With over 16 million residents, Florida is the
fourth most populous state in the nation. Over 10 million individuals,
approximately 63 percent of Florida's population, reside in the
counties encompassing Florida's 12 largest metropolitan areas. Five
million individuals reside in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach
Counties in southern Florida. The largest metropolitan areas are
ethnically diverse. This ethnic diversity, coupled with a high population
density, allows members of Colombian, Dominican, Mexican, Jamaican,
and other foreign drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and criminal
groups to blend easily with law-abiding members of the community.
Further, large portions of the state are rural and agricultural
in nature--ideal sites for the production of methamphetamine and
the cultivation of cannabis.
Florida |
| Land area |
53,927 square miles |
| Shoreline |
8,426
miles |
| Inland water |
11,761 square miles |
| Capital |
Tallahassee |
| Other principal
cities |
Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando,
Miami, St. Petersburg, Tampa |
| Number
of counties |
67 |
| Principal
industries |
Agriculture, banking, government,
retail services, tourism |
| Florida
Seaports |
| Fort Pierce |
Jacksonville |
| Key
West |
Manatee |
| Miami |
Palm Beach |
| Panama
City |
Pensacola |
| Port Canaveral |
Port Everglades |
| Port
Fernandina |
Port
St. Joe |
| St. Petersburg |
Tampa |
|
