Florida

Figure 4.6.6, Florida's population. (U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ThematicMapFramesetServlet?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US12&-tm_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_M00090&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_MapEvent=displayBy&-_dBy=050&-_lang=en&-_sse=on)

If severe weather such as tornados and hurricanes had a big impact on settlement patterns, we could expect that many more people would live in Utah than in Florida. Look at Figure 4.6.6, the population map of Florida. How many counties can you count that have a population of over 300 people per square mile?

Figure 4.6.7, Utah's population. (U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ThematicMapFramesetServlet?-geo_id=04000US49&-tm_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_M00090&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U)

If you counted about fifteen counties you are right. Now look at Figure 4.6.7, the population map of Utah. How many counties are there with more than 300 people per square mile?

As you can see, there are only three counties in Utah with a population of more than 300 people per square mile. It appears that, despite the severe weather that is common in Florida, a lot more people find the climate of Florida preferable to the climate of Utah.

Look at the Average Daily Temperature Chart that we referred to earlier in the lesson (Figure 4.2.1). Compare the temperatures of Utah and Florida for the month of January.

Florida's average temperature in January is 58.09° F, while Utah's temperature during that same period averages 25.93° F.

Now look at the average July temperatures for the two states. Utah's average is 72.51° F, while Florida's is 81.60° F.

As you can see, both states experience hot summers, but Utah has cold winters and Florida's winters are quite warm. Look at the Average Daily Temperature Chart that we referred to earlier in the lesson (Figure 4.2.1 appears on page 6). Like Florida, California experiences hot summers and relatively warm winters. Both California and Florida are heavily populated. What conclusions can you draw from this information? Do you think it is accurate to say that people generally prefer warmer climates to cooler climates?

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