- Florida’s Regions
The lifestyles in Florida are distinctly different from region to region.
The East Coast region of Florida is generally considered to run from Fernandina Beach south to Fort Lauderdale. The “First Coast” is the northernmost section of the region; it extends from the Georgia border to Marineland. It gets its name from the fact that St Augustine, the oldest original European settlement, is within its boundaries. Further south is the “Space Coast”; this is the area around the Kennedy Space Center where NASA launches the space shuttles. Next as you head south is the “Treasure Coast” which extends from Sebastian to Hobe Sound. The name “Treasure Coast” is derived from the fact that a number of Spanish galleons wrecked off this coast in the 17th and 18th centuries. A little further south is the “Gold Coast” which runs from Palm Beach to Miami. While the term “Gold Coast” originally referred to the coins that occasionally washed up on the beach as a result of the Spanish galleons that sank off the coast, it now relates more to the tremendous wealth that has accrued to the area.
The central section of the Florida peninsula is sometimes split up into subsections i.e., North Central Florida, Central Florida, and the Florida Heartland. I have chosen to group these subsections together as “Central Florida” running from the Georgia state line south to Alligator Alley which traverses the state between Naples and Ft. Lauderdale. This region includes Orlando with its surrounding communities, the Ocala National Forest, and Lake Okeechobee. This is a very diverse region which includes the University of Florida…. the fourth-largest university in the country, large pine tree forests, agricultural communities, “horse country” surrounding Ocala, the Orlando entertainment venues, and rural areas which are culturally aligned with the “Deep South.”
South Florida is being defined as the tip of Florida south of Alligator Alley as well as the Keys. Alligator Alley is the east-west stretch of Route 75 that runs between Naples on the West Coast and Fort Lauderdale on the East Coast. Much of this land area is taken up by big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. Since the population centers are concentrated on the East Coast, people often refer to the coastal area between Miami and Pompano Beach as “South Florida.” This area is very diverse with much of the population coming from Latin America and the Caribbean. Former “snow birds” settle here as well with the majority coming from the Northeast, and a lesser number from the Midwest and Canada. Miami is a major business center and less of a retirement destination. While there are a number of retirees in the Keys, the Keys which stretch from Key Largo to Key West are better known as vacation destinations.
The West Coast of Florida runs from Taylor and Dixie Counties, which are up by the Panhandle, south to Naples. The southern portion of this coastal region, beginning at Tarpon Springs, is known as the Sun Coast. The Sun Coast includes the Tampa Bay area, with a number of smaller towns and the cities of Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. It is a region with a reputation for sunny days as well as pristine beaches. Several beaches along this section of the coast have been recognized as among the top beaches in the country. These include Caladesi Island State Park, St. Pete Beach, Siesta Key beach, and Ft. Desoto Park.
The Florida Panhandle is the region of the state which includes the westernmost sixteen counties, running from Pensacola to Jefferson County east of Tallahassee. It constitutes about twenty percent of Florida’s land area. The Panhandle is bordered by Alabama on the west, Alabama and Georgia on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico on the south. In terms of culture and climate, this area is more similar to the Deep South than it is to the rest of Florida.
So there is plenty to blog about for an exchange of perspectives with those who live in Florida and those who would like to do so.
