with Key limes from the Florida Keys) is made with condensed milk, which does not require refrigeration, an important consideration in the Keys before the widespread availability of refrigeration. Prior to the construction of the Overseas Railroad, fresh milk was a rare commodity. Key lime pie made with Key limes (as opposed to Persian limes) is pale yellow, not green.	2006		15.052[54]
Play	Cross and Sword	Cross and Sword, a pageant based on the play written by Paul Green, is a dramatization of the Spanish colonization of St. Augustine, Florida, the nation's first city. The stories of Pedro Menéndez, Jean Ribault, and Father López, some of Florida's earliest European settlers, are told.[55]	1973	15.035[56]
Rodeo	Silver Spurs Rodeo	The Silver Spurs Rodeo, which began as an effort to buy war bonds, is now billed as the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.[57]	1994		15.0391[58]
Railroad museum	Gold Coast Railroad Museum	Founded in 1956, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum was built on the grounds of the former Naval Air Station Richmond in Miami, Florida. The Gold Coast Railroad Museum is one of three official state railroad museums in Florida.[59]	1984		15.045(2)(b)[60]
Railroad museum	Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum	The Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum, in Parrish, Florida, is one of three official state railroad museums in Florida.[61]	1984		15.045(2)(c)[60]
Song	"Old Folks at Home"	From 1913 to 1935, the state song was "Florida, My Florida," by Rev. Dr. C. V. Waugh, sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum."[62] Stephen Foster named the song "Old Folks at Home" but it is often referred to as "Swanee River."[63]	1935[A]		15.0327[64]

State quarter

[edit]

• State quarter for Florida

See also

[edit]

• List of Florida-related topics
• Lists of United States state insignia
• State of Florida

Notes

[edit] A The state song was originally selected through a House Concurrent resolution in 1935,[63] but was defined by statute (with revised lyrics) in 2008.[65]

References

[edit]

1. ^ "The 2010 Florida Statutes". Florida Legislature. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
2. ^ "Office of the Secretary of State". State of Florida, Department of State. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
3. ^ "Florida's Historic Flags:State Flag, present". Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
4. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.012". State of Florida. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
5. ^ Chambers, James (2018). Holidays around the world (6th ed.). Infobase Holdings, Inc. p. 657. ISBN 978-0-7808-1658-9.
6. ^ "2018 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0301". State of Florida. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
7. ^ "How did Florida get its nickname, The Sunshine State?". State of Florida. April 8, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2011.[permanent dead link]
8. ^ a b "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.03". State of Florida. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
9. ^ "The Florida State Seal". Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
10. ^ "Florida State Symbols:State Flower". Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
11. ^ Broschat, Timothy K. (2013-07-31). "Sabal palmetto: Sabal or Cabbage Palm: ENH-733/ST575, 7/2013". EDIS. 2013 (6). doi:10.32473/edis-st575-2013. ISSN 2576-0009.
12. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.031". State of Florida. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
13. ^ Norcini, Jeff G.; Thorpe, Melissa A. (2003). "Coreopsis: A Guide To Identifying and Enjoying Florida's State Wildflower: EP121, 2003". EDIS. 2003 (2). doi:10.32473/edis-ep121-2003. ISSN 2576-0009.
14. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0345". State of Florida. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
15. ^ Anderson, Mickie (September 23, 2010). "Study: Florida panther population in better shape than before; still a long way to go". University of Florida. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
16. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0353". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
17. ^ Bell, James (2023-12-13). "A battle over birds: Bills filed to make flamingo the official state bird of Florida". Policy and Politics. Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
18. ^ "Florida State Symbols:State Bird". Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
19. ^ Daniels, Jaret C. (January 2008). "Featured Creatures: Heliconius charitonia". University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
20. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0382". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
21. ^ Bridges, Andres; Bester, Cathleen. "Biological Profiles: Largemouth bass". Florida Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
22. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.036". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
23. ^ "Sailfish". Florida Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
24. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.037". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
25. ^ Florida Cracker Cattle, The Livestock Conservancy, retrieved May 29, 2019
26. ^ "2018 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0527". State of Florida. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
27. ^ Rey, Jorge R. (2009-05-31). "The Florida Cracker Horse: AN216/AN216, 4/2009". EDIS. 2009 (4). doi:10.32473/edis-an216-2009. ISSN 2576-0009.
28. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0526". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
29. ^ Deutsch, C.J.; Self-Sullivan, C.; Mignucci-Giannoni, A. (2008). "Trichechus manatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008 e.T22103A9356917. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22103A9356917.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
30. ^ a b "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.038". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
31. ^ "The State Saltwater Mammal". Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
32. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0385". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
33. ^ "Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. January 19, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
34. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0386". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
35. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.033". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
36. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.03861". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
37. ^ "Moonstone: Florida state symbols". Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
38. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.034". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
39. ^ "Myakka -- Florida State Soil". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
40. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.047". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
41. ^ "Gemstones: Chalcedony". United States Geological Survey. July 17, 2002. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
42. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0336". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
43. ^ "State Anthem - Florida Department of State". dos.fl.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
44. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0326". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
45. ^ "Commodity Profile: Citrus" (PDF). Agricultural Issues Center, University of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
46. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.032". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
47. ^ Turoff, Nathan (2022). "Strawberry shortcake named official Florida dessert". University Wire.
48. ^ "Florida S.B. 1006". State of Florida. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
49. ^ "Calle Ocho Festival, A Special Day To Experience, Hispanic Culture in Miami". Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
50. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0395". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
51. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0315". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
52. ^ "2001 Florida Senate Bill Analysis" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2011.
53. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0325". State of Florida. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
54. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.052". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
55. ^ "Florida Division of Historical Resoiurces". Retrieved May 26, 2011.
56. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.035". State of Florida. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
57. ^ Jacobson, Susan (February 18, 2005). "Back in the Saddle: Even As Osceola County Changes Dramatically, Cracker Cowboy Culture Goes On, Epitomized By Silver Spurs". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
58. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0391". State of Florida. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
59. ^ "Gold Coast Railroad Museum website". Retrieved May 26, 2011.
60. ^ a b "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.045". State of Florida. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
61. ^ "Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum website". Retrieved May 26, 2011.
62. ^ "Rev. C. V. Waugh". Alachua County Library District Heritage Collection. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
63. ^ a b "Florida State Symbols:The State Song". Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
64. ^ "2010 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0327". State of Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
65. ^ Kleindienst, Linda (April 25, 2008). "Senate cleans up lyrics of state song". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2011.

External links

[edit]

• Florida State Symbols, from the Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida

v t e State of Florida
Tallahassee (capital)
History	Timeline Indigenous peoples of Florida Spanish Florida missions British Rule East Florida West Florida Florida Territory Seminole Wars Slavery Plantations of Leon County Mosquito County Armed Occupation Act Civil War Great Migration Fishing ranchos Florida East Coast Railway Draining and development of the Everglades Florida land boom of the 1920s Kennedy Space Center Disney World
Geography	Beaches Bays Caves Counties Everglades Keys Lakes Lake Okeechobee Metro areas Municipalities Regions Rivers Sinkholes Springs State forests State parks Straits Swamps
Major hurricanes	Florida Keys (1919) Tampa Bay (1921) Miami (1926) Okeechobee (1928) Florida Keys (1929) Treasure Coast (1933) Labor Day (1935) Dry Tortugas (1944) Homestead (1945) Fort Lauderdale (1947) South Florida (1948) 1949 Florida hurricane Easy (1950) King (1950) Donna (1960) Betsy (1965) Eloise (1975) Elena (1985) Andrew (1992) Opal (1995) Charley (2004) Frances (2004) Ivan (2004) Jeanne (2004) Dennis (2005) Wilma (2005) Matthew (2016) Irma (2017) Michael (2018) Dorian (2019) Ian (2022) Idalia (2023) Helene (2024) Milton (2024)
Society	African-American Brazilian-American culture Miami Orlando Crime Cuban-American culture Miami Tampa Culture Demographics Economy Agriculture Tourism Education Florida cracker Floridians Government Haitian-American culture Delray Beach Miami Homelessness Human trafficking Indigenous peoples Everglades LGBT rights Politics Ballot measures Congressional delegations Congressional districts Puerto Rican culture Orlando Kissimmee Politics Sports Seminole Black Seminoles Sports
Culture	Casinos Film Florida Man Florida Heritage Trails Floridiana Cuisine of Florida Literature Miami accent Music Mass media newspapers radio TV Symbols flag motto seal Visit Florida
Environment	Environmental issues Fauna Flora Florida Reef Geology Climate climate change
Other	Cuba–United States relations Index Tourist attractions Transportation
Florida portal

v t e U.S. state symbols by state
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Territories and the federal district	American Samoa District of Columbia Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
State, district, and territorial insignia United States national symbols

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