Although there's no Liberty Bell or hallowed homages to Revolutionary War history, Florida isn't just an American swamp turned condo-canyon with pretty palm trees and beaches. And contrary to popular belief, the state's history is a lot richer than its reputation as a haven for retirees, celebrities, and people in dire need of a thaw out and a deep, dark tan. From its emergence as a prehistoric swamp, a nexus of Native American culture and civilization, and a 16th-century hot spot for treasure-hunting Spanish explorers to a 21st-century destination of development, politics, and pop culture, Florida has experienced more reincarnations than Shirley Maclaine.
Stretching 1,197 miles along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, Florida -- and
all its 53,927 square miles of islands, low peninsula, and swampland -- is the 22nd largest state in the country. Based on the population growth, however, it's not nearly big enough. Population is expected to grow to 19,920,348 by April 1, 2010 (a 25% increase over 2000). Florida's population is also becoming increasingly Hispanic (persons of Hispanic origin may be any race). In 1980, the Census enumerated 858,158 persons of Hispanic origin (8.8% of the total). The number of Hispanics increased to 1,574,143 in 1990 (12% of the total) and to 2,682,715 in 2000 (17% of the total). The Hispanic population increased by 70% between 1990 and 2000.
There are bigger issues than population growth, however. Scientists have observed changes in Florida consistent with the early effects of global warming: retreating and eroding shorelines, dying coral reefs, saltwater intrusion into inland freshwater aquifers, an upswing in forest fires, and warmer air and sea-surface temperatures. As glaciers melt and warming waters expand, sea levels will rise anywhere from 8 inches to 2 1/2 feet over the next century. In Florida, seawater will advance inland as much as 400 feet in low-lying areas, flooding shoreline homes and hotels, limiting future development, and eroding the state's beloved beaches. People aren't kidding when they say that one day, Florida will be underwater.
On a more positive note, some say this perceived global warming threat has been greatly exaggerated. Though preliminary research raised concerns that warmer ocean temperatures would lead to more frequent hurricanes, scientists now discount this theory. Nevertheless, global warming may increase hurricanes' maximum intensity, which will serve to exacerbate a natural cyclical trend toward more severe storms -- a trend likely to persist for the next 25 to 40 years.
