Florida, Cuba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Florida
Municipality
Facade of the Hotel Unión
Coat of arms
Florida municipality (red) within Camagüey Province (yellow) and Cuba
Country	Cuba
Province	Camagüey
Founded	1907
Established	1924
Area
• Total	1,800 km2 (700 sq mi)
Elevation	65 m (213 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	69,174
• Density	38.4/km2 (99.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
Area code(s)	+53-322
Climate	Aw

The "Carretera Central" highway crossing Florida's center

Florida city hall building

Florida (Spanish pronunciation: [floˈɾiða]) is a city and a municipality in the Camagüey Province of Cuba. It's about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Camagüey. The city was started in 1907, and it became an official municipality in 1924. Florida is the third largest municipality in the Camagüey Province. Its name means "Land of flowers" in Spanish.

History of Florida

The town of Florida was founded in 1907. Over the years, people worked to make it an independent municipality, which is like its own local government area. In 1971, Florida officially became one of the newest municipalities on the island of Cuba.

Geography of Florida

Florida is located in the northwest part of its province. It shares borders with the Ciego de Ávila Province. The highest point in the area is Urabo Mountain, which is about 132.5 meters (435 feet) tall.

Neighboring Areas

Florida is surrounded by several other municipalities. These include Baraguá, Céspedes, Esmeralda, Camagüey, and Vertientes.

Villages and Localities

The municipality of Florida includes many smaller villages and communities. Some of these are Alberto Becerra, Algarrobo, Conquista, El Angel, La Esperanza, and Playa Florida. Each of these places adds to the unique character of the region.

Population of Florida

In 2022, the municipality of Florida had a total population of 69,174 people. About 56,271 of these people lived in the main town of Florida itself. The municipality covers a large area of 1,800 square kilometers (690 square miles).

Education in Florida

Florida has many schools for young people. There are 64 educational centers in total. These schools teach 15,013 students from primary school all the way up to pre-university levels. Florida also has special night schools. These schools help adults who work during the day to continue their education and learn new skills.

Culture in Florida

Florida has a rich culture with many places to visit and traditions to enjoy.

Cultural Institutions

• Casa de Cultura "Luis Casas Romero": A community center for arts and culture.
• Biblioteca Pública Municipal "Rubén Martínez Villena": A public library.
• Florida Municipal Museum: A museum that shares the history of Florida.
• Casa de la Trova "Pedro Loforte Sablón": A place where traditional Cuban music (trova) is performed.
• Banda Municipal de Concierto: The municipal concert band.
• Librería Municipal "América Latina": A municipal bookstore.
• Galería de Arte: An art gallery.
• Cine Aurora: A local movie theater.

Local Traditions

• Semana de la Cultura Floridana: This is a special "Culture Week" in Florida. It celebrates the local arts, music, and history.
• Carnaval Floridano: This is Florida's own carnival celebration. It's a time for parades, music, and fun.

Transportation in Florida

Florida railway station

Florida is an important stop for transportation.

Railway Connections

The city is served by the "Central Railway" (Ferrocarril Central). This railway connects major cities like Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Both local and long-distance trains use this route.

Highways

Florida is also crossed by the national highway called "Carretera Central" (CC). This is a main road that runs across Cuba. There are also plans for the A1 motorway to extend and connect with the town in the future.

Famous People from Florida

Many notable people have come from Florida.

• Ed Bauta (born 1930): A former baseball player.
• Dairon Blanco (baseball): A center fielder who plays for the Kansas City Royals MLB team.
• Calixto Morales Hernández (died 2013): A politician and revolutionary figure.
• Ada Zayas-Bazán (born 1958): A well-known writer.

See also

In Spanish: Florida (Camagüey) para niños