When Florida was first acquired by the United States, future president Andrew Jackson served as its military governor.

The Seminole Wars (also known as the Florida Wars) were three related military conflicts in Florida between the United States Army and the Seminole, a Native American group which had coalesced in Spanish Florida during the early 1700s. The fighting occurred between about 1816 and 1858, with two periods of uneasy truce between active conflict. Both in human and monetary terms, the Seminole Wars were the longest and most expensive of the Indian Wars in United States history.

Florida has a total of 4,510 islands that are ten acres or larger in area. This is the second-highest number of islands of any state. Only Alaska has more.

The Florida panther is a subspecies of the cougar native to southern Florida. While its numbers have rebounded from a low of about 20 in the 1970s, it remains critically endangered.

Considered the lightning strike capital of the U.S., Florida leads the country in both the number of fatal hits and the density of strikes, with just over 20 flashes per square mile every year.

Opening its door on October 26, 1973, Florida House became the first, and remains the only, "State Embassy" in Washington D.C. In addition to rest and relaxation (including a free glass of orange juice, Florida's official beverage), visitors find information on tours, restaurants, attractions, historic sites, shopping and directions.

At 345 feet above mean sea level, Britton Hill is Florida's highest natural point--and the lowest "high point" of any U.S. state.

Founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, St. Augustine is not only the oldest city in Florida, but also the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the United States.

In their native habitat, Burmese pythons play an important role in controlling the populations of prey species. In Florida, however, they are killing important native species, such as songbirds, deer, and alligators, at alarming rates. According to scientists, pythons are responsible for a 90 to 99 percent drop in the small mammal population in the Everglades National Park.

The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville, Florida in the 1960s to help refresh the University of Florida football team. UF still receives a share of the profits from the beverage, but Gatorade's headquarters are now in Chicago.