North Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Florida
Region
Top left to right: Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Downtown Jacksonville, Flagler College, Tallahassee skyline Bottom left to right: Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, and Big Lagoon State Park
Country	United States
State	Florida
Largest city	Jacksonville
Population  (2010)
• Total	3,753,144 (approximate area)

North Florida is a special part of the U.S. state of Florida. It covers the northernmost areas of the state. Think of Florida as having three main parts: North, Central, and South. North Florida is one of these important "directional" regions. It includes big cities like Jacksonville and the areas around it, which are sometimes called Northeast Florida. It also has a central area known as North Central Florida and the Florida Panhandle, which is the long, narrow western part of the state. North Florida is often seen as part of the Southern United States.

Exploring North Florida's Geography

What is the Area of North Florida?

North Florida doesn't have exact, official borders. People define it a bit differently depending on who you ask! But generally, it includes the northern parts of Florida, both on the main peninsula and the Florida Panhandle.

People in Florida often talk about two smaller "directional" regions within North Florida:

• Northeast Florida: This is also known as the "First Coast." It's the area around Jacksonville on the Atlantic coast.
• North Central Florida: This covers the central part of North Florida.

North Florida also includes other cool areas along its coasts, like the Emerald Coast and the Big Bend on the Gulf Coast. On the Atlantic side, you'll find the First Coast and the Halifax area.

Regions within North Florida

North Florida is made up of several smaller regions. Here are some of them:

City Views in North Florida

Tallahassee is the capital city of State of Florida.

Jacksonville is the biggest city in the Southeast by population.

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States that has been lived in continuously.

North Florida's Climate

North Florida has warm weather for most of the year. Here's a look at the average high and low temperatures in some of its major cities:

People and Cities in North Florida

Jacksonville is the biggest city area in North Florida. Cities like St. Augustine, Orange Park, and Fernandina Beach are part of this large area. Other important city areas include Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Gainesville. Smaller but still important cities are Lake City and Palatka.

Largest Cities by Population

Here are some of the biggest cities in North Florida, based on how many people live there:

North Florida's Culture

Historic Gibson Inn, Apalachicola, Florida, built in 1907.

People in North Florida often feel like their region is very much a part of the South. They sometimes say, "In Florida, the farther north you go, the farther South you are!" This means that the culture in North Florida feels more like other Southern states.

When it comes to food, American cuisine is very popular here. Also, country music is a favorite type of music in North Florida.

Located in North Florida is Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer's childhood home, Greenville, Madison County, Florida.

Economy of North Florida

Bank of America Tower on Laura Street in Jacksonville's financial district.

North Florida's economy is quite varied. While tourism is important, especially along the beautiful Emerald Coast, other industries are also very strong.

• Agriculture is big in the rural areas.
• Education is key in cities like Tallahassee and Gainesville, which have large universities.
• Military bases and finance companies are very important in Jacksonville.

Some major military bases in the region include Pensacola Naval Air Station, Jacksonville Naval Air Station, and Eglin Air Force Base.

There are many fun attractions in North Florida, like Marineland of Florida, the Florida State Capitol, and historic sites in St. Augustine. You can also explore amazing natural places like Ravine Gardens State Park and Osceola National Forest. Plus, there are three major zoos: the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, and Gulf Breeze Zoo.

North Florida was the birthplace of the Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyard. The band's lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant, was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida.

Major Business Areas

Here are some of the main business centers in North Florida:

• Downtown Jacksonville
• Downtown Pensacola
• Downtown Tallahassee

Notable Companies in North Florida

Many companies have their headquarters or a big presence in North Florida. Some of the largest include:

Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, Florida.

The Suwannee River is a 246-mile long river that flows through North Florida.

Parks and Protected Areas

North Florida is home to many beautiful parks and protected natural areas.

National Parks and Protected Areas

These areas are protected by the federal government:

• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
• Fort Matanzas National Monument
• Fort Caroline National Memorial
• Gulf Islands National Seashore
• Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Large parts of North Florida are also covered by National Forests, such as the Apalachicola National Forest and Osceola National Forest.

Other Parks and Protected Areas

Education in North Florida

North Florida has many great schools, from colleges to universities.

Century Tower at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Student Union Building at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Public Colleges and Universities

State University System:

• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Tallahassee)
• Florida State University (Tallahassee)
• University of Florida (Gainesville)
• University of North Florida (Jacksonville)
• University of West Florida (Pensacola)

State College System:

• Chipola College (Marianna)
• Florida Gateway College (Lake City)
• Florida State College at Jacksonville (Jacksonville)
• Gulf Coast State College (Panama City)
• North Florida Community College (Madison)
• Northwest Florida State College (Niceville)
• Pensacola State College (Pensacola)
• Santa Fe College (Gainesville)
• St. Johns River State College (Palatka)
• Tallahassee Community College (Tallahassee)

Private Institutions

An F-117 aircraft on ice at McKinley Climatic Laboratory.

• Edward Waters College (Jacksonville)
• Flagler College (St. Augustine)
• Jacksonville University (Jacksonville)
• Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Jacksonville)

Research Institutions

• Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition
• Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy
• McKinley Climatic Laboratory

Getting Around North Florida: Transportation

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is the largest and busiest airport in North Florida.

Airports

Here are the airports in North Florida with regular flights:

Train Travel

The Amtrak station in Palatka.

The James Weldon Johnson Park Skyway station in downtown Jacksonville.

• The Jacksonville Transportation Authority runs a monorail system called the Skyway in Jacksonville.
• Amtrak trains stop at Jacksonville Station and Palatka Union Depot. These trains can take you along the Eastern seaboard.

Local Transportation

Several groups help people get around locally:

• Escambia County Area Transit
• Gainesville Regional Transit System
• Jacksonville Transportation Authority
• StarMetro (in Tallahassee)

Ferries

The Jacksonville Landing is a stop for the Jacksonville Water Taxi.

You can also travel by ferry in some areas:

• Drayton Island Ferry
• Fort Gates Ferry
• Jacksonville Water Taxi
• Mayport Ferry

Roads and Highways

North Florida has many important roads that connect its cities and towns.

Interstates:

• Interstate 10
• Interstate 110
• Interstate 75
• Interstate 95
• Interstate 295 (Jacksonville Beltway)

U.S. Routes: