In 1825, Tallahassee was picked by the Territorial Legislature to be the capital of Florida, since it was halfway between Pensacola and St. Augustine – the two largest cities in Florida at that time. Today, it is noted for the average age of its citizens being far below the U.S. average with nearly 50 percent having at least a college degree.

Going back to the year 500, the area was inhabited by the Apalachee Indians, who had a comparatively sophisticated society, with villages and farming, and petitioned the Spaniards in St. Augustine to come and teach them Christianity. This very early history no doubt accounts for the name Tallahassee (pronounced tal-a-HASS-ee) given to the area by the Creek and Seminole Indians, since its meaning is “old town.”

In 1861, a convention declared Florida an independent nation and a member of the Confederate States of America. During the Civil War, in 1865, Confederate Floridian soldiers repelled Union forces at the Battle of Natural Bridge, to protect Tallahassee, making it the only uncaptured Confederate capital east of the Mississippi River.

Tallahassee is blessed with rolling hills, ancient live oaks, rivers, lakes, beautiful gardens, wide boulevards and canopy roads. The term “canopy road” refers to a number of two-lane roads that have bordering trees so thick and lush they form a canopy overhead. Formally dedicated thus by Leon County, they are protected from certain types of development.

VITAL STATISTICS

Location –North-central Florida near Georgia state line.

Population – 174,781

Elevation: 216 ft.

Climate: It’s said that there is “No Winter” here.

Normal daytime highs are in the 80s into October and

The 70s through most of November. And, yes, hurricanes do occur.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, Alltel Florida Inc., Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center, Quincy Corp, Capital Regional Medical Center, Meridian Healthcare Group, Branch Banking & Trust Co., Interim Healthcare of NW, General Dynamics Land Systems, Stanadyne Automotive Corp, Sodexho Inc., Talla-Com Tallahassee Comms, American Homepatient Inc., Management Services - Florida, Presbyterian Retirement, Tallahassee Democrat Inc., Printing House Inc., Tallahassee Primary Care, Michael Titze Co. Inc., Jimmie Crowder Excavating & Land Clearing, HealthSouth, Comcast Cablevision of Coastal Property Services Inc., Skagfield Corp, Ca Inc., Big bend Hospice Inc., Radiology Associates of Solution 6 North America, Barkley Security Agency Inc., Economic Research Services Inc., Gadsden Tomato Co., Murphco of Florida Inc., Quincy Joist Co., Sea Crest Healthcare MGT, Engelhard Corp., Infinity Software Development, Tandem Health Care Inc., Ashford Health Care Systems, Cfj Properties, Culpepper Construction Co. Inc., Capital City Bank.

STATE-GOVERNMENT

With more than 40,000 workers, state-government is the major employer in this region.

TECHNOLOGY

Tallahassee is becoming a center for technological achievement. Three new companies adding to its technological base are Benedict Engineering, Danfoss Turbocor and DayJet. Benedict Engineering Company, LLC, is a full service consulting, engineering and accident reconstruction company. It recently introduced a new Automated Storage and Retrieval System that was developed for the U.S. Navy and consists of a robotic designed to reduce the need for personnel to manually store and retrieve containers in the cargo areas of large ships. Danfoss Tubocor Compressors, Inc. produces high efficiency/low emissions commercial refrigerant compressors. And DayJet specializes in point-to-point, on-demand jet service.

BUSINESS INCENTIVES

The Florida Enterprise Zone program offers financial incentives to businesses located in designated areas that employ zone residents, rehabilitate real property or purchase business equipment to be used in the zone. These benefits include designated tax credits. Specific information may be had by calling the Economic Development Council Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc. (850) 521-3111.

TOURISM

An estimated 2.75 million visitors came to Tallahassee in 2005, spending $772 million, and generating $168 million in salaries and wages for 13,886 jobs.

TRANSPORTATION

The City of Tallahassee owns and operates the Tallahassee Regional Airport, which serves such businesses as airlines, commuter and charter services, scheduled air cargo operations, corporate aviation, light aircraft training and other business-oriented and private aviation activities.

TALLAHASSEE’S FOUR ZONES

For practical purposes, Tallahassee is divided into four real estate zones – Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. Each zone has its own residential areas, churches, schools, shopping centers, and parks.

EDUCATION

The Leon County Public School System has five high schools, eight middle schools, and 25 elementary schools. There are day care and preschools, before school and after school programs, a magnet school of the arts, charter schools, home-school groups, and adult and community education. Higher education in the area is offered at Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College, Keiser College, Bainbridge College, Flagler College, Barry University, Thomas University, north Florida Cosmetology Institute, CORE Institute School of Massage Therapy and Structural Bodywork, and Lively Technical Center.

HEALTH CARE

Tallahassee is well supplied with medical facilities including Capital Regional Medical Center, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Radiology Associates, Southeastern Urological Center, Southeast Regional Cancer Center, Tallahassee Single Day Surgery, John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital, Tahallasse Neurological Clinic For Pain Management, and Tallahassee Sleep Diagnostic Center among others.

RECREATION

In addition to a wide variety of sports and gymnastics activities and programs at Tallahassee city parks, there is a long list of state parks both inland and along the coast that offer everything from viewing fascinating plant- and wild-life to kayaking, canoeing, and hiking trails. Several world-class seashores are just a couple of hours away and there are some lakes and springs with sandy shores right in or adjacent to the city.

SPECTATOR SPORTS

Florida State is noted for its football, women’s soccer, strong basketball teams, and top-rated swimming, tennis, and track teams. Tallahassee also offers the Red Hill Horse Trials – one of the two top equestrian events in the nation.

CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES

The arts are well represented here and there are a number of interesting museums. Art exhibits are scheduled throughout the year – many at the Fine Arts Building. Music organizations here include everything from the Apalachee Blues society and the Classical Guitar Society to the Boys’ Choir of Tallahassee, the Sweet Adelines Women’s Barbershop Harmony Chorus and the Florida State Opera. The Little Theatre has performances from September to July.

ATTRACTIONS

These include the Old Cpitol, the Black Archives Research Center and Museum, an Aviation Museum, Nicholson Farmhouse ( a collection of old farmhouses and other buildings on a 50 acre tract), Pebble Hill Plantation, Mission San Luis De Apalachee, Florida’s Governor’s Mansion, the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories Museum, St. Marks National wildlife Refuge, Bradley’s Country Store, and many many more.