Florida

Florida's warm and sunny climate attracts more than just tourists, retirees and baseball teams in the springtime. People from all walks of life come to the Sunshine State for its attractive weather, high job growth rate, lack of personal income tax and relatively low cost of living. All of these factors and more help to make Florida one of the nation's fastest growing states.

The horse racing industry, which stables approx. 134,000 horses in Florida, also has a strong presence and contributes $2.2 billion to the states dynamic economy. Hundreds of miles of scenic coastline, Disney and the natural beauty of the Everglades all help to make tourism Florida's leading industry. Agriculture is also big business and the state is the number one citrus producer in the United States. Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa are the three largest cities.

Florida in Numbers:

	Horse Population:500,000 horses Including: 207,000 Thoroughbreds, 90,000 Quarter Horses
	Total Economic Impact: over $ 5 billion
	Horse Owner, Employees and Volunteers: 440,000
	Capital: Tallahassee
	Land area: 53,927 sq. miles
	Population: 17,789,068
	Counties: 67
	Highest Point: Britton Hill at 345 feet, C ounty of Walton
	Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean at Sea Level
	10 largest Cities :
	Jacksonville: 782,623; Miami: 386,417; Tampa: 325,989; St. Petersburg: 249,079; Hialeah: 220,485; Orlando: 213,223; Fort Lauderdale: 167,380; Tallahassee: 158,500; Pembroke Pines: 150,380; Hollywood: 145,629