8 Florida Myths Debunked: The Real Story Behind 'Florida Man' and Alligators

Think you know Florida? Much of what people believe about the Sunshine State—from it being a retiree haven teeming with alligators to the home of the eccentric 'Florida Man'—is more fiction than fact. It's time to separate the myths from reality.

Myths of People and Predators

It's a common belief that Florida has the largest elderly population in the U.S. However, according to 2020 Census data, California actually has more residents aged 65 or older, with 6 million compared to Florida's 4.5 million. When it comes to the percentage of the population, Florida (21.2%) is still second to Maine, which stands at 21.8%.

The same goes for alligators. While Florida has over a million gators, it doesn't hold the top spot. That title belongs to Louisiana, which, as of 2023, was home to a staggering 2 million wild alligators and another 1 million on farms. The U.S. total is roughly 5 million.

Geography and Legendary Tales

The famous buoy in Key West claims to mark the southernmost point in the continental U.S., but it's not even close. The actual southernmost point is on the Island of Hawai'i. U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa are also farther south. Even within Florida, Ballast Key is slightly more southern than the tourist landmark in Key West.

And it's not always warm. While the Keys stay balmy, the state capital of Tallahassee in the north can see winter lows in the 40s. The state's all-time record low was a frigid -2°F (-19°C) in 1899. As for the Fountain of Youth, there’s no historical record that explorer Ponce de Leon was even looking for it. The legend may have started as a joke by historians decades after his death.

Oranges and the 'Florida Man' Phenomenon

Historically, Florida was the nation's orange king, but not anymore. A combination of hurricane damage and a disease called citrus greening has decimated crops. Production has plummeted from 220 million boxes in the early 2000s to just 16 million recently, allowing California to take the lead.

The infamous 'Florida Man' meme isn't a reflection of the state's entire population. It's often attributed to Florida's robust public records laws, which make arrest details easy for journalists to find. However, American University Law Professor Ira P. Robbins argues that the real reason is simpler: the popularity of the meme itself. Journalists write more 'Florida Man' stories because they get clicks, and people share them because the meme is already pervasive, creating a self-sustaining cycle.