Sunshine State – has the Oldest City in America: Long before Jamestown or Plymouth Rock were established, the Spanish founded Saint Augustine in 1565. It holds the record as the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States. –Home to Both Alligators and Crocodiles: Florida is the only place on Earth where wild alligators and crocodiles live side-by-side. While American alligators thrive in freshwater throughout the state, American crocodiles generally stick to the brackish and saltwater habitats in South Florida. – The Lightning Capital of the U.S.: Due to its unique peninsula geography and warm ocean temperatures, Florida experiences an average of 1.2 million lightning strikes annually, earning its title as the The Lightning Capital of the U.S.