Bradenton
"The Friendly City"
Population (city): 50,672
Population (metro): 682,833
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County. This city is home to the Village of the Arts, a renovated neighborhood immediately south of downtown where zoning laws allow residents to live and work in their homes.
Fort Lauderdale
"Venice of America"
Population (city): 170,747
Population (metro): 5,762,717
Fort Lauderdale is a city on the Atlantic coast, 23 miles north of Miami. It is a popular tourist destination with an average year-round temperature of 77 degrees and an annual 3,000 hours of sunshine. Historically, Fort Lauderdale is named after a series of forts built by the US during the Second Seminole War. However, development of the city did not begin until 50 years after the forts were abandoned at the end of the conflict.
Gainesville
"Titletown"
Population (city): 126,047
Population (metro): 268,232
Gainesville is the largest city in the region of North Central Florida. Home to the University of Florida and Sante Fe College, the city was ranked as the #1 place to live in North America in the 2007 edition of Cities Ranked and Rated. However, the city's job market scored only 6 points out of a possible 100 in the Cities Ranked and Rated guide, as the downside to the low cost of living is an extremely weak local job market that is oversupplied with college-educated residents.
The popular sports drink 'Gatorade' was invented in Gainesville.
Jacksonville
"The River City"
Population (city): 836,507
Population (metro): 1,360,251
Jacksonville is the largest city in the state of Florida. The city is in the First Coast region of northeast Florida and is about 25 miles south of the Georgia state line. Harbor improvements since the late 19th century have made Jacksonville a major military and civilian deep-water port. Its riverine location facilitates two U.S. Navy bases and the Port of Jacksonville, Florida's third largest seaport. Significant factors in the local economy include services such as banking, insurance, healthcare and logistics.
Miami
"Magic City"
Population (city): 419,777
Population (metro): 5,564,635
Miami is located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida. This city is a major center and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Miami "America's Cleanest City", for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets and city-wide recycling programs. Miami is nicknamed the "Capital of Latin America", is the second largest U.S. city with a Spanish-speaking majority, and the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality.
Ocala
"Horse Capital of the World"
Population (city): 56,945
Population (metro): 335,125
Ocala is the county seat of Marion County. Since the late twentieth century, Ocala has increased in prominence as a destination for tourism and retirement in Florida.
Orlando
"The City Beautiful"
Population (city): 249,562
Population (metro): 2,223,674
Orlando is another popular tourist destination in the state of Florida and is located in Central Florida. As the most visited American city in 2009, Orlando's famous attractions form the backbone of its tourism industry: Walt Disney Resort, the Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and other popular attractions. Like other major cities in the Sun Belt, Orlando grew rapidly during the 1980s and into the first decade of the 21st century.
Pensacola
"P-Cola"
Population (city): 51,923
Population (metro): 461,227
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle. It is a sea port on the Pensacola Bay, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. A large United States Naval Air Station, the first in the United States, is located southwest of Pensacola (near the community of Warrington) and is home to the Blue Angels flight demonstration team and the National Naval Aviation Museum. The main campus of the University of West Florida is situated north of the city center.
Port St. Lucie
"A City for All Ages"
Population (city): 155,251
Population (metro): 406,296
Port St. Lucie is a fast-growing city located in St. Lucie County.
Sarasota
"Where Urban Amenities Meet Small-Town Living"
Population (city): 52,211
Population (metro): 673,035
Sarasota is located on the southwestern coast of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, connections to the Ringling family, and its 'school' of architecture. The islands separating Sarasota Bay from the gulf near the city, known as keys, include Lido Key and Siesta Key, which are famous worldwide for the quality of their sandy beaches.
St. Augustine
"Ancient City"
Population (total): 13,336
St. Augustine is located in Northeast Florida. Founded in September 1565 by a Spanish admiral, San Agustin served as the capital of Spanish Florida for two hundred years. Since the late 19th century, its historical character has made the city a major tourist attraction, making it an ideal candidate for the state capital. St. Augustine is the headquarters for the Florida National Guard.
St. Petersburg
"St. Pete"
Population (city): 244,997
Population (metro): 2,824,724
St. Petersburg is located on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. With a purported average of some 361 days of sunshine each year, it is nicknamed "The Sunshine City". For that reason, the city has long been a popular retirement destination. However, the city has the 4th highest rate of violent crime in Florida. It is less safe than 95% of cities.
Tampa
"Cigar City"
Population (city): 347,645
Population (metro): 2,824,724
Tampa is a part of the metropolitan area commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area, and is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the Southeastern United States. Service, retail, finance, insurance, shipping by air and sea, national defense, professional sports, tourism, and real estate all play a vital role in the area's economy, and Tampa is home to a variety of stage and performing arts venues and theaters.
West Palm Beach
"Orchid City"
Population (city): 101,903
Population (metro): 5,762,717
West Palm Beach is the oldest large municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. The city is home to a number of historic neighborhoods and communities, shopping areas, and tourism/recreation areas. The city has placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in neighborhood districts such as Northwood Village, Old Northwood, Flamingo Park and El Cid. Many neighborhoods still struggle with urban blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the city particularly hard.
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