1940: Florida

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood March 3, 1845, Florida is twenty-first in size among the states, with an area of 58,666 sq. mi. According to the 1940 census, it now ranks twenty-seventh in population instead of thirty-first, numbering 1,897,414. This is an increase of 29.2 per cent during the last ten years, and gives Florida first rank among the states for rate of increase, 1930-40. The largest cities (1940) are Jacksonville, 173,065, an increase of 34.6 per cent; Miami, 172,172 (54.4 per cent); Tampa, 108,391 (6.4 per cent); St. Petersburg, 60,812 (46.4 per cent); Orlando, 36,736 (32.8 per cent). The capital, Tallahassee, now has 16,240, an increase of 50.4 per cent. The largest increase for any city in Florida was that of Miami Beach, 321 per cent, with a present population of 28,012.

Of the 1935 population whites numbered 1,139,063; Negroes, 463,205; and all others, 4,574, including 578 Seminole Indians.

Agriculture.

The state had a bumper citrus crop of 41,000,000 boxes in 1939. A freeze in January 1940 materially reduced the crops for the year but did little damage to the orange groves themselves.

Industry.

Among the important industrial products of Florida are naval stores, lumber and paper, phosphate rock, cigars, and sponges. For the last, Tarpon Springs is the largest center in the world. Canning, cattle raising and fishing — including the shipping of shrimps, oysters and clams — are also leading occupations. The accommodation of tourists constitutes the chief industry of the state. There were 291,000 tourists in 1939-40.

Education.

Florida has 397,900 children enrolled in school from kindergarten through the twelve grades. Of these 292,440 are whites and 105,460 are Negroes.

The average salary for 1938-39 was $94.48 per month for white common-school teachers and $47.44 for Negro teachers. State appropriations for 1939 were $12,091,793.33.

Finance.

The Legislature of 1939 made a total appropriation of $19,284,416, the largest in state history. Failure to provide adequate revenue for this amount led the Governor to veto nearly $5,000,000 in specific appropriations for education, state parks, agriculture, and general welfare. There is no state debt, as this is prohibited by the constitution.

The state provides for the administration of the Social Welfare Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The expenditures for social welfare services (old age pensions, aid to the blind, and care of dependent children) amount to $3,800,000 annually. Unemployment insurance is self-sustaining.

Events of the Year.

During 1940, the Government extended its plans to develop Florida as a basis of national defense.

Political Affairs.

In the election of November 5, 1940, Florida was carried for President Roosevelt by a two-to-one vote. The following state amendments were approved by the voters: the prohibition for state purposes of ad valorem taxes on property, except on intangibles; and extension of the term of county commissioners from two to four years; an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges from six to seven; legislative authority to create a parole commission; legislative authority to allocate and distribute to the counties certain excise taxes; exemption from taxation up to $500, for widows and those disabled through war or misfortune.

State Officers.

Governor, Spessard L. Holland; Secretary of State, Robert Andrews Gray; Attorney General, J. Tom Watson; Comptroller, James Martin Lee; Treasurer, J. Edwin Larson; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Colin English.

United States Senators:

Claude Pepper, Charles O. Andrews.