List of Florida state symbols

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Location of the State of Florida in the United States of America
Location of the State of Florida in the United States of America

The following are official state symbols of the U.S. State of Florida, as defined by state statutes. The majority of the symbols were chosen after 1950; only the three oldest symbols—the state flower (chosen in 1909), the state bird (chosen in 1927), and the state song (chosen in 1935)—are not listed in the 2007 Florida Statutes.[1] Under the Florida Statutes, all state symbols fall under the purview of the Executive Branch (Title IV), Secretary of State (Chapter 15), as part of the Secretary of State's role as "Chief Cultural Officer."[2]

Contents

[edit] Miscellaneous

Type Symbol Year Image
Flag A red saltire (diagonal cross) on a white background, with the seal of Florida superimposed on the center. 1985[A] Florida flag
Motto "In God We Trust" 2006[B]
Nickname Sunshine State 1970[C]
Seal Seal of Florida 1985[D] Florida State Seal

[edit] Flora

Type Symbol Year Image
Flower Orange blossom
(Citrus sinensis)		 1909[3] Orange blossoms
Tree Sabal Palm
(Sabal palmetto)		 1953[4] Sabal Palm
Wildflower Coreopsis
(Coreopsis sp.)		 1991[5] Coreopsis

[edit] Fauna

Type Symbol Year Image
Animal Florida Panther
(Felis concolor coryi)		 1982[6] Florida Panther
Bird Northern Mockingbird
(Mimus polyglottos)		 1927[7] Mockingbird
Butterfly Zebra Longwing
(Heliconius charithonia)		 1996[8] Zebra Longwing Butterfly
Fish
(fresh water)		 Florida Largemouth Bass
(Micropterus salmoides floridanus)		 1975[9] Largemouth Bass
Fish
(salt water)		 Atlantic sailfish
(Istiophorus platypterus)		 1975[E] Atlantic Sailfish
Mammal
(marine)		 Florida Manatee
(Trichechus manatus latirostris)		 1975[F] West Indian Manatee
Mammal
(salt water)		 Porpoise
(Tursiops truncates)		 1975[G] Bottlenose Dolphin
Reptile American Alligator
(Alligator mississippiensis)		 1987[10] American Alligator
Shell Horse Conch
(Pleuroploca gigantea)		 1969[11] Horse Conch

[edit] Geology

Type Symbol Year Image
Gem Moonstone 1970[12] Moonstone
Soil Myakka Soil 1989[13] Myakka Soil
Stone Agatized Coral 1979[14] Agatized Coral

[edit] Culture

Type Symbol Year Image
Beverage Orange juice 1967[15] Orange Juice
Fruit Orange 2005[16] Oranges
Pie Key lime pie 2006[17] Key lime pie
Song "Old Folks at Home" 1935[H] Old Folks at Home

[edit] Notes

A 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. Prior to that, the state flag was simply the state seal on a white background.[18]
B The state motto was not adopted until 2006; however, it has appeared on the state seal since 1868.[19]
C 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.[20]
D 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.'"[21] The most recent revisions were made in 1985.[22]
E  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.[24]
F  The statute naming the Manatee as the state marine mammal did not identify the specific species,[25] but the Florida Manatee subspecies is the only one normally found in Florida waters.[26]
G  The statute naming the porpoise as the state saltwater mammal did not identify the specific species,[27] but it is generally believed that the reference was intended to recognize the Bottlenose Dolphin.[28]
H  From 1913–1935, the state song was "Florida, My Florida", by Rev. Dr. C. V. Waugh, sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum".[29] The song is often referred to as "Swanee River", but Stephen Foster named the song "Old Folks at Home".[30] A contest to name a new state song ended on 11 January 2008, and the winning song, "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky" was included in a legislative bill sponsored by two state lawmakers.[31]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The 2007 Florida Statutes. Florida Legislature. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  2. ^ Office of the Secretary of State. State of Florida, Department of State. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  3. ^ Florida State Symbols:State Flower. Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  4. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.031. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  5. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.0345. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  6. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.0353. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  7. ^ Florida State Symbols:State Bird. Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  8. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.0382. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  9. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.036. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  10. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.0385. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  11. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.033. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  12. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.034. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  13. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.047. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  14. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.0336. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  15. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.032. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  16. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.0315. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  17. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15 section 15.052. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  18. ^ Florida's Historic Flags:State Flag, present. Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  19. ^ What is the state motto of Florida?. Frequently Asked Questions. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  20. ^ How did Florida get its nickname, The Sunshine State?. Frequently Asked Questions. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  21. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.03. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
  22. ^ The Florida State Seal. Cultural, Historical, and Information Programs. Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-06-26.
  23. ^ Sailfish. Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  24. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.037. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  25. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.037. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  26. ^ Deutsch, C.J., Self-Sullivan, C. & Mignucci-Giannoni, A. (2007). Trichechus manatus. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  27. ^ 2007 Florida Statutes, Title IV, Chapter 15, section 15.037. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  28. ^ The State Saltwater Mammal. Office of Cultural and Historical Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  29. ^ Rev. C. V. Waugh. Alachua County Library District Heritage Collection. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  30. ^ Florida State Symbols:The State Song. Office of Cultural and Historic Programs, State of Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  31. ^ Cottell, Bill (11 January 2008). State song contest winner: 'Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky'. Florida Today. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.

[edit] External links


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