FLORIDA
In Brief
"Since the Reconstruction period ended in 1877, most of Florida's governors have
been Democrats. From 1880 through 1948, Democratic presidential candidates lost
the state's electoral votes only in 1928. But since the 1952 election, Republican
candidates have won the votes most of the time."
Resource: World Book 2008
Capital: Tallahassee
Area: 65,755 sq mi
Population: 18,089,888
Resource: World Almanac 2008
As the next stop in the presidential primary season, Florida’s population of 18.3
million grew by 2.3 million people from 2000 to 2007, the nation’s third-highest
numeric growth during that period. Florida also has the highest percentage of
residents age 65 and over. About 64 percent of Florida’s voting-age citizens cast a
ballot in the 2004 general election, which is not statistically different from the national
rate.
More information at: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html
Selected Characteristics
Population change: 2000-2007
Median age
Population 65 and over
Women
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino
Black alone
Hispanic or Latino
Median household income
Foreign born
Persons below poverty
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)
Median home value
Florida
14.2%
39.6
16.8%
50.9%
61.3%
15.8%
20.2%
$45,495
18.9%
12.6%
25.3%
$230,600
U.S.
7.2%
36.4
12.4%
50.7%
66.4%
12.8%
14.8%
$48,451
12.5%
13.3%
27.0%
$185,200
Source: U.S Census Bureau Total Population Estimates (2007), State Population Estimates
by Characteristics (2006), American Community Survey (2006).
More Resources
Government Information
The Official Web site for the State Florida
http://www.dos.state.fl.us/
Governor of Florida
http://www.flgov.com/
Florida - Elected Officials in U.S. Senate
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=FL
Florida - Elected Officials in U.S. House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#de
Elections 2008
Politics 1: Florida Directory
http://www.politicsone.com/fl.htm
The Green Papers: Florida 2008 General Elections
General
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/FL.phtml
Florida Division of Election
http://election.dos.state.fl.us/
Statistics
Florida - Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12000.html
Media
Local newspapers
http://www.newslink.org/flnews.html
Local radio stations
http://www.newslink.org/flradi.html
General Information
Infoplease Florida
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108198.html
50states.com - Florida
http://www.50states.com/florida.htm
Please find more information at
http://usa.usembassy.de/classroom/electionproject2008/index