Hardwood Floors April/May 2026

FAST FACTS Florida

POPULATION: 23 Million 1 CAPITAL: Tallahassee LARGEST CITY: Jacksonville

NICKNAME: The Sunshine State

STATE TREE: Sabal palmetto

ACRES OF FOREST LAND: 16.9 Million 2 FOREST AND LOGGING JOBS: 9,587 2

Tree History

A bald cypress tree known as “The Senator” was once the oldest tree in Florida. Located at Big Tree Park in Longwood (just north of Orlando), it was believed to have been more than 3,500 years old when it was destroyed by arson in 2012. Another

cypress named “Lady Liberty,” which is located in the same park, now holds the title and is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. 3 While the longleaf pine used to cover much of Florida, extensive logging, among other things, brought these trees to near extinction as they were reduced to less than five percent of their original range. Restoration efforts are underway across Florida to reestablish longleaf pine habitats. 4

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

COMMONS.COM

ADOBESTOCK ©

SOURCES: 1 Source: United States Census Bureau Estimate July 1, 2024 2 Source: University of Florida (2023). Food and Resource Economics Department, Timber and Forestry. fred.ifas.ufl.edu 3 Source: Longwood Historic Society. The Senator. historiclongwood.com/the-senator. 4 Source: Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Flashback Florida: The History of Longleaf Pine Ecosystems. wildlifeflorida.org

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