List of settlements in Florida facts for kids
Florida is a large state in the United States with many different types of communities. It has 283 cities, 108 towns, and 19 villages. This means there are 410 places that have their own local governments. These places are spread across Florida's 67 counties. Each county also has its own government. Interestingly, the government of Jacksonville is special because it acts as both a city council and a county government!
Contents
Understanding Florida's Communities
Florida has many different kinds of places where people live, from big cities to small villages. Each of these places has its own local government. This government helps manage things like roads, parks, and local services.
Here's a quick guide to what you'll see in information about these places:
 |
This marks a county seat. A county seat is the main city or town where the county government offices are located. | # | This marks the state capital. The state capital is where the main government of Florida is located. |
|---|
How Places Are Ranked
Places in Florida are often ranked by how many people live there. This is called their population. The "Rank" shows where a city, town, or village stands on a list from the largest to the smallest.
When Places Were Started
The "Year" tells you when a place was first officially recognized as having its own government. Sometimes, a community might start as a town and later become a city. The earliest date is always used.
Examples of Florida's Cities, Towns, and Villages
Florida is home to many diverse communities. Let's look at a few examples to see how different they can be, from the biggest cities to smaller towns and villages.
- Jacksonville (Rank 1): This is Florida's largest city by population. It's also the county seat of Duval County. Jacksonville was first recognized as a city in 1832. It's a huge place, covering about 883.6 square miles (2,292.2 km2). Its government is run by a mayor and a city council.
- Miami (Rank 2): Located in Miami-Dade County, Miami is a very famous city and its county seat. It had a population of 400,892 people in 2010. Miami became a city in 1896 and covers 55.3 square miles (143.3 km2). It has a mayor and a city commission that run its government.
- Tampa (Rank 3): As the county seat of Hillsborough County, Tampa is another major city in Florida. In 2010, its population was 335,709. Tampa was incorporated in 1855 and spans 170.6 square miles (441.9 km2). It has a mayor and a city council.
- St. Petersburg (Rank 4): This city is in Pinellas County and had 244,818 people in 2010. It became a city in 1903 and covers 132.6 square miles (344.7 km2). It has a mayor and a city commission.
- Orlando (Rank 5): Orlando is the county seat of Orange County and a very popular tourist destination. Its population was 239,037 in 2010. Orlando was incorporated in 1885 and covers 100.6 square miles (261.5 km2). It has a mayor and a city council.
- Tallahassee (Rank 7): This is the capital city of Florida and the county seat of Leon County. In 2010, its population was 181,376. Tallahassee became a city in 1825 and covers 103.1 square miles (267.0 km2). It is governed by a commission and a city manager.
- Weeki Wachee (Rank 409): This is one of the smallest cities in Florida, located in Hernando County. In 2010, it had only 12 residents! It was incorporated in 1966 and covers 1.0 square mile (2.7 km2). It has a mayor and a city commission.
- Lake Buena Vista (Rank 410): Also one of the smallest cities, Lake Buena Vista is in Orange County. It had only 10 residents in 2010. It was incorporated in 1967 and covers 4.9 square miles (12.7 km2). It has a council and a city manager. This city is famous for being part of the Walt Disney World Resort.
More About Florida's Municipalities
Florida has many other cities, towns, and villages, each with its own unique history and way of governing. Some are very old, like St. Augustine, which was incorporated in 1822. Others are much newer, like Cutler Bay, which became a town in 2005.
The way these places are governed can vary. Some have a Mayor–council system, where the mayor is the main leader. Others use a Commission–manager or Council–manager system, where a group of elected officials (the commission or council) makes decisions, and a professional city manager handles the daily operations.
