Top 10 cities in Florida. In the year 1513 of the current era, Ponce de León anchored in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. Although native tribes already occupied the region, de León claimed for Spain the lands he discovered, naming the area La Florida. The Seminole and Calusa Indian populations dwindled or resettled over the years, just as European settlers moved. Today, Florida boasts major cities with scenic splendor, universities, cultural innovations and places for leisure.
Atlantic
The focus of the population in Florida is centered on southern cities, with the notable exception of Jacksonville, near the Georgia border. Jacksonville is an important port that sits on the San Juan River, where the Timucua tribes once lived. It is the No. 1 city in Florida by population. Located on or very close to the Atlantic Ocean, are Miami (2), Hialeah (6), Fort Lauderdale (8) and Port St. Lucie (9) which are the next major cities by population level. No. 10 is Pembroke Pines, which is on the perimeter of Miami. The cities mentioned here are important for several reasons, including centers of business, art, sports, culture and entertainment, as well as being destinations for many retirees from the north.
Gulf
Right on the Gulf of Mexico next to Florida is Tampa (4) and St. Petersburg (5), with smaller nearby cities of Clearwater, Sarasota , and Tarpon Springs. Although Tampa is larger, the Tampa/ St. Pete/Clearwater is often grouped together for various reasons, including tourism. People come to this area as it is an ideal area for business, but a major attraction; almost a major city; is the Greek fishing village in Tarpon Springs. Boaters and other recreational enthusiasts flock to Tampa and St. Pete in summer as in winter.
Panhandle
Tallahassee is the only major city on the Florida peninsula, but numerous small towns further south on the Gulf are also attractive to tourists. Tallahassee is ranked No. 7 by population size. The state capital, Tallahassee is also known as the home of Florida State University and its Seminoles sports teams. The city is also an agricultural center and that once the center of the cotton belt. But after the time of slavery, cotton lost importance and the focus shifted to tobacco and citrus cultivation. It’s not as hot as Miami and the southern cities or the Keys, so Tallahassee and surrounding areas can be enjoyed with extremely cold winter nights.
Interior
If you’ve heard the name Disney, you probably know that Orlando, Florida, is a major destination. It’s also the fifth-largest of Florida’s major cities, expanding rapidly once the Disney team moved there. Located almost in central Florida, it is a regular vacation site for families who want to get to Disney World and Epcot Center. Sea World, Ripley’s and Gatorland are other attractions in Orlando, but the city conducts business through many other routes, including expanding real estate.
