So is there a Florida accent? We can say with certainty that Southern accents do exist in Florida and in Tampa. Linguists who have studied African-American Vernacular English throughout the U.S. say that accent evolved directly from the Southern dialect.

noun. a native or inhabitant of the state of Florida.

Florida. People who live in Florida are called Floridians and Floridans.

The state of Florida, known for its hospitality and vacation spots, is listed as the 42nd friendliest state in the United States. Considering there are only 50 states, things aren’t looking too hot for Florida.

Geographically they are definitely southern but in comparison to other southern (hospitality, beliefs, religion, openness, food) state populations, meaning the secessionist states of old, the vast number of floridians would refer to themselves as many things other than a southerner.

This created a massive influx of non-Floridians into the state. The Midwesterners followed I-75 down to West Florida and the East Coasters took 95 down to South and Central Florida. This changed Florida forever. Or, more specifically, it made parts of Florida decidedly not the South.

“Dirty South” is an expression that endearingly refers to the southern part of the United States—from Virginia to Florida, Texas, and the states in between—whose Black traditions and artistic expressions have shaped the culture of the region and the nation.

The Florida Panhandle (also West Florida and Northwest Florida) is the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida; it is a strip of land roughly 200 miles (320 km) long and 50 to 100 miles (80 to 161 km) wide, lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south …

It’s the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Wherever you are in Florida, you’re never more than 60 miles from the nearest body of salt water. The state’s highest natural point, Britton Hill, is only 345 feet above sea level — the lowest high point of any state in America.

Top 10 “dumbest” states in the US (in order):

• Hawaii.
• Nevada.
• Mississippi.
• Alabama.
• Florida.
• South Carolina.
• West Virginia.
• Louisiana.

Cons of Florida Living Hurricanes and extreme heat and humidity have an impact. The state is extremely flat, lacking mountains and valleys. There are more tourists and part-time residents than other states. You’ll be paying higher insurance costs than other parts of the country.

From the lack of state income tax to the sunny weather, there are plenty of reasons to love calling Florida home. Its diverse population, delectable food and many theme parks and attractions also make it a particularly interesting place to live.

Hurricanes and other natural disasters Florida is known for its natural disasters, like hurricanes and sinkholes. Hurricanes can be deadly, and repairing storm damage done to a home or business could cost a lot. Hurricanes can knock out electrical grids in neighborhoods.

Lots of Land Contributes to Lower Prices There’s even a surprising amount of coastline that is undeveloped, he said. In South Florida, where there is a scarcity of land, prices are higher. But the abundance of land in the rest of the state results in lower prices for both land and homes.

1. Palm Beach. Located in South Florida, Palm Beach is the most expensive place to live in the entire state. Palm Beach is known for its upscale estates and boutiques, as well as its world-famous beaches.

Peterffy Tops the List. Though as of 2016 Florida officially has 40 billionaire residents, a full 10% of the Forbes 400 list, Thomas Peterffy is the richest of them all, according to Forbes. Peterffy is the 32nd wealthiest American across the country, with a net worth of about $12.6 billion.

And almost all of them live outside of Jacksonville proper in Ponte Vedra Beach, the wealthiest enclave in St. Johns County, which is itself the wealthiest county in Florida north of Palm Beach.

Palm Beach

Here are the 14 Best Places to Live in Florida:

• Naples.
• Sarasota.
• Melbourne.
• Tampa.
• Pensacola.
• Jacksonville.
• Orlando.
• Fort Myers.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Here are the five most dangerous cities (with a population above 5,000) in Florida:

• Florida City.
• Lake City.
• Opa Locka.
• Lake Park.
• Panama City Beach.

The most affordable places to live in Florida are:

• Kissimmee, Fla.
• Palm Coast, Fla.
• Cape Coral, Fla.
• Palm Bay, Fla.
• Orlando, Fla.
• Gainesville, Fla.

The top 10 safest cities in Florida during a hurricane, according to the insurance study, are:

• Sanford.
• Kissimmee.
• Palatka.
• Lake City.
• Naples.
• Ocala.
• Gainesville.
• Fernandina Beach.

If you want to stay as safe as possible from hurricanes but still want to reap the benefits of being a Florida citizen, inland Florida near the northern border of Georgia is the best place to live. It is the least hurricane-prone area in Florida.

• Southeast Florida. This area includes the major cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
• The Florida Keys.
• Southwest Florida.
• West Florida.
• Outer Banks islands, NC.
• Central Texas – Gulf coast.
• Central Florida – Atlantic coast.
• Florida Panhandle.

Some of the more popular areas in Central Florida that aren’t occupied by alligators or sharks are freshwater spring-fed rivers. Some of these may include: Ichetucknee Springs, Madison Blue Spring, Withlacoochee, and Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail.

The largest population of gators live in Gainesville, FL. They live in freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes. There are an estimated five million American alligators in the southeastern U.S. with a quarter of the alligator population in Florida.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, Lake George near the St. Johns River in northwest Florida has the most, with more than 2,300. Lake Kissimmee near Orlando comes in second with just shy of 2,000.

Though there’s a certain level of risk involved with each outing, kayaking with alligators is safe if you remain alert. They won’t attack indiscriminately, and rarely will they stay in the same area as a kayaker. Still, it’s important to remember you’re a visitor in their territory, and you should respect it as such.