Largest Cities in Florida by population and area

Want to know which is Florida’s largest city? Here’s a list of the largest cities in Florida by population and area in 2019. 

Florida is the third-most populous state in the U.S, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the largest cities in the U.S are located here.  The cities can be ranked either by their population (the most populated city in Florida) or by area (the biggest city in Florida). 

Largest Cities in Florida by population 2019

Jacksonville

Jacksonville is by far the largest city in Florida, both by population and total area. The city was founded by Isiah Hart who named it after Andrew Jackson, however, Jacksonville was originally known as “Cowford”.

The city is also famous for having some of the best beaches in Florida!

Population: 920,984

Miami

Miami might not be the largest city in Florida, but it’s definitely the most famous Floridian city. It’s especially known for its beaches, nightlife, art deco architecture, and having some of the world’s best murals.

The Miami Metropolitan Area is home to more than 6 million people, but the city itself “only” has a population of just under 500 000 people.

Population: 491,724

Tampa

Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida and is known for its low cost of living, low unemployment rates as well as developed infrastructure. The only downside is the relatively high crime rate compared to other Floridian cities.

Population: 403,178

Orlando

People from all over the world know about Orlando thanks to its many theme parks such as Disneyland and Universal. But there’s more to the city than tourism, and in 2019 it is estimated that 297,243 people have Orlando as their home city.

Each year, more than 60 million people visit Orlando. 

Population: 297,243

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg in Florida was founded in 1888 and is the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area. Locals often refer to the city as St. Pete instead of saying its full name.

In addition to being one of the largest cities in Florida, St. Petersburg also hold the Guinness World Record for having the most consecutive days of sunshine (768 days).

Population: 273,968

Hialeah

Hialeah is the city with the highest percentage of Latinos in Florida, and more than 96.3% of the residents are speaking Spanish at home. With an estimated population of 234,428 people, it’s the sixth-largest city in Florida. 

Population: 234,428

Tallahassee

Tallahassee is the State Capital of Florida and is thereby the seat of the Florida State Capitol and the Florida Supreme Court as well as the Governor’s mansion. The area has been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous people before the Europeans settled here. 

Population: 196,667

Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie grew exponentially in the 2000s and is estimated to have a population of 189,344 people in 2019. The city is known for its low crime rate and quality of life.

It has consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in Florida in the last couple of years, which makes it a great city to raise a family. 

Population: 189,344

Cape Coral

With an estimation of just 1 less resident than Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral is ranked as the 9th most populous city in Florida. The city is known as a waterfront Wonderland thanks to its large area of canals. which is said to cover an area of more than 400 miles. 

Population: 189,343

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida, and it is world-renowned for its beaches, arts, and cultural events.

The city is also known as “The Venice of America” thanks to its canal systems where you can go for a classic gondola ride. 

Population: 178,000

Pembroke Pines

Pembroke Pines is located in the southern part of the Sunshine state, near Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Pembroke Pines was officially incorporated as a city in 1960, and since then it has seen rapid population growth, especially after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. 

Population: 174,716

Hollywood

Not to be confused with Hollywood in California. The Floridian Hollywood is located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the East Coast and is home to more than 161,133 people.

The city was founded in the mid-1920s and grew exponentially in the ’50s and ’60s, and it is nowadays the 12th largest city in Florida, ranked by population. 

Population: 161,133

The Biggest Cities in Florida by area

Rank	City	Area (km2)
1	Jacksonville	1,935
2	Port St. Lucie	294
3	Tampa	293
4	Cape Coral	273
5	Orlando	266
6	Tallahassee	259
7	Lehigh Acres	239
8	Palm Bay	170
9	Lakeland	169
10	St. Petersburg	159

What is Florida’s biggest city?

Jacksonville is by far the biggest city in Florida with a total area of 1,935 km².

How many cities are in Florida?

There are 283 cities in the state of Florida. 

Map of the largest Floridian cities

Below, you can see where the largest Florida cities by population are located within the Sunshine state. 

More about the Largest cities in Florida

The population of the Sunshine state is increasing rapidly, and it’s one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. Almost all major cities are seeing an influx of people moving here, and some of the largest cities in Florida that are growing the fastest are Jacksonville, Cape Coral, Miami, Tampa, and Port St. Lucie. 

The quality of life and pleasant weather year-round have attracted outsiders for decades and there is so sign of that interest slowing down. Florida is also one of the most diverse states in the United States, even though some cities like Sanibel, Lauderhill, and Hialeah are highly represented by White, Afro American, and Latino population.

On the other hand, some of the most diverse cities in Florida are Orlando, Coral Springs, and Tampa. Miami is another major Floridian city with a large share of its population being born outside of the U.S. 

In the future, it’s expected that Florida’s largest cities continue to expand and grow as more people move for work, education or just a better quality of life. 

---

How many of the largest Florida cities did you know about? Leave a comment below!