Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Florida Ranked One Of The Happiest States In America

Author Richie Ortiz
Happy friends doing selfie swimming in the sea with sail boat in background.

The majority of people would agree with me when I saw that Americans are having a rough time. All of us are on the pursuit of happiness, but it seems difficult for everyone to get there. Well now, we know exactly where to go to be happy.

What if we told you that the state in which you live may have an impact on how happy you are?! Studies show that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life. These environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being, satisfaction with life and what WalletHub used to determine what the happiest states in America are.

Happiest States

When it came to the happiest states, Florida made the Top 10. One would think the Sunshine State would be higher with it being ranked number 2 for emotional and physical well being, but our 44th ranked community/environment brought us down. Being ranked number 8 isn’t bad though!

Rounding out the top 5 states are New jersey, Minnesota, Maryland and Hawaii. The Aloha State had a strong case for the happiest state with it being ranked the highest for emotional and physical well being, but it was ultimately beat by the Beehive State. The happiest state in the United States is Utah, who came in with the highest ranked work and community environments.

Saddest States

Holding it down at the bottom as the saddest states are Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana. These 4 all shared the commonality of being ranked as the worst when it came to work environment and well-being, but one state trumped them all. According to WalletHub, the saddest state in America is West Virginia. Even though it ranked in the middle for community and environment, the mountain state ranked the worst in virtually every other category.

Do you think WalletHubs rankings are accurate? If not, where do you think Florida or your state should have ranked?

15 Fun Facts Everyone Should Know About Florida

Florida, known as “The Sunshine State,” is a place where natural beauty, vibrant culture, and a unique blend of communities come together to create a state unlike any other. From its stunning beaches and diverse wildlife to its rich history and theme parks, Florida has something for everyone. Let’s be honest… everyone seems to be flocking here in droves ever since the dawn of the pandemic. There a ton of Florida fun facts to consume. Did you know all of these fun facts about Florida? Or is there a certain one we missed? Let us know on social media!

Florida’s history is a fascinating tapestry woven from Native American tribes, Spanish explorers, British rule, and eventually, becoming a U.S. territory in the early 19th century.

Not a fact, but Florida is known to be one of the best retirement spots in the U.S. There’s a few big reasons why that is. Florida is a diverse and rich state. Rich in cultural diversity, theme parks, beaches, wildlife, space exploration, sports, and recreation.

Whether you call Florida home or are only here on vacation, you will take away some unforgettable experiences. Check out this interesting list of Florida fun facts about the Sunshine State that anyone needs to be aware of if you’re fascinated by anything to do with Florida. You may know all of these, or just a few!

  • “The Sunshine State” is Florida’s Official Nickname

    Florida got its name in 1970 because it has more than 2,900 hours of sunshine a year, a warm climate, and the best beaches in the country. Even though Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada get more sunshine than this state, millions of people visit it every year because it feels like summer all year long.

  • Florida is One of the Most Popular Vacation Destinations in the World

    Florida is not only one of the most visited places in the U.S., but also one of the most wanted and visited places in the world. Every year, 74 million people visit Orlando’s theme parks and other sites. More than 26 million people visit the greater Miami area.

  • Florida is the Flattest State in America

    If you’ve ever driven through Kansas, you might shake your head and think, “There’s no way.” But Florida is the flattest state in the United States. Only 345 feet separate the highest point in Florida from the sea.

  • Florida is the Southernmost Point in the Contiguous United States

    In Key West, Florida, there is a concrete sign that is fixed in the water that marks the southernmost point of the United States. This place is about 90 miles away from Cuba.

  • Florida is Home to the Second-Largest Population of Alligators

    Louisiana has the most alligators, but Florida isn’t too far behind with about 1.3 million. They like pools with fresh water and can be found in every part of the state.

  • Not Just Gators...Florida Also Has Panthers

    The Florida panther is a cat from North America. It lives in warm hardwood forests, swamps, and pinelands in South Florida. But these panthers are very rare because they are thought to be in danger of extinction. Most of the time, they live south of Lake Okeechobee.

  • Can't Forget the Florida Crocodiles

    Crocodiles live in the very southern part of Florida, near the coast and in muddy water. They are not as common as alligators, though. Their range ends in southern Florida, where they can be found in ponds, bays, and mangrove swamps. Alligators and crocodiles live together in the Everglades National Park. This is the only place in the world where they do.

  • Florida Produces 70% of the Country’s Oranges

    As soon as you reach Florida, you’ll be in the world of oranges. Florida is all about its fruit production. There are roadside sites with orange themes and stands that sell fresh oranges and orange juice. This state in the Southeast grows 11 million tons of oranges each year.

  • St. Augustine, Florida is the Oldest Inhabited City in the United States

    St. Augustine is the “Nation’s Oldest City.” It was founded in 1565 by a Spaniard named Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles. People who like history, good food, and warm paradises will love taking a holiday in this beach town.

  • Florida is Home to the Largest City in the Country by Land

    Jacksonville, Florida, has an area of 874 square miles, making it the biggest city in the contiguous US by land size. It is also the state’s largest city, with more than 950,000 people.

  • Miami International Airport is One of the Busiest in America

    Over 50.6 million people went through the Miami Airport in 2022, making it one of the biggest airports in the world. If you want to fly through Miami, you might want to pick a day that isn’t a holiday or weekend. And Orlando isn’t much better. In 2022, 50.1 million people will fly through Orlando.

  • Florida Has the Longest Coastline in the Contiguous United States

    Florida has the largest beachfront in the lower 48 states. It has beaches along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, which are a total of 1,350 miles. Alaska is the first state when you count all 50.

  • Florida is a “Lightning Capital”

    With 285 lightning strikes per square mile, it has the most lightning of any of the 50 states. Also, Florida has the second most lightning hits, right after Texas.

  • Florida Ranks #1 in Higher Education

    The Sunshine State has a high number of college graduates and low school costs. Florida has about a million students in its 12 public universities and 28 community and state-based schools. This is because the state has low tuition costs.

  • The First Commercial Passenger Flight Took Place in Florida

    Antony Habersack Jannus was the pilot of a flying boat that took people from St. Petersburg to Tampa in January 1914. It was the first time anyone ever flew for business.

 

Rich grew up in the Bronx, NY but moved to Tampa in 2006 to attend the University of Tampa. Even though he completed 4 years at the University for Sports Management, Ortiz realized his true passion for radio after taking a couple of classes to fulfill his communications minor and volunteering at UT's WUTT radio station as a sports director. Rich also worked at several clubs in Tampa as a host/promoter where he would meet and work alongside Davy Rolando, who would be the one who would help him get a job at WiLD 94.1. From there, Rich worked his way up from Promotions assistant to promotions coordinator, to eventually full-time on-air. Rich loves to write about his favorite Tampa food spots, concert reviews, and the WiLDest Florida man/woman stories.

Get The WiLD Flex Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Stay connected with the hottest celebrity, music and Tampa/St. Pete stories, exclusive contests, games, and more.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Richie Ortiz
Category:
Tags:
,,,,,

More Orlando & The Freakshow

Load More