I was born in Southcentral Florida, really on the edge of the Everglades, in the spring of 1948. At that time, the Sunshine State was much different than today. There were less than 3 million inhabitants in our state, and like all the South, heavily dominated by Democratic politics. Fewer than one in ten registered voters were Republican.
Times have changed. Today, Florida has more than 22 million residents and is growing by 850 newcomers each day. Several years ago, Florida passed New York as the third most populous state, only trailing California and Texas. Politically, Republicans have dominated state politics for perhaps three decades. As of last week’s election, there is no Democrat in state-wide office and only eight of 29 representing Congressional districts.
The Hispanic population has grown enormously in Florida, and it is very diverse. Well documented is the post-Castro Cuban-American population in South Florida, particularly Miami-Dade County. Many other ethnic Hispanics have settled in Florida from Puerto Rico, Dominica, Venezuela, as well as Mexico. Bi-lingual language skills are important in Florida, but their children are and will speak English better than most of us. In addition to language, this influx of newcomers have brought a vibrant culture with them.
What has fueled so much of this growth and change in the Sunshine State? A big factor is the sunshine. Florida has a very mild climate, which transplants from colder weather states in the Northeast and Midwest find attractive in their golden years. Shoveling snow at my age sucks. It is well documented that as one of eight states with no income tax, there are significant tax advantages to moving to Florida.
Florida has more usable coastline by far than any other single state and is very attractive to folks who want to live near the beach. I’ve been told that a significant portion of our population lives within ten miles of either the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico. Yes, we still must deal with uncomfortable humidity for about four months of the year, but air conditioning is affordable for everyone to artificially cool and dehumidify interior spaces. That was not the case when I was growing up.
Florida has a reputation for being free of government overreach. We are well-led. Governor DeSantis might be the most popular governor in the country, and at age 44, might have higher ambitions. Should that be the case, the “bench” of legislators to replace him is deep. Our newly elected Secretary of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is very well-informed and articulate on issues after having served as president of the state Senate.
There are certainly challenges to be met. Our transportation system needs to keep pace with growth and worn-out infrastructure replaced. Fort Meyers in southwest Florida was devastated by Hurricane Ian. There do not appear to be any calamities with our insurance structure, so over the next ten years, this historic community will be rebuilt with new, modern building codes. We have to be particularly mindful of the impacts on our water resources.
One of the great advantages the state has is that our population is spread out. Florida had four major population centers centered around Miami, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville. That helps to ensure we are not dominated by a single metropolis, such as our Georgia neighbors.
The future is bright for our state, and I am proud to be a native Floridian.