1941: 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, Florida ranks twenty-seventh in population, with 1,897,441 inhabitants. This is an increase of 29.2 per cent during the last ten years. Florida is second in the United States for rate of population increase, 1930-40. Fifty-two of the state's sixty-seven counties have increased in population, Gulf County having the largest growth, at 118.4 per cent. Pinellas County is the most thickly populated, with 347.9 persons per sq. mi. The largest population is that of Dade County, with 267,739.

Florida is more urban than rural, as 55.1 per cent live in cities. There are 20 cities of 10,000 or more, and three metropolitan districts consisting of cities of 50,000 or more with adjacent incorporated areas of at least 150 persons per sq. mi. These are: Jacksonville, 195,619, an increase of 31.5 per cent; Tampa-St. Petersburg, 209,693, an increase of 24.1 per cent; Miami, 250,537, an increase of 89.5 per cent. The capital, Tallahassee, has 16,097, an increase of 50.4 per cent. The largest increase for any city of Florida was that of Miami Beach, 331.4 per cent, with a population of 28,012.

Florida's population is 73 per cent white, and predominantly of American stock. Interesting foreign centers are the Hispanic peoples living around Tampa and Miami, and the Greek sponge divers of Tarpon Springs. Of the 1940 population, the whites numbered 1,384,365, and non-whites 513,049. The total labor force of the state is 790,311. Of these, 87 per cent are employed in regular jobs, 5.2 per cent in public emergency work, while 7.8 per cent are seeking jobs.

Agriculture.

Florida has three agricultural sections: South Florida, devoted to market vegetables; Central Florida, where citrus fruits predominate; North Florida, which is concerned with tobacco, cotton, corn, forage crops, peanuts, and tung oil. One fourth of the tung oil of the United States comes from Florida. The state has 8,337,708 A. in farm cultivation, and a total of 62,248 farms valued at $324,377,874. The gross farm income for 1941 was estimated at $130,000,000.

Industry and Transportation.

Among the important industrial products of Florida are naval stores, phosphate rock, lumber, paper, 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 and oysters, are also leading occupations. In 1941, there were 2,083 manufacturing establishments, employing 58,662 persons, and producing goods valued at $24,538,534. Shipbuilding has also become important; contracts for defense purposes have been let totalling $64,954,056. The accommodation of tourists constitutes one of the state's big industries. During the year 1940-41, it was estimated that 2,800,000 visitors came to Florida and spent about $302,000,000.

Education.

Florida has 397,900 children enrolled in school, from kindergarten through the twelve grades. Of these 292,440 are white and 105,460 are Negro. The University of Florida and the Florida State College for Women are the state-supported institutions of higher learning for the whites, and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Negroes. There are also a number of privately supported colleges for both white and Negro students.

The average salary for 1939-40 was $95.40 per month for white common school teachers, and $48.57 for Negro teachers. State appropriations for the schools are based on $800 per teacher and transportation unit. For 1940, the amount provided by the state was $12,462,824. Support of the common schools is the largest expenditure of the state; it represents 22.7 per cent of the total budget, and 63 per cent of the entire school funds.

Welfare and Correction.

The state provides for the administration of a Social Welfare Fund and an Unemployment Insurance Fund. The expenditure for social welfare services (old-age pensions, aid to the blind, and care of dependent children) amounts to about $4,000,000. Unemployment insurance is self-sustaining.

Finance.

As the state had a deficit in 1940 amounting to several millions, the 1941 Legislature made several financial reforms in keeping with a report on Florida finances made by the Brookings Institute in March 1941. All taxable property was required to be placed on the rolls at full value instead of one fourth, and stiff penalties were attached to failure to report personal property. Homes up to $5,000 valuation are exempted from taxation, except those levied for bonded debts. Florida has no sales tax or income tax, and no ad valorem tax on real estate for state purposes. A bonded state debt is prohibited by the Constitution.

Defense Activities.

During the year 1941, the Government matured its plan to develop Florida as a base of national defense. From June 1940-June 1941, defense contracts and awards amounted to $143,464,392.

Florida is becoming one of the most heavily fortified areas in the United States, due to her proximity to the Caribbean. On Oct. 9, 1940, a State Defense Committee was appointed by Governor Fred P. Cone.

State Officers.

Governor, Spessard Lindsay 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 C. Andrews.