Florida State Day, Motto, and Nickname

STATE DAY March 3 STATUS Unofficial DATE OF ADMISSION TO UNITED STATES March 3, 1845 RANKING IN STATE ADMISSION 27th FORMER DESIGNATION(S) La Florida (Spanish colony) Territory of Florida HISTORY For several centuries, Spain, France, and England contended for control of the area now known as Florida. Through a series of treaties, agreements, and military expansion, the United States finally gained total control of Florida in 1821. In 1822 the Territory of Florida was organized, paving the way for future statehood. On March 3, 1845, Florida became a state following a period of intense dispute over whether the territory should be further divided and the desire to keep another slave-holding state from entering the Union. MOTTO "In God We Trust" Enacted in 2006, Florida's official state motto is also the official motto of the United States. It is found on both the state flag and the state seal. NICKNAMES "The Sunshine State" (official), "The Alligator State," "The Everglade State," "The Orange State," "The Flower State," The Land of Flowers," "The Peninsula State," "The Gulf State" The nickname "The Sunshine State" was officially adopted by Florida in 1970 and appears on its license plates. It refers to the large number of sunshine-filled days that Florida experiences. Florida is home to a large population of alligators inhabiting the various brackish rivers and the Everglades swamp, hence the nickname "The Alligator State." "The Everglade State" refers to the Everglades wilderness area that is part of the southern third of the state. "The Orange State" refers to the large citrus industry located within the state. The tropical and semitropical climate and soil conditions in Florida combine to create a vast garden-like atmosphere that is home to many rare and beautiful plants, lending it the nicknames "The Flower State" and "The Land of Flowers." "The Peninsula State," unsurprisingly, refers to the fact that Florida is a peninsula. Finally, "The Gulf State" is a reference to Florida's location along the Gulf of Mexico.  -World Trade Press