| Florida is located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast. Much of the land mass of the state constitutes a large peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The State was founded by Juan Pónce de Leon, who gave the peninsula its name on April 2, 1513. On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States. Florida is now the fourth most populous state in the U.S. Area: 58,560 sq mi (151,670 sq km). Population: ~16,000,000, a 23.5% increase since the 1990 census. Capital: Tallahassee. Largest city: Jacksonville. Nickname: Sunshine State. Motto: In God We Trust. State bird: Mockingbird. State flower: Orange blossom. State tree: Sabal palmetto palm. Tourism plays a primary role in the state's economy; in 1996 visitors to Florida spent over $48 billion. Walt Disney World, a massive cluster of theme parks near Orlando is one of the world's leading tourist attractions; Universal Studios, a combined theme park, film and television production facility is located near Orlando and also draws millions of tourists per year. Other attractions include the Everglades National Park, with its unusual plant and anlife. Miami and Key West are other points of attraction. Famous for its citrus fruits, Florida leads the nation in the production of oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and market-ready corn and tomatoes. Palm Beach is located within driving distance from all these attractions 
Palm Beach is an upscale town in Palm Beach County. The Intercoastals Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth. Recently, Palm Beach had a year-round population of 10,500, with an estimated seasonal population of 30,000. To the north, Singer Island, Jupiter, Juno Beach are the new additions to the city, offering a large variety of condos, houses and mansions. Palm Beach International Airport and Amtrak serve the city. Two other airports, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are also within driving distance. *Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
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